Personal Fitness Professional - January 2008 - (Page 12) CONTROVERSIES BY PHIL KAPLAN CURRENT c THE CERTIFICATION OFFERINGS — MOVING TOWARD UNITY? the word certification headlining an article is enough to send shivers up my spine. It’s a tired, controversial subject and has been unfairly scrutinized at times, although there are admittedly abuses of the word. Because there aren’t any controls or mandates that steer trainers down a consistent course of career development, a free-for-all exists where weekend workshops and online questionnaires are sold as credentials. Further review aimed toward clarity is an absolute necessity in the adolescent, but noble industry, in which many aspiring trainers fail to find the careers they hope for, often from misdirection. In facilitating a self-directing voice of credible professionals, it becomes important to steer trainers toward the right start or, for those beyond the starting line, steer them toward a high degree of professionalism, and the certification process is a platform from which a career can be launched or developed. I make no apologies for excluding any agencies — exclusion is not intended to reflect the absence of merit. This is a brief article on a complex topic, and the content will unfold based on opinions contributed by a diversity of employers. The handful of quotes and opinions from some certification agencies are intended more to reflect the collective vision than to exhibit any form of dominance. Before we get into the specifics of what a certification is supposed to represent, let’s understand what certification doesn’t do. It doesn’t guarantee you a job. It doesn’t guarantee you clients. It doesn’t allow you to instantly attach a value to an hour of your time. It doesn’t instill personality or ensure that you know how to coach and influence, and it doesn’t promise to personally connect you with influential people 12 who can help you grow. JAN-FEB2008 · WWW.FIT-PRO.COM http://WWW.FIT-PRO.COM
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