Personal Fitness Professional - March 2009 - (Page 20) Should I GET CERTIFIED? Helping you answer one of your most difficult questions By Mark Roozen Two trainers are standing side-by-side. Both are fit, attractive, dressed as professionals and have experience in the field of fitness, performance and training. ey both have regular clients, are succeeding in their field and are able to make a living doing what they love — helping individuals reach their personal goals in a variety of aspects in their life. From the outside looking in, there isn’t much difference. As we move in closer and talk to our two trainers, we find out one has a certification from an accredited, nationally recognized association. e other has been working out and training for years, but hasn’t taken an exam that said they were a qualified trainer. Not much difference in what each brings to the “trainer’s table,” or is there? For years, individuals have battled back and forth from both sides of the table. One side hails the benefits of obtaining certification in the personal training arena, while the other side argues that simply having a piece of paper doesn’t make a person a good and successful trainer. MARCH2009 WWW.FIT PRO.COM According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), more than 400 certifying bodies are in existence; their certifications vary by price, ease of requirements, prerequisites and more. With such a broad range of guidelines, it is easy to see why many businesses and organizations feel that a number of certifying agencies do not meet high enough standards to make sure the certification helps identify competence in the fitness field. By agencies meeting the accreditation process, this fear of holding a certification with no value can be eliminated. e National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), created in 1987 by the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), was put in place to help ensure the health, welfare and safety of the public through the accreditation of a variety of certification programs and organizations that assess professional competence. Benefits of holding an accredited certification include: • Establishing a minimum level of knowledge, skills and abilities. Certifications cannot guarantee success in the personal training arena and cannot make someone a great trainer. What they do, however, is allow those in the industry and the general population to know that someone with a certification has a base knowledge of anatomy, physiology, program design and proper techniques that help them be successful in the personal training business. • Recognizing an individual’s commitment to training by showing they want to meet professional standards. By taking the time, spending the money and maintaining a certification, employers, clients and other trainers understand that a trainer who holds a certification has taken a step forward to make a commitment to the training profession. • Assisting employers in identifying reputable candidates. is benefit complements the benefits listed above. A reputable certification helps employers know that potential trainers have a basic competency and commitment to work to be successful. Is it a guarantee for success? Maybe http://www.fit-pro.com
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