Licensing and Certification of Personal Trainers

Licensing and certification of personal trainers is a complicated andcontroversial issue. Over the past two years, a handful of state legislatureshave introduced bills to establish personal trainer licensing or certificationstandards. As of December 2009, however, none of these have passed.

In other words, there are no standardized state or federal laws thatregulate personal trainers at this time. The only way to determine whether ornot a trainer is right for you is to ask a lot of questions and get referralsif possible. If still unsure, you might consider hiring a personal traineremployed by a well known gym. At a larger gym, if you don’t feel the trainer isworking well for you, there is very likely another trainer available.

There are several local and national organizations that certify personaltrainers. Each organization has its own set of requirements for certification.Some are as simple as taking a written exam from home, while others requireextensive training as well as both a written and practical exam. Once you knowwhich (if any) certifications a trainer has earned, you can find out what thesecredentials translate to in education and experience.

Not every qualified trainer is certified through one of these organizations.Some may have a two or four year fitness-related degree from an accrediteduniversity. In this case, they may not need additional certification.

Before you begin your search for a trainer, you should give some thought toyour own goals for personal training. Then, you can seek out trainers who haveknowledge in those areas. For instance, a trainer may have considerableexperience in bodybuilding or sports training. If you are a bodybuilder orathlete, this trainer may be a good fit for you. However, if you are obese andlooking to safely exercise to improve your physical condition, a bodybuildermay not be the ideal trainer for your needs.

Many personal trainers offer dietary advice as well as training in exercise.If you’re interested in a personal trainer who can work with you to create acomplete diet and exercise program, it would be wise to inquire about theireducation as it pertains to nutrition.

It is important that you disclose any illnesses or medical conditions youmay have to a prospective trainer. Both you and the trainer will benefit fromknowing about any physical problems or old injuries that may crop up during thecourse of your training. Ideally, the personal coach you choose should havesome background and experience pertaining to your specific health concerns.

There is a push among many fitness professionals and organizations to unifystandards for physical training certification. They are lobbying at the stateand national level for the exams created by the National Board of FitnessExaminers (NBFE) and other certifications accredited by the National Commissionfor Certifying Agencies (NCCA) to become recognized as qualifying factors forlegal certification. Perhaps in the future, these laws will become a reality.For now, however, it is up to you to do your own due diligence about the personyou hire.

After all, it is your own body that you are trying to improve. It pays foryou to be as certain as possible that the person who will be assisting andmotivating you is fully qualified for the job.