The Best Certifying Organizations For Personal Training/Group Exercise, by Brett M. Crosby - Sr. Fitness Consultant

To be taken seriously and warrant the title of “Fitness Professional” one must possess knowledge of exercise theory and have the skill to apply that understanding to improve human movement and health. Thus personal trainers and group exercise instructors are essentially experts at teaching people how to move at what frequency, what speed, what intensity (heart rate), what direction, what range and to what extent.

I am frequently asked by aspiring personal trainers/exercise instructors what qualifying certifications are available and which of those I would recommend. The list of available certifications is numerous, but those worth having are few. This indifference is because all certifications are not accredited, which means the effectiveness of the program, study materials and methodology used have not been objectively tested and assessed for worthiness by a reputable independent third party such as the NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) as mandated by IRHSA (International Racquet, Health & Sportsclub Association) the leading authority on commercial fitness and health. It is important that the qualifications you pursue and obtain are respected and meaningful to both the fitness industry and to potential clients.

Keeping the prior sentence in mind, my top personal picks for the best certifying organizations:

· http://www.acefitness.org/ - ACE (American Council On Exercise)

· http://www.nasm.org/ - NASM (National Academy Of Sports Medicine)

· http://www.nsca-lift.org/ - NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association)

· http://www.afaa.com/ - AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America)

· http://www.acsm.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home_Page - ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine)

· http://www.cooperinst.org/index.cfm - CI (The Cooper Institute)

· http://www.ndeita.com/ - NETA (National Exercise Trainers Association)

· http://www.nfpt.com/ - NFPT (National Federation of Professional Trainers)

Becoming certified through one of these organizations is a good start to beginning a successful career in fitness, but it is not the end all. Not obtaining substantial accredited certification certainly under-qualifies you to be a personal trainer/exercise instructor, but by the same token it doesn't over-qualify you either. Obtaining certification just means you have demonstrated to a certifying board that you possess the minimal competency to be a personal trainer/group exercise instructor based on the current standards and practices of the fitness & health industry. "Current" is the operative word here. Exercise prescription is based on scientific knowledge which is constantly evolving. To progress beyond average, you must routinely pursue knowledge and expand your experiences. Certification is just the first step in route to becoming a capable fitness professional able to positively impact the lives of the people you meet.

Remember: Pro doesn't mean someone is good at what they do; it just means they get paid to do it. What is a title worth without the goods to back it?

If you reside in Southeast Asia, and you are interested in becoming an ACE certified personal trainer and/or looking for opportunities to increase your fitness I.Q., Fit offers courses and activities to help you achieve your goals.