That is however unless you wait for a long period of time without getting recertified, then you would need to take the test again. I wonder if you can help me decide whether ACSM or NASM would fit better for me. You will learn the difference between the DEAC and the NCCA. my own free ISSA study guide and other study materials. I have Canadian and American citizenship, living in Canada at the moment but would like to move to the US within the next 5 years. The all-inclusive package might seem expensive at first, but it comes with NASMs “job guarantee” which is a guaranteed internship at a health and fitness club that NASM organizes. I am looking to get Strength and Conditioning certification, which one would you suggest considering the fact that I live in Canada. Hi Tyler – very helpful post – thanks! Others such as ACSM and NSCA have a more scientific approach towards scientific principles and exercise fundamentals respectively. Hello there! 5 Best Personal Trainer Schools – Personal Trainer Degrees in 2021, Benefits of being a personal trainer – Training pros and cons, 5 Best Weight Management Certifications – Be a Weight loss specialist, CSCS Exam FAQ – CSCS exam pass rate, CSCS test difficulty, and Info, Action Personal Training Certificate Review 2021 – Full breakdown, NASM Nutrition Certification Review 2021 – NASM CNC Review. This has me interested in a very different training area I have never done. Your email address will not be published. If ISSA is running this deal, it’s hard to pass up. It is rare for me to have my want for details met or exceeded. NFPT CPT is a great certification if you just want to sprinkle a little extra knowledge into your repertoire as a personal trainer. Be sure to check to price regularly as the listed package prices often get discounted. 2. I only trust certifications that have either one of these two accreditations. You can see the NSCA here. Hey Greg, first of all, I’d like to congratulate you for losing over 130 pounds. It helps you deal with the average man, woman, and child, and is a good direction if your career goal is just to promote health consciousness and good lifestyle habits. The first is the number of enrollments in the certification per year. I’m sure that you will become a great personal trainer with their certification. . I’m sorry for the long message I just wanted to give you enough info to go on. If you don’t pass the ISSA test on the first try, no problem, the second attempt is free! Overall my top personal training certification programs are ACE, NASM and ISSA due to their industry recognition, the amount you will learn and the excellent study materials that they provide. 5 Best Online Personal Trainer Certifications in 2021 – Our #1 is, How to become an online personal trainer in 2021 – The Full Guide. Thanks for the great info, really appreciate you article and responses! It’s always recommended to get a general personal training certification first though to build a strong base of knowledge that you can branch off from later. I was looking at NASM’s All Inclusive Program and noticed they have a “Job Guarantee”. ISSA Is no exception. I am a personal trainer got my certificate at can fit pro. I do know that ACE and NASM have some international locations where you can take the exam but I do not know every single location. From medical training to physique achievements, certificates are a nice way to show off various masteries in health and fitness. With a rising interest in achieving healthier lifestyles, due in part to greater awareness about the obesity and chronic disease epidemics, more people are being drawn to careers in health and fitness. Most specializations require a general CPT such as the ones listed in this article. ACE vs NASM – Which is the better certification in 2021? In-home Personal Training – How to Work for Yourself! Thanks SO much for putting together such a comprehensive article/site. Target people who don’t want to commit to a gym due to expense or intimidation of the gym scene. Today, this field is witnessing ever-growing trends as more & more people becoming conscious about their health and seeking professional assistance to achieve it. Thanks so much! Or are you going to be doing training in India? In terms of each organization working with the other ones, basically all full certification are accepted as continuing education credits for the other organizations. That way you have your bases covered. I read almost most of your articles but I am still confused because you know 1$ equals RS 70 so in general $600 is a hell lot of money in India Thanks. Hey there, I know that ACE and NASM are pretty widely accepted up in Canada. ACE vs AFAA 2021 Which Training Cert comes out on top? Hey Patti, I have heard of W.I.T.S. How you Should Deal with Client Cancellations! Many people, as well as employers in the fitness organizations, consider the NCCA to be the preferred certifying agency for certifications in the health and fitness industry. With ACE you will need 20 continuing education credits, where each credit is worth one hour instead of .1 CEC like it is with NASM. You will learn a lot more and build a stronger foundation that way. The most expensive I’ve ever seen it was $799, but they always have specials bring it down to $599. I am thinking on getting my PT Certification again. I am interested in helping people , and I am curious if I should already have a fitness degree or anything to pursue ISSA or NASM program? The NSCA pass rate is 58%. It is all about the journey. Fitness Mentors and NESTA are great for the modern, self employed trainer since these lean towards business and entrepreneurship, with NESTA leading the charge when it comes to technological integration. Hello, the recertification process for each certification varies. You are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education. I generally say this because they frequently have promotions going on their website. Most employers that I have encountered actually prefer NASM for the most part. That will definitely make it a little bit harder not being a native English speaker. I was looking at NASM’s “All Inclusive” Program. My guess is that they do. The e-book has a great search bar function. Hey Curtis, The action certification is a decent certification. Unless you really need the physical addition in your hands, the e-book will be just fine. Overall, the bundle of three is a very good deal as you will have them forever. they really help. Good luck with your personal training career. Sometimes it takes people a little bit longer to realize this fact and some gymnasiums might not be up-to-date on how they should view ISSA. The training principles you learn from NASM can be applied to a wide variety of clients. NASM (WLS) Weight Loss Specialist Certification Review. Hi Tyler, Really interesting stuff here, I will sure dig a bit deeper around your site. That being said, ISSA allows you to take the exam online so you won’t need to go into a study center to take this one. Does the NASM self-study program give you 6 months or 12? They do a fantastic job of teaching all of the essentials in a very easy to understand manner. Readers of my site can use my personal discount code PTP25 to save 25% on all NASM CPT certifications. I think that the International sports Sciences Association is a fantastic Certifying agency overall. In terms of getting study materials to him, if he can have textbooks, thus all he really needs. . All of these certifications are going to touch upon sports performance in some way, but they are not sports performance or strength and conditioning certifications. Action CPT ticks all the fundamental boxes, but just barely. To be honest, all four of those options are fantastic. However, it is pretty tough, and it does skimp on study material compared to other certifications. Btw…I graduated from law school so i didn’t study fitness field ;but i’ve been working out 8 years ago so i’ve experience & A lot of knowledge. Once again thank you greatly. The price and package they have on their site does include the exam so don’t worry about that. Take note that this does not cover the continuing education cost themselves, just the recertification cost with NASM. If you have a personal trainer degree or anything related to health, fitness, etc., that would be a great advantage given that you would have a good background knowledge already. This would mean you would get approximately $500 back. Their strong focus on business-oriented personal training is a big attraction and has excellent information. This is very important! There are several online personal trainer certifications out there that claim to be doing the best but from my experience and discussions with other personal trainers in the fitness industry, I would choose ISSA. Which personal training certification are you going to choose now? Out of all general personal training certifications that do not require a college degree, the award goes to ISSA. However, these are just fundamentals, and to truly harness mastery of your craft as a fitness professional, a bit more depth would be great. If I had to decide between the two, I would say you get the best bang for your buck with ISSA as it comes with their package that is a fixed price. All reputable and accredited personal training organizations require a certain quantity of continuing education in order to get recertified after that period. Another reason why ACE is widely recognized is due to the way the program is structured. Let’s break down the study material prices first and then the exam prices separately. If I were you and looking at the clients that you would like to train I would get the general NASM certification and then after you have completed the actor with the ACE group fitness certification. But, if her English is okay she can work through the course content at her own pace and should be fine for the exam. I am a elementary school teacher and want to transition careers. All tests must be taken at a PSI testing center. The link above will take you to my full NCCA list of nationally accredited personal training certifications. When you purchase the ISSA CPT program, you also get the option to take the NCCA accredited exam. NASM Senior fitness specialist (SFS) Review (2021). Nice article, really appreciate. Most people come out with a full job. The pricing for the NASM certification all depends on which study package you purchase as I talked about above. She wants to continue her education and get a certificate from ISSA. Appreciate your efforts. It is incredibly helpful and I look forward to reading more of your articles along my journey! Hi Tyler! Check out the NASM study materials here on their site. I know I sure did for me just trying to explain it! ACSM also grades on a scale due to difficulty. And both of these necessary certifications lead into them thoroughly. It should be accepted throughout the United States but unfortunately some people are just behind the times. I originally found ISSA but after reading your article i’m thinking ACE may be a better option for me. If the gym that you are trying to work at simply suggest getting NCCA certified, this is definitely not a bad option. Personal training marketing ideas – My top 9! That’s why we feel it’s super important to look at what you can and should get as part of your package when you sign up and purchase a course. It’s a shame you can’t get the hardcover textbook without upgrading, but the e-book is just as good and much easier to study for people on the go. Which course is best for females?? Why an ISSA Certification is Right For You! Hey Justin, fantastic questions. Personal Trainer Resume Advice! Check the re-certification criteria before you even attempt your first pass at the exam. What type of people do you want to train?. Learners who successfully complete the SIS30315 Certificate III in Fitness may pursue a career as a registered Personal Trainer by continuing their study with the SIS40215 Certificate IV in Fitness course.Inspire works with a range of reputable parties to market and recruit for national qualification and courses. It’s always good to hear new opinions! But I have not done an official review of the program. Unfortunately, I am unable to find the number of NSCA certified trainers. Make sure to take the quiz to get a good idea of which certification is right for you. NASM is the overall most well-known certification, ACE gives you a great base of knowledge and ISSA packs some serious value (especially if they are running their Elite trainer deal For only $999). One more thing, wanted to ask if GPA typically matters when acquiring certifications. Great article! Lets take a look at how the break down: ACE’s study packages come in 3 tiers, these are of course priced accordingly. The NSCA test is based on a scaled rating, and you need to score at least a 70 to pass. I just worry if I need to go into the gym and go with ISSA and not be able to get hired. If you are somebody who is adamant about becoming NSCA certified, it’s a smart decision to become a member with the NSCA. can u email me plz. Its actually quite daunting trying to figure out which certification to get, and i think it takes a bit of research. The top employers for a NASM certified trainer are Anytime Fitness, 24-hour Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, and LA Fitness. Kind Regards! My question is to be CES is it required to complete the CPT first and then do that specialty! Personal Trainer Bio – How to Write A Great One! Question: I am going with the NASM training, self study. Good luck with your personal training adventure. Hey Eve, Both the American Council on exercise as well as the international sports sciences Association have a great customer service and member support team. However, with it being more than likely 6 mos. Although it is a very good personal training certification, at times it seems outdated considering the style/design of the study materials, not the actual curriculum itself. Is it worth the money? The NASM exam cost without the study materials is usually $499. Our Certificate III graduates are qualified for employment as Gym Instructors. Thanks! Certification popularity I calculated in two different ways. ISSA is another good organization as well but if you’re going to focus purely on weight loss and obesity I think you made the right choice. Thank you so much for your articles about certifications, they are so helpful, especially for people like me that are new to the fitness industry. Hey thanks for the great article, some really useful info in there. If you want to focus on corrective exercise or post-rehabilitation training, which involves additional certifications besides Personal Training, the top two CPT certifications I would recommend are NASM and ACSM. Hey Phil, This is absolutely a fantastic combination to get the personal training certification and the nutrition certification for $799. Before we get started, I have three important things to tell you: The ISSA personal trainer certification is one of the unique organizations on the market. ISSA is the best if you want to learn how to design and deliver professional programs and health/fitness plans. I don’t plan to leave teaching to be a personal trainer outside of school but I feel like i am a personal trainer to these students. I am so glad I stumbled upon your site!!! The ISSA CPT has recently beefed up its study materials that are available. Many people considered it to be the greatest personal trainer certification of all. It’s a great entry point if budget is an issue. I think they are definitely a company that is growing fast and in the right direction and this might be the cause for this. I’m a breast cancer survivor (3 years free now) and have been doing strength training in the last 2 years. They will both be able to help you both through the study process for their certification. If you are still confused about which one would be the best certification for you, I suggest checking out the ACE website, the NASM website or the ISSA site because you really cannot go wrong with either of those. As you can see, the majority of certifications expire within two years. Most require you to pay an additional fee for recertification that varies by certification as well. After all, merriam-webster.com explains that a certificate is an official document that states a person’s fulfillment. I am also now considering the ASFA. In fact, they were the first certifying agency to be accredited by the NCCA (I’ll talk more about NCCA certifications later). All of these general certifications focus on men and women equally. This would be on the weekend side gig and sometimes during the week evenings. One of the reasons why ACE personal trainer cert is so popular is because it focuses on the general population where there is a large market. You will have to get your own clients and you will not have a full sales team behind you at private clubs. In terms of working online, you should definitely have no problem repping ISSA on your personal training profile. You should definitely contact the certification you are looking to go with to see if they would accept a Red Cross CPR certification from a different country. Obviously, a degree in exercise science or kinesiology is also a fantastic option as you will learn a ton about the body and workout programming from going through a full degree. Fitness Mentors has a great approach to the business of being a personal trainer, while still equipping you with the necessary fundamentals with regards to the science of health and fitness. If you decide to get the textbook package as well as the exam, the total will come to $435. Certification take away. 90% vs 64% is significant – how much does the content vary or is it because of the way the test is structured? The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is probably the most popular nonprofit organization on the list. The NSCA personal trainer certification test must be taken in a Pearson VUE testing facility. It has a strong base in corrective exercise training. This option is also not currently available through ACE fitness. I definitely agree Josh. Good afternoon, I am interested in teaching stretching and posture to help people age with less aches and pains. Personal Training Certification Types To Choose From In 2021. 25 Powerful Tips for Staying On Top of Your Diet (from 25 Fitness Experts). NETA Review 2021– NETA Cost vs Value, Is NETA worth it? After signing up for the NSCA certification, you have exactly 6 months to take the test. There is a retest fee of $199 in case you, unfortunately, do not pass the first time. Are you familiar with this group and their quality of education? The ACSM personal trainer certification is accredited by the NCCA. Thanks for these info! Compared to NASM, ACE has a much simpler cost structure. To pass, you will need to answer approximately 90 of the questions correctly which equates to about 500 points, which is a passing grade. Hey Paula, thanks for stopping by and leaving a kind comment. I hope this helps answer your question. Hey Carlos, Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Hey Giorgia, Yes I do have an affiliation with some of the certifications on my website. A certificate of fitness (COF) is a document that certifies an individual or organization as being fit or competent to engage in a particular work activity or industrial project. The International Sports Sciences Association was founded in 1988. Is there a general recommendation or just whenever you have gone through the materials and feel ready? I highly doubt that there is in the employer that does not recognize the ACSM certification as one of the best CPT certifications. On the other hand, if you are working at a private club and need to get your own clients you could be starting off between $30 and $40. Good luck to you and all your personal training efforts in the help you have a great 2020. The organizations that have the most specializations are NASM, ACE and ISSA. Also, if I decide to expand certification to another agency down the road, are they ‘friendly’ with each other when perusing CEU’s? He would prefer working with senior clients. One-on-one Training Vs Group Classes, Which One is Best? The tricky thing about these non-scored questions is you will never know which ones they are, so you will need to answer all questions regardless. I’m not really quite sure how many of these offer writing exams in Europe. In depth look at Strength Portal personal trainer software, How to Obtain and Retain Clients Using Data on Consumer Preferences, Virtuagym Personal Trainer Software Review, Surprising Fitness Tips from Certified Personal Trainers, The Definitive eFitnessTracker Review (Personal Training Software), Learning Strength Training for Beginners: from a Personal Trainer, A Personal Trainer”s Guide to Home Based Workouts. Certification Take Away. The income information I got for ISSA was from a separate site than the other four and therefore did not show the top employers category. It can be overwhelming I know. Hey Lois, I think CrossFit can be safe as long as it’s coached by somebody that is very knowledgeable. This is not an open book test. I know that in Europe the American Council on exercise and the National Academy of sports medicine are both well recognized in that area. Thoughts? How to Make a Fitness Certificate in Microsoft Word. Personal Trainer Stats – All You Need To Know in 2021, How to Become a Personal Trainer and Nutritionist in 2021, Personal Trainer Requirements and CPT Duties/Responsibilities, Top 9 Jobs at the Gym – The Complete Gym Jobs list for 2021, ACSM Certifications: A Complete Guide to all ACSM Programs, ACSM Exam FAQ – ACSM Exam Pass Rate, Test Difficulty, and More Info. Hey Pat, Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Let’s take a deep dive to see what it’s all about. The premium self-study bundle includes everything that the regular self-study package have with the addition of: The guided study contains everything that the self-study and premium self-study contain with the addition of: The all-inclusive package includes everything that the previous three contain with the addition of: The NASM certification has the most amount of study materials available to their students, hands-down. The textbook has a ton of information and is very informative. It’s been of great help in my decision making process to become a PT. That being said, both of them are fantastic certifications and are widely accepted if you are looking to become a trainer at a local facility. Hey Natalia, I’m glad that my article helped you decide between the top five certifications. Stay tuned for this and think you so much for stopping by and leaving your opinion/experience as a fitness professional. Hi Tyler, Thank you for writing this very helpful article. Very helpful! Although the ISSA study materials are ok, the best ISSA study materials come from Trainer Academy. ISSA is know for having one of the most comprehensive course textbook out there which is what makes it shine! I hope this helps. I am interested in some sort of program geared towards helping women.I am also on somewhat of a tight budget as I have just relocated to the state of AZ in hopes of a healthier lifestyle. If you don’t pass on the second time, each additional retake will cost $50. There are 3 main accrediting bodies you need to look out for when choosing an accredited personal trainer certification. I hope this helps. ACE probably has the most centered focus when it comes to working with the average fitness consumer. Although you should ask the gymnasiums that you are applying to to see which certifications they accept before you sign up for any one of them. Is this certificate is acceptable for taking CPT exam? That being said, I think the CrossFit certification is great. ISSA is an entry-level certification with an additional emphasis on performance/body composition training. Why Personal training is probably the best job on the planet! ACE is another extremely popular certification that is right up there with NASM. Thank you for this great information of Certification. I’ve been thinking about becoming a trainer for awhile now and have always been interested in working with obesity and weight loss. While failure is the last thing you want to entertain when taking your exam, it happens and is nothing to be ashamed of. Hello Denise, I feel that for your situation NASM would be a fantastic certification to go with. Cancer caused my body to be deformed but I have never felt stronger in my life. I have recommend A trainer Academy to hundreds of my students and they have had wonderful success with using their materials. NASM, among others, is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Athletic Trainer vs Personal Trainer? There’s a ton of information and hidden gems there. Anyway I was asking about specific certifications or what should I be diving deep into. The total for this is $444, but you have a yearly membership. Please provide any helpful feedback. In order to do that, you need to pay a fee as well as earn a minimum number of CEUs. I am an international artistic skater, how ever I want to get a certification which will help me to implement the knowledge and eventually help in in my artistic skating career. Hey Pritam, I cannot speak for other countries like the UK or AUS. I did some googling and see that Cross Fit offers level 1 certification in Bangkok (about a 3 hour flight from Bhutan) for $1000 USD. If you want to get more into bodybuilding stuff there are specific bodybuilding certifications out there that you can try to achieve. Good luck with your personal training career. I totally agree that getting a good base of knowledge on exercise and nutrition can be not only very helpful for your own programming but you can also help tons of other people as well. Does that work for being in Germany of the UK? I originally looked at ACSM, but it looks like to get some of their benefits you need to be a member of ACSM, but in order to be a member you need to be in the heath care industry already?? Question: during my research on accreditation, I found an organization called W.I.T.S. . How to Sell Personal Training – Let’s get you clients! In regards to living in Canada, it really does not matter as long as you check with the place you want to work to see what certifications they accept. I list all the CPTs from cheapest to most expensive in this article. Overall, the study materials are severely lacking for NSCA because they have no interactive learning material or e-book version (Don’t know how this is possible). Hello, Over 10 years ago ISSA was not seen as up to par compared to other certifications. sis40215 certificate iv – in fitness Master Trainer Online Plus+ Program™️ Ideal for those who are seeking a live class through a guided online learning experience, this program covers the fundamentals plus everything you need to work with a range of populations from adolescents to … The Top 5 Best Personal Trainer Certification Programs in 2021. Hai Tyler….. It has a sound curriculum and has an interesting, innovative way of shepherding new trainers into the industry equipped with unique technological know-how. If you are going to be doing training in India I would recommend going with ISSA. The accreditation process with the national commission for certifying agencies is very rigorous. Thank-you very much, Lois. I am not sure if all Red Cross certifications are created equal. Upon completion of a certificate in fitness, students can apply for jobs as fitness instructors, personal trainers or wellness coaches. Through the specialization certifications such as corrective exercise and performance enhancement, NASM dives deeper into specialized population training.