Personal Trainer Certification

With highly-qualified personal trainers in high demand, obtaining a personal trainer certification is a great way to stay ahead of the competition and it makes for a great undergraduate career. A personal trainer certification proves to your clients and employers that you have the most current knowledge and are committed to your career. There are many agencies that offer this certification. Becoming certified is an important goal for many personal trainers because not only do they receive huge discounts on fitness-related equipment and services, but they also increase their credibility and open the door to potential promotions and pay increases. An undergraduate degree is necessary for some certifications, but not for others.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) offers a personal trainer certification for trainers that specialize in small groups. This certification ensures that professional trainers meet current standards and have the most up-to-date knowledge of exercise. A personal trainer certification attests that trainers are versed in nutrition, exercise science, instructional techniques, fitness assessment, risk factor screening and lifestyle modification. To take this exam, personal trainers must be a minimum of 18 years old and be CPR-certified.

It is recommended that you begin studying for the personal trainer certification exam 3-6 months in advance, depending on your background. There are many resources available to help you study, including study guides, sample tests, flashcards, online courses, blogs, discussion boards, anatomy books, personal study coaches and staff consultations. Once you are ready to take the personal trainer certification exam, you can register online or fill out and mail in forms. There are two ways to take the exam: the old-fashioned way with paper and pencil, or through computer-based testing. There are several advantages to computer-based testing. It offers more flexibility as to where and when you can take the test. Also, the results are available immediately; but with paper and pencil tests, it can take up to six weeks to receive the results. However, the computer-based testing is slightly more expensive, costing $30 more.

The personal trainer certification exam consists of two sections: a multiple-choice section that contains 150 questions within five areas of personal training; and a written segment that features two real-life simulations and focuses on creating and modifying an exercise program for a client. A score of 500 out of 800 is needed in order to earn the personal trainer certification. Of the total score, 75 percent is based on the multiple choice questions, while the simulations comprise the remaining 25 percent.