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To become a fitness instructor by
law requires the very min in training and some basic credentials.
I, Gigi Lasher would like to say that it is important that you know
what you are doing before trying to do any kind of exercise training
on your own and especially if you will be leading a group. I have
my ASCM HFI certification and
understand that each individual needs will be different. I have
included here some steps and information that will help you whether
you just want to know more about what you need for your own safe
workout program or whether you wish to become certified as a fitness
instructor yourself.
ASCM
is the is the highest level of certification requiring a thorough
knowledge of the health and fitness fields.Many of the programs
you will find here on the site have good standards but none of them
are equal to that of ASCM.
Most other programs use the ASCM requirements
as their own guidelines.
ACSM CERTIFICATION
AND REGISTRY PROGRAMS
Recognizing Clinical and Health & Fitness Professionals
http://www.acsm.org/
http://www.nsca-cc.org/
http://www.acefitness.org/
ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor®
The ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor® (HFI)
is a professional qualified to assess, design, and implement individual
and group exercise and fitness programs for apparently healthy individuals
and individuals with controlled disease. The HFI is skilled in evaluating
health behaviors and risk factors, conducting fitness assessments,
writing appropriate exercise prescriptions, and motivating individuals
to modify negative health habits and maintain positive lifestyle
behaviors for health promotion. The HFI certification provides professionals
with recognition of their practical experience and demonstrated
competence as a leader of health and fitness programs in the university,
corporate, commercial or community settings in which their clients
participate in health promotion and fitness-related activities.
Minimum Requirements
An Associate's Degree or a Bachelor's Degree
in a health-related field* from a regionally accredited College
or University (one is eligible to sit for the exam if the candidate
is in the last term or semester of their degree program), AND
Possess current adult CPR certification
* Examples:
Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant,Health
Care Administration, Physical Education, Exercise Science, Kinesiology,
Kinesiotherapy, Athletic Training, Physiology, Sports Management,
Biology, Exercise Physiology, Human Performance, Health Science,
Recreation Management/Science, and Nutrition.
If you do plan on starting a fitness program
you should at least look through these min requiremnts.
The
Life Coaching Studio
Everything you need to know about coaching and becoming more successful.
Basics
of Certification in the United States:
- Who certifies aerobic instructors
and personal trainers?
- Are they licensed?
- Why get certified then?
- Who should I certify with?
- What kind of training and
preparation do I need? Do I need a degree in exercise science?
- What is the format of the
ACE exam? When is it given?
- What is the format of
the AFAA exam? When is it given?
- What training courses are
available to me?
- Is it expensive?
- What else do I need?
- What sort of study materials
are available to me?
- Who can I contact for more
info?
Basics
of Certification in Canada
Very little information is available at this
time. Here's all we have:
The Ontario Fitness Council, known as OFC, and
of course is in Ontario. You can call 416-426-7127 or fax 416-426-7372
to get an information package.
There is also CAIN, Canadian Aerobics, you can
call them at 1-800-363-2246 or 1-905-847-8797, they will also send
a package telling you where and when and how you can become certified.
The local YMCA's and YWCA's also offer certifications.
Basics
of Certification in the United Kingdom
- Who certifies aerobic
instructors and personal trainers?
- Are they licensed?
- Why get certified then?
- Who should I certify
with?
- What kind of training
and preparation do I need? Do I need a degree in exercise science?
- What is the format of
the RSA exam? When is it given?
- What training courses
are available to me?
- Is it expensive?
- What else do I need?
- What sort of study materials
are available to me?
- What if English is not my
first language? And if I have other possible limitations?
- What are the S/NVQ's?
- Who are the Awarding Bodies
for the S/NVQ's?
- Is it worth to achieve
an S/NVQ Certificate, or should I stick with one of the previously
established ones (say, the RSA)?
- How does someone achieve
an S/NVQ related to exercise and fitness?
- If I get an RSA Basic Certificate,
what else do I need to also obtain an S/NVQ in Teaching Exercise
to Music?
- Which are the Approved
Centres for the delivery of Exercise and Fitness S/NVQ's?
- Who can I contact for
more info?
Certification in the United States
- Who certifies aerobics instructors and
personal trainers?
The two major certifying bodies in the US
for Aerobics Instructors and Personal Trainers are the American
Council on Exercise (ACE) and the Aerobics and Fitness Association
of America (AFAA). Many other organizations provide certifications
as well, including the National Strength and Conditioning Association
(NSCA), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and
a number of regional organizations.
- Are they licensed?
Currently, there is no license (as in a medical
license) required to be an Aerobics Instructor or Personal Trainer.
Periodically legislation is drafted, but the industry has done
a remarkably good job of policing itself.
While most clubs require certifications of
their instructors, there is no law against teaching without
a certification.
- Why get certified then?
In the time since the dawn of aerobics, when
people still exercised in bare feet, drawing from dance classes,
and having soaring injury rates the industry has grown up, gotten
educated, and as a whole approaches exercise very differently.
While certification is required to work at
the majority of clubs these days, that alone should not be a
reason to obtain one. Preparation for any of the major certifying
bodies' exams will require the candidate to grasp the fundamentals
of the exercise sciences - anatomy, kinesiology, physiology.
In addition, the latest research and trends in exercise testing
and programming will be covered, and the standards and guidelines
for exercise for different populations will be discussed.
We know a lot more about group and individual
exercise now than we did ten years ago, and a lot more is expected
of today's instructors than to look fit and know a bunch of
exercises and choreography.
- Who should I certify with?
Either ACE's Aerobic Instructor Certification
or AFAA's Primary Certification are excellent starting points
for aerobics instructors, and either organization's Personal
Trainer Certification for Personal Trainers.
There may also be other organizations in
your area. In the northeast (New Hampshire and Massachusetts)
there is an organization called Fitness Resources, based in
Bow, New Hampshire. (Not to be confused with Fitness Resources
Associates in Needham, MA - another excellent organization).
Fitness Resources offers an aerobic instructor certification
program specifically targeted at new instructors that is not
terribly expensive (see Is it expensive? below). There may be other such organizations
in your area.
Another consideration is the preferred certification
in your area. While both organizations are well-respected in
the industry, some clubs (and some geographic regions) prefer
one or the other. If you've got a specific place to teach in
mind, find out who most of their instructors are certified by.
Other organizations offer certifications
at the national level. The American College of Sports Medicine
offers six different certifications (three on the health and
fitness track, three on the clinical track), which range from
Group Exercise Leader to Cardiac Rehabilitation Director. The
National Strength and Conditioning Association offers Personal
Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certifications.
- What kind of training and preparation
do I need? Do I need a degree in exercise science?
None of ACE or AFAA's certifications require
a degree in a fitness-related field, nor does the ACSM Exercise
Leader certification. Other ACSM certifications and the NSCA
Certifications have different requirements, depending on the
depth of knowledge and experience expected. You should contact
those organizations for more information.
If you are an experienced instructor or personal
trainer, you may be able to pass AFAA or ACE's exams merely
by studying their materials and taking the exam. If you are
inexperienced, it is strongly recommended that you take a training
course before attempting any of the exams (except the AFAA Personal
Trainer Certification, which is a 3-day workshop complete in
itself).
- What is the format of the ACE exam?
When is it given?
The ACE exams are written only, and consist
of 175 multiple choice questions. Do not be fooled by this -
they require a thorough knowledge of the material, and the ability
to not only remember facts but to apply them to specific situations
as well.
ACE offers sample examinations that can give
you a good feeling for the types of questions the exam will
ask and their level of difficulty.
The ACE exam is given quarterly in many cities
across the US, and in conjunction with several major fitness
conventions.
- What is the format of the AFAA exam?
When is it given?
The AFAA exams include both written and practical
components. The written exam consists of 100 multiple choice
and matching questions, and is similar to the ACE exam, though
the scope is more limited.
The practical exam for the Primary Aerobic
Certification includes a group exercise demonstration for appropriate
warm-up, aerobic exercise, and muscle strengthening for the
major muscle groups. The practical exam for the Personal Trainer
Certification includes a demonstration of a fitness- testing
protocol and an oral component requiring the candidate to answer
questions demonstrating a knowledge of exercise science.
The AFAA Primary Aerobic Certification is
usually given in conjunction with an AFAA-sponsored Primary
Certification Review (1-day) or Primary Certification Workshop
(2-day), though it is possible to "Challenge" the exam by paying
a reduced fee and just taking the written and practical components
without the workshop.
The Personal Trainer Certification is given
as a 3-day workshop. There is an optional course presented during
the first day called Introduction to Exercise Science.
If you do not have a strong background in anatomy and kinesiology,
it is recommended that you take this course as well.
AFAA tours the country, presenting many workshops
each month in every geographic region.
- What training courses are available
to me?
ACE does not provide training directly, but
offers ACE accreditation to independent organizations to provide
preparation for its exams. You can obtain more information about
these by contacting ACE.
AFAA provides certification reviews, workshops,
and instructor training courses periodically. Independent providers
also offer training to prepare candidates for the AFAA exams.
AFAA clearly states in its literature that the 1-day reviews
are intended for experienced instructors who merely need a review
of information before taking the exam. Do not expect to be able
to absorb enough material in the one-day review to pass the
exam if you are not already an experienced instructor.
- Is it expensive?
ACE's exam costs $145. To challenge the AFAA
Primary Exam is $99. AFAA's one-day review is $229, and the
Personal Trainer Workshop is $299. Intro to Exercise Science
is $90.
Prices on training courses vary widely, but
$300-$400 is not at all unheard of.
- What else do I need?
You'll need to be certified for CPR. The
American Heart Association and the American Red Cross both provide
acceptable programs.
- What sort of study materials are available
to me?
ACE publishes two excellent textbooks, their
Aerobic Instructor Manual and their Personal
Trainer Manual. Each is about $40, and an excellent investment.
AFAA publishes a single texbook, called Fitness:
Theory and Practice. It's also about $40.
- Who can I contact for more info?
You can reach ACE at:
American Council on Exercise 5820 Oberlin
Drive, Suite 102 San Diego, CA 92121-3787 1-800-825-3636
You can reach AFAA at:
Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
15250 Ventura Blvd., Suite 200 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 1-800-446-2322
Certification in the United Kingdom
- Who certifies aerobics instructors and
personal trainers?
For Aerobic Exercise in the UK, the Royal
Society of Arts (RSA) offer a "Basic Certificate in Exercise
to Music". Other organisations offer their own certificates,
but there is currently no awarding body established within education
and training other than the RSA. The industry is in the middle
of re-organising and producing National Vocational Qualifications
(as have several other industries), which will then be certified
by any recognised awarding body such as City & Guilds, BTEC
and RSA. There are many regional qualifications, for example,
local authorities may run their own courses for instructors
in their areas. More advanced qualifications than the Basic
Certificate are available and many are valuable and worthwhile.
For some of these (ante- and post-natal exercise and over-50s
exercise) the YMCA is the only body (AFAIK) offering training
and certification.
[Update] A National Vocational Qualifications
*has* been produced, and it is known as Scottish and National
Vocational Qualifications (S/NVQ's). Also, the full name of
the RSA Certificate is "Basic Certificate in Teaching Exercise
to Music".
- Are they licensed?
No license or qualification is required by
law in the UK to teach as an Aerobics Instructor or Personal
Trainer.
- Why get certified then?
Clubs requiring certification/getting
up to date with exercise knowledge/increased expectations of
instructors applies to the UK too
Also, the public are becoming more educated
and many customers are now expecting their instructors to be
qualified, and inquiring about qualifications. Some insurance
companies are requiring a certain number of hours training before
they will personally insure aerobics instructors - a requirement
for hiring some private halls for classes.
- Who should I certify with?
At national level in the UK, there is the
London Central YMCA which offers the RSA Basic Certificate and
several other of its own certificates relating to exercise such
as weight training, circuit training, ante- and post-natal exercise,
exercise for seniors, aqua, fitness assessment. These are offered
by the area offices of the London Central YMCA throughout the
UK.
At the regional level in the UK, there are
many organisations such as commercial companies or colleges
of further education which also offer the RSA Basic Certificate.
Some organisations such as local authorities may offer their
own certificates.
When choosing who to get certified with,
choose carefully. The same certification may cost more with
one organisation than another, and some organisations have a
reputation for high quality. The London Central YMCA has an
excellent reputation, although its courses are not the cheapest.
You need to decide if you are only interested in a certificate
or you wish to study on a quality course. Ask the course organiser
for recent students who you can contact to find out about the
course.
- What kind of training and preparation
do I need? Do I need a degree in exercise science?
Any prior exercise knowledge or experience
is an advantage if you are taking the RSA Basic Certificate,
however, if you are committed, you can pass the course with
no previous knowledge or experience.
For more advanced courses, the RSA Basic
Certificate is often a requirement.
At the moment, you cannot take the RSA examination
without taking the course, however, this is set to change in
the near future.
[Update] You can now take the RSA and the
S/NVQ examination without taking any course. Anyway, teaching
exercise to music is a very special coaching activity, that
cannot be earned just by books, or attending aerobics classes:
one needs to be instructed by somebody knowledgeable. The option
to go straight to the assessment could especially be of interest
for coaches with previous teaching experience, who now want
to be certified: it is in their interest to make sure, before
undertaking the exam, that they fully understand the criteria
used for the evaluation, especially during the practical. Teaching
a class is not enough to pass the practical, as the class has
to be taught according to well defined (and definitely exigent)
standards.
- What is the format of the RSA exam?
When is it given?
[NEW] The examination consists of 5 parts:
a written paper, a practical, a written critique of a class,
an interview, and the verification of the ability to perform
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR.).
The paper is a 1 hour test with multiple
choice and true/false questions. Previously, the paper was used
at including short and long answers, and diagrams to label,
but the format has changed. The paper contains questions about
kinesiology, anatomy, physiology and theory of fitness (not
about nutrition anymore). One doesn't need any previous degree
in physical education, but passing the paper does require commitment,
as the pass mark is rather high (80%).
The practical consists in teaching a class,
taken from the ten week plan. The class can be any in the plan,
and not necessarily the one of the 5th week, as since some time
ago. Also, the candidate coach chooses the level of the class
he/she intends to teach. The class can last anywhere from 45
to 60 minutes, and the assessor has to evaluate it for at least
30 minutes, so not the whole class is usually held during the
exam. Before the beginning of the practical observation, the
candidate submits a brief written paper about safety and environmental
conditions relative to his/her classes, and the intended level
of fitness, age and gender of participants. Also, he/she submits
a written detailed documentation, prepared at home, on the contents
of the class he/she is going to teach. Participants to the class
must be at least 8. The candidate coach is expected to make
good use of voice, giving clear and detailed instructions, cues,
coaching and safety points throughout the whole activity, giving
and asking for feedback, giving encouragement and motivations;
also, he/she is expected to observe the participants from different
angles and positions, giving clear and accurate demonstrations,
visual cues, and supervising the participants since when they
enter until when they leave the class. The class must be safe
and effective, addressing every component of physical fitness
in a whole body approach, for participants of the stated level
of fitness.
After the practical, the candidate coach
has to produce a written critique of his/her own class, evaluating
it in terms of safety and effectiveness, planning, teaching,
contents, appropriateness of the music. Neglected details can
be anyway questioned subsequently by the assessor during the
interview.
At the interview the candidate brings a written
plan for ten weeks of aerobics class, with 3 classes/week, outlining
classes relative to the first, fifth and tenth week. The plan
must show the breakdown of the individual components of the
class, giving for each component information about its structure,
duration and intensity. The assessor will read the plan and
question the candidate in order to check that the candidate
has a clear understanding of the concept of progression, and
how to implement it in a aerobics class, addressing all the
components of physical fitness (cardiovascular, muscular strength
and endurance, flexibility). The written plan is prepared at
home.
The ability to perform CPR is assessed with
simulation on dummies. The candidate can produce a valid CPR
certificate, so not to have to undertake this part of the exam.
The practical is usually several weeks after
the end of the course of preparation (if any). The theory paper
could be at the end of the course, the same day as the practical,
or the candidates could be given a choice. Written class critique
and interview follow the practical. Competence in CPR can be
assessed during the course.
Courses and exams are run by several organisations
throughout the year on the territory.
- What training courses are available
to me?
In the UK, the RSA is a certifying body,
not a training body, but all organisations offering the Basic
Certificate must register with the RSA.
For details of course dates and fees, contact
your local college of further education, or London Central YMCA
(who may pass you on to their regional centres).
[Update] Also the RSA, on request, will send
a list of organisations offering training for the RSA Certificate.
- Is it expensive?
Prices for the RSA Basic Certificate course
vary widely, but including the examination, expect to pay between
UKP 200 and UKP 350.
[Update] The YMCA course for the Basic Certificate,
including one attempt at the exams, typically costs from 399
to 525 Pounds, depending on status. Full time workers can expect
to pay the highest rate, while unemployed can expect to pay
even less than 399 Pounds.
- What else do I need?
In the UK, CPR certification is not compulsory
by law, but may be required by health clubs and sports centres.
Responsible exercise teachers should seek CPR qualification
in any case. The St. John's Ambulance Brigade, the British Red
Cross or the St. Andrew's Ambulance Association all offer cheap
CPR courses with widely accepted certificates.
[Update] The CPR competence will be assessed
as part of the exams, and will result in the award of a Certificate
for CPR as well, unless the candidate can provide a currently
valid one (it has validity for three years, once issued).
- What sort of study materials are available
to me?
London Central YMCA publishes CITE>The
English YMCA Guide to Exercise to Music by Lesley Mowbray and
Rodney Cullum, Pelham Books, ISBN 0-7207-2021-4. This is getting
a little out of date now, but is an acceptable basic text at
a price of UKP 10.99 You could also try CITE>A reference
manual for teachers of Dance Exercise by Jill May, W. Foulsham
and Co., ISBN 0-572-01472-4 at UKP (about) 10. This is aimed
more at practising teachers rather than those in training.
- What about if English is not my first
language? And if I have other potential limitations?
If your English is suitable to communicate
with English people and read English textbooks, then it is suitable
to get the RSA and S/NVQ Certificates. No certificate about
English is required, and grammar and spelling won't be assessed
or corrected. A foreign accent is fine, but you are expected
to communicate clearly, even if not always correctly: your English
has to be suitable, not necessarily perfect. A dictionary is
allowed during the written paper if (and only if) English is
not your native language. Candidates are expected to have motorial
awareness. If they have some potential limitations (e.g., dyslexia),
they will be helped in order to provide them with the same opportunities
as any other candidate.
- What are the S/NVQ's?
Quoting from the S/NVQ Documentation: "Scottish
Vocational Qualifications (SVQ's) and National Vocational Qualifications
(NVQ's) (collectively referred as S/NVQ's) have been designed
specifically to recognise people's ability to perform effectively
in a job or role". In particular, the S/NVQ's include a definition
of criteria and qualitative standards that fitness professionals
should satisfy.
There are currently three levels of S/NVQ's
in Sport and Recreation.
Level 1: the Level 1 coaches assist in the
delivery of sessions, and are involved in relatively simple
tasks. They can also deliver part of a session, but only under
supervision.
Level 2: the Level 2 coaches can operate
independently, or can be supervised and/or receive help concerning
session contents. They can deliver a whole session unsupervised,
and are involved in complex tasks. The RSA Basic Certificate
corresponds to the S/NVQ Level 2 (see below for details). Examples
of Level 2 are coaches for Aerobics, Step, Circuit, Aqua, Weight
Training.
Level 3: the Level 3 coaches can act unsupervised,
teaching and devising programmes, assessing client needs. For
instance, a coach awarded by the YMCA/RSA Certificate for Ante-natal/Postnatal
Aerobics can belong to Level 3. Other examples are: Senior Weight
Training Instructor, Personal trainer, Programme Director.
- Who are the Awarding Bodies for the
S/NVQ's?
From the S/NVQ Documentation: "The Awarding
Bodies for exercise and fitness are City and Guilds, The Royal
Society of Arts, BTEC and Scotvec".
- Is it worth to achieve an S/NVQ Certificate,
or should I stick with one of the previously established ones
(say, the RSA)?
The S/NVQ Certificate is likely to take over
with time. Also, once achieved another certificate, getting
an S/NVQ as well could cost little extra effort and money. In
fact, obtaining some of the other available certifications,
one could already be doing what needed to get an S/NVQ certificate
too.
Coaches already having a well established
Certificate (say, an RSA one) could be happy with just that,
depending on requisites in places where they want to teach.
However, if they decide to get an S/NVQ, they will be allowed
to re-use any previous coaching qualification and experience
to shorten their path toward the S/NVQ Certificate.
- How can someone achieve an S/NVQ related
to exercise and fitness?
People with little or no experience in coaching
should first train at an Approved Centre (see below for names
and addresses), then will undertake opportune assessments.
Coaches with relevant previous experience
or qualifications should contact an Approved Centre for an interview,
that will accredit them any prior achievement, and will provide
them with the most opportune plan to extend their certifications
to the S/NVQ. In the extreme case, the candidate could be awarded
with an S/NVQ without any further examination.
- If I get an RSA Basic Certificate, what
else do I need to also obtain an S/NVQ in Teaching Exercise to
Music?
Any stage the candidate has to undergo for
the RSA Basic Certificate, is also a stage toward the S/NVQ
Certificate at Level 2. Therefore, when the candidate achieves
an RSA Basic Certificate, also achieves a Provisional S/NVQ
Certificate in Teaching Exercise to Music.
While the RSA Basic Certificate is permanent,
the Provisional S/NVQ is not, and is valid for one year only.
By that time, the candidate coach will have to teach a variety
of classes of different levels, accumulating evidence of competence
and written papers (worksheets). Such an evidence is putted
together by the candidate in a portfolio. Then, the candidate
will contact an assessor, who, during an interview, will verify
the portfolio, and eventually award an S/NVQ Certificate, this
time a definitive one.
Failure in having the portfolio assessed
by one year since the issue of the Provisional Certificate means
that the candidate will have to get a new Provisional Certificate,
undertaking again any necessary examination.
- Which are the Approved Centres for the
delivery of Exercise and Fitness S/NVQ's?
The S/NVQ Documentation (February 1996) reports
the following:
The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA)
Harold Fern House
Derby Square
Loughborough
LE11 0AL
Telephone: 01509 230 431
Fitness Scotland
Caledonian House
South Gyle
Edinburgh
EH12 9DQ
Telephone: 0131 317 7243
Fitness Wales
240 Whitchurch Road
Cardiff
CF4 3ND
Telephone: 01222 520130
London Central YMCA
112 Great Russell Street
WC1B 3NQ
Telephone: 0171 580 2989
- Who can I contact for more info?
You can reach the RSA at:
Royal Society of Arts Examinations Board
Westwood Way COVENTRY CV4 8HS England Telephone 01203 470033
You can reach London Central YMCA at:
London Central YMCA Training & Development
Department 112 Great Russell Street LONDON WC1B 3NQ England Telephone
0171 580 2989 Fax 0171 436 1278
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