Calling Personal Trainers -- Your suggestions?

newswoman13

newswoman13

Cathlete
Hi everyone. Once again, writing for your thoughts! I wrote a few weeks ago re: personal training certifications and got a lovely response from one pro - thank you. You built some of my inspiration to go for it!

Also, to give a little background about my idea: I'm looking to get certified as a PT, then market my services to clients who are healing from eating disorders. My idea is to, hopefully, team up with a local organization that spreads awareness about eating disorders -- gain clients through those therapists' referrals. I would start by going on site either A) to clients' homes, or B) to treatment centers. I might add some courses focusing on counseling -- just to learn the basics in training this specific group for ethical reasons (and my own curious mind). From there, I will feel out my success and ideas -- from going back to school, to renting out space, etc. etc. etc. (Baby steps...)

#1) For those of you PTs who are certified, what materials did you purchase to prep for the exam? For example, if you're ACE certified, how did the specific guide "packet" you purchased help you? I know it depends on your background, but for example, when I took the group fitness certification via AFAA 7 years ago, I borrowed a study guide and barely opened it. It was ridiculously easy, and I'm a journalism gal, not a science brain!

I know the PT exam via ACE (or AFAA, or NASM, etc.) is totally different than group fitness, but I need recs for what guides to purchase for any of these organizations. Again, I've been teaching off and on for 7 years, was trained to teach by a highly respected group of instructors, am somewhat familiar with the musculoskeletal system, but I know I need solid direction/studying for a deeper understanding of the body and proper exercises. I just don't wanna get ripped off, you know?

#2) How long did you prepare/study? Did you take prep courses? Did your specific organization give you examples/training of plans for clients? I ask b/c ACE suggest 3-6 months study time. I think that seems long. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I devote 2 hours a day for a month, don't you think that's sufficient? Also, I have heard that ACE teaches basics but doesn't provide practical "planning" structure to use on your clients' plan.

#3) And, after all those questions, which organization do you recommend? I hear they are all great. I've considered NASM due to the intense focus on functional training. However, I'm neither looking to study for a year nor get a degree in exercise science in a skinny minute either! I want to go a reputable route that won't break my bank or take tooooooo long. By end of summer at the latest, I want to be SET.



I think I'm finished. Thanks in advance for those of you who are reading and considering answering. You're the best group of women -- Cathe's done something right getting you all together!

Peace and cheers!
Caroline

:p
 
I would start out with AFAA to get a feel for a PT certification test. It is widely recognized and pretty easy to pass. All you need is the material that comes with the package. The exam consists of a written and a functional portion. I didn't really study, but I read the entire book. A lot of it was stuff I learned from my years of exercising.

A certification really has no bearing on what type of trainer you will be, so don't worry too much about it. You can have a lot of qualificatioins and still be a lousy trainer. Conversely, you can have basic knowledge but be a great trainer. You need to be attentive and supportive and you sound like you would be.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the suggestion -- So, are you still certified through AFAA, or did you go on to another organization after experience training w/ your AFAA certification?
 
This is a tough one - eating disorders are so complicated, and having had anorexia, I don't know that I'd want to get involved with that population. Don't get me wrong, it's just that they are so fragile and any little thing can send them into a tail-spin - I would leave them to folks who are more educated in psychology and medical science. I not only obsessed with food, I obsessed with exercise, too, so this is why I would caution you. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, would not touch it with a ten-foot pole!

A huge market any more are seniors - they have $$ to spend, and are more and more interested in exercise. We talk a lot about functional fitness, and here's your big market for that. And, seniors can be anyone from early fifties on, which would make ME one!

I have my PT certification through ACE.

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
 
Thank you, I see your perspective, and with my own tendency to be compulsive, and with my own healing through therapy, and seeing so many family members suffer -- I feel I want to give back what I've learned -- and continue learning about myself while I'm at it, which is lifelong for anyone. Much of it is about relationships, so I would definitely draw those boundaries and focus on containing a healthy balance: really focus on enjoying movement with movement and love -- respecting our bodies as they are blessings. And, eventually, if I feel like going to school or taking proper courses in therapy, I will certainly do so.

Also, I'm not sure I want to solely go into the therapy field, so this would be a step into the one-on-one "training"...see if I would want to do more of it full-time, professionally, more in-depth in a counseling aspect. I'm just not sure, and I want to continue my journalism, too. So, if I could teach, train and write on my own sked, I would be set!!

On another note, funny you mention the senior market. A friend was just telling me that her close friend is making $$BANK$$ in LA -- a PT biz with a geriatric focus. Pretty cool.

Speaking of work work work -- it's soooo slow today and I'm stuck inside on this gorgeous day. Just another reason to move toward creating and doing what I love everyday. ; )

Cheers!!


;-)
 
Hi Newswoman,
I'm a personal trainer and group fitness instructor certified through ACE as well. I ended up buying the manual, practice exam, and the sample test the website (www.acefitness.com) offers. I think it totalled about $85. I didn't end up using anything but the manual though and I still passed it. I studied the manual on my own for about 6 weeks on and off. Some days I devoted 2 hours, others 30 minutes. I also took the 2 day review of the exam through Exercise Etc. which I found VERY informative. I learned a LOT in that weekend and I believe they say their clients have something like a 96 degree pass rate. Looking back, I probably could have cut down my studying to about 3-4 weeks and just gone to the review class and passed it no problem.

ACE is a good organization to get certified through because it requires you to have some knowledge on nutrition, exercise physiology, exercise science, ethics, and program design. As I get more comfortable being a personal trainer, I feel more inclined to get certified through ACSM or NSCA, both of which are much harder, more prestigious certifications. ACE does offer a Clinical Exercise Specialist cert. as well that I'm looking into. I'm told it's a "more advanced" personal training cert and I think it's so important to keep learning and pushing yourself in your own way. I hope I've helped here. Let me know if there's anything else I can do. Oh, and by the way, I commend you for wanting to work with the ED population. I'm sure they could benefit from someone who understands where they are coming from and I'm sure you'll reap great benefits from it!!

Carolyn
 
Carolyn,

Thanks so much. To tell you the truth, the NASM cert. seems more advanced like you said, and I wonder if I need PT experience before submitting myself to that exam -- I hear it's more practical, more intense than the ACE exam.

However, the weekend review -- I see it's offered online for $200 + ... That's pricey...is that what you spent (if you don't mind)? I suppose if it really prepped you for the exam, then that's a good thing.

I agree with you -- it's neverending, and you do have to keep pushing yourself in your own way. Thanks SO much for your feedback.

~ Caroline
 
Caroline,
Yes, that is what I paid. Honestly, I was concerned about failing the test and having to pay to take it again so for me, it was worth it. Plus I got to meet other potential personal trainers and ask questions of the instructor and of them. It also helped me to feel more prepared about the exam which is probably mostly mental. I can't tell you definitively whether or not I passed because of the course but I certainly learned a lot from the experience. I have a feeling I would have passed without it and honestly, the test was easier than I thought it would be. Of course there are different versions of the test but mine had a lot of questions on ethics which made it seem much easier.

For me, taking the ACE test was a nice morale booster to prepare me for more difficult exams I hope to take in the future. Plus, it's still considered a good certification to have. I work at a rec center and I'm the only one there certified through ACE. The others are AFAA certified and there is one Athletic Trainer. My boss hired me on the spot because of my certification and she told me so.

Whatever you choose to do, I'm sure you'll pass the exam. You sound like you already know a lot about exercise which goes a long way. It sounds like you're interested in the subject matter so I'm sure it'll be a breeze for you! You'll love being a personal trainer, I know I do!! Let me know if you have more questions!!(Can you tell I love talking about this??)

Carolyn
 
Carolyn,

Thanks again! I'm going to bookmark this and might PM you sometime. I'm a little irritated b/c ACE only offers the exam and review session periodically. You would think they would offer it at least monthly in major cities!

Like, they've got an exam May 5th weekend, and then in July. I need something in like June, or end of May. (grrrrr!!) I'll work it out...

I do hope you don't mind if I have more questions later! THANKS!!

Caroline
 
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