Need more help/advice/opinions on certification info!

[newswoman13]

Hey gals - I've been AFAA group certified since '99 -- my certification just ran out -- But, I'm considering more certifications, possibly yoga certified at some point...SO, do you have suggestions for another organization like NETA or ACE that's highly reputable including a variety of certifications? Any feedback GREATLY appreciated! :+

 

[amyg]

ACSM was highly recommended to me. I don't know if they have the variety you're looking for. www.acsm.org

Probably shouldn't have posted this since it doesn't help much. Good luck!

 

[Aquajock]

ACE is probably your best bet as your next step; it's one of the most widely accepted certs in commercial fitness venues (health clubs, personal training studios), and has certs for group fitness instruction, personal training (both an introductory, baseline cert AND the Clinical Exercise Specialist cert that you test for after you've completed a few hundred documented contact hours with clients), lifestyle management (you have to be certified in GFI or personal training before you can get lifestyle management), and I think they've added a couple more.

Also, getting CEC's for ACE is a lot easier.

The downside is that the materials you need to learn are more broad-based and less in-depth than for ACSM, NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association), NASM (National Academy / Association of Sports Medicine), and other elite certs. You practically have to have an undergrad degree in exercise science to get those. But - the knowledge base is better.

For yoga, consider getting certified through YogaFit AFTER you've selected and gotten your next regular cert. I believe the website is www.yogafit.com.

HTH -

A-Jock