Fitness Instructors Courses?

[Geordie Boy]

Hi Guys & Gals,

Any of you know any good courses for Fitness instructors qualifications?

I've heard the YMCA run an excellent one, but just want to hear what you all have to say?

[KarateKid1975]

Me, too. I wondered about those, too. I'd like to learn fitness and nutrition (other than MA).

[KickChick]

There are now many certifying organizations for "fitness" instructors but the big 3 in the U.S. are (ACE) American Council on Exercise, (AFSS) Aerobics and Fitness Association of America,
(ACSM) American College of Sports Medicine.
There are many others..
I am IFA certified ( International Fitness Association) and NAPMA certified (National Assoc. of Professional Martial Artists) (they offer a fitness certification especially for martial artists)

I highly advise if you plan on teaching martial arts that getting a certification in fitness and nutrition would be a plus!!

Certification Links (http://www.fit-pro.com/inlinksout.asp)

[YODA]

The YMCA courses have a good reputation. I did mine under Leeds Metropilitan University - "Professional Certificate in Exercise & Fitness". It was an 18 month course and covered the following units...

Anatomy, Physiology & Kinesiology
Resistance Training
Circuit Training
Aerobic Training
Exercise to Music
Exercise Prescription

We had a written exam and a practical exam in each area with a pass mark of 70% per unit. My marks were 98%, 95%, 97%, 95%, 87% and 94%.

16 of us started in our group - 12 made it to the exams. 7 passed the course i.e. 70% or over in all units.

[Geordie Boy]

ONLY 87% Yoda, now now! :D

Good marks!

So was that a course you can learn mostly from home or do you need to go regular seminare - work committments.etc.

Would it be worthwhile checking at my local Newcastle Uni for a similar course?

[YODA]

Mine was one full evening per week at college with about 4 or 5 hours course work at home per week too.

[morphus]

What sort of cost was the course Yoda????
Or would think it would be at the mo'

[YODA]

At the time about 7 or 8 years ago it cost me about £400 in total.

[Freeform]

What does it actually qualify you to do? Personal Instructor, that kinda thing?

Col

[YODA]

Basically yes.

I can design sports specific programmes for all three areas - Resistance Training (weights), Aerobic Conditioning & Circuit Training. I can use movement analysis (Kinesiology) to ensure the specificity of those programmes. I can design and teach group classes in both circuits & exercise to music. (Ooooh Lycra!)

in additon to that course / qualification I also hold certificates for Public First Aid & also diagnosis & treatment of basic sports injuries.

[Geordie Boy]

Thats the sort of thing im after. Ill check it out.

Thanks Yoda.

[Geordie Boy]

P.S,

I've been told about the WABBA Fitness Instructor, and WABBA Senior Fitness Instructor courses. Anyone done them or heard of them....seem pretty good from all accounts.

[YODA]

Hmmmmmm...... they're certainly big.

Can't find any reference on their website to what WABBA actually stands for - although I know it stands for World Amateur Body Builders'
Association. Are they ashamed of that link? Hmmm.......

The courses look ok - they'll teach you all you need to know in order to sell you further courses, books, supplements etc etc. And also teach what what you need to keep your clients coming back to you for more programs and more advice. You get the picture?

Without getting too negative - what exactly are you looking for? Knowledge of a piece of paper that says you have knowledge?

[Geordie Boy]

Knowledge. I am doing a lot of reading up myself anyway, so im learning a lot, but would like to go on a course much like the one you did which gives a very indepth look at all aspects of fitness,
programs, nutrition, the body mechanics etc. Ideally i would like to to get involved with this as a career...sport development etc. I was county level for many sports and National for Athletics. So feel i have a lot to offer .(Do you see where im coming from :D )

[YODA]

If you want a career in fitness etc you NEED a sports science degree otherwise you'll never make more than a petrol station attendant. Unless you go self employed and have a lot of drive and a lot of luck.

People at my gym with qualifications like these coming out of their ears are on about £12k a year.

[balmo130]

I don't know, if you have a couple of good certs that's good.

But I think experience is the biggest factor. I think its funny that there are all these exercise science majors out there but they don't know squat when it comes to strength training.

[YODA]

Originally posted by balmo130
they don't know squat when it comes to strength training.


LOL! Nice pun :D

...... and sooooo true.

I bet they still get higher paying jobs than those that do though :woo:

[DJHalliB]

the only thing that comes close to any certification in training where I live is ACE, a sat/sun 4 weekend course. Its awfully short, is it worth anything?

[Combatant]

Have a read of this one mate.

http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9247

[Colucci]

Nice article Combatant, and it rings waaaay close to home.

DJ, I'm not sure if we're talking about the same organization, but the only ACE I know of is the American Council on Exercise. I'm not sure if it reaches Iceland. I'm certified through the International Sports Sciences Association (for the past 3 years), and have had nothing but great experiences through them. They're extremely helpful and support their trainers well. You can contact them at www.fitnesseducation.com

[DJHalliB]

Yes, Ace reaches iceland...and is the only local course on personal training (PE teaching not included)

[Combatant]

Thanks WaterBMF. One day I'm going to refine it a bit and maybe use a spell and grammer check on it! ;)

[Shaolin Dragon]

I would certainly recommend YMCA fitness courses as a good starting place, but as Yoda said, too many people have them these days (I did mine more for the knowledge than career opportunities, but found that the only job I could get with it was part time for £4 an hour. You can do better as a personal instructor but it means more risk). Long term the YMCA does a number of top-up and specific training short courses (the latest one in my area was a two-day fitball course).

[kevamania]

For anyone in Ireland N.C.E.F (National Certificate in Exercise and Fitness)

www.ncefinfo.com

Takes about an academic year full or part time(weekdays or weekends,end up with same cert)best course in the country in this area.I know people with sports science degrees that dont know anymore than me in the area and depends on when they qualified,seem a bit behind.Having said that they can work in a lab Im sure and have more options so thatd equal more money/higher salary.
If you wanna make money as a fitness instructor,you gotta do aerobic classes,or classes of some sort,personal training etc build up a good reputation.
Having a good rep is the difference.

Also the N.Q.E.H.S,go through www.sportsmassage.ie itll get ya into it.good course but not as recognised as the NCEF.They are the main 2

[blessed_samurai]

BeWater and anyone else who is certified through the ISSA...

How long with the study time you have has it taken to complete the program(s)? And (yes, it is okay to start a sentence with a conjunction) how many and which certifications have you completed through the association?

[Colucci]

...How long with the study time you have has it taken to complete the program(s)? And (yes, it is okay to start a sentence with a conjunction) how many and which certifications have you completed through the association?

I received the CFT (Certified Fitness Trainer) be attending the 2-day, 16-hour seminar. It was an 8-hour lecture, followed by an 8-hour practical lesson with exam. ISSA also offers mail courses, which you can do at your leisure, with no set time resitrictions.

I'm probably 4-8 weeks from finishing the YFT program (Youth Fitness Trainer), and probably another 8-12 weeks from finishing the SMAC (Specialist in Martial Arts Conditioning). Of course, these I'm doing at home, on my downtime, so the timeframe may be a bit idealized.

ISSA does require a certain number of C.E.U.s (continuing education units) every 3 years, to ensure that you're staying current and informed. I'm just about due to re-certify my CFT, but completing the YFT will take care of that.