Certified for Life!

I'm pleased to report that I'm officially "Certified for Life" as a personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (N.A.S.M.)!

For some background, every two years, certified fitness professionals are required to complete a specific number of continuing education units, renew their CPR and AED certification, and pay a fee in order to maintain their active status with a certifying body (N.A.S.M., in this instance).  

Being "Certified for Life" with N.A.S.M. requires trainers to make a greater financial investment in their renewal process, in essence prepaying their future renewal fees for life. This doesn't negate the other requirements, as we're still required to fulfill the continuing education units, and maintain CPR and AED certification status every two years to ensure that our industry knowledge is up-to-date.

The takeaway for the reader, and for current and future clients, is that this investment demonstrates a commitment to my craft, to the pursuit of enhanced health and wellness through continuing education, and a regard for one of the most respected certifying bodies in the fitness industry. While there are a handful of excellent organizations that educate and certify personal trainers, being a nationally accredited N.A.S.M. CPT is highly regarded and often preferred at health clubs over other certifications. I also hold personal trainer and group fitness instructor certifications through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, which was recently acquired by N.A.S.M.

At the end of the day, I admit that what clients value most are results, not initials after one's name. But asking a trainer about their certifications should be included in your top questions before you consider hiring them.

According to fitness expert, Gunnar Peterson, "It may not matter, but sometimes it gives you a little light on why they are training you a certain way," Peterson said in a Men's Fitness article. "N.S.C.A., N.A.S.M., and A.C.S.M. are the gold standards. There are great trainers who are not certified, but it's comforting to know that they applied themselves and studied a certain amount of pertinent information." 

Reference: http://www.mensfitness.com/training/pro-tips/8-questions-ask-your-personal-trainer