Personal Trainer Certification
The top certification organizations are ACE, ACSM, NASM, NSCA
ACSM acsm.org
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) promotes and integrates scientific research, education, and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life. The ACSM national headquarters moved to Indianapolis in 1984.
ACSM offers eight different certifications for fitness and clinical exercise professionals
ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
ACSM Certified Group Exercise Instructor
ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist
ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist
ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Exercise is Medicine Credential
ARP/ACSM Certified Ringside Physician
ACSM/NCHPAD Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer
ACSM/ACS Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer
Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist
NASM nasm.org
The National Academy of Sports Medicine was founded in the 1980s and is described as a premier science-based certified personal training program. NASM applies complex scientific principles by utilizing real world scenarios, application-based modules, and NASM’s exclusive Optimum Performance Training Model™ (OPT™).
While the OPT model can be overwhelming and complex, the model offers practical solutions to assessing and designing personal training programs. Integrating the OPT and fully understanding the model is a lifetime process. Much of the re-certification programs revisit the OPT model and reinforces understanding in a variety of applications.
Certification
Certified Personal Trainer
Specializations
Behavior Change Specialization
Corrective Exercise Specialization
Performance Enhancement Specialization
Fitness Nutrition Specialization
Weight Loss Specialization
Group Personal Training Specialization
MMA Conditioning Specialization
Women's Fitness Specialization
Youth Exercise Specialization
Senior Fitness Specialization
Golf Fitness Specialization
NSCA nsca.com
The National Strength and Conditioning Association was founded in 1978.
Certification
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist®
Certified Special Population Specialist®
Certified Personal Trainer®
Tactical Strength and Conditioning-Facilitator
Coming soon.
