CCC-501
INTERIM FORM 12-17 Unit Certificate of Achievement
Application Date
January 5, 2009
Rev. Oct. 2007
California Community Colleges
APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL—NEW CREDIT PROGRAM
Personal Trainer
Dr. Stuart F. Van Horn
PROPOSED PROGRAM TITLE
CONTACT PERSON
Folsom Lake College
Dean of Instruction
COLLEGE
TITLE
Los Rios Community College District
916.608.6686
DISTRICT
PHONE NUMBER
Fall 2009
Vanhorsf@flc.losrios.edu
PROJECTED PROGRAM START DATE
E-MAIL ADDRESS
GOAL(S) OF PROGRAM (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY):
__X_ CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE)
___ TRANSFER
___ OTHER
TYPE OF PROGRAM (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY):
___ A.A. DEGREE ___ A.S. DEGREE
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT:
___ 18+ semester (or 27+ quarter) units
__X_ 12-18 semester (or 18-27 quarter) units
PLANNING SUMMARY
Recommended T.O.P. Code
0835.20
Units for Degree Major or Area of
Emphasis
Total Units for Degree
Required Units-Certificate
16
DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA NARRATIVE & DOCUMENTATION
Number the sections of the narrative to match the lists below. Do not re-number the sections. Provide
documentation in the form of attachments as indicated.
Criteria A. Appropriateness to Mission
Statement of Program Goals and Objectives
a. This program is designed to meet the competency areas for students interested in entering into the
professional field of personal trainer. The program prepares students for occupations as a personal trainer,
fitness facility manager, wellness consultant, and/or activities director.
Catalog Description
b. The Personal Trainer certificate program is designed to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and
practical skills necessary to be successful in the field of personal training. In addition, this certificate will
prepare students for the American Council on Exercise's Personal Training examination.
FLC Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement Program Proposal to NFNRC, January 2009
CCC-501
INTERIM FORM 12-17 Unit Certificate of Achievement
Rev. Oct. 2007
c. Program Requirements (16-unit Certificate of Achievement in Personal Trainer Certificate)
PET 410 Personal Trainer Certification: Exercise Science & Fitness Assessment
3
PET 411 Personal Trainer Certification: Program Design & Instructional Methodology
2
PET 416 Sport and Fitness Psychology: Motivational Strategies for Behavioral Change
2
PET 417 Fitness Injury Prevention and Management
2
PET 402 Nutrition for Fitness
2
PET 490 Personal Training Internship
2
BUS 300 Introduction to Business
3
Total Units:
16
Criteria B. Need
Similar Programs at Other Colleges in Service Area
Sacramento City College offers a similar certificate program. American River College has a Fitness
Specialist certificate and Cosumnes River College has a personal training certification course (PET 403),
based on the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s curriculum and a Fitness Assessment
course (PET 403). It is important to note that all Los Rios district colleges collaborated in development
of their respective certificate programs and/or course(s) and worked toward mutual goals to serve
employers in each college’s respective service area.
Labor Market Information and Analysis
a. The Sacramento Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes more than 500 fitness-related companies
(Employment Development Department, 2008). Employers generally report that it is moderately difficult to
find qualified applicants and very difficult to find qualified applicants with prior experience. This indicates a
good outlook for job seekers without prior experience who enroll in the program and a very good outlook for
those who are fully experienced. There are approximately 500-700 personal trainers currently employed in the
Sacramento/Golden Sierra region (Source: O*NET OnLine, 2008). The growth rate is projected to be much
faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012. About 25-30 job openings are projected per
year due to a net increase in occupation size. About 10-15 job openings are projected per year due to
separations —i.e., workers retiring or leaving the occupation.
b. Of the employers surveyed (43 responses) by Los Rios Community College District (Convergence, 2006)
almost all expect their overall employment in this occupation to grow over the next 24 months in the region.
Survey results indicated immediate workforce training needs to ensure a supply of future personal trainers to
fill vacancies in FLC’s service area. Forty-three (43) companies returned the survey; 82% of respondents
indicated that program completer’s would be more marketable to area employers. The survey asked
employers to assess the technical skills, anatomy skills, kinesiology skills, nutrition knowledge, health
screening, fitness assessment, and exercise physiology skills important for their workforce. A key aspect of
the employer survey (Los Rios Community College District Convergence, 2006) was to assess the job
readiness of new workers in the personal fitness occupations. Employers suggested that current applicants do
not posses enough knowledge base and experience to work with at risk and/or older populations. The program
includes curriculum designed to address the technical ‘gaps’ in new workers in this occupation. Specifically,
PET 410 (first offered in fall 2006 with an enrollment of 35 students and a wait list), PET 411, PET 415, PET
FLC Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement Program Proposal to NFNRC, January 2009
CCC-501
INTERIM FORM 12-17 Unit Certificate of Achievement
Rev. Oct. 2007
416, and PET 417 (offered in spring 2007 with 25 students enrolled) target the ‘gaps’ and is in direct response
to employer interests.
c. The survey asked employers to indicate current employment levels and to identify how employees currently
access continued training opportunities. The survey (Los Rios Community College District Convergence,
2006) questions asked employers to rate (very important, somewhat important, not too important) the
technical skills and knowledge areas to ensure competent workers are produced to meet their organizational
goals, including:
i. Anatomy skill and knowledge importance
ii. Kinesiology skill and knowledge importance
iii. Exercise physiology and knowledge importance
iv. Nutrition skill and knowledge importance
v. Health screening skill and knowledge importance
vi. Fitness assessment skill and knowledge importance
vii. Program design skill and knowledge importance
viii. Safety/injury prevention skill and knowledge importance
ix. Small business knowledge importance
x. CPR & First Aid training skill and knowledge importance
xi. Defibrillator training skill and knowledge importance
xii. Motivation techniques
xiii. Facility management skill
xiv. Employer supervision skill and knowledge importance
xv. Communication & basic computer skills and knowledge importance
xvi. Working with special populations
xvii. Marketing, budgeting skill and knowledge importance
xviii. Knowledge importance of state and national certifications (e.g., ACE, NASM, AFAA, NCSA,
and TIETA)
-end-
FLC Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement Program Proposal to NFNRC, January 2009