Certifications
Lecture 4
What Qualifications Are
Available?
•
National Strength and
Conditioning Association (NSCA)
•
•
USA Weightlifting
•
•
•
•
Sport Performance Coach
Weightlifting coach
Collegiate Strength and
Conditioning Coaches
Association (CSCCa)
American Fitness Professionals
Associations (AFPA)
•
•
Certified Strength and Conditioning
Specialist (CSCS)
Strength Trainer Certification
International Fitness Professionals
Association (IFPA)
•
Strength and Sports Conditioning
Specialist
• International Sports Sciences
Association (ISSA)
•
Strength and Conditioning
Certification
• United States Sports Academy
(USSA)
•
•
•
Sports Strength and Conditioning
Applied Sports Performance
Scientific Principles of Coaching
• Education
What Qualifications Are
Available?
• REMEMBER THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY
QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE!!!
EDUCATION
Does Education Ensure Quality?
• Survey of 200 + undergraduate institutions
• 119 schools responded.
• Examined the focuses of each of the institutions in
relation to completion of an Exercise Science
degree (Bachelor’s).
• “…most institutions place minimal emphasis on
content areas related to health promotion such as
stress management, and many curricula did not
require field experience.” -Elder et al. (2003).
Source: Elder, C. L., Pujol, T. J., Barnes, J. T., An Analysis of Undergraduate Exercise Science Programs: An Exercise Science Curriculum
Survey, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 17 (3), 536-540, 2003.
Does Education Ensure Quality?
Theoretical Base
Practical Base
Content
Percent Focus
Content
Percent Focus
Exercise Physiology
94.52
Special Populations
63.01
Biomechanics
94.52
Resistance Training
64.38
Human Anatomy
90.41
Care and Prevention
58.90
Human Physiology
89.04
Field Experience
57.53
Exercise Testing
83.56
Implement Exercise Programs
56.16
Exercise Prescription
75.34
First Aid / CPR
49.32
Nutrition
75.34
Sports Nutrition
42.47
General Chemistry
69.86
Exercise and Aging
42.47
Motor Learning
60.27
Professional Preparation
42.47
Sport Psy/Soc
47.95
Stress Management
38.36
Physics
46.58
Healthy Behavior
36.99
Organic Biochemistry
32.88
Emergency Safety
31.51
Fitness Facility Management
30.14
Substance Abuse
20.55
Average
45.30
Average
71.69
Source: Elder, C. L., Pujol, T. J., Barnes, J. T., An Analysis of Undergraduate Exercise Science Programs: An Exercise Science Curriculum
Survey, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 17 (3), 536-540, 2003.
Separation of “Theoretical Base” and “Practical Base” determined by presenter.
CERTIFICATIONS
Major Trainers & Their Certs.
• Jillian Michaels
– National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association
(NESTA)
– Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
– Kettlebell Concepts
– American Fitness Professionals and Associates
Source: www.jillianmichaels.com; www.nbc.com
Major Trainers & Their Certs.
• Bob Harper
– American Fitness Training of Athletics Association
– Aerobic and Fitness Association of America
– Kettlebell, Level 1
– CrossFit
– CrossFit Olympic Lifting
Source: www.nbc.com
Major Trainers & Their Certs.
• Dolvett Quince
– International Sports Sciences Association
– IFFA (no further information given; suggested that
it went out of business)
Source: www.lisajohnsonfitness.com
Aerobics and Fitness Association of
America (AFAA)
• Offers two options for certification; online and
onsite
• 3-day certification workshop (also offered
online)
• Online 120 question exam
• “AFAA certified professionals who wish to
register only for CEU credit pay a workshop
fee of $255. Receive 15 CEUs.”
Source: www.afaa.com
ACCREDITATION
Types of Accreditation
• National Commission for Certifying Agencies
(NCCA) – ORIGINAL AGENCY
• Distance Education and Training Council
(DETC)
• National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE)
• National Fitness Leadership Alliance (NFLA)
How to check accreditation
http://www.ideafit.com/certifications/personaltrainer?page=0&accred[NCCA]=NCCA&partner[y
es]=yes&op=Apply&ajaxsubmit=1
NATIONAL STRENGTH AND
CONDITIONING ASSOCIATION
(NSCA)
NSCA Certified Strength and
Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• Prerequisites
• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• CPR/AED Certification
• Examination Procedures
• Exam has 2 portions; both sections must be passed
• Scientific Foundation (Nutrition and Exercise Science).
• Practical/Applied (Exercise Technique, Program Design, Organization and
Administration, and Testing/Evaluation.
• Exam is done on a computer; therefore, no direct measurement of
exercise technique competence.
• Additional Comments
• Works with athletes to improve athletic performance
• Nationally accredited (NCCA) certification in strength and conditioning.
Source: nsca-lift.org
NSCA-CPT
• Requirements
– 18 years old with HS diploma
– CPR/AED
• Tests are administered at a certified location
• No hands on portion of the exam
• “Recognizing their own area of expertise, personal
trainers refer clients to other health care
professionals when appropriate.”
• Nationally accredited (NCCA) personal training exam
Source: nsca-lift.org
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SPORTS
MEDICINE (ACSM)
ACSM-CPT
• Requirements:
– 18 years old
– CPR/AED
– High School Diploma
• “Works with apparently healthy individuals and
those with healthy challenges who are able to
exercise independently.”
• Exam administered by a 3rd party
• NCCA Accredited
Source: www.acsm.org
ACSM Certified Health Fitness
Specialist (HFS)
• Requirements
– Bachelor’s degree in Ex. Science or related field
– CPR/AED
• Works with individuals who are “apparently
healthy or have medically controlled diseases
or health conditions.”
• Exam is administered by 3rd party
• NCCA Accredited
Source: www.acsm.org
ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise
Specialist
• Requirements:
– Bachelors degree in Ex. Science or equivalent
– Practical experience (400-500 hours)
– CPR for Professional Rescuer
• “Works with patients and cliets challenged
with cardiovascular pulmonary, and metabolic
diseases and disorders”
• NCCA Accredited
Source: www.acsm.org
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE
(ACE)
HTTP://WWW.ACEFITNESS.ORG/GETCERTIFIED/PERSONAL-TRAINING-CERTIFICATION-COMPARISON.ASP
ACE Personal Trainer
• Requirements
– 18 years old
– CPR/AED
• Designed for trainers to work with
INDIVIDUALS
• NCCA Accredited
Source: www.acefitness.org
ACE Group Fitness Instructor
• Requirements
– 18 years old
– CPR/AED
• Designed for fitness professionals teaching
any form of exercise in a group setting
• NCCA Accredited
Source: www.acefitness.org
ACE Advanced Health & Fitness
Specialist
• Requirements
–
–
–
–
18 years old
CPR/AED
NCCA accredited personal trainer certification
300 hours of work experience
• “prepare (the individual) to provide extensive
programming for the most common diseases and
disorders.”
• NCCA Accredited
Source: www.acefitness.org
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SPORTS
MEDICINE (NASM)
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
• Requirements:
– 18 years old
– CPR/AED
• Exam administered by 3rd party
• “Personal trainers are healthy and fitness
professionals who perform individualized
assessments…to clients with NO MEDICAL OR
SPECIAL NEEDS”
• NCCA Accredited
Source: www.nasm.org
USA Weightlifting: Sport Performance
Coach – Level 1
• Prerequisites
• NONE
• Examination Procedures
• Participants undergo a 1-weekend long course (13-14 hours).
• 9 hours of the course are spent as a practical hands-on portion.
• 4-5 hours are spent as lecture based learning.
• Additional Comments
• CPR/First Aid is not required for this certification.
• Focuses primarily on Olympic style lifting (Power Snatch, Power Clean,
etc.).
• This is an “in-person” course, therefore allowing for a true
examination of the individual’s practical knowledge and technique.
Source: teamusa.org/USA-Weightlifting/Coaching/Certification-Requirements.aspx
Collegiate Strength and Conditioning
Coaches Association
• Prerequisites
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
• Current CPR certification
• Examination Procedures
• Written exam concerning theoretical components to strength and
conditioning.
• Oral/Practical examination focusing on exercise technique and
program design.
• Additional Comments
• Individuals that become CSCCa certified must also complete a 8-9
month practicum administered by a CSCCa approved mentor. This
mentor must recommend the individual sit for the exam before the
individual is allowed to do so.
Source: cscca.org/certification/sccc
AFPA Strength Trainer Certification
• Prerequisites
• 18 years of age
• Functional knowledge of English and arithmetic
• Examination Procedures
• All testing is completed at the individual’s pace without a proctor.
• Individual’s have 6 months to complete all testing materials.
• Incorporates both a written and practical section.
Source: afpafitness.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_19
Review
• Education programs around the country tend
to focus on theoretical knowledge, however,
seem to be lacking in practical/applicable
knowledge.
• Many certifications require practical and
theoretical knowledge; however, there is a
large discrepancy in the rigor of strength and
conditioning certifications.
Recommendations
• While education does not guarantee quality,
theoretical knowledge is essential to proper,
individualized program design.
• Practical knowledge of lifting technique as
well as an ability to demonstrate lifting
techniques is also important.
• Therefore, education in conjunction with
certification (emphasizing in exercise
technique) is most recommended.
Questions?