Personal Training Licensing - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[DaveMcGarry]

What do you think of licensing of personal trainers? I get the response from people in the industry that massage therapists have to be licensed why shouldn't personal trainers. Let me know your thoughts.

[rbd]

This is a big debate currently, but I guess sometimes you might say watch what you wish for with licensing and what that will mean for the industry as a whole. Sometimes you think something sounds good until your really look at the ins and outs to what it will mean for the industry and you as a trainer or manager.

Look at the medical community for instance. Alot of crap they have to deal with and don't get paid what they use to for services because of insurance companies and politics. They have to charge certain fees or they wont get paid by the insurance companies. Same thing for Physical Therapist.

Now look at Lawyers as another example of professionals. They can charge what they want for their services to an extent based on their expertise.

Personally I don't want my fees set where I am making the same as someone with less skill and experience and would rather be able to set my own rates and services. I am all for improving the industry because it sadly needs it but i just don't think licensing is the answer and will cause alot of problems for the industry as a whole.

Just my two cents and I think this could be a hotly debated argument with a lot of opinions and will really depend on who you talk to on this one.

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

Its interesting and I posted a couple of articles on this at my blog www.joe-cannon.blogspot.com

I can tell you that when I attended the AAAI/ISMA fitness convention in Atlantic City recently I discovered that AIG had received no complaints about personal trainers hurting people. This is interesting since this is the impetus behind making trainers (and others like yoga teachers group fitness instructors etc) get a license.

If the rate of injury is low (and it seems to be if AIG's numbers are an indication) it makes one wonder what the real notion is behind this licensing...
Joe

[trainercoach]

I understand where licensing can come into play for personal trainers. However, certifications from associations like ACE and NFPT ensure that not just anybody can be a trainer. As far as liability protection, trainers can get liability protection to cover anything else.

[megfit]

I've been meaning to get on here for several weeks, ever since the story of the attempt in California to require personal trainers to EITHER have a certification from certain organizations OR have a degree in a fitness field.

Now, I'm not against this, but I DO see this as the beginning of legislation.

Speaking from the perspective of a healthcare professional, myself, I've always been thankful that California does not have licensure for RDs. Many states in the US do, though. To me, it LIMITS what *I* can do as the licensed professional.

Margie

[rbd]

Trainercoach,

I would have to disagree with you about the organizations you mentioned.

Their standards are not as high as some other top ones in the industry. I know a lot of people who got ACE to just get into the industry because not all that hard to pass. I had buddies in college who went through ACE for same reason to get experience while they were going through collegge. Same with NFPT from my experience with trainers who have worked under me or have worked with from these organizations in my 12 plus years in the industry.

That is the big problem - anyone can get certified and why legislation is being pushed. We have way to many certifying bodies in this industry - you do not see that in any other professional career. Their is too much money to be made and these organizations know it and why we have so many bs certs out there. At least when you get a degree you have had to show and meet a lot stringent criteria then obtaining a cert that can easily be obtained. I personally feel a degree should be the base to bring our industry to a high standard, not that any degree program teaches you everything, but it does set the stage showing you take your craft serious and align us with most other professionals out there.

This will continue to be hotly debated and their are pluses and minuses to all arguments, but I do think we need to get rid of a lot of these certifying bodies - way to many and waters down the industry severly.

[kelli m]

rbd makes some phenomenal points especially with his comparisons to the legal field. Maybe that industry's model is one our profession should follow, but possibly without the three years graduate level work.

I also would take the debate one step further and argue that while in every case a degree should trump ANY certification out there, not all degree programs (in this industry especially) are created equally. Many trainers that claim to be degreed actually come from PE backgrounds, programs which are notorious nationwide for attracting some of the weaker students on campus. Too many of these programs are meant for those entering the teaching profession and rarely cover the depth of information the fitness professional needs. After graduation, they are still able to pass even ACSM and NSCA certifications ( these just aren't that difficult, professors that are not affiliated with either organization actually ridicule the simplicity) but really are ill prepared for the general public.

Even with Exercise Science programs sometimes the curriculum is not always in line with what we do in the field. Some programs are too clinical, some too sport oriented, and some just too general overall to give the student the well rounded education that they need to be able to suceed. A licensure exam would bring academic programs in line with one another, eliminating or reducing the extreme variabilty between them.

I think one standardized test, like the bar exam, should be required of all potential professionals after graduation and before one actully begins work. One that emphasizes all modalities of training and that tests competency in clinical and athletic populations in a very detailed manner. Candidates should not be able to pass this test without intense study, unlike many of them are able to do with even the top tier tets.