Which Certification to get? - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[BretJason]

Please help I am not sure which one I should go after. NASM or ACE. Which one is easier to pass?

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

What's your background?

Why do you want to be a personal trainer?

Do you want to take the easiest exam because you have very little study time or very little knowledge?

ACE would probably be the easier of the two to pass.

(Not that I'm promoting that)

[BretJason]

I work in the food industry

I enjoy working out and helping people

I have been working out for over 10 years and I think i am pretty good knowledge about it.

I do not have that much study time

Thank you for your help

[kelli m]

BretJason,

I understand your passion for fitness and your willingness to help others. But it must be noted that you should consider properly educating yourself first.

Just because it is possible to pass a certification easily does not mean it should be done. You owe to yourself, your clients, and the industry to obtain the knowledge and make your own, not just able to regurgitate it for a test.

Oftentimes, those who workout themselves really do not know all they think they know. There are many myths and half-truths that float around a gym and it is imperative to be able to intelligently discern the difference.

I believe that one should prepare themselves for this field just as any other professional must. My advice would be to take some classes and consider getting your degree. Having a degree does not always guarentee a good trainer, but it certainly shows a commitment to learning in the proper environment. Certification is always secondary to education.