IFPA Personal Trainer Certification
As the field of exercise science develops, personal trainers are becoming much more than glorified weightlifting coaches. Today's fitness professionals must demonstrate a solid grasp of physiology, exercise technique and nutrition, and put it all to work helping their clients maximize performance while minimizing body fat or otherwise helping them achieve their goals. As the field gets more complex, a number of professional certifying bodies are emerging. The International Fitness Professionals Association is one of the leading certifying bodies in the field of personal fitness.
Other People Are Reading
-
Examination
-
The primary requirement for a basic level IFPA certification as a personal trainer is an exam. The exam tests candidates' knowledge of injury prevention, technique, nutrition and application of the most commonly accepted theories of exercise science.
Examination Areas
-
Successful candidates for the IFPA personal trainer certification must demonstrate a firm grasp of the principles of nutrition, metabolism, muscle development and physiology, and injury prevention. They must also be skilled in analyzing body composition and the measuring of athletic performance. Additional fields of study include sports psychology and motivation and professional ethics. Finally, candidates must know the law and how it applies to the fitness profession.
-
Specialized Certifications
-
In addition to the general and master personal trainer certifications, the IFPA has also developed certifications in a number of highly specialized areas of fitness, including military fitness, fitness facility management, low back disorders, sports medicine, sports nutrition, weight loss, women's fitness and youth fitness. A new specialty, Special Populations, certifies trainers as professionals in the field of working with individuals with chronic disabilities and diseases.
Alternatives
-
The IFPA is not the only certifying body in the industry. You may also consider obtaining a certification from the American Fitness Professionals Association and the American Council on Exercise, which also offer similar certifications (see Resources).
-
