NSCA – Personal Trainer Certification
Are you a gym rat? If you love working out, and helping others lose weight the healthy way, getting your NSCA certification should be something that you need to consider. NSCA certified personal trainers have a higher salary, and also can get you more clients at your local gym. By getting a certificate from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, you are marking yourself as a professional who is serious about being a true trainer.
NSCA Requirements & Eligibility
NSCA personal trainer certification has several requirements that you need to meet before you take the exam. You have to have a high school education, and you have to be at least 18 years of age. You also will need to know, and be certified in, both CPR and AED. As a personal trainer, you need to be able to keep people in good health, and should an emergency occur, you will need to have some lifesaving skills. Though not a requirement, having a degree with sports medicine will definitely help you get a better score on your NSCA exam.
NSCA Certification Costs
Getting the NSCA personal trainer certification can be costly, but it’s worth it. You can apply for the exam as a member or a non-member. Members get a discount that makes membership worth it. Members can get certified for anywhere from $235 to $270, while non-members will have to pay up to $405 for a single exam sitting. This doesn’t include costs for preparation or classes that you may have to take to ace the exam. Study aid materials for the personal trainer certification exam can run upwards of $500.
NSCA Certification Training, Courses & Preparation
An increasingly common way people prepare for the NSCA certification exam is to attend the NSCA exam preparation symposium. Here, you can ask questions about strength and conditioning certification, fitness trainer certification and fitness instructor certification. On the NSCA site, you can find a wealth of books, DVD’s, practice exams and more for your personal trainer certification exam. They may be costly, but they are definitely worth the investment according to many of the now-certified NSCA fitness instructors, trainers, and athletes.
Be aware, the NSCA fitness instuctor exam, as well as all of the other exams that are offered by the association, are not easy to finish. There will be a lot of studying to do, and you will need to put in a large anount of effort when it comes to actually passing the exam. Don’t sign up if you aren’t ready yet, You will not be able to cram all of that knowledge in time for the exam. There are also some free study guide questions and practice tests available throughout the net.
There are many people who have decided to get their NSCA personal trainer certification, and for good reason. The NSCA is one of the most illustrious strength and conditioning associations in the world, and its mark of quality is internationally recognized. Many gyms will not hire personal trainers who don’t have NSCA qualifications. NSCA personal trainer certification is an investment that every serious sports medicine practitioner, fitness coach and personal trainer should consider. If you don’t have it, you won’t have all the benefits that come with it.