Personal Trainer Certifications

There are currently two organizations that provide Personal Trainer Certifications, one is the American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA) while the other one is The National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT).

Founded in 1994, the AFPA’s membership already ballooned to 55,000 certified members worldwide. The AFPA actually offers some of the most highly regarded health, fitness and sports certifications while there are also education programs as well as educational opportunities in the fitness industry available.

Certifications from the AFPA are all universally accepted all throughout the fitness industry and has always been reviewed and approved by the members’ peers in order to continue education credits.

There are various health, fitness and wellness facilities which either endorse, accept or approve of the AFPA personal trainer certifications.

Examples of such establishments is as follows:

• US Department of Defense

• Powerhouse Gym CRUNCH

• Curves for Women

• Ladies Workout Express

• YM/WCA

• World Gym

• Equinox

• 24 Hour Fitness

• LA Fitness

• Gold's Gym

• Bally Total Fitness

• Work Out World

• Wellbridge

• Reebok Sports Club

Then there’s the NFPT which was founded way back in 1988. This was a time wherein it has become a major concern in the fitness industry that majority of the those who work in health clubs or are fitness trainers are not actively pursuing getting a certification for the programs that they practice.

Even after over 15 years, the NFPT is still considered as the most trusted personal trainer certification authority internationally – also the most long standing out of the bunch.

Compared to others who give fitness trainer certifications, the NFPT won’t make their applicants go through various expenses, inconveniences, non-applicability, high qualifications just to get accepted, and complicated educational materials.

All of these have become deep concerns for those who are seeking for a certification but the NFPT has found a way for applicants to secure a personal trainer certification without going through such hassles. The NFPT are sensitive regarding this which is why they are the only major certifying organization which has been able to specialize in fundamental Personal Fitness Trainer Certification.

The NFPT also offers an unparalleled NFPT Affiliate support through their own magazine, website, as well as their complete consultation guideline provision.

The Personal Fitness Trainer Certification Program of the NFPT is actually the result of an extensive, independent study conducted by various health professionals at the NFPT subsidiary research facilities starting from 1985.

The goal of these studies is to be able to apply various new scientific principles to the various forms of resistance exercises. Physiology as well as applied science are both used in order to reinforce the new NFPT principles.

The NFPT has been able to establish over 100 professional testing sites not just in the United States but also in Canada, Mexico and other countries. They can assure you that no other certifying authority has been able to accomplish such a feat.

NFPT Objectives

The various objective of the NFPT personal trainer certification authorities are the following:

1. to be able to provide an affordable, convenient, comprehensive, and applicable educational program

2. to offer organizational certification credentials for consumer recognition of competence

3. to provide certified affiliates with ongoing education

4. to establish a network of support, and provide professional & profitable services to our trainers

5. to facilitate as well as encourage the exchange of ideas, knowledge, business experiences, and financial opportunities between all fitness administrators internationally.