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Besides getting your biceps big enough to fill out a t-shirt and finally memorizing the difference between abduction and adduction, the first step in your personal training journey is getting certified. But a 30-minute chitchat with the most jacked dude at your gym won’t pass as a respected credential. To land a job, you’ll need to obtain one of a few select certifications.

So, which one is best? Let’s take a look at what each has to offer so you can make the best decision for your own personal needs.

NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine)

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) is one of the most widely recognized certification bodies in the fitness industry. Their certifications are known for their comprehensive content and practical application, making them a top choice for many personal trainers.

Many gyms even require this certification as a minimum qualification for hiring new trainers. It provides a solid foundation in essential areas such as training principles, program design, and client interaction. The NASM-CPT covers everything from assessing clients’ fitness levels to designing personalized workout programs tailored to their specific needs.

Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES)

For trainers looking to specialize further, the NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) certification is highly valuable. This certification focuses on identifying and addressing movement dysfunctions, postural imbalances, and chronic pain in clients. By understanding how to correct these issues, trainers can significantly improve their clients' overall function and reduce the risk of injury. The CES certification is certainly worth your time and energy, but it isn’t a replacement for becoming a NASM certified PT.

What Does This Course Actually Include?

NASM-CPT Curriculum

The NASM-CPT certification covers several critical phases of training, each designed to progressively improve a client's fitness:

1. Stabilization Training: This phase focuses on exercises that improve balance, stability, and control. It’s particularly important for beginners to stabilize their joints and prevent injuries before moving on to more advanced exercises.
2. Strength and Endurance Training: After establishing stabilization, the program progresses to building muscular endurance and strength. This phase includes a variety of compound and isolation exercises aimed at progressively overloading the muscles to enhance performance.
3. Hypertrophy Phase: For clients looking to increase muscle size, the hypertrophy phase emphasizes growth through higher repetition ranges and increased training volume. This phase not only helps in muscle development but also continues to solidify strength gains.
4. Sports Performance and Advanced Training: For trainers interested in working with athletes or clients with specific performance goals, NASM offers advanced training modules. These include specialized certifications like the Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) and the Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES), which dive deeper into sports-specific training and corrective exercises.

Other Valuable Certifications

Certified Nutrition Coach

While exercise is a critical component of fitness, nutrition plays an equally important role in achieving health and wellness goals. NASM also offers certifications that equip trainers with the knowledge needed to provide comprehensive nutritional guidance to their clients.

It will enhance a trainer's understanding of nutrition, which is essential for offering holistic support to clients. This certification is particularly beneficial for trainers who want to expand their services beyond just physical training. With a strong grasp of nutrition, trainers can help clients make lasting dietary changes that complement their fitness routines, leading to better overall results.

Mind Pump’s Own Certification Course

In addition to national certifications, the Mind Pump hosts have developed their own certification course, tailored specifically for personal trainers who want to excel in both client management and business development.

This course is designed to help trainers build successful fitness businesses by focusing on areas such as client retention, marketing, and business strategies. It’s an excellent follow-up for trainers who have already obtained a certification like the NASM-CPT. The Mind Pump certification provides practical insights and tools that go beyond the gym floor, helping trainers to establish and grow their own businesses while improving their ability to manage and motivate clients. Let’s put it this way, the Mind Pump course helps you put your certification to use.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Certification

Selecting the right certification is a critical decision for any aspiring personal trainer. Whether you’re looking to start with a strong foundation in training principles with the NASM-CPT, expand your expertise in corrective exercise, enhance your nutritional knowledge with the NCI, or build your business with Mind Pump, these certifications offer the tools you need to succeed.

But it doesn’t stop there. Remember: certification doesn’t equal qualification. At the end of the day, you have to be willing to get your hands dirty with experience. Do a mentorship. Train people for free. Put your knowledge to practice and you’ll be on the path to success.