"NASM Personal Trainer Certification"

The NASM Personal Trainer Certification Guide

nsca cpt

The NASM Personal Trainer Certification is a major offering of the The National Academy of Sports Medicine founded in 1987.

Mike Clark, NASM's President and CEO, joined the organization in 2000 and introduced the OPT (Optimum Performance Training) model.

His background in physical therapy contributes heavily to the materials and information in the NASM Personal Trainer Certification and to their newer specialty certifications.

Optimum Performance Training

The OPT model is an outline for your clients' success.

It incorporates 7 specific areas of focus including corrective flexibility, stability, functional stability, hypertrophy, maximal strength, power, and maximal power production.

My NASM-CPT

I have held the NASM-CPT since 2004. What distinguishes this fitness certification from the rest is how unique the levels of the OPT model are.

It can be used with any client with any goal. I have used these methods with clients involved in weight loss programs, clients preparing for professional sports careers, and post-rehab clients.

From a Personal Training business perspective, the teachings of the NASM-CPT are some of the easiest to communicate to your clients.

The outline is so detailed, but the concepts are easy to understand. This will make it easier to explain the "why" to your clients if they do not understand the methods you are trying to use to get them to their important goals. They'll see and feel the progressions and will look forward to the next steps in the OPT.

IMPORTANT: This will be a critical tool in planning for client renewals.

"Thank You for The Videos"

"Dave, I wanted to thank you for your coaching and mentoring. I started your Personal Trainer Marketing course 2 weeks ago and have already implemented two of your strategies will almost immediate results. I can't wait for Week #3! Thank you!!

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San Francisco, CA

NCCA Accredited

The NASM Personal Trainer certification is accredited by the NCCA giving it merit among the numerous certifications available. Also, many large health club chains choose to partner with the NASM to continue the education for a Personal Trainer.

Exam Costs and Materials

The investment for this certification ranges from $499 - $649 depending upon the study materials that you wish to receive. NASM offers the following:

Exam only
Exam and CD-ROM
Exam, Videos, and Textbook
Exam, CD-ROM, and Textbook
Exam, CD-ROM or Videos, Textbook, Foundations & Live Workshop

Foundations Information

A unique offering, one which I have instructed as a former faculty representative for a large health club chain in the Northeast United States, is the NASM Foundations course.

Whether you are brand new to the fitness industry or are returning to it, this is a complete introduction to the business, human anatomy and movement, and the NASM philosophies.

If you do not have a degree in Health Sciences and you are choosing your first Personal Trainer Certification, I highly recommend that you complete the NASM Foundations coursework before advancing to the NASM Personal Trainer Certification.

The Live Workshop

NASM's live workshop serves almost as a group study setting. You will not review the exam format as much as you will have access to hands on experience in setting up workouts for specific stages of the OPT model.

The course covers two 8-hour days and "brings the textbook to life". Considering the amount of time that you will spend reading the textbook and watching videos, the live workshop is a welcome change in study options.

Prerequisites

To be considered eligible for the NASM Personal Trainer Certification, you must meet several requirements. Here they are:

You must be at least 18 years old
You must have completed payment in full
and You must have a current CPR/AED certification

NASM Exam Materials

If you've decided on pursuing your fitness career as a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, we have included a link to the Optimum Performance Training CD-ROM set.

The 8-CD set will lead you through a complete understanding of NASM's training philosophy, teach you how to design fitness programs, and prepare you for the examination.

Currently NASM-CPT Certified?

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Additional Certifications

NSCA Certified Personal Trainer - Your Guide to the NSCA-CPT

NSCA Personal Trainer Certification - A resource for understanding the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist offering by the NSCA

Personal Trainer Course - Your Ultimate Personal Training Sales Guide

nsca cpt

Continue to: ACE Personal Trainer Certification

Return to Chapter #2 Index

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...To Your Future Success...

Thank you for visiting My-Personal-Trainer-School.com. As a health professional for much of the last decade, I understand the ups and downs of the fitness industry and the successes and frustrations that many of you have.

It's been a wonderful ride and if I could do it all over again, I would -- but with one definite change. I would have started my personal training website much earlier on in my career.

Having a presence on the web has opened my eyes to forms of monetization that I never would have realized, opportunites for joint ventures with health and business professionals around the world, and taken my overall fitness business to new levels of success.

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You probably want to become a personal trainer so you can help change and save lives, but the ugly truth is that you won't be helping very many people unless you understand the sales process.

Our eBook outlines the most important elements of your sales presentation and how you'll be able to help more people doing what you love with only a few minor adjustments.

Ace Your Personal Trainer Interview

As personal trainers, we are most comfortable on the fitness floor, but to get there we have to wow our potential employers during the interview process.

If preparing for an interview makes you nervous and you want an edge on the competition, this is a must read.

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