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A Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) is someone who has been “certified” by a well established organization such as the American College of Sports Medicine or the American Council on Exercise as proficient in the development and implementation of individualized exercise programs. Some certificating organizations are much more demanding than others, and clients should carefully check qualifications before putting themselves in the hands of the prospective trainer. CPT’s work with healthy persons and/or those who have been given medical clearance to exercise by their physician. If you have not yet been cleared for exercise by your physician, you should be working with Physical Therapist.
The CPT uses a variety of techniques to lead and demonstrate safe and effective methods of exercise by applying the fundamental principles of exercise science. They are familiar with the various forms of exercise used to optimize and maintain the health related components of physical fitness and performance. They are proficient in analyzing the client’s background so as to be able to make appropriate exercise recommendations and motivate individuals to begin and continue healthy activities. To maintain their certification, trainers must satisfy the certifying staying abreast of developments in the fitness area by earning a certain number of continuing education credits each year.
Personal Trainers may perform any or all of the following tasks:
- Screen and interview potential clients to determine their readiness for exercise and physical activity
- Perform fitness tests or assessments to determine their current level of fitness
- Help clients set realistic goals and motivate the client to adhere to their program
- Develop exercise regiments and programs for clients to follow and modify programs as necessary, based on progression an goals
- Demonstrate and instruct specific techniques to clients for the safe and effective performance of various exercise movements
- Supervise or “spot” (physically assisting your client with an exercise that usually involves free weights or dumbbells to minimize risk of injury) clients when they are performing exercise movements
- Maintain records of clients’ progress or lack thereof with respect to the exercise prescription
Many personal trainers also obtain additional instructions or certifications in areas such as yoga, aquatic exercise, wellness coaching, studio cycling, or kickboxing. These additional certifications are valuable but should not be confused with the core certification in personal training.
Because the personal trainer professional has evolved so rapidly, currently there is no mandatory or standardized academic preparation model such as there is for physicians, nurses, or other allied health professionals. For this reason, certification in the fitness industry takes on added importance. Academic programs designed to prepare students for a career in personal training can have a variety of names: exercise science, exercise physiology, physical education, kinesiology, sports science, personal trainer, fitness specialist, etc.
Click here to meet our Certified Personal Trainers.
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