I'm now ASFA Certified as a Sport-Specific Trainer...& it was easy
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I thought I'd try a new challenge out, and boy, was it easy for me (& rather surprisingly easier than I originally thought). Since 2000, I have been CSCS-certified by the NSCA, and in 2005, I got a NESTA certification in personal training to add onto my experience. Now that I'm just doing part-time work, and my CSCS will come to an end in 2008 with it's certification, I don't feel the need to continually educate myself via the CSCS credentials for a part-time hobby of training just a handful of athletes. So, I knew there were easier options, such as online testing for some training cert's, that are out there & available. I didn't want a 20 question, $40 certification test either, from the American Gym Trainers Group (or some other goofy-named 'organization' that is just really a certification business). I don't know if there is such a thing as the American Gym Trainers Group, but there are some ones with names that reflect such silliness.
Anyways, I figured I might as well get something to fill in the void of the CSCS for my part-time adventures in training, so the American Sports & Fitness Association grabbed my attention from my searching. This was a 41 question test on general sports training information (mostly true/false stuff), and I had 3 options: a 1 year certificate fee for $75, a year cert & card for $100, or a lifetime cert & card for $225. I went with the Lifetime Renewal certificate option, took the test in about 2 minutes of time, & passed it.
If I was a full-time trainer, I wouldn't even look at this option, but since I'm just in it for a part-time hobby now, this is probably better suited for my needs. This way I'm still certified as 'something', a Sport-Specific Trainer, instead of being a CSCS, and I don't have all the paperwork/workshops to worry about with CEU's and all that stuff. Think of it: do I really need much for CEU's if I'm just training less than 10 athletes on my own times/schedule?
Could this be an option for some entering the training field? Maybe. For one, I'd suggest if you're going to enter the field, take a look at all the main certifications that will best suit your needs. For example, don't become a CSCS if you plan to work with really overweight people. You get the CSCS if you expect to work with athletes. You get a personal trainer cert if you want to work strictly with fitness-oriented people. Keep in mind there's a huge difference in the demands for general fitness & for sports training. Just see what's out there that will best suit your interests in the field you choose to enter.
KB27
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on 8/10/2008
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