College Degree in Fitness.Period

by Tim Lord
(Tampa Fl)

Certifications are over rated. I have one, big deal. I also have 2 college degrees in fitness, have taught in public schools in fitness, and taught personal training for 20 years. I will put my knowledge in fitness education above any cert learned in months or weeks.

NOTHING replaces good education, research work, and practical hands on training for months!

I am attaining a Doctorate in Sports Performance Psychology and this will allow me the title of "fitness expert" more than any certification you will find. Too many "gym rats" who are training or trying to train people. Fitness should be taught and the approach to personal training should be a teaching one, not a training one and that will get the best results.

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You're Arrogant
by: Anonymous

You're arrogant. Do you really think it's appropriate to dismiss years of experience, work, study, training, and love of fitness because somebody doesn't have a Ph.D, or realized after they graduated that kinesiology, physiology, or dietitics might have been a better fit? I don't. Results speak. You've insulted people like Jillian Michaels, but I think you're more threatend by her because she's more famous than you. She's got more clients, more money maybe, more examples of success than you. Maybe it's true. Maybe too many trainers really are out there for self promotion and not for education. I read your blog. You're one of them. You didn't provide any usable information for your readers except deals to meet you at the gym. Did you help anybody with breathing, nutrition, stretching, reps, weight loads, or form? What's the takeaway experience with you? Do people feel better for having experienced your knowledge? Nope. You belittle people with less formal education than you. Perhaps you should take a class on social graces, because you lack them.

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What are you trying to do here.
by: Anonymous

Look I understand where your coming from with the whole education thing. But I think your blinded by your arrogance to see the bigger picutre. Why did you go to school for? was it to make others feel bad beacause they didnt. Do you like throwing it in other trainers faces that you are on your way to becoming a "Expert" Well sir its like you said BIG DEAL im not impressed with you either. I got into the buiss to help others reach their goals and I think your too stuck up on your cloud to see that everyone does not have the same goals. If my client wants to get that ripped 6 pack and nothing else! well thats what I am going to give them. If they just want to be stronger and more agile and focus on their stamina and resistence, well thats what im going to help them on. You would probably tell them they are fools for not being educated on proper health benefits blah blah. I have expirience in showing results and making people feel comfortable around me. My client list and salary speak for themselves. I love what I do and thats all there is to it. Let me leave you with this, Dagrees are often overrated, I know plenty of people who make more money with certificates than people with dagrees.

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degrees and certifications don't make a good trainer
by: Anonymous

Although most of us would agree that getting formal education is important in order to provide safe, science based recommendations to our clients, education is not all. Some trainers I know, would take that PhD of yours and cook it for breakfast, and they don't have one. Experience can not be improvised. Research doesn't make a good trainer, practice does. I also happen to be CPT and have 2 college degrees, and a masters, but I don't go bragging around thinking I know more than everybody else. That is a sign of ignorance, not knowledge.It is also a lack of morals and respect to others. Maybe you missed that class.

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Degree vs. Certification
by: Anonymous

It is not wise to make broad sweeping generalizations about a topic such as "degree/no degree" or "certification/no certification." I have had a Ph.D for 11 years as well as certification. Truth is, there are idiots with doctorates as well as brilliant folks without. True, higher credentials may open more doors, but what you deliver as far as results is FAR more critical to your career than a piece of paper. Having said that, if you continue to strive for greater knowledge and professional development (either by formal education or additional certifications), you will continue to grow and keep up with the ever expanding research in this exciting field.

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What?!
by: Anonymous

What everyone is trying to say is get off your high horse [editors note: comment removed]. What do you mean results don't speak? You are on of the millions of Americans that live in a fantasy land where everyone is judged on how much money they have and the amount of schooling. I have been to college and it is just as easy to not learn anything and still get a bachelors or master degree. Read a book jerk.

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funny
by: Anonymous

I have a degree and consider it the worst waste of time and money of my life. Training theory is litterred with nonsensical bs-- 3 sets of 10 reps...really? WHY? Where did the 3 sets come from? why not 4 sets? Hell, why not 100 sets. As far as rep style--hell, I've been around the best bodybuilders in the country and seen some bounce the weight with pretty quick rep styles and others who are super strict--who's right?

College as the be all/end all for Training? You must be freaking kidding.

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Arrogance?
by: Mark Jackson

I did not see the initial comment as sounding Arrogant. I think the guy is just saying that personal training should be held in higher standards than ever allowing someone to go online and take a test! We need education! There are plenty of schools like mine around the country and specify in educating trainers without having to attend 4 years of college. We are just as important as doctors in my opinion. We can keep people healthy and off the operating table if we know what we are doing. I admire everyone on this website because we all have the same goal..help people. It is just hard to decide what rout to take. That is why we are all here, to help each other make those decisions. Let's stop bashing each other and get out and help people change their lives!

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Arrogance
by: Anonymous

Good you have a lot of education, now what?

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The trainer counts.
by: The Real World

Knowledge and experience are what counts.
People get in college with entrance exams taken by other people. He** people even have others take classes for them so they can get degrees. All certs and degrees are just paper, bought by green paper.
someone can go to libraries for free and get all the knowledge you have for free. Just because you paid lots of money, and went to some classes and sat down, does not make you superior.
If you ever watch any TV, there are people who have practiced law, and not ever been in a college classroom. And guess what they have even been successful, fooling very intelligent people with all sorts of advanced degrees. It may be wrong, but thats reality. Its all marketing.
No matter what cert or degree you have, clients will not know what is what until they educate themselves on fitness.

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wasted money
by: Rockefeller

If you want to only work at a gym and train people, a college degree isn't worth the price you pay for it. How much to trainers at a gym make annually? was it worth a whole entire doctorate? Maybe I want to work at a gym while I go to school for business to open one up one day. But hey, from what i get from your post is that I need a DOCTORATE so I can make about $40 a session. Good luck paying your student loans back, unless Wall Street Dad paid for yours Rockefeller!

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Degree/Knowledge?Experience?
by: fjf

The goal of all Training should be to improve general health and quality of life. Trainers must be able to address all issues relative to health and fitness. Fitness enables us to live a longer, healthier, and better life. The idea is "train" the entire person physical and mental for daily life. An educational degree B.S/M.S./PhD probably means the individual has general and extensive knowledge in individual and related fields and is able to do research to keep up with current research. This is probably a good idea. After all would you choose a "Certified Master Plumber" to do Cardiac By-Pass surgery or a Cardiothorasic surgeon with an MD. Both are repairing pipes.

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