NPTI or certification tests?

Zip Code or Browse all Schools

NPTI or certification tests?

My son is in San Diego and was going to go to the National Personal Training Institute for $5900. He has since found a guy who is currently a personal trainer with several advanced certificates. The guy told my son not to go to this school because he could get certified by taking the exams and not going to the school. If this is true it would save me a lot of money I don't really have. What do you think about going to the school verses just taking the tests?

Rating

Getting Certified is only half the job
by: Katie - Admin

While certification is a necessary requirement to become a personal trainer, it is your knowledge and skills that make you a good one. I have seen so many trainers take shortcuts, get certified, and then struggle to add value to their clients.

Good trainers are continually learning, before and after getting certified. If you look at the trainers in our directory you will see that many hold multiple certifications. They are always trying to improve and offer a better service for their clients.

If money is tight, you can go the certification only route, but it means you have to work that much harder to educate yourself. Buy used books, read read read. Study this web site. You are going to make mistakes without a good education but if you educate yourself you can minimize those mistakes.

NPTI is expensive but their graduates hit the ground running. Consider the cost of gradually developing your skills over a year. You will struggle to get and retain clients at first if you are not delivering a high quality service from day one. That loss of income may offset the extra investment of NPTI.

- Katie

Rating

Community College!
by: Jason

Do what I did (some may disagree, but hey...I have to put food on the table somehow!)

Walk into 24 Hour Fitness and CONVINCE them you want to be a personal trainer. If you succeed(not hard, 24 Hour thinks = more trainers = more clients = more money...they don't care if you don't know what you're talking about), they'll then give you a APEX dvd to watch. It'll take maybe a day or two to study. Then take a the short test and bam!...your a certified personal trainer.

Now that he's a trainer...go to school! Take some anatomy, physiology and exercise related classes. Then, order a home study program from one of the big companies (NSCA, NASM, ACE, etc...but avoid some, one gym told me if I went with ISSA, they wouldn't hire me).

That'll cost between $400-800...and you'll be certified by a real certification. Expensive, but a lot cheaper than $5900!!

But all in all, I only did it this way to get a job of something I love to do and get the official experience. I am pursuing my 4 year degree and this is an excellant way to pay for college and put food on the table for me and my wife.

Others will be against this, but hey...you gotta do what you gotta do.

PS
This is not to take away from all trainers at 24, I just used this as one example. I've had horrible trainers and GREAT trainers...my first one is what actually got me to be a trainer. He was also the ONLY trainer that was certified BEFORE he got the job. Big gyms are in the business of sales...not fitness. Just remember that.

X Close Editor

Rating

Submitted by: Jason

Title

Comment
Do what I did (some may disagree, but hey...I have to put food on the table somehow!) Walk into 24 Hour Fitness and CONVINCE them you want to be a personal trainer. If you succeed(not hard, 24 Hour thinks = more trainers = more clients = more money...they don't care if you don't know what you're talking about), they'll then give you a APEX dvd to watch. It'll take maybe a day or two to study. Then take a the short test and bam!...your a certified personal trainer. Now that he's a trainer...go to school! Take some anatomy, physiology and exercise related classes. Then, order a home study program from one of the big companies (NSCA, NASM, ACE, etc...but avoid some, one gym told me if I went with ISSA, they wouldn't hire me). That'll cost between $400-800...and you'll be certified by a real certification. Expensive, but a lot cheaper than $5900!! But all in all, I only did it this way to get a job of something I love to do and get the official experience. I am pursuing my 4 year degree and this is an excellant way to pay for college and put food on the table for me and my wife. Others will be against this, but hey...you gotta do what you gotta do. PS This is not to take away from all trainers at 24, I just used this as one example. I've had horrible trainers and GREAT trainers...my first one is what actually got me to be a trainer. He was also the ONLY trainer that was certified BEFORE he got the job. Big gyms are in the business of sales...not fitness. Just remember that.

Cancel Delete Delete & Ban

throbber Updating Comments page...

Rating

If you can possibly afford it...do it!
by: Kathy

I looked into this program about a year ago. I was all set to go on a tour and spoke at length with whom I would have toured and I was very impressed. From what I recall, although you finish with their certification, the course actually prepares you to take NSCA certs (they use NSCA's Essentials of Strength and Conditioning, which prepares you for the CSCS). I wanted to take this course badly, but could not justify the expense. I still have $15,000 in student loan fees from earning my BS in a different field, so adding another six grand to that wasn't very appealing. I probably still would have done it if my boyfriend hadn't convinced me it wasn't cost effective (the time it would take to recoup the $5,900).

I have since earned my NCSF and NASM, have been working at 24 Hour Fitness for six months, am about to take my NSCA CPT, but I still wish I could go through the program.

NPTI or certification tests?

Comments for NPTI or certification tests?

Comments for
NPTI or certification tests?