World Instructor Training Schools Certification ( WITS )

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World Instructor Training Schools Certification ( WITS )

by Joe Bartovic
(Middletown, CT)

As a Faculty Instructor for World Instructor Training Schools in Connecticut I want to let those of you interested in becoming personal trainers the advantages of the WITS certification.

WITS is a 6 week course of 15 hours of in classroom lecture and 15 hours of in gym hands-on training. The course teaches exercise physiology, nutrition, biomechanics, and practical application. The course covers a variety of program designs for different individuals and situations.

The greatest benefit of this certification course is building the personal skills working with others. Other programs can give you information, but nothing can beat working one on one with somebody.

On the 6th week students must pass a written exam and pass a live practical exam before moving on to a 20 hour internship.

The certification is one of the most challenging and will give a new trainer more experence than any at home study, Internet certification out there.

Joe Bartovic
Certified Personal Trainer
WITS Faculty Instuctor
WITS-CPT Lvl III
NASM-CPT,PES
Middletown, CT
www.myspace.com/joefit4u

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World Instructor Training Schools Certification ( WITS )

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WITS Certification- I agree
by: Sherry McCormick

Hey Joe:
I agree with you about the WITS certification. I've taught the various courses for WITS for over 10 years. I have also worked as a fitnessdirector and health club manager in the past. I was always frustrated when a new certified trainer was hired that did not know how to do a fitness assessment or design a workout properly. I felt like I spent 1/2 of my valuable time training them in the basic stuff. The WITS graduates are different. When they pass the written and the practical aspects they know their stuff. The internship helps to solidify their knowledge and skills. I highly recommend it.
Sherry

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WITS - not so!
by: Anonymous

I chose to do WITS for all the right reasons. Sadly my course was so disorganized. Tutors who failed to show. Didn't spend anytime on the practicals. The exam date was changed due to disorganization. Last minute tutors who didn't know the syllabus.

It left a sour taste in my mouth and I wouldn't recommend WITS.

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re: Anonymous
by: Joe Bartovic

Because the WITS Certification is taught in so many locations across the country I can 't teach them all, but I can tell you that there are so many great instructors on our staff. But to remain Anonymous and be a critic does not help us correct a problem in one location. Your comments, Anonymous, are not constructive.

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DUPAGE AREA
by: Anonymous

WITS instruction was disorganized. I feel that I have not learned anything while taking the 6 day course. Its not six weeks when its one saturday a week. I was taught by a fitness runner, that when questioned barely scratched the surface of an answer. I feel that I have self-taught myself through internet and other materials, more than WITS is ever capable of in its entirety as of the present.

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WITS unrecognized
by: Corey (Michigan)

I researched personal training certifications before I went on to get a WITS certification back in 2001. I chose WITS because I thought the curriculum seemed more comprehensive than ACE and some others. Unfortunately, I did not continue to pusue a part time personal training career at that time (other obligations), but even so, every time I mention WITS to anyone else, they have never heard of it. I'm guessing now that I'm going back in pursuit of certification, I should choose a certification that is more widely recognized. Any comments?

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Unrecognized and discouraged
by: Anonymous

I wish I would've found this site before spending time, money and energy on the WITS program. Although the course is meant to be taught over a 5 week period, I felt like it was more like a study at home course. I found myself on-line trying to decode the terminology heavy content of the book. I honestly believe a pre-requisite of the program should be working knowledge of the human anatomy. Although I passed the course I am having much difficulty trying to find an internship let alone a place who has ever heard of the program. It's hard to be taken seriously when you go through a program lacking a reputation of any sort. I do not recommend this program to anyone trying to break into this field. I have a business degree and in these economic times I am still stuck.

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Who's working?
by: Anonymous

Reading these reviews I'm starting to wonder if the money I spent was worth it.I was hoping this course could get me a job in the fitness field but,what good is a certification if no one has even heard of it?So my question is:Are any W.I.T.S graduates employed?

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Successful WITS Trainer
by: Colleen Forte'

I am a WITS certified trainer. I had a great instructor who was very knowledgeable. I feel we skimmed the surface on biomechanics especially but I have my text book and use it as a reference. Perhaps my success is due to being a group fitness instructor with my local YMCA for 10 years. However, I have always been busy as a trainer. The thing is you have to have a passion for fitness and you have to sell yourself. I have a company name and business cards. I have a brochure and a rate sheet. If you run it like a business and believe in yourself you WILL be successful. No one will hand you anything you have to work for it just as hard as you work for the man. My biz is self sufficient-I have purchased my own equipment and I run outside bootcamps as my training ground. I LOVE IT!!

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WITS is a joke
by: Anonymous

The class was a waste of time and money. The class was very disorganized and when students asked questions the instructor told us to just look it up in the book. BEWARE.

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WITS Training Instruction
by: Dennis Lee

Yes its true the WITS classes meet on Saturdays for five Saturdays half in class and half in practicals.

One has to definitely have the WITS textbook prior to the first class and have read the first six chapters in the WITS textbook as well as the chapters for the fitness assessment practical as well.

One of the things that makes the WITS course kind of difficult to study for it has heavy amounts of personal trainer terminology that does require some time to take detailed notes and creation of note outlining to organize the information but that is largely due in part to the WITS textbook is based on the ACSM personal training certification protocols which is well recognized by the fitness industry.

The practicals are very detailed also as well so one also needs to take a comprehensive set of notes also as well. It is especially strongly recommended to spend additional time to go over the personal training practical assessments to get sufficient practice time also as well.

WITS also has available for purchase practice tests two of them along with the answer key to allow one to get an idea what areas one is strong or weak in specifically.

I also picked up the American Council on Exercise (ACE) personal training certification textbook also as well to use as a cross reference text as well to use while studying.

Its not an easy certification to study for so spend whatever time is necessary to master the material one is expected to be tested on in the WITS textbook.

One can mention that the WITS certification follows the recommended protocols for ACSM standards as outlined in the Fitness Professional's Handbook

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wits employment
by: Anonymous

to answer your question.. Yes i am employed and have only been certified by Wits.. Sometimes they have never heard of Wits but in the last year or so that is changing.. I just acquired a job and they were looking for a national cert. Wits isn't but they were willing to let that slide because Wits graduates are ready to roll. they allowed me to obtain the job without requiring other certs. Be patient the name and reputation is growing...

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Gets the job done (or landed)
by: Danielle

I'm currently enrolled in the WITS training program and as a licensed massage practitioner I already have a firm knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. Without my massage school education, I think I would be very lost in this program. However, when signing up for the program, I was warned that it is a challenging course. You have to take responsibility for reading the material and doing additional study if needed.

I chose WITS because it is offered through the continuing education center at my local community college, making it convenient and somewhat reputable. I have no other program to compare it to, but my experience with it so far is that it's going to help me accomplish my goals. It may not have all the elements I would desire in a program, but it gets me to my goal in 6 weeks. For people who are new to fitness or who aren't familiar with anatomy, I wouldn't recommend it. If fitness is your one and only career goal, make the investment of time, energy, and money and get a BS in Exercise Physiology.

In searching for trainer positions online, I have seen some job postings that mention WITS as an acceptable credential. Even though I haven't completed the program yet, I already have a job interview today. I'm not sure how widely recognized WITS is but my impression so far is that many large gyms will recognize it and as for if they consider it a good or bad thing, I think it will be up to me and my demonstration of knowledge to convince them that my training prepared me to be an exceptional trainer.

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Don't count on anyone but yourself
by: Rebecca

This program sounded extremely informative, I had never done any work in the fitness field- however I am a workout fanatic so I thought this would be a great opportunity to learn more & change career fields. Well, unfortunately some of the people in the class felt like every Saturday was their own personal training time. They would ask questions, tell stories etc. about their routines & nutritional supplements etc. Every time the instructor tried to teach or instruct, these people would interrupt to make sure everyone else in the class knew how much he could bench press... I really didn't get to learn anything in the "practical" half because we would focus on answering personal questions instead of being shown the equipment, balls, tubes etc. If you have no experience in fitness, I would really look for something else prior to this cert simply so you can follow the course & already know what you're doing... Every instructor is different I'm sure but so far it hasn't been the best experience.

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NASM
by: David

Corey, you should try NASM. I hear very good things.

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Hands on makes the difference
by: Joe Bartovic

Thanks for your input David, as a NASM CPT,PES I too say good things about the NASM-OPT program. Where it lacks is in hands on skills. This is where WITS differs by having 15hrs of hands on training and 30hrs of internship with veteran trainers. Unless you take the NASM-CPT Plus program you only do cd-rom home study and get certified without ever instucting a real person.
For a new trainer to get real world experence WITS is a better certification to start with.

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Waste of Time and Money
by: Anonymous

WITS would be a good certification in 1985. Its really out dated and not good. They dupe local Colleges into providing their program and actually sell their certification as a college coach. The lectures are poorly designed and confusing. They take you to a gym to do practical and you cant get hardly any work done because people are working out while they are trying to practicals.

The instructors aren't prepared. We had to a test that required a metronome and we were told we wold have to download one on our smart phones. I don't have a smart phone. They didn't even teach us how to warm up a client unless you think static stretching is a warm up.

Then you have to find a job. No one has ever heard of this cert. It seems to me that NASM or ACSM were the certs that everyone wanted. I got on at a gym and they would take WITS but I had to get NASM within 6 months of hire. I found out they also hired someone without a cert under same conditions. I basically wasted 675 + 89 for the text + 8 Saturdays + a 30 hour internship

Run Away, Run Far away from this Certification

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W.I.T.S
by: Ben

I felt like this program was a waste of time and money. The instructors did not know how to teach and they weren't knowledgeable in the field. The curriculum was poorly constructed and disorganized.

If you take this course you will regret it. I wish I read this review before I made the decision to waste my money.

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World Instructor Training Schools Certification ( WITS )

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World Instructor Training Schools Certification ( WITS )