Personal trainers play an important role in the lives of many who are struggling and aspiring health and condition-conscious people. But how do you ‘validate’ your skills as a personal trainer? Personal training certifications are essential if you are a dedicated personal trainer (PT), interested in giving the best to your clients, and to get a good income of course.
Just perform a Google search on “Online Personal Training Certification”, and you’ll actually come across a whole long list of certifications – there was one which seemed like a joke as it costs only USD49.99! But the fact is .. that there are tonnes of personal training certifications out there – which one is the best and can offer you the experience, knowledge, training, satisfaction and a chance at a great personal trainer salary?
In my opinion, the personal training scene here in Malaysia is not as competitive and as lucrative as it is in most other countries. If you would read up the profile of the personal trainer at your gyms, you would notice that only a handful have taken the initiative to get certified by an independant and recognised certification body (ACE, FISAF, etc), while the rest of them (which is almost MOST of them actually) only possess an in house certification.
In my opinion, unless the PT has a real genuine passion for his job, he’d make a lousy trainer if his knowledge and expertise depended SOLELY on what he learns at the in house certification course. Most of the time, the in house courses are only recognised by that one fitness chain itself, and not the others. I’ve also had the opportunity to glance through some of their training materials, which interestingly, even addresses the area of convincing members at the gym to sign up for personal training packages. It even includes sample questions and answers, what you should say if given a particular excuse not to sign up, etc. Yes, thats sick! Now you know why some of the rotten ones can sometimes be so persistent and annoying.. its cos they studied how to!
To those of you who have not heard of the ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association) the ISSA is recognised worldwide and are very highly respected in this field. Anyway, personally, I’ve always been very keen on certifications from the ISSA myself, mainly because:
1. I know people who have sat for ISSA certifications – and they are top notch personal trainers.
2. I’ve seen some of their examination questions before, and they make the most sense when compared to a few others.
3. The convenience and the freedom/flexibility to study at your own pace, and sit for an online exam.
For me, being here in Malaysia, having to juggle a busy work schedule and my time at the gym doesn’t leave me much time to enroll myself in a class to study for a certification. I wish I could just sit for the exam and skip the course materials! And the ISSA gives you just that – the freedom to study at a relaxed pace and to sit for the online exam when you’re ready. That alone, is enough to swing my decision to them, but the fact that they actually are a credible voice in this industry.. is a very welcome bonus.
There are many who aren’t all out for online certifications, and I don’t blame them. For example, a complete newbie would need to familiarize himself with exercises, technique, and have a good understanding of our health and bodies. For someone like me, or anyone who’s been around the scene for a good few years – an online certification could be just what they need to take their career to the next level since we already have the basics nailed down. Although there’s nothing like having a real live person in front of you to interact with, I’m actually pretty comfortable with their in depth study materials and support offered.
The ISSA offers a completely online personal training course. You can sign up, read materials, take practice tests, and sit for the real certification exam all online. No need to talk to a real person. This does have its up and downs.. but I do believe that the quality of their syllabus, and if you really are a dedicated person and are passionate about it – getting certified will easily place you 10 notches above the average PT in your gym who only carries an in house certification.
The ISSA offers certifications in various categories, but I’ve personally had my eyes set on the Specialist in Performance Nutrition (SPN) certification for quite some time now. Its not really a course that gets you involved in training an individual, but pretty much a specialised course to understand the role nutrition plays in our bodies and how we can best maximise that for maximum performance by our bodies.
In Malaysia today, especially among the fitness chain giants, where a majority of PTs only possess an in-house certification program – having your own cert will differentiate you from the rest. If you’re looking for the best ‘study-as-you-go’ certification that will be able to fit in your busy schedule, I’d say that an ISSA certification would be your best option. Hey.. it’s what I myself would sign up for. ;)
I write with great interest about the ISSA simply because in the right hands – it has the benefits of excellent in-depth materials coupled together with convenience. Now thats a perfect combination. I plan to get ISSA certified over the next few months if all goes well… so wish me luck!
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This post was written by...
Noel Chelliah, ACE-CPT, ACE-LWMC, has been recognized as one of the Top Transformation Experts in Malaysia. No stranger to being overweight himself, Noel has gone through a life-changing transformation himself, from fat, to fit. In 2010, Noel founded the DailyMuscle Body Transformation Camp, which today helps hundreds of individuals exercise and practice healthier habits. In his spare time, Noel serves the community with various programs that promote a healthier lifestyle, and enjoys playing with his dogs.
My name is Noel Chelliah, and I’m a Transformation Specialist and founder of the 
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
…luck!!
i’ll report on Planet Fitness, Sg when i can! :D
good luck DM! :)
mBekkk…
DM: DM!!! You are finally back!!! :)
Funny that you should post about PT certification as I was coincidentally thinking of getting one too!
And you are definitely right about the fact that practically any average Joe can just be a PT and what can surprise you guys is this —> they are armed with only one week of training and hey presto they get to be PTs!
I know quite a little about this cause I’m trying to be a PT too but I still don’t feel that I’m ready yet :/
Wouldn’t want to be one until I’m sure I can be a good one :)
Checking ISSA site now for more infos :P
i’m thinking of gettning one and working part time as one.
to me, a good PT must exude good lifestyle where fitness and diet is concerned.
i have to work on my diet though. LOL
Manju: How about lunch instead?
fitchick: My very own singaporean spy!
El Goat: Would you like to be the ‘guest of honour’ at my BBQ?
Chrisdaanimal: Hey bro.. I was always around.. keeping a watchful eye over my site as I was tied up with an incredible amount of work at the office. The ISSA is a personal preference for me.. there ARE other options out there too, so just keep your eyes open. Also, here’s some insider info for you: In a few months time in Malaysia.. a company affiliated with world class certification bodies will be set up and will offer Professional courses that dive deep into what Personal Training is about, offering ‘train-the-trainer’ courses to already qualified PTs, gym chains, universities, etc. This is gonna be big. Once these guys are established… I’ll definitely post a writeup on this site. That oughta give you something to look forward to. :)
stupe: I gotta work on my diet too lar. Ha ha.
of course! :D be glad to
Good luck DM! and u actually haven’t reply my mail uhhh..busy?
DM,
what about NESTA ?
The Dumb: I didnt? Re-send to me then. By the way.. it will help if you state your nick in your email… its quite difficult to keep track of who is who…
Jason: I’ve not had the chance to learn up/review NESTA. Sorry.
wow it would be cool to get a PT certificate like that
hope i can get one in the US 1 day~
sweet~
TheGargantuan: I think they should be available locally soon. Keep your eyes peeled.
Hi, I want to tone up my body and build some lean muscle. I hv engaged a PT before and gone thru wth him for 3 mths but there was little result to show. i hv stopped training for a few mths but now i would like to work on my body again. Can u recommend to me a good trainer who is also well verse on diet and nitrition? I suspect diet could be one of the contributing factor to the lack of result. I stay in ss2, PJ and it will be great if the trainer is from a gym nearby. thks
Lim, I wrote you a personal email on the day you posted this comment.. did you get it?
Hi All, Those of you interested in becoming an internationally certified PT (or in finding an internationally certified one who can help you reach your goals!) now have an option right here in PJ. Fitnesss Innovations (Malaysia), a member of Fitness Innovations (Thailand) has just opened in Damansara Perdana and is starting training courses at the beginning of May. They prepare you for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) certification which is one of the few accredited US certifications – whose exams will now be available every quarter in KL and possibly Penang. The training involves practice as well as theory, so you can count on quality from those becoming certified through us. It is not easy, but those who make it through are great trainers. Also, more advanced certifications will be available next year and CECs are now! We started in Bangkok 2 years ago because of similar concerns about the quality of trainers in many Clubs and there are now almost 100 certified trainers there. Give us a call and let’s see if we can help you.
This is a great “heads up” blog post for training going off and investing hard earned money in personal training certification. Yes, many are simply just a money maker with no debth. However, it is important to do your research.
In the personal trainer marketing course, Personal Training Riches, they mention only 8 accredited certifications one should consider. Interesting enough, ISSA is one of the recommendations.
When it comes to a personal training business there are two sides to the spectrum, anatomy and physiology, and sales/marketing. In order to be a successful personal trainer, you need both.
Here is a great audio on the most neglected side, personal trainer business, sales, and marketing. http://www/personaltrainingriches.com
This will help trainers quickly increase their profits.
Suzanne: How are things coming along at FIT now that you guys have been operating for a couple of months? Has the response been good? Do update us.
Jim: Thanks.
Hi dailymuscle,
I’m looking to be a certified PT. i know ISSA is one of the best, but it’s to expensive for me. do you know other certification with lower fees? may be below below RM800?
Farid: I think there are a few local courses you can do.. but I am unsure of the cost. The best certification you can get yourself now that FIT (Fitness Innovations, see comment by Suzanne above) has opened would be one of the ACE certifications. They would most likely cost more than what the ISSA does, but it would include hands on training, classroom sessions, etc, and would make you a much highly sought after PT. If you’d like, I can put you in touch with FIT. Just drop me a note.
Hi everbody,
I am a newbie here. I am a yoga instructor and I am interest in becoming personal trainer.What is the course I should start first:group trainer or personal trainer.Aren’t the syllabus the same?Can I get a discount since one of the member Suzanne works there.Boleh ke?