Why we need regulations on personal training certifications

5 Reasons we need stricter regulations on personal training certifications

I did a search on the internet the other day and was looking at how many personal training certifications there are. Did you know that on the IDEAFit website there are over 120 personal training certifications? This list is only for personal training certifications it does not include the many group exercise, yoga, gym specific and the other groups that certify fitness professionals. How many of these are regulated personal training certifications?

The CDC says that over 69% of Americans over the age of 20 are overweight. Read some of the articles here. We need better regulations that will allow these millions of Americans to get the help that they need.

                                       

Reason 1. Unregulated online exams.

I am ashamed to admit this but my very first personal training certification came from one of these so called “personal training certification sites”. I won’t mention the site but it gave you 5 attempts to take a test and you could use google to search things that you didn’t know. If the personal training industry wants to be regarded as a legitimate career path for individuals who are seeking to go into the health and fitness industry they need to have exams that are proctored at a facility.

Reason 2. Less Idiots Who are “Certified Personal Trainers”

Thanks to Meathead trainers who think training until you can’t move another muscle is a “great workout bro” we as personal trainers get a bad reputation. The fact that there are so many of these trainers who are out there and have no idea what movements in the sagittal, transverse, or frontal planes of motion mean speaks volumes to why there needs to be stricter regulation.

Reason 3. Insurance Coverage for Personal Training

If insurance companies covered personal training more people would take advantage of it. If there were stricter guidelines on certifications or a National Certifying body we could lobby to have insurance companies cover personal training. This would also open up training to millions of Americans who need the help.

Reason 4. More Trainers Who Have the Necessary Experience to Help Their Clients

Personal trainers would be required to continue to learn and build their knowledge in the industry. They would be required to go through more studying and hopefully get hands on experience in order to

Reason 5. Industry Will Be Perceived as More Than Just “Highly Paid Workout Partners”

I have people constantly telling me that they don’t want to pay someone to workout with them. When the sad reality is that they need the accountability because they can’t do it on their own. It is really a shame that we are viewed as glorified workout partners. I know for a fact if you asked your average client what the Functional Movement Screen was or whether they knew about Metabolic Training they would have no idea. If people can’t achieve the results they want without help than they need help and that is why we are here.