If you're considering taking a fitness certification course, you might be wondering whether it will be worth the money and effort. After all, there are plenty of free online resources available for anyone who wants to learn about health and fitness. So what makes a certification worth investing in? If you're considering earning a professional credential from a recognized organization, here are seven things that can help ensure it's worth your time and money:
Take the time to choose the right certification.
Before you invest in a certification, it's important to consider your future career goals. If you want to become a personal trainer and help people with their workouts, then a fitness instructor certification may be right for you. If instead of working with clients directly, you'd prefer to teach classes at gyms and studios like yoga or indoor cycling class instructors do, then perhaps an allied health/personal training degree would be better suited for that role.
Before investing in any coursework or certification program (or any other kind of education), make sure that the requirements for earning said degree won't conflict with any other educational programs or certifications that are required by employers when searching for jobs within the industry!
It might not be possible to do both without some serious juggling around with schedules and time management skills because both require almost 40 hours worth of classroom instruction plus additional field work hours outside those two weeks' worth of class time each semester.
Research the cost.
Before you sign up for a certification, it's important to research the cost. The following are some of the costs that you may incur:
- Cost of certification
- Cost of training
- Travel expenses (gas, airfare) and accommodation costs if applicable
- Childcare while you're away from home on training or exams
- Time off work to complete all requirements in a timely manner
If these factors are too much for your budget, consider taking a free course or looking into local programs that offer reduced rates based on income level.
Consider how you'll use your certification.
Before you enroll in a fitness certification program, consider how you'll use your certification. If you want to teach, look for certifications that are accepted by the credentialing bodies of your state. If you want to work in the fitness industry, find out if there is an application process and make sure their requirements meet those of local businesses.
Ask about payment options and set up a budget before enrolling in any training program so that when it comes time for payment, there won't be any surprises or unexpected expenses thrown into the mix at the last minute. A lot of people find themselves unable to afford paying back loans on time due to unexpected financial emergencies or expenses like car repairs; therefore having an emergency fund set aside can help mitigate these risks as well as serve as protection against bad credit scores due payments being late or not paid at all (which happens far more often than anyone would like).
Decide if you want to earn a certification or get professional development hours.
If you're a fitness professional looking to earn a certification or get professional development hours, it's important to know the difference.
Certifications are designed to test your knowledge and skills in specific areas of fitness. They usually require some studying, but they can be taken online and usually don't take long to complete--usually between one and three months. Some certifications will even pay for the testing fee if you pass! Once you've earned your certification, it shows potential clients that you have achieved mastery in an area of fitness (or several areas). This can help convince them that hiring someone with this level of expertise is worth their money because they'll get better results from working with them than from hiring someone without any certifications at all.
Professional development hours are similar to certifications except they don't focus on specific areas; instead they show general competence in all aspects related towards being an effective personal trainer or group exercise instructor (PEI). For example: If I'd like my PEI clients' workouts to include more strength training than cardio only exercises then earning my "Personal Training" certification would probably not be beneficial because it doesn't specifically address those needs--but earning "Group Fitness Instructor" would definitely add value since there aren't any requirements within its scope which conflict with our goals together!
Find out if the class is transferable.
Before you sign up for a class, find out if it's transferable.
- Will your certification be recognized by other institutions? If so, how?
- Will it transfer to other states or countries? If so, how?
- Does the school offer proctored exams (exams that are administered by an outside source and monitored)? Or do they just offer practice exams and evaluation tests that can be taken at home without supervision by an instructor or proctor?
- Does the school require written tests or oral exams only (or both)?
This will help you figure out if your certification is transferable. If it isn't, then you'll have to take additional classes in order to get certified. If it is, then you can move on to the next step.
Make sure there will be a test or other evaluation process.
If you're thinking about getting your fitness certification, it's important to make sure that there will be a test or other evaluation process. A test is the most common way to evaluate fitness professionals, as it ensures that the individual has learned the material and can apply it in practice. Tests can be written tests, oral tests or practical exams; they may also be based on your program's curriculum and require you to demonstrate what you've learned by performing specific exercises or activities. In addition to these types of evaluations, many certifications require continuing education courses and continuing education credits over time (or even retesting).
If you're interested in becoming a personal trainer but aren't sure if there are any regulations regarding certification requirements in your area yet--or if they'll ever come into effect--talk with local trainers about their experiences getting certified under existing laws before making any big decisions!
Determine if there are other educational requirements as well.
Before you invest in a fitness certification, make sure that it's worth the investment. There are a few things to consider.
First and foremost: is there another educational requirement? In addition to earning your certification, are there continuing education or professional development hours required after you've graduated? Is there a test or other evaluation process that must be passed before earning your certificate? If so, what does this cost and how often do those requirements have to be met?
Second: does this class transfer over into other programs at other institutions? If not (or if so), how will this affect where I can use my new skillset once I'm finished with school and looking for employment opportunities in different parts of the country where different standards apply regarding certifications like these ones here today.
You have to invest time and money in order to make your fitness certification worth it
As you consider whether or not your fitness certification is worth the investment, make sure that you are investing in the right certification.
Don't just look at the cost of the program and decide if it's too expensive for you--look at what benefits that program offers, and then weigh those against what other certifications would offer similar benefits but at a lower price point.
For example: If one school charges $3k per year while another charges $1k per year but both schools offer similar programs with very few differences in curriculum content or teaching style/methodology (and there are no hidden fees involved), then go with the cheaper option!
The same goes for travel costs: don't forget to factor those into your budgeting process when calculating how much time away from home will be required during coursework!
Additionally, if childcare is needed while studying or taking classes online (which many online courses do require), make sure this cost isn't being ignored either; these expenses add up quickly!
Remember also that books and other learning materials must be purchased separately from any certificate programs offered by institutions themselves so factor those into any calculations made around whether or not such an investment would be worthwhile over time.
Conclusion
Remember, a fitness certification is an investment in your future. As with any investment, it's important to take time to research your options and choose wisely before making a decision. We hope these tips will help you find an option that works best for your needs!
