From Mike Boyle.......
Posted Oct 11,2008 12:33 AM
Hi All,
I put this in the business forum but if anyone would like to put it in the other 2 it would be greatly appreciated!!!!
There is a serious problem on the horizon - it is called the NBFE - national board of fitness examiners, a self-appointed bunch of a@#holes that want to regulate, control and monopolize the fitness industry.
It started in NJ last Monday, with Senate Bill 2164, the “Fitness Professionals Licensing Act”
What it really means to everyone is that if you don't take the courses, pay the registration fee & PASS the state license test you CANNOT be hired or work as a trainer in NJ. It will impose HARSH penalties & fines on anyone who is not NBFE licensed.
NJ will be the start, if it passes here - the goal is for the whole USA to be under NBFE rule!I originally thought it might be a good thing (maybe it would weed out all the poorly educated / skilled trainers) until Dr. Jones warned me 2 years ago at his Medical Exercise Specialist course NOT to vote or be in favor of the NFBE - his fear is coming true
According to a personal conversation with Michael Jones, Phd, PT:
THIS BILL WILL OUTLINE A REDUCED SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR PERSONAL TRAINERS AND ANYONE VIOLATING IT WOULD BE FINED, AND FACE CHARGES OF WORKING BEYOND THEIR SCOPE OF PRACTICE WHICH COULD RESULT IN COURT CASES, LOSE OF LICENSURE & HEAVY PENALTIES!!
Some things that it would be outside a trainers scope of practice: Nutritional advice / diet plans / supplement recommendations; hands-on partner stretching; joint mobility work, soft tissue work (foam rolling etc), stress reduction & lifestyle management, possibly even sport specific training / coaching. Basically any "hands-on" treatment or nutritional information or therapeutic form of exercise would be prohibited and become the SOLE domain of Physical Therapists, Registered Dieticians & Licensed Massage Therapists.
They are not spelling all this out, but Dr. Jones was asked to be part of NBFE and he turned them down because he saw what their true intention is, complete control & regulation of the fitness industry / personal training.
Please forward this to every trainer / coach you know and have them fill out the information & add personal info to the provided letter. Anyone can voice their opinion but ESPECIALLY if you live in NJ, it will go to the proper government officials.
If we a ll don't act NOW, our livelihoods are in DANGER!!!
Please act now - the bill may go to the NJ Senate on Oct 20th - THIS MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks!!
Gordon Waddell, PES,CSCS,CES
Here is the proposed bill & the link to voice your opinion against it:
Flawed Personal Training Licensing Bill Introduced in NJ Senate
Voice Your Opposition Today
On Monday, legislation was introduced in the State Senate that would place unnecessary and burdensome licensing requirements on New Jersey personal trainers and group exercise instructors.
Senate Bill 2164, the “Fitness Professionals Licensing Act”, would establish a State Board of Fitness Professionals and impose the following:
- Educational requirements imposed by the Governor-appointed Board, including 150 hours of Board-approved course work.
- Certification from the National Board of Fitness Examiners.
- Clubs employing fitness professionals must register and pay a undetermined fee every two years.
- New applicants for licensure following SB 2164's enactment must complete 300 hours of Board-approved class work, including 50 hours of an unpaid internship, or possess a degree in a related field.
IHRSA is working with our lobbyist in Trenton to oppose SB 2164 and will continue to contest any legislation that does not offer adequate protection of personal trainers' and group exercise instructors' ability to practice without undue government regulation.
This bill could be heard as early as October 20th, so we need you to express your concerns today about how this bill20could prohibit qualified individuals from providing personal training and group exercise services to New Jersey residents, and decrease the number of New Jersey residents pursuing physical activity programs. Please take a few minutes to send a pre-drafted email to legislators using the link below.
If you have any questions, please contact Tim Sullivan, Legislative Analyst, at ts@ihrsa.org or (800) 228-4772. Visit
www.ihrsa.org/newjersey for more information.
Why IHRSA Opposes SB 2164, the “Fitness Professionals Licensing Act”
1. The bill ignores the great majority of the personal training industry that has embraced accreditation as a responsible means of self-regulation to ensure consumer safety. Since 2005, IHRSA has recommended that clubs begin hiring personal trainers holding at least one current certification from a certifying organization/agency that has begun third-party accreditation of its certification procedures and protocols from an independent, experienced, and nationally recognized accrediting body.
2. Nominating a single certifying body not only ignores the high accreditation standards set by the NCCA, but also an entire market of accredited certifying bodies. As of today, at least ten personal training certifying bodies have obtained accreditation from=2 0the NCCA.
3. The bill establishes eligibility requirements that would inevitably lead to a dramatic increase in the cost of personal training, thereby decreasing the number of people pursuing rigorous physical activity programs.
4. The bill's education requirements are arbitrary, unworkable, and wholly detached from current industry practice. The bill represents an extreme departure from industry practice by requiring fitness professionals to complete an educational prerequisite equal in time to roughly 7 college courses. It is unclear why such a requirement would be necessary for a non-clinical vocation. It is also important to note that such a course does not currently exist.
5. Licensing requirements could have an especially devastating effect on group fitness instructors. The additional costs that the Fitness Professionals Licensing Act would impose on these instructors would undoubtedly have a prohibitive effect on the number of individuals willing to engage in the practice.
6. A professional registry for fitness professionals, as envisioned by this legislation, requires meticulous oversight and maintenance, and may too easily be neglected due to its significant budgetary impact. Considering the difficult budget constraints currently facing the state, an unequivocal, long-term commitment of personnel and tax revenue to the oversight and maintenance of the registry is hard to foresee.
Click the link below to log in and send your mes sage:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/ihrsa26954295.aspx