As I reflect over my time as a CPT, it seems that many place too much emphasis on the type of certification a trainer holds over the actual ability of the trainer when grading them.
I've worked with trainers who held all kinds of certs.....from the NESTA, ACE, NASM and everything in-between.
One thing that stuck out to me was how the NASM certified trainers tended to train the same way, without any actual deviation or imagination in terms of variety. Too much emphasis on circuit training and "core" balancing at the expense of a structured basic workout split.
One trainer in particular comes to mind, a guy who had no training experience prior to his NASM cert, and over time I noticed how he really didn't have any experience to fall back on other than what he learned through the NASM. When he had trouble keeping clients, I remarked to him that he probably should have gotten a basic certification to start out with so he could gain some experience before embarking on an advanced course like NASM.
It was easy to see that he was very limited in terms of the kinds of exercises and routines he'd do, and most everything he did was a circuit of some type.
The guy was having middle-aged, out of shape housewives balance on one leg while doing alternating bicep curls or ball squats without any eccentric control.
Many of his routines weren't appropriate for the type of clientelle he was training and it did affect his ability to keep clients.
Despite having an upper-level cert, he was a below par personal trainer and this point was not lost on me.
When I was recently hired by a private studio, I learned what was common knowledge in this industry.
The quality trainers don't stay at corporate gyms........they get hired at studios or own PT businesses.
While I am grateful for the training experience I received while working for LA Fitness, it was only a matter of time before I moved on.
The owner of the studio I'm employed at looks down on corporate gyms as a whole and in no uncertain terms told me that the trainers that stay working at them are there for a reason.
They just aren't good trainers or are simply scared to branch off on their own.
I also learned first hand that this industry is truly sink or swim.
My "interview" for the job was training one of the owner's loyal longtime clients given only basic background info.......everything was impromptu and I had to showcase what I could do while the owner watched and took notes.
That truly is the best test for a CPT, the ability to perform under pressure and give a client what they want in lieu of the owner.
As it turned out, the client loved my workout and had no qualms about training with me again, so I was hired on the spot.
You have to be able to perform.
When people are paying upwards of $70/hr, there's just no room for excuses.
So yes........a higher-end certification may look nice, but it really has nothing to do with what kind of trainer you are.
It think it's ironic that I'm making three times more per hour than the people I used to work with, despite some of them holding ACE, NASM and ACSM certs.
Working out of a studio is really what being a CPT is about....
No salespeople, no politics, no competition with other trainers.
The freedom to come and go, have my own key to the place, and the backing of an owner who is only interested in seeing his PT staff succeed.
Seeing it from this perspective, I wonder why any good trainer would stay at a corporate gym.
It's really not even a consideration.
DIV
