I go to the gym on a regular basis. I’m there at least three times a week and going has become a habit to help me stay active in my otherwise sedentary lifestyle. As a regular, I’ve become accustomed to working with a personal trainer. Personal trainers are there to instruct you on how to execute certain techniques and how to create a training regimen that helps you achieve the maximal results. I know I’ve seen a drastic change in my progress, energy level and overall fitness since I started personal training. As I got more and more fit, I started looking into what it takes to become a certified personal trainer and was surprised at what I had found.

1. Research your NSCA-CPT options. Ask your personal trainer where he/she got certified. My personal trainer was certified at the Career Networks Institute in Orange, CA. According to their website, CNI College recently renewed their education recognition at the National Strength and Conditioning Association, which is the first personal training credential to be nationally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) in 1996 and has gone on to set the standard for personal training as the most well-respected personal trainer certification through national and international recognition. CNI College is 1 of 2 California schools with this prestigious recognition. Their Director of Education, Stacy Hinkel, and their newest staff member, Eric Burkhardt, fulfill the requirement of having a NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer as a full-time employee.
2. Research the program. The CNI Personal Training program is a nine-month program (typical programs last at least a year). CNI College’s NSCA approved curriculum completely prepares you for the certification by thoroughly covering anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, fitness testing, exercise techniques, program design and implementation, business management and a myriad of physical activities. The campus’s brand new athletic facility is conveniently located in Orange County minutes from the beach, so at CNI, you’ll be able to look and feel great, an important part of becoming a certified personal trainer!

With a fast-track nationally accredited option so close by, if I ever decide to become a personal trainer, I’ll be sure to check out the Career Networks Institute.