I grew up in Olympia Washington. I went to grade school, middle school,and high
school there (Go Bears!) to be honest, there were some good times, but by the
time I was 13 I was plotting my escape. Not only small and stifling was my
hometown, there just wasn't enough going on. For all of its natural beauty, you
can't get a cab to save your life, and lets be honest, even if you could, where
would you go? The Reef? Which by the way is the reason they should really have
cab service. But I digress. As soon as I graduated from high school I moved to
Seattle, and then what do you know I got a little bored there too. So I moved to
L.A. Actually I spent about 5 years going back and forth from L.A. to Seattle.
When I finally moved back to Seattle for good (to be with a total toolbag
boyfriend who would later become my starter husband) I used to tell people that
I was from L.A. because it it sounded cooler and gave me more street cred.
It was sort of true. I mean I did come directly FROM L.A. but I knew I was
padding the truth. It was pretty harmless, but it was a front. See, sometimes
the little lies we tell are harmless "resume pads" while others, in my opinion
are dangerous, and show a titanic lack of character.
I recently took an exam to renew a certification that I had let lapse. It was
expensive, time consuming, and stressful. I'm happy I got it done, and I'm
studying for another very soon, which I will be taking this Fall. I learned a
great deal from the exam I just took, and granted, I've learned far more in my
quest for continuing education. However, a certification in my chosen career
assures the public that I have a modicum of knowledge in my field, and that I
have demonstrated the ability to prove that to a certifying body. There are a few
things that are crucial for trainers and instructors to understand. I believe
that a few of the most important are the ability to understand and apply modifications,
progressions, and stages of learning. Not to mention applying adherence strategies,
and the ability to stratify risk. Most certifications require a minimum amount of
continuing education hours in order to renew them, which assures the public that
the trainer or instructor is up to date on the most recent science. And, while practical
application is the true test of ability, the general public is, more often than
not, unaware of the appropriateness of the exercise program that has been
prescribed for them. In a nutshell, it is important that consumers of health and
fitness understand what a certification is and why it is important for your
fitness professional to hold one and for it to be easily verified. Below I have
listed a few acronyms that I think you should understand.
CPT = Certified Personal Trainer
This person has taken an exam and is required to fulfill continuing education
credits in order to maintain certification.
LPT = Licensed Physical Therapist
This person had a graduate degree in this field. And is required BY THE STATE to
maintain this license.
BS = Bachelor of Science. This person usually has an undergrad in kinesiology,
or physiology. While a degree is admirable, one is not required to do any
continuing education to maintain it.
MS = Masters of Science. This person has gone beyond an undergraduate degree and
has gotten a post graduate degree. Again, admirable , yet again no continuing
education needed to maintain. And science is changing as we speak.
RD = Registered Dietician. This person has a degree in this field and has taken
state boards, and must resister with the state and fulfill continuing education
requirements in order to maintain what is tantamount to a license.
Nutrition Specialist, HHC = This person has a certificate in the field of
nutrition. This is not a license and is not to be confused with an RD.
CGFI = Certified Group Exercise Instructor. This person has taken an exam and is
required to fulfill continuing education credits in order to maintain
certification.
It is not out of the question that a trainer or instructor would be less than
honest about their qualifications, and it is important that consumers of health
and fitness are diligent about holding us to high standards.
Check credentials, and if you don't know how, or don't understand what they
mean, ask me. If I don't know, I'll find out for you. A lie about level of
education in this field has the potential to result in injury, and is an
affront to those of us who take pride in our profession, and in educating
ourselves. This is not to say that just because someone is certified, there
is a guarantee of absolute safety and that there won't be an occasional mishap.
But why not stack the deck in your favor.
