What is NASM Certification?

One of the best ways to become a personal trainer is to become certified by National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Founded in 1987, NASM provides certifications in a wide range of fitness-related fields, including personal training, bodybuilding and nutrition.

Here’s a detailed look at what NASM certification can do for you.

What does it mean to be NASM certified?

With more than 1.5 million certified fitness and wellness professionals, NASM helps personal trainers, coaches, athletes and fitness enthusiasts achieve their health goals. Earning your NASM certification means you can give fitness advice and guidance to others.

“When you are NASM certified, it means you have invested time and effort into developing the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to help someone change their life and improve themselves,” says Tony Ambler-Wright, Product Manager and Chief Instructor . for a commercial organization. “It also shows others that you have reached that level of competence.”

NASM offers a variety of fitness certifications. One of them is Personal Trainer Certification (CPT), which will prepare you to develop exercise and physical training programs based on scientific and clinical evidence. Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC) is the second program and teaches you the science of nutrition and how to promote better health choices through diet and behavior changes. Finally there is Certified Wellness Trainer (CWC), which shows you how to achieve wellness through nutrition, movement, exercise, and mental and emotional well-being.

Additional specializations include bodybuilding, corrective exercise, sports nutrition, group fitness, weight loss and other fitness-related topics.

How much does NASM certification cost?

The cost of obtaining NASM certification varies by program. Purchasing multiple programs in one package can reduce costs, and NASM also offers affordable monthly payment options.

Receipt Personal Trainer Certification This can be a one-time payment of $899 or 11 monthly payments of $79 with a $25 down payment. No discount, receive Certified Nutrition Coach or Physique and Bodybuilding Trainer Certification (PBC) can cost $899 or 11 monthly payments of $53 with a $25 down payment.

How long does it take to obtain NASM certification?

Because the courses are self-paced, Ambler-Wright says the time required for each course varies from person to person. The CPT certification, for example, is a “pretty intensive” 23-chapter course that he says should take about four months for most to complete. Some certifications can be completed in as little as four weeks.

Matt Boyer, owner of personal training studio Move Bloomington in Bloomington, Indiana, says it took his staff anywhere from a month to six months to complete the CPT training, depending on their time commitment and previous knowledge of the coursework.

Is it worth getting NASM certification?

So, considering the time and cost, is NASM certification worth it?

Boyer thinks so. He says becoming NASM certified “gives you every tool in the toolbox” to work with everyone from LeBron James to a 90-year-old retiree. If Boyer hires someone who is not NASM certified, he helps pay for their training.

“In my business, this is the certification I prefer,” Boyer explains. “It means you received an education from one of the best organizations.”

Ambler-Wright notes that NASM courses are created by industry experts based on science and real-world experience, and that the courses are updated frequently.

“In terms of reliability and credibility, NASM is widely recognized and is the training certification of choice among health club employers,” he says.

According to US Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe average salary for fitness trainers and instructors in 2023 was $46,480 per year.

Conclusion

When it comes to a career in fitness, NASM certification shows that you have completed the necessary training to help people achieve their fitness goals and have earned the highest certification in the field.

“It gives people confidence that they have the tools, knowledge, skills and abilities to help them become healthier and fitter,” Ambler-Wright says. “It demonstrates that you have achieved entry-level competency in all the different areas and areas related to someone’s health and fitness and ensures that you have that knowledge, skills and abilities to help someone safely.”

If you’re interested and want to learn more, Ambler-Wright recommends reaching out to current personal trainers to get their perspective and checking out the NASM website, blog, and podcasts. NASM also has educational consultants that aspiring fitness trainers can connect with.

“If someone is in doubt and doesn’t know which direction to go, they can talk to one of our team members and help them,” he says.

When asked about the current demand for fitness professionals, Ambler-Wright said NASM constantly receives inquiries from gyms and fitness centers looking for people to hire.

“It looks pretty promising,” he says of job prospects in the field. “With an increasing focus on health and fitness, this trend will continue to grow as people want to invest more in themselves.

“There’s no better time to take up fitness as a career opportunity.”