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This interactive, comprehensive Web-based Professional Advanced Certificate in Personal Fitness Training (PFT) is a collaboration between industry experts, internship affiliates, national organizations, Educational Fitness Solutions, and their board of advisors. The Advanced Certificate is designed for students interested in furthering their personal training education by incorporating specialized resistance training, functional movements, and nutritional programs for their clients in partnership with Registered Dietitians. This course includes the basic Personal Fitness Trainer program (also offered separately), along with additional material on nutritional management, resistance biomechanics, and functional flexibility. Content and curriculum within each course in the program is designed to present the student with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to implement a unique medically-based fitness model for their future or current clients. Students will learn how to apply their client’s health history, goals, and abilities integrating exercise science curriculum and practical training techniques into a systematic model that teaches students to progress their clients through different training levels and phases. Students will also have the unique opportunity to receive an onsite practical experience in personal training with an optional field internship elective course. The program is offered in partnership with the American Council on Exercise® (ACE), allowing graduating certificate students a preferred discount on the ACE Personal Training Certification Exam and study materials. In addition, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency for the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has approved the Certificate in Personal Training program for 150 Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs), the Advanced Certificate program for 240 CPEUs, and the Optional Field Internship Course for 60 CPEUs for both Registered Dietitian (RDs) and Dietetic Technician-Registered (DTRs).

This certificate program includes:

• Personal Fitness Training career path development or advanced education for current health/fitness/medical professionals
• Advanced education in exercise prescription and nutritional programming
• Study of the exercise sciences, kinesiology, and biomechanics
• A medically-based fitness model
• Knowledge of business administration and management systems in fitness
• Conduct health and fitness testing techniques
• Understand the ACSM screening processes
• Analyze exercise movements and performance
• Develop exercise prescriptions for all age groups
• Optional Field Internship Course: Students that enter the program may complete an optional internship course that is 6 weeks/60 hours in length.
• Guidance, instruction, and interaction from instructors that hold either a Master’s or Ph.D. degree in exercise science, biomechanics, exercise physiology, kinesiology, physical therapy, nutrition or an exercise science-related degree.
• The program is offered in partnership with the American Council on Exercise® (ACE). Graduates of the Certificate Program will receive a preferred discount of 20% to take the ACE Certified Personal Trainer® Certification Exam (an NCCA accredited exam) and on study materials.

Course Objectives

By completing the Advanced Certificate in Personal Fitness Training, students will:

• Prepare or receive advanced education for a career as a personal trainer or fitness professional.
• Learn to network and partner in a team approach with Registered Dieticians to develop healthy eating plans for your clients.
• Design educationally- based resistance training programs.
• Learn how to implement a medically-based fitness model and the ACSM Risk Stratification process for clients.
• Understand the process to conduct a detailed health and fitness assessment.
• Identify the business fundamentals of administration, marketing, and management in personal training.
• Gain information regarding nutrition, exercise science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, neurology, client testing and assessment, functional anatomy, and exercise programming.
• Explore the profession as a potential career choice with the optional field internship experience.
• Prepare to take personal training certification exams from ACE, ACSM, and other national organizations.
• Prepare to work as a personal trainer in the health and fitness industry.

I. Introduction to Exercise Science-Level I (Anatomy and Kinesiology)
a. Define the term Kinesiology, Functional Anatomy, and Biomechanics
b. Identify skeletal structures and primary/secondary/stabilizing muscles
c. Understand terminology used to describe body part locations, reference positions, planes of motion, and anatomical directions
d. Understand functional anatomy, muscle contractions, and the effects of exercise placed on joint structures during exercise movements

II. Introduction to Exercise Science-Level II (Exercise Physiology)
a. Understand the reactions and functions of the muscular, skeletal, and cardiorespiratory systems with and without exercise conditioning
b. Review enzymes in their role as a catalyst in cellular reactions and nutrients that are used as fuels during exercise
c. Identify high-energy phosphates and interactions between aerobic and anaerobic ATP production during exercise
d. Understand neuromuscular function and the physiology of exercise in relation to exercise programs and environmental factors

III. Health Risk Profiles and Fitness Assessment Techniques
a. Understand the process of conducting an initial Health and Fitness evaluation for a new member or personal training client
b. Define client screening procedures, medical and health history intake forms, PAR-Q, informed consent forms, and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Risk Stratification Process
c. Learn how to perform fitness and health assessments including posture, cardiorespiratory endurance, joint Range of Motion (ROM), body-fat analysis, blood pressure, and body measurements based on ACSM guidelines
d. Understand the goals and objectives of the client and learn the importance of “Building a Long-term Relationship” with a new client

IV. Business Administration and Management Aspects for Personal Trainers
a. Learn to develop a personal career track in personal fitness training for yourself or that you manage
b. Analyze the state of the fitness industry and personal training market
c. Learn to manage and administer a personal training department, studio, or start-up business
d. Learn personal training business fundamentals in accounting, sales, management, marketing, and business plan development

V. Designing Exercise Prescriptions for Normal/Special Populations
a. Learn the principles of developing an exercise prescription that includes resistance/weight training, flexibility, and cardiovascular programming
b. Review the specific physiological reasons of when to initiate an exercise program and when to discontinue an exercise program
c. Gain a general understanding of how exercise is related to and can help normal to special populations/conditions
d. Document and report your client's exercise prescription evaluation results and progress

VI. Nutritional Analysis and Management
a. Acquire a knowledge base of well-established scientific concepts in the field of nutrition in the following areas; vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and supplements
b. Network and partner in a team approach with Registered Dieticians to develop healthy eating plans for your clients
c. Learn the effects of nutrition on the exerciser and non-exerciser
d. Foster healthful eating habits by identifying and implementing beneficial practices

VII. The Science and Biomechanics of Resistance/Weight Training Techniques
a. Learn a systematic approach to designing and developing resistance/weight training programs for all age groups
b. Understand terms such as training volume, sets/repetitions, load, frequency, and rest periods related to designing resistance training programs
c. Learn key biomechanical and scientific principles
d. Design educationally- based resistance training programs and implement biomechanical elements into creating safe, effective, and efficient exercise movements

VIII. Functional Flexibility, Core and Balance Training
a. Study principles and techniques for evaluation and implementation of exercise prescriptions that include instruction in flexibility, core, and balance training
b. Understand the term functional training and the implementation of functional training and stabilization movements into a comprehensive exercise program
c. Learn the structures of the core complex and secondary muscular structures
d. Review the roles of muscles: such as primary movers (Agonist), Antagonists, Synergist, stabilizers, and neutralizers during balance and flexibility training

IX. Elective Course: Optional Field Internship in Personal Training
a. Intern for a total of 6 weeks/60 hours with professionals in the fitness and health industry for a practical experience working with members at fitness facilities and health centers
b. Network and interact with professionals in the health and fitness industry
c. Develop a professional goal statement and review career opportunities
d. Improve your ability to obtain employment and/or operate your own health and fitness facility