Certifications Offered: Group Exercise Instructor, Personal Trainer, Pilates. Many short courses that count as continuing education credits, from Boot Camp to Nutrition for Fitness Professionals.
Sample Course Price: $359 for the 2-day NETA Personal Trainer Certification workshop, which includes 14 hours of lectures, demonstrations and hands-on practical skills. Written and practical exam are given at the end of the workshop. CEC’s range in price from $19 to $69 per course.
How It Works: NETA offers 2-day workshops, home study courses, and CEC’s (continuing education credits). Home study courses require the student to complete an open-book exam. CEC’s can be completed by anybody, even those who do not currently hold a Personal Trainer certification. Because the courses are short and easy to follow, they are an ideal introduction to the fitness world.
National Endurance Sports Trainers Association (NESTA)
Certifications Offered: Personal Trainer, Advanced Personal Trainer, Holistic Fitness Practitioner, Holistic Stress Management Specialist, Life Strategies Coach, Spencer Method Practitioner, Sport Yoga Instructor, Fitness Nutritionist, Spencer Pilates, Certified Circuit Training Instructor, Endurance Sports Trainer Certification, Lifestyle & Weight Management Specialist, Fitness Management/Marketing Certification, and many others. NESTA also offer Live Business & Marketing Teleclasses to all its members (lifetime membership is free to anybody who earns a certification).
Sample Course Price: A combo certification for Sport Yoga & Spencer Pilatesis $350.
How It Works: Home study courses only, which include reading material, videos, CD ROMs, and audio CD’s. To receive certification, students must complete an open-book exam, a portfolio of photos, six essays on set topics, and a series of interviews to other fitness professionals.