A bunch of us started talking about working as trainers & getting certified, and I decided to jump for it. Thanks to the guys who encouraged me to run this log, and I hope this will be useful for others who are considering a similar move.
Once I started looking into it, it became plain that I was narrowing in on NASM. They seemed a step up from ACE (no offense intended), more focused than ISSA, and more attainable than ACSM or NSCA. If I were able to piggy-back off an applicable BS or MS degree, I’d have gone w/ NSCA.
I found the website to be badly designed (but maybe I’m just stupid) - I kept getting the feeling that I was going in circles - so I finally called to get straight answers to my questions; they folks @ NASM were pleasant, helpful, and efficient, I got my answers and bought my study course & test.
The components of my package :
a hard-bound textbook;
7 VHS tapes
a “study guide (/ day planner)�
study cards
practice exam
final exam
“Foundations for the Health and Fitness Professional� on CD-ROM (Mac/Wintel)
a weekend OPT workshop
This package cost $650.
Be aware that the “prequel� course, (part of the Full package), is available in Mac & Windows flavors - be sure to ask - they won’t. There is a CD-ROM study-guide-&-printable-text set you can get instead of the videotapes for the certification test - this CD-ROM set is WINDOWS ONLY, so you’re warned here, too.
“Foundations for the Health and Fitness Professional� is a duh-level introduction: while not worthless, a lot of it is just applied common sense. It won’t teach you much, but it won’t hurt you either, and it’s not bad to occasionally have the obvious spelled out.
The videotapes are of the talking-head variety. #1 of the set has a loud & irritating noise that interferes with the actual audio; since the audio carries 99 percent on the information (so far - I’m on tape 2), the usefulness of tape #1 is compromised by the effort needed to keep blocking out the hum & zeroing in on the voice.
NASM’s estimate of the time required to master the material is 45 days; I’m running late. Partly because I had to return the (windows) CD-ROM, partly because I’m in the middle of breaking up w/ my wife & that has seriously eroded my ability to concentrate.
For the record, swapping the CD-ROM set was totally painless: one phone call, 30 seconds on hold, and 2 days later, UPS brought the replacement & picked up the return @ no charge to me.
I consider the service excellent so far, but could be improved by providing more practical information up-front.
Next installment soon!
Once I started looking into it, it became plain that I was narrowing in on NASM. They seemed a step up from ACE (no offense intended), more focused than ISSA, and more attainable than ACSM or NSCA. If I were able to piggy-back off an applicable BS or MS degree, I’d have gone w/ NSCA.
I found the website to be badly designed (but maybe I’m just stupid) - I kept getting the feeling that I was going in circles - so I finally called to get straight answers to my questions; they folks @ NASM were pleasant, helpful, and efficient, I got my answers and bought my study course & test.
The components of my package :
a hard-bound textbook;
7 VHS tapes
a “study guide (/ day planner)�
study cards
practice exam
final exam
“Foundations for the Health and Fitness Professional� on CD-ROM (Mac/Wintel)
a weekend OPT workshop
This package cost $650.
Be aware that the “prequel� course, (part of the Full package), is available in Mac & Windows flavors - be sure to ask - they won’t. There is a CD-ROM study-guide-&-printable-text set you can get instead of the videotapes for the certification test - this CD-ROM set is WINDOWS ONLY, so you’re warned here, too.
“Foundations for the Health and Fitness Professional� is a duh-level introduction: while not worthless, a lot of it is just applied common sense. It won’t teach you much, but it won’t hurt you either, and it’s not bad to occasionally have the obvious spelled out.
The videotapes are of the talking-head variety. #1 of the set has a loud & irritating noise that interferes with the actual audio; since the audio carries 99 percent on the information (so far - I’m on tape 2), the usefulness of tape #1 is compromised by the effort needed to keep blocking out the hum & zeroing in on the voice.
NASM’s estimate of the time required to master the material is 45 days; I’m running late. Partly because I had to return the (windows) CD-ROM, partly because I’m in the middle of breaking up w/ my wife & that has seriously eroded my ability to concentrate.
For the record, swapping the CD-ROM set was totally painless: one phone call, 30 seconds on hold, and 2 days later, UPS brought the replacement & picked up the return @ no charge to me.
I consider the service excellent so far, but could be improved by providing more practical information up-front.
Next installment soon!