Best online cerification? Seeking advice

[JoeySon]

hey guys,

So a little backround right now. I'm currently a student in the field of nutrition. My overall goal post-graduation is likely to become some sort of wellness coach as my true passion is helping people lose weight and generally become healthier through exercise and proper diet.

In looking to expand my resume and knowledge I was looking to obtain a certification as either simply a personal trainer or a fittness nutrional coach. I need a place that is well recognized and respected. I am not pursing a bachelors in kinesiology or exercise science as thats not exactly where im trying to go with this and I also lack the funds for such. For example, I'd rather work with a middle-aged man who is overweight and trying to make a lifestyle change as opposed to teaching somebody how to properly bench press 300 pounds. Basically I want to join the battle on obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle.

I know this may sound a little jumbled and it likely is as I have really just started digging through the many many online courses. This is a list below I have started on today and was looking for general advice or guidence. Thanks guys


1. ACSM - American College Of Sports Medicine

2. NASM - National Academy Of Sports Medicine

3. NSCA - National Strength And Conditioning Association

4. NCSF - National Council On Strength And Fitness

5. NFPT - National Federation Of Personal Trainers

6. ACE - American Council On Exercise

7. CI - Cooper Institute

8. Scirion Institude (SIEP)

9. ISSA - International Sports Science Association

 

[Swanson52]

NSCA.

 

[napalm]

NSCA.

prepare to be bashed by rodja - even though he's a cscs :biglaugh:

 

[cumminslifter]

NSCA.

I heard this is hardest but I would contact the company you wish to work for and see what they prefer

 

[Swanson52]

prepare to be bashed by rodja - even though he's a cscs :biglaugh:

My CPT gets more attention than 90% of the rest of the certs, so I've no beef with them. :shrug:

 

[KimChee]

Subscribed. Curious to see the answer to this as well. I'm looking into CSCS myself (schooling really is never ending argh!). At my company we have various levels of ATCs, It may not be in your line of interest, but ever consider pulmonary/cardiac, or diabetes/weight management? There are diabetes, exercise and cardiopulmonary rehab areas in hospitals if that's what you're into. These are typically people with x amount of comorbities. I'm with you on your line of thinking, I enjoy higher level exercise for myself personally, but I prefer to work with lower functioning individuals.

 

[JoeySon]

One of the jobs that keeps catching my eye is a Wellness Coach. Now I know that may sound a little cheesy but it seems very interesting. Seems to have a focus of diet but also branches out into many other aspects of life such as fitness and general choices we make in our everyday life.

Some people are calling it a fad in the healthcare field. What do you guys think?

 

[Swanson52]

One of the jobs that keeps catching my eye is a Wellness Coach. Now I know that may sound a little cheesy but it seems very interesting. Seems to have a focus of diet but also branches out into many other aspects of life such as fitness and general choices we make in our everyday life.

Some people are calling it a fad in the healthcare field. What do you guys think?

In all honesty, strength coaching is about 90% training, 10% psychology. Personal training, however is about 50/50. People that seek personal training ( from my experience) are there to work out...but also to vent, find out why/how they got out of shape, make life changes, etc.

I don't think it's a fad, I think it's a very real component to the fitness life regarding a large portion of our population.

 

[OnionKnight]

a wellness coach? just get one of the top 3 you listed. im NASM certified, and ill tell you now that no one gives a **** which of thse you chose. as long as its accepted by their organization.

its one of those things where as long as you got it, youll be consided. they dont knit pick which cert you get as long as its a good one

 

[JoeySon]

I job shadowed a dietician last week and part of her daily work was to meet with individuals a couple weeks out from a 12 week program to lose weight and change your life choices (fast food, smoking, drinking excessively, ect)

The hospital hosts the program and their team consists of the dietician, exercise specialist, and a behavioral therapist. She then explained to me these wellness programs that are a fairly new position and seem to be catching on all around the country and that the Wellness coach basically does a very similiar task and tackles all sorts of issues.

The nutrition community in Maine/New Hampshire is about as big as a shoebox so I somewhat face an uphill battle but this field is a place I could see myself making a career.

 

[OnionKnight]

thats an interesting sounding job. is it based in a hospital or private practice or both?

 

[JoeySon]

thats an interesting sounding job. is it based in a hospital or private practice or both?

Well this one was actually hosted by the hospital. She said insurance companies usually cover most of it.

She also brought up an interesting point that a lot of companies are pushing employees to enroll in these or improve overall health through a similiar program to hopefully lower health insurance costs for the companies. Something along the lines if that lol I'm not too well versed in insurance policies

Just google "wellness coach" in your area and you're likely to see listings

 

[KimChee75]

Sounds interesting and like a new idea, at least it's one that the general public is sort of aware of....I understand the dynamics of how a hospital works I go to family conferences at least once a week.. Maybe I'm just being dense, but I'm not sure where the wellness coach fits in..if there is a speech, occupational, dietician, pt, each one is an expert in his/her discipline...where exactly do you fit into this?

To me a wellness coach sounds like more a counselor, case management, and social work type position in the hospital, more than anything. Maybe you're the assistant or tech to the dietician, or case manager, and you see the patient according to the dietician or CMs plan. I see the dietician, CM or using you as the person that follows through with their assessments just based on the level of education it takes to be a registered dietician, speech therapist, or etc, you may work on the basics with a patient. I can sort of see how this fits together, and I think you're on the right track with the fitness/general nutrition, but it seems to me that this type of position would be a psychology background to this say bachelor level stuff..there are plenty of bachelor level psychology people who do this type of work...

Swanson is right, the initial treatment/training sessions are about goals, muscles, nerves, pathology, other health problems, etc, but in the end the discussions always center around small talk, what happened day to day, etc.

Do what you enjoy, research the job field and how readily available jobs are and if you think it's something you'd like go for it.