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TweetNot me but it's a pretty good cert. I think of all the certs one can get, NSCA and ACSM are the two best in that order. The reason I like NSCA better is based on first hand experience with both types of trainers. Also, the US Olympic Training center is in my home town and they will only hire from NSCA. And, the NSCA also has a CSCS program that is top notch. One of my bros is a CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) and I tell you, his knowledge is second to none. The NSCA has asked him numerous times to teach their cert program but he declines.
Another thing I like about these two, is that when you take the test, the test is graded by an outside source. Therefore, there is no way for them to play favorites or get you through. Unlike the AFAA and other programs. They keep everything internal and they have been known to pass people who didn't really pass the test. This comes from a girl I knew in ATL who taught their cert class for them. She said they have to have a certain number of people pass or people won't take their cert.
With ACSM and NSCA, you used to have to have a degree just to sit for the cert test. It may be different with ACSM now, but NSCA is still that way. This too adds more credibility to them, IMO.
I will give this to AFAA, once you are certified, they have another cert called 'Weight Room Certification' (or something like that) which is very very thorough. It gets deep into Kinesiology and really helps you understand the muscles at a much deeper level. The instructor will demonstrate a squate and then ask you to explain it. Basically, you will be putting things like 'hip extension' and then explain every muslce involved in the function including the stabilizers and so on, then you would put 'knee extension' and all the muscles involved in that. It's a very thorough class and will put you light years beyond most trainers in gyms today.
I'm not taking anything away from ACSM. I have a friend who's ACSM and he's got a great foundation of knowledge but we had conversations on stuff that I knew that he didn't. Basically, he got his cert and didn't continue in education. Where as I'm always reading something and the dude I know who's a CSCS is my best friend and we are always talking training and that guy gets the Journal of Strength and Conditioning from NSCA so he's always telling me what new things they discover.
The bottom line it, once you get a cert it's what you put in your head after that that seperates you from the others. I bet you I can find guys without certs at all that are more knowledgable than most trainers. Get a decent cert and then subscribe to the Journal of Strength and Conditioning. That will give you more recent information than anything else. Remember, these are the guys training the US Olympic athletes and they are always trying new things to get an edge and they really know their stuff.
Originally Posted by space mountain
