ISSA Training certification?

[supertav]

Hey guys I was wondering how many of you that do personal training as a job or on the side have taken the ISSA's program? Out of curiousity I was looking and even though a person tends to get jaded that there isn't much new to learn the course says it has a 735 page book on all the basics from metabolism to exercise kinesiology/biomechanics etc. I thought this might be something worth having and maybe make a bit of cash on the side instead of giving free advice to people that don't want to put the work into it, the fact that it's all homework/text based is ok with me as I have more than enough of the practical experience with weight training and there isn't any classroom settings anywhere near where I live...
My knowledge or familiarity with anything to do with getting these certifications is limited so if anyone has some insight into it please let me know

[p.s.]

ISSA isn't that Polumbo's and Glass's PT program? If it is then at least you'll get a solid education, as these two know their shit!

[ubcpower]

Supertav, i would recommend the ACSM certified personal trainer certification. Basically in BC (or canada) for that matter you either have CanfitPro or BCRPA (i think youre from BC right?). However, these require some classes, time and a lot of money. The ACSM certification is North America wide and you will be able to get insurance for training with certification from any gym in Canada and the US. Basically you get the textbook, cram and absorb and challenge the written Multiple choice test (which can be taken at several facilities in BC and throughout canada). the textbook you need is ACSM Personal Trainer 2nd Edition($80-$120) and the test costs $200 (you can re write if you fail for cheap). Im done the course so i could sell you the textbook for $40. This is by far the route id go if you didnt want to do Canfit or BCRPA

[supertav]

You're right p.s. about Palumbo - the guy sounds like he should have a Phd in anything to do with how the body works.
Thanks ubcpower, I'm actually from northern MB so thanks for offering the alternative no-classroom program. I'm going to look into the ACSM now that you mentioned it and if all you pay for is the textbook and test fee it sounds like it's half the price as the ISSA's program. I'll look into where all the testing centers are, I have a feeling Wpg. will be the closest one if I'm lucky but I know other courses let you take the test at another location if you have a teacher who can supervise the test...thanks again and I'll let you know if I go through with it and which course I throw the cash at.

[chrisssteeven]

ISSA is the only one I can think of for your situation. It's online and the I in ISSA stands for international.
NASM requires you to go to a testing facility and the N in NASM stands for national (USA).

[St]

I know a few guy over the years that read the book..ISSA they said it was very good, more info that the Can-Fit pro,but most gyms want there trainer to have at least Can-Fit.The more books you read the better.The few guys over the years that make good cash as Personal trainers(few in my city) are the one that read every training style book they can get there hands one,best of luck.

[supertav]

Just an update guys: I ended up taking the CFT course through the ISSA and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to get a better understanding or some new ideas. The course does take some time if you want to actually remember everything you're reading up on, the exam's online but has a couple case studies and some essay questions that make up a big chunk of the mark to show you aren't just regurgitating the text.
I just took it for my benefit (and for people you know that ask questions) but it might be an on the side job someday after I hopefully transfer south next year.
There's some resources on their site that can come in handy too. Like Tony said the more books you read the better, doesn't hurt that most of the course I did on overtime night shifts lol.

[GYMBRAT]

on a scale of 1-10 how har do you figure it was, say for someone who has been in this game for 20+ yrs?

Thanks tav

[p.s.]

on a scale of 1-10 how har do you figure it was, say for someone who has been in this game for 20+ yrs?

Thanks tav

I'll bet because us "old timers" that have years in the BBing trenches may find it tough due to the fact that we know (real world) what works and what is useless, as a PT course may have one being taught that bosu balls, swiss balls etc are the way to go for core (GAWD how I hate that word!!) when anyone worth a pinch of coon shit knows that the basics IE squats, deads, cleans etc etc performed on a stable surface are far and away more effective.

So I would think that those of us with 20 or more years of BBing, PLing, Olympic lifting, and strongman experience will have a hell of a time accepting some of the training and theories being espoused......Of course I'm just adding an opinion based on what I see PTs having their trainees doing in the gym, and the lack of results these people appear to achieve.

[supertav]

Actually P.S. when you have the practical experience it would compliment the course well, there isn't a lot of gay stuff in there training-wise and it does push the basic movements for BBing. One thing I like about the course is it does push a high protein diet which bucks the trend of scrawny nutritionists and shows performance daily intakes for vit/minerals that are much higher than your RDI that doctors give you for average couch potatoes. The ISSA president Dr. Hatfield is actually in the powerlifting hall of fame for record setting squats.

Gymbrat it's hard to put a number rating difficulty because you do have 2 years to finish the course, there is a lot of material on nutritional, some body kinesiology and bio-mechanics but as long as you put the time into reading you will be fine (and do the coursebook, that helps big time in memorization). I knew all the practical stuff (workout planning, knowing the exercises etc.) but there are things in there that made me glad I took it. Their only real "training theory" is to train toward the goals you want which is something anyone should already know (but you see people who don't practice it - heavy show off weight, no full range of motion etc.)

I'd say it was worth it just for personal benefit and all you need is to register a business name and get some insurance and you're good to go if you want to make money off it. All the financial/medical forms and stuff like that are available from their site.

P.S. like you were saying with what PTs are doing in the gym, really any bookworm who has no experience with this lifestyle can take the course, get certified and start training people. It's too bad the people that pay them normally don't know better. So if more guys like gymbrat that have the experience got into this it would give PTs a better name. I've been doing this and always learning for around 17yrs now, I still remember starting out with one 20lb dumbbell and a chest expander when I was 15yrs old lol.

[GYMBRAT]

lol p.s...... I know exactly what your sayin man!

good stuff tav, thanks alot!!

[p.s.]

Sorry Tav I forgot that Fred (Dr Squat) Hatfield was a part of this PT course, and lets not forget I've been around for over 30 years so I remember Fred setting squat records years ago at the APF Hawaiian record breakers in the 80s. I also began my BBing journy with Weiders Powertwister and then graduated up to the Weider 110 lb weight set (won my first contest with that weight set in fact).

All in all then this PT course that Tav is recommending has solid founders behind it, so ya it would probably be well worth the money.

[St]

Sorry Tav I forgot that Fred (Dr Squat) Hatfield was a part of this PT course, and lets not forget I've been around for over 30 years so I remember Fred setting squat records years ago at the APF Hawaiian record breakers in the 80s. I also began my BBing journy with Weiders Powertwister and then graduated up to the Weider 110 lb weight set (won my first contest with that weight set in fact).

All in all then this PT course that Tav is recommending has solid founders behind it, so ya it would probably be well worth the money.

Ya i would only get the book used.