About AFAA Personal Training Certification

The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) has provided fitness education and issued more than 250,000 fitness training certifications since 1983. Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, AFAA offers personal training certifications as well as primary group exercise, kickboxing, step and military fitness specialist certifications. Aspiring fitness professionals can prepare for personal trainer certification through AFAA's personal trainer certification workshops or through AFAA's virtual campus, E-AFAA. Upon obtaining CPR certification and passing certification exams, fitness professionals receive their personal trainer certification.

  1. Personal Trainer Certification Workshop

    • AFAA's personal trainer certification workshop prepares both aspiring and experienced fitness professionals for AFAA's Personal Fitness Trainer Certification and Personal Fitness Trainer National Boards exams through lectures, practical demonstrations and written and practical exams. The three-day workshop costs $489 and includes a personal trainer certification guide, a one-year AFAA membership or extended membership, a subscription to American Fitness magazine, and, upon passing exams, an AFAA certified personal trainer certificate and ID card. The curriculum includes anatomy and kinesiology, fitness assessment testing procedures, nutrition and weight management, special populations and medical considerations, leadership and motivational skills, exercise programming in the weight room and wellness programming and screening guides. AFAA recommends that workshop attendees purchase the "Personal Fitness Training: Theory and Practice" textbook, which can be purchased at AFAA's online store for $69.

    Personal Trainer Certification Online

    • Fitness professionals can also prepare for personal trainer certification from the convenience of their own home through E-AFAA. AFAA's new online personal trainer certification course costs $489 and must be completed within one year of registration. The course includes 14 video lectures as well as video lecture review clips, a personal trainer certification study guide, sample multiple choice questions, face-to-face online access to AFAA instructors through a video web conferencing system, independently monitored written and practical exams, a one-year AFAA membership or extended membership, a subscription to American Fitness magazine and, upon passing exams, an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer certification and ID card. AFAA also recommends that course participants purchase the "Personal Fitness Training: Theory and Practice" textbook. Technological requirements, other than a computer, include high-speed Internet, Adobe Flash Player (Flash Player 10 recommended), a web cam, a microphone (if web cam does not have one built in), speakers or headphones and a printer. Course participants must also have the ability to allow the Virtual Network Computing process that will allow a third party service (AFAA) to monitor and access participants' computer screens during exams.

    Re-certification

    • AFAA personal trainer certifications are valid for two years. AFAA-certified personal trainers must renew their certification before it expires, as AFAA believes that certified personal trainers should have up-to-date knowledge of the latest fitness instruction. To renew their personal trainer certification, fitness professionals must earn at least 15 continuing education units (CEUs) by attending AFAA workshops or by completing Continuing Ed Corners or AFAA at-home courses. At least one AFAA workshop, home study course or Continuing Ed Corner must be included in the required 15 CEUs. Personal trainers continuing their education for re-certification must attend or complete workshops or courses covering at least three of the following topics: anatomy, physical therapy, exercise physiology, sports psychology, instructional methods, nutrition, business management, special populations, injury prevention, step training, body composition, resistance training, fitness assessment and kinesiology. Before re-certification, fitness professionals must submit a re-certification application along with the CEU validation forms and proof of current CPR certification.

    Continuing Education Workshops

    • AFAA-certified personal trainers seeking re-certification can attend AFAA workshops to earn CEUs. The personal trainer certification workshop not only provides preparation for first-time certification but provides continuing education for re-certification credit. When taken for credit, the workshop fee is reduced to $255 and includes 15 CEUs, upon completion, as well as everything provided under the normal fee, except for the certificate and ID card. Personal trainers seeking CEUs for re-certification can also attend AFAA's other certification workshops: kickboxing; step certification; primary group exercise certification; three-day military fitness specialist certification; and one-day multi-training, which teaches fitness class instruction to certified fitness professionals continuing their education or seeking re-certification.

    Continuing Education Self Study

    • Certified fitness professionals may also continue their education or earn CEUs for re-certification from home by ordering self-study courses or by completing online self-study courses through E-AFAA. AFAA self-study courses not available online can be ordered at AFAA's online store for various prices and include appropriate textbooks and other study materials.