[ThaiFighter_83]

I'm a personal trainer, and I've been working for LA McFitness for the last 2 years. The pay is horrible, and I want to get hired at some place like Spectrum or Equinox.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, but my actual certification is not nationally recognized. It's just some mickey mouse cert that I got after taking a 3-hour class at some community college.

What I want to get now is the CSCS, which I hear is the best cert in the country. I hear NFL football coaches have these things.

If I get the CSCS, will that spike my chances of getting hired at Spectrum or Equinox?

[Cap'n]

I would imagine a CSCS would help you with any career path involving the discipline. That's actually what I'm studying for at the moment. Whether or not I use the certification directly in my career, it'll certainly help to have a nationally recognized certification.

[Sawadee99]

I'm not very familiar with Spectrum or Equinox since I live in Canada. However, with regards to the CSCS designation, I'd say go for it. I bought the "essentials of strength and conditioning" manual as a personal reference and it's great. You're right about professional conditioning coaches holding the designation as well.

You may also want to look into the NASM (national academy of sports medicine). They have a performance enhancement specialist cert. that's also pretty good.

[Reloaded]

I'm currently studying for the ACE-PT exam, not exactly rocket-science but will help me get kick started as a PT.

A client of mine is considering taking the CSCS, and from what I can see it looks solid.

My best suggestion though is to talk to trainers at the gym you want to work at and find out their certifications... that why you'll know 100% what they are looking for and don't have to guess and waste potential money and time.

[Dan's Knuckles]

I work in a PT clinic in the basement of an Equinox. The Equinox Personal trainers are tiered; Tier 1= least knowledge, knows the basics of program design. Tier 3= knows the most including about exercise and those with injuries and disease. One of the Tier 3 trainers I know of teaches in a Kinesiology program at a local college. I know trainers at Equinox who do not have a CSCS, however I also know that some do have it. Fill out a job application and ask them what they want.

The CSCS is one of the most legit certifications there are out there, however it's expensive. If you have a basic understanding of exercise physiology you will not have a problem passing the test assuming you can afford it, as the CSCS and NSCA membership are expensive. If you want to be a personal trainer definitely read their book and take the test.

[ThaiFighter_83]

Originally Posted by Dan's Knuckles

I work in a PT clinic in the basement of an Equinox. The Equinox Personal trainers are tiered; Tier 1= least knowledge, knows the basics of program design. Tier 3= knows the most including about exercise and those with injuries and disease. One of the Tier 3 trainers I know of teaches in a Kinesiology program at a local college. I know trainers at Equinox who do not have a CSCS, however I also know that some do have it. Fill out a job application and ask them what they want.

The CSCS is one of the most legit certifications there are out there, however it's expensive. If you have a basic understanding of exercise physiology you will not have a problem passing the test assuming you can afford it, as the CSCS and NSCA membership are expensive. If you want to be a personal trainer definitely read their book and take the test.

The CSCS is not that expensive. I looked up all the info, and NSCA membership is 120 per year. With that membership, I get big discounts on all their stuff. Specifically, there is a package that has ALL the study materials availible (textbook, cd programs, practice tests, etc), and it comes with FREE registration for the test (which is ususally like 300 bucks or something). With the membership, that package is 500 bucks (normally, it's 750).

SO, total, I get the CSCS for around 650 bucks, if you include the membership, study package, and probably the tax and shipping. That's a small price to pay for such a prestigious cert, from what I hear. My current cert is about to expire, and it's a mickey-mouse cert that I got after taking a 3-hour class in some community college, and taking a really easy test that I barely studied for. The CSCS, hand-in-hand with my B.S. in Kinesiology, is what I need to get a good job at a high-end gym.

I already tried applying to Equinox in Woodland Hills, and they called me for one interview, but not the second one. And I also tried going to Spectrum, but they didn't want me. I figure with the CSCS, they HAVE to hire me. That, and I need good salesman skills. Unfortunately, I have not been trained in that, but I'm very motivated to learn if they hire me and teach me.

[Dan's Knuckles]

That's about a weeks pay for me, which is not something I am willing to part with lightly.

[Dan's Knuckles]

Besides, no offense to personal trainers or gym managers, but it seems to me that most gyms will only hire pretty personable personal trainers regardless of their knowledge of program design.