National Academy of Sports Medicine
Getting Started as a Personal Fitness Trainer
National Academy of Sports Medicine

Getting Started as a Personal Fitness Trainer

Casey DeJong

Instructor: Casey DeJong

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

18 hours to complete
3 weeks at 6 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

18 hours to complete
3 weeks at 6 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Identifying the components and purposes of fitness assessments.

  • Evaluating client information to inform individualized training programs.

  • Differentiating between the roles and limitations of fitness professionals and healthcare providers.

Details to know

Earn a career certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

28 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Placeholder

Build your Basic Science expertise

This course is part of the NASM Personal Fitness Trainer Professional Certificate
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Professional Certificate.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate from National Academy of Sports Medicine
Placeholder
Placeholder

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

Placeholder

There are 5 modules in this course

The need for society to be proactive in preventive medicine has perpetuated a strong focus on exercise in recent years. Although it seems like nothing new, exercise has gained some acceptance in society as a viable means to increase quality of life and life expectancy. However, implementing exercise in daily life is met with hesitation and avoidance. Much of this is attributed to the lack of knowledge of exercise applications and benefits in the general population. Upon completion of this week’s lessons, the aspiring fitness professional will be able to:

What's included

6 videos9 readings6 assignments2 plugins

Nearly everyone understands the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. However, the typical lifestyle does little to provide the human body with what it needs to maintain proper health. As previously stated, the wealth of technology and automation in the United States has begun to take a toll on public health. Technology advancements have greatly reduced the need for physical exertion in daily life. For that reason, fitness professionals have a great opportunity to connect with clients and help them change their lives for the better! Upon completion of this week’s lessons, the aspiring fitness professional will be able to:

What's included

8 videos7 readings6 assignments5 plugins

Designing an individualized, systematic, integrated fitness assessment can be properly accomplished only by understanding a client’s goals, needs, and abilities. This entails knowing what a client wants to gain from a training program, what a client needs from a program to successfully accomplish their goal(s), and how capable they are of performing the required tasks within an integrated program. The information necessary to create the right program for an individual comes from a proper fitness assessment. Upon completion of this week’s lessons, the prospective fitness professional will be able to:

What's included

7 videos8 readings7 assignments

After discussions of lifestyle and medical history are performed to gather subjective information about a client, it is time to get into the gym and perform objective fitness assessments in order to paint the clearest picture of a client’s fitness needs. These include physiological assessments, body-composition assessments, postural assessments, cardiorespiratory assessments, and muscular endurance and strength assessments. Upon completion of this week’s lessons, the prospective fitness professional will be able to:

What's included

7 videos9 readings8 assignments

The final quiz is designed to assess your understanding and mastery of the key concepts covered throughout the course. It will include questions from all the major topics discussed in Weeks 1 to 4, ensuring that you have a solid grasp of the principles and practices of personal fitness training. The final peer-reviewed assignment aims to assess your practical skills in evaluating client information, designing individualized fitness programs, and addressing client-specific needs and motivations. By completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your ability to conduct comprehensive fitness assessments, develop personalized training programs, and construct SMART goals for clients.

What's included

1 assignment1 peer review

Instructor

Casey DeJong
National Academy of Sports Medicine
5 Courses298 learners

Offered by

Recommended if you're interested in Basic Science

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

New to Basic Science? Start here.

Placeholder

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Frequently asked questions