NCCPT Fact Sheet
 
When, where, and who started the NCCPT? 

The National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT) was started in Southern California by John Platero in September of 1995, when he was promoted to Director of Personal Training for a chain of health clubs called LA FITNESS.

Faced with the common problem of having to increase revenue without a qualified staff, John decided to create a vehicle by which he could recruit new trainers, teach them the basics and provide these future professionals with a system to earn a good living, while they continue to learn and grow as a Personal Trainer.
 
Where did this system come from?

This system was developed from years as a trainer and owning service-oriented businesses. After successfully owning and operating several service oriented businesses, John applied those same concepts to operating a Personal Training company. Within three months he was offered a position as District Manager for LA FITNESS and eventually promoted to a National Director of Personal Training, overseeing the entire country. 

John consulted with a variety of health care professional (exercise physiologists, nutritionists, chiropractors and trainers) and went through 27 personal training certifications himself. Along with their contributions and the knowledge he obtained over 30 years of personal training experience, John constantly updates the manual and derives the curriculum from his experience and the best of all the courses he has taken. The curriculum adheres to ACSM guidelines.
 
How is the N.C.C.P.T. Certification different?

The NCCPT offers a different approach to the business aspect of personal training. By becoming a Premier on-line member, you can receive discounts and earn money for referring people to the site. Similar to a multi-level marketing company but without having to purchase products on a monthly basis, you will earn commissions up to four levels deep from your down-line. The NCCPT does not pretend to be the end-all of certifications, nor does it present itself as the only place to seek Personal Training information. We like to think of ourselves as a conduit of information for the Personal Trainer. 

Who should enroll in the NCCPT?

Any person wishing to start a career as a personal trainer or anyone wanting to learn more about training. The NCCPT is a fantastic Personal Training certification with a multitude of training information. At the 2-day workshop, students receive 16 hours of personal instruction. With the in-home study course, students receive all the hands-on information on video or DVD. 

Is the NCCPT Personal Training Certification nationally recognized?

There are several hundred certifications available in the United States. At this time there is no government agency that accredits or regulates Personal Training. For this reason, clubs and/or organizations have no legal responsibility to acknowledge or recognize any certification, unless they want to. However, this is how it works: The National Commission for Health Certifying Agencies (NCHCA) was initiated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCHCA then formed the National Organization for Competency Assurances (NOCA) to offer a membership organization in addition to the standard setting and approval functions performed by the commission. NOCA has recently changed their name to the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE).

ICE has member organizations that are not certifying bodies, but they do have an interest in competency assurances. Membership in ICE does not require or involve any review of certification activity, nor does the ICE involve any recognition of a discipline or profession or their certification arrangements. However, the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA) is the accreditation body of ICE. Organizations have to apply for accreditation and only those organizations that achieve this recognition are allowed to display the NCCA logo on their promotional material.

No organization may claim membership to the NCCA because the Commission is not a membership body. Remember, the NCCA is a private not-for-profit organization that does not derive any support from the federal government. The NCCA Standards do not prohibit an organization from requiring education or trainings as a prerequisite to sit for the exam. A certification organization is able to determine its own eligibility requirements for a candidate to sit for the exam, including prior educational courses, training or workshops. Additionally, the organization can offer educational materials or training programs for prospective candidates as long as the organization/agency sponsored education is not a required prerequisite to obtain the credential. Candidates should be able to use alternative education or training experience to demonstrate their eligibility to sit for the exam.

The NCCPT is also an affiliate of the NBFE and is in the process of accreditation with this organization. The NBFE is modeled after the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Additionally, there is another organization called IDEA. IDEA is the largest continuing education provider for Personal Trainers in the world. They started the IDEA PFT-Recognition system to evaluate and verify the quality of Personal Training Certifications. The NCCPT has been approved and accepted into the IDEA recognition system. 

  
How long is the NCCPT certification valid?

When you are certified through most organizations, there is an expiration date. The NCCPT certification adheres to industry standard of two years. In order to maintain most certifications you must acquire continuing education units (CEUs).

By stringently reviewing all Continuing Education providers and their content, the NCCPT CB ensures the quality of continuing education will meet the high standards required to meet the NCCPT recertification requirements.

All individuals or companies that submit courses or workshops applying to become Continuing Education Providers for the NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer to acquire CEU’s for recertification must provide extensive background information on themselves and/or their company. There submissions shall demonstrate that their content must:

·          Keep the personal trainer’s expertise current by updating their knowledge base and teaching   

       them new skills. 

·          Be associated with the development or comprehension of a specialty, technique, tool or

       expertise in personal training.

·          Assure the individual participating learns all of the foundational knowledge required of the

       minimally competent professional for this subject matter.

We feel that Continuing Education:

• Keeps the professional current by updating their knowledge base and teaching them new skills.
• Frequently is associated with the development of a specialty.
• May also be based on a specific modality or tool.
• Assumes that the individual participating, possesses all of the foundational knowledge required of the minimally competent professional.