The NFPT (National Federation of Professional Trainers) Personal Trainer certification is one of the NCCA certified organizations and has been for a few years now. A certified stamp from the NCCA means that the NFPT is one of the best and most recognized Personal Training certifications in the United States.

Types of Certifications
NFPT offers a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) program with a whole slew of additional 'advanced' courses also available.

They offer quite a variety of ways to get the education needed to pass the exam. They have at home, online, workshop, and even correspondence courses at a few local colleges.

Reputation / Popularity
The industry recognition, for some reason, isn't as high for NFPT as the other certification programs. I haven't had any gyms say that NFPT was enough, they always asked if I would also get something like ACSM or NSCA.

Eligibility
All you need to become eligible for the NFPT exam is to be 18 years old with a High School diploma. They do strongly recommend that you have your CPR certification, however you do not need it to sit for the exam.

Deep in their Student Manual, the line "Applicant must have at least 2 years of practical hands-on experience in weight/resistance and/or cardio
Training" can be found. However I can't find anywhere that requests verification of this information before the exam can be taken. I believe this is more of a 'wish' than a requirement.

Exam
The exam is administered at over 300 sites and they even send you the closest centers to make it easier for you to pick the most appropriate for your schedule.

There is also an optional 'practical' exam if you want benefit from some hands on experience and testing. Although I highly recommend it, I do wish they made this a mandatory part of the examination itself. That would definitely help their industry recognition and respect.

The nice thing is there are no exam dates, so you can take it any time you wish.

Workshops
There is a workshop option, with two different ways to attend. The caveat is that you must own the "Home Study" course previously before you can sign up.

On their website they show classes where the Workshops are held. They hold them in their affiliate companies. Therefore, if you're already a member of one of those companies, you're lucky because you'll get a reduced rate for the Workshop.

People that are studying at home can do this workshop for an additional $159. The affiliate companies are some amount less than that, but I haven't heard a firm amount for the price of the course.

Distance Learning
NFPT has a Computer Distance Learning Program that lets you work in 'virtual' classes, just like if you were really in a workshop.

I agree that this is the wave of the future and NFPT seems to be the only group that's doing it in this way. I have no idea how well trainers will do with this technique, but I am sure that over time it will improve.

It costs about $550 to complete the Distance Learning portion of the training. That includes all the books and materials you will need.

Costs
Since there are a variety of ways to pay for the education/exam, I'm going to list them here just to make it easier.

Home-Study Course - $450 (includes exam fee)
Computer Distance Course - $550
Workshop - $159 or less (must own Home-Study Course)
College Course - Dependent on the School

Miscellaneous Fees
$20-$44 for proctor exam (payable at the exam)

Validity
Now here's something interesting, the certificate is only valid for one year. However, here's the catch, the yearly fee pays for all of your CEC fees! Interesting, huh?

Although it's not very easy to learn from their web and printed materials, the recertification fee is $75 a year according to their handbook. That's not terrible, considering you get 2 CEC's free with it.

CEC's
As mentioned above, NFPT considers CEC's as part of your continuing certification criteria. Therefore it's free and you need to get 2 CEC's each 12 months.

You also have Semi-Annual "Self Tests" administered through the NFPT website are required (unless a CEC satisfies the requirement)

They certainly care to make sure their trainers are continually learning. Instead of having a cramming of CEC's in the last 2 months of your 2 year certification, you continually learn with NFPT. Not a bad idea!

Renewal
Renewal is yearly at the cost of $75. This cost covers all your CEC's that you need for the following year to renew in 12 months.

Summary
With a fresh approach to education and CEC's, NFPT is making itself different in an attempt to distinguish itself in a field where, frankly, many organizations seem the same.

The recognition isn't as strong as some, however the education is constant and very valuable. If recognition isn't that important to you (if you're not trying to join a gym), then I would definitely check this certification out.

Leslie Smith is a Certified Personal Trainer and owner of Fun-2B-Fit, LLC. She has published a book on "Hot to Become a Certified Personal Trainer" to assist aspiring trainers with their goals of becoming certified fitness professionals.

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