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One of the Major Issues Facing Our Industry
Today
By Peter Davis
Publisher and CEO
Over three years ago, IDEA Health & Fitness Association
created the IDEA Personal Fitness Trainer Recognition System
to recognize certification agencies and their certified instructors
who have met this IDEA industry standard. Recently, International
Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has recommended
that, as of December 31, 2005, all its 4,500 U.S. member clubs
hire only PFTs certified by at least one organization or agency
that has received third-party accreditation for its exams
and procedures from an independent, nationally recognized
accrediting body. IHRSA has identified the National Commission
for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)--the accreditation arm of the
National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA)--as
an acceptable accrediting organization of PFT certifications.
IDEA Health & Fitness Association is very supportive
of the efforts to create a PFT certification standard. We
applaud IHRSA’s leadership role in working with other
organizations to reach consensus in developing this recommendation.
By suggesting that NCCA standards for accreditation of personal
trainer certifications go into effect by the end of 2005,
the fitness industry is taking a positive and proactive step
toward selfregulation of personal trainers
We also believe that third-party accreditation should go
beyond PFT certifications and include other areas of the fitness
industry, such as Pilates and group exercise. The NCCA accreditation
model could also be used with these modalities; however, it
only applies to personal fitness trainer certifications for
now.
Positive strides are also underway in higher education; colleges
and universities arescrutinizing and improving curricula and
providing testing vehicles that are producing anew generation
of fitness professionals who have met and fulfilled certain
prerequisites and qualifications.
IHRSA’s recommendation of third-party accreditation
is an important step. Please see our listing of NCCA certifications
and the IDEA Recognized certification
agencies and certificate programs that are currently recognized
by the IDEA Personal Fitness Trainer Recognition System.
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