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PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINER
Certificate Program Online Course Online Professional Certificate in Personal Fitness Training

The Online Professional Certificate in Personal Fitness Training is a collaboration between San Diego State University, College of Extended Studies, and Educational Fitness Solutions (EFS). This certificate program is interactive, comprehensive, web-based, and allows students from around the world to fit courses into their busy work and home schedules, access the courses wherever they are, and complete the certificate within five months or have up to two years if necessary.

The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency for the American Dietetic Association (ADA), has approved the Certificate in Personal Fitness Training program for 150 continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs), and the Optional Field Internship course for 60 CPEUs for both Registered Dietitians (RDs) and Dietetic Technician-Registered (DTRs) professionals. The American Council on Exercise® (ACE), allows graduating certificate students a preferred discount on the ACE Personal Training Certification Exam and study materials.

Who Should Attend?
Those seeking to start a career in the emerging fitness/health industry, established fitness professionals who desire advanced certifications, and allied health and medical professionals from all fields seeking to broaden their careers to become full- or part-time personal trainers/fitness instructors. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau publication Occupational Outlook Handbook, overall employment for personal trainers is expected to increase 44% from 2002 to 2012.

Certificate Structure
To earn the Certificate complete five of the following core courses: Business Administration and Management Aspects for Personal Trainers, Designing Exercise Prescriptions for Normal/Special Populations, Field Internship in Personal Training (optional), Health Risk Profiles and Fitness Assessment Techniques, Introduction to Exercise Science-Level I, and Introduction to Exercise Science-Level II. Students may also elect to take the optional field internship.

American Council on Exercise siteEducational Fitness Solutions site

Workplace Benefits

  • On-going guidance, instruction, and interaction from instructors that hold either a master's or Ph.D. degree in exercise physiology, biomechanics, nutrition or an exercise science-related degree
  • A professional certificate from an accredited institution
  • Networking opportunities with industry experts
  • College courses provide CECs or CEUs for personal trainers and allied health/medical professionals seeking re-certification or career advancement

For program information contact Ken Baldwin, M.Ed., program advisor, at kbpft@yahoo.com. For an online demo go to www.kenbaldwin.pageout.net.

National Commission for Certifying Agencies siteAll American Council on Exercise certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

textbookTextbook/course material information is available at www.sdsubookstore.com/es; just use your five digit schedule number when selecting a course.

>> A special refund policy applies, please see Registration Information: Refunds and Withdrawals.

>> View All Online Courses

For additional information please email extended.std@sdsu.edu or call (619) 594-0787.

SDSU Research Foundation Program

>> Find out more information about the Personal Fitness Training Online Certificate.

>> Download the Certificate in Personal Fitness Training Online PDF.

Summer 2008 Courses

Online Course Introduction to Exercise Science-Level I
Module One - Summer

In this course, students gain an understanding of musculoskeletal and functional anatomy and the effects of exercise placed on joint structure during exercise movements. Emphasis is placed on learning about proper body alignment, joint range of motion (ROM), basic biomechanics, and kinesiological principles to the development of safe and effective exercise programs.

Textbook Required

Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.Ed., is program coordinator and instructor for the Professional Certificate in Personal Fitness Training. He is also the former chair of IDEA's National Personal Trainer Committee and chair of the Senior Fitness Subcommittee for the Massachusetts's Governor's Committee on Physical Fitness and Sports. He has been honored with numerous awards including Boston's best personal trainer award three times and has been named the recipient of the IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year Award, presented at the IDEA International Personal Training Summit.  

Noncredit Schedule No. 08SUPF 99335 CF
CEU Schedule No. 08SUPF 99341 CU
Dates: June 16-July 27 (Registration Deadline: June 13)
Location: Online
Fee: $335

Register online for 08SUPF 99335 CF
Noncredit Course Only

Register online for 08SUPF 99341 CU
This includes the noncredit course and two units of credit.


Online Course Introduction to Exercise Science-Level II
Module One - Summer

This course is designed to teach the personal trainer how the muscular, skeletal, and cardiorespiratory systems function with, and without exercise conditioning. Additional topics include energy metabolism, neuromuscular function, and the physiology of exercise in relation to training programs and environmental considerations.

Textbook Required

Instructor: Ken Baldwin (see previous biography)  

Noncredit Schedule No. 08SUPF 99336 CF
CEU Schedule No. 08SUPF 99342 CU
Dates: June 16-July 27 (Registration Deadline: June 13)
Location: Online
Fee: $335

Register online for 08SUPF 99336 CF
Noncredit Course Only

Register online for 08SUPF 99342 CU
This includes the noncredit course and two units of credit.


Online Course Business Administration and Management Aspects for Personal Trainers
Module Two - Summer

This course gives personal trainers a solid background in developing or starting a personal training business and prepares them for financial management, marketing strategies, and business plan development. Techniques for effective management include standards and guidelines, facility/studio personnel management, and operational issues from a small personal training (PT) studio to managing a PT department at a large health facility.

Textbook Required

Instructor: Ken Baldwin (see previous biography)  

Noncredit Schedule No. 08SUPF 99338 CF
CEU Schedule No. 08SUPF 99344 CU
Dates: July 28-Sept. 7 (Registration Deadline: July 25)
Location: Online
Fee: $335

Register online for 08SUPF 99338 CF
Noncredit Course Only

Register online for 08SUPF 99344 CU
This includes the noncredit course and two units of credit.


Online Course Health Risk Profiles and Fitness Assessment Techniques
Module Two - Summer

This course teaches students how to assess and evaluate cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular testing techniques, joint ROM, flexibility, body fat analysis, blood pressure, and body measurements based on ACSM guidelines. Topics include client screening procedures, medical and health history intake forms, identifying high-risk clients, determining the appropriate test, conducting the test, and evaluating the results.

Textbook Required

Instructor: Ken Baldwin (see previous biography)  

Noncredit Schedule No. 08SUPF 99337 CF
CEU Schedule No. 08SUPF 99343 CU
Dates: July 28-Sept. 7 (Registration Deadline: July 25)
Location: Online
Fee: $335

Register online for 08SUPF 99337 CF
Noncredit Course Only

Register online for 08SUPF 99343 CU
This includes the noncredit course and two units of credit.

San Diego Workforce Partnership - Creating Workforce Solutions for the San Diego Region

The College of Extended Studies is a State-approved provider
for the Federal Workforce Investment Act.

Last update May 1, 2008

The statements found on this page/site are for informational purposes only. While every effort is made to ensure that this information is up-to-date and accurate, official information can be found in the University publications.
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