The Importance Of Qualifications In The Fitness Industry

THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALIFICATIONS IN THE FITNESS INDUSTRY

In a previous blog we looked at the findings of a major survey of trends in the health and fitness industry; this week’s blog looks in more detail at the top result.

The 2013 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends is an annual survey of industry trends.

Now in its seventh consecutive year, it is of great interest to personal trainers, fitness instructors and other professionals working in the health and fitness industry across the globe.

The survey was sent electronically to 29,630 health and fitness professionals, of which 3,346 (11%) responded.

THE NUMBER ONE GLOBAL FITNESS TREND

For the sixth year in a row, the number one worldwide fitness trend is Educated, Certified and Experienced Fitness Professionals.

This result shows that those working in the industry recognise the importance of well-trained, accredited instructors with relevant experience in their field. It also shows that continual professional development (CPD) and keeping up with changes and developments in health and fitness is an important part of a personal trainer’s career plan.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FITNESS TRAINING ACCREDITATION

The report states that the results of the survey show that the number one trend “continues and drives the need for education and certification programs that are fully accredited by national third-party accrediting organizations for health and fitness and clinical exercise program professionals”.

In the US, there has been a significant growth of accredited fitness courses and programmes on offer and the expectation is that the number of jobs available for fitness professionals will continue to grow faster than in many other careers.

In the UK, as in the US and elsewhere, the health and fitness industry is a competitive sector, and better training and accreditation for industry professionals is recognised as an important factor. Not only does good training help the career path of those within the industry, it also has very real benefits for members of the public who visit a gym and work with a personal trainer, as well as those who require the help of a health and fitness professional when they are diagnosed with a condition such as diabetes, or for rehabilitation after an accident or operation.

A personal trainer or fitness instructor who follows a training programme with CMS Fitness Courses can be confident that they will receive premium training from qualified professionals on Level 2, 3 and 4 fitness courses that are internationally accredited by all relevant industry bodies.