There are bad apples in every bunch. But for an industry that should be all about helping you live a healthier life, the personal training bunch has a lot of worms. After all, unlike professionals in many industries, personal trainers don’t have to meet across-the-board state or federal guidelines to call themselves, well, personal trainers. And, while some fitness facilities hold strict hiring standards, others welcome applicants with a high school diploma and no training-related certifications, education or experience. What’s more, with the rise of online and Instagram trainers, anyone with a sculpted physique (or at least access to photo-altering software) can cash in big on selling workout programs.
[See: Signs You Should Break Up With Your Gym.]
That said, there are thousands of honest and impassioned trainers out there who not only want to help you reach your health goals, but who also have the scientific background, professional qualifications and real-world experience to help you achieve more than you ever could on willpower alone.
To separate the good apples from the bad, ask these four questions before handing over your credit card — or your health — to a rotten trainer:
1. What certifications do you hold?
Arguably the most important question you can ask any potential personal trainer, this one will weed out a whole host of “professionals.” Ask your trainer if he or she holds a current fitness certification, ideally though the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the American Council on Exercise, the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
These accredited bodies carefully study the roles and responsibilities associated with various fitness professions and work with outside experts to craft and conduct regularly updated, audited exams. Those tests are meant to guarantee that anyone holding their certifications meets the basic knowledge requirements of that field, says exercise physiologist and ACE-certified trainer Pete McCall. They also require certified professionals to undergo regular continuing education courses.
But beware: Don’t confuse these certifications with those associated with X workout class or Y piece of fitness equipment. “When people say they are certified for a certain cycling class, I say, ‘No, you aren’t really certified, you took a workshop that taught you how to teach that brand’s format,'” McCall says.
[See: The 10 Most Underrated Exercises, According to Top Trainers.]
That’s not to say such credentials aren’t valuable additions to a trainer’s knowledge base, but they should be treated as additions rather than foundations. Case in point: In one Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research study of 115 fitness professionals, trainers with a NSCA or ACSM certification earned a score, on average, of 85 percent on a test of basic fitness knowledge. Trainers holding other certifications (or no certifications), despite having worked as trainers for five years, eeked by with an average of 36 percent.
2. What’s your education?
Educational requirements for fitness certifications vary. Some require a high school diploma, some a four-year degree and others a four-year degree in exercise science or a related field. So make sure to ask your trainer, even if certified, about his or her education.
But don’t judge too quickly: Someone with an art history degree, for example, could be an awesome trainer if he or she is certified by a legitimate organization. Likewise, someone with an exercise-related degree could be a crappy trainer if he or she doesn’t have a certification in the field, McCall says. After all, in the previously mentioned study of training professionals, those who held a bachelor’s degree in exercise science scored an average of 68 percent on a test of basic fitness knowledge — significantly lower than those with NSCA or ACSM certifications.
The takeaway: Education should be considered alongside a professional’s certification. Depending on your unique training needs, you may want to look for a professional with an educational background in physical therapy, for instance.
3. What’s your training experience and specialty?
Experience is an important factor in the qualification equation. However, more years on the job doesn’t always mean “better.” “Sometimes, newer trainers are more diligent about dotting all of the i’s and crossing all of the t’s,” McCall says.
Either way, when considering a trainer’s experience, pay attention to both years spent training and the populations trained. For example, if you’re an older adult or looking to lose weight, a trainer who is highly experienced in working with high school football players might not be the best bet for you, says online strength coach and exercise physiologist Mike T. Nelson.
Ask any potential trainers to connect you with previous or current clients who have similar health histories and goals. Or, on the flip side, ask friends like you for trainer recommendations and dig into their certifications from there, Nelson suggests. It’s important that your trainer is knowledgeable not just in training, but in training people with your unique needs.
4. Do you have liability insurance?
Ideally, you’ll never have to use your trainer’s liability insurance. But in the unlikely event that you suffer a training-related injury, liability insurance is a difference-maker. “If your trainer is found to be at fault, that insurance will pay for health care expenses,” McCall says. “But if your trainer doesn’t have liability insurance, you don’t have any real recourse.”
[See: 7 Signs You Should Stop Exercising Immediately.]
Most gyms insure all of their on-staff personal trainers, but it’s the responsibility of all independent trainers to obtain their own insurance, typically through his or her certifying organization, Nelson says. Ask for proof of insurance before signing up.
More from U.S. News
7 Exercises That Trainers Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead Doing
7 Pieces of Workout Gear to Ditch or Replace
5 Strength Machines You Should Start Using ASAP
Is Your Personal Trainer Legit? originally appeared on usnews.com
