Individuals enrolling must complete the internship and provide proof of CPR/First Aid certification at the completion of the program. Individual courses may be taken for continuing education units/credits.

The Online Professional Certificate in Personal Fitness Training (PFT) is a Web-based Certificate program with a field internship course. Content and curriculum within each course in the program is designed to present the student with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to implement a unique medically-based fitness model for their future or current clients. Students will learn how to apply their client’s health history, goals, and abilities integrating exercise science curriculum and practical training techniques into a systematic model that teaches students to progress their clients through different training levels and phases.  Included with the either certificate program registration, you will receive complimentary access to receive the National Posture Institute’s Certified Resistance Training Professional™ (RTP™) designation.

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. 

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. 

Course 5: Designing Exercise Prescriptions for Normal/Special Populations
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
This course teaches how to develop an exercise prescription in relation to health implications for normal/special populations related to age, medical condition, and fitness level. Topics include cardiac conditions, diabetes, physical disabilities, HIV and AIDS, asthma, sensory impairments, pregnancy, and program design for children to senior populations. This course is designed as a research-based class    with emphasis on designing a step-by-step process to creating individualized   exercise programs.