Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement

The Cabrillo College Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students to pass a national exam in personal training (NSCA, NASM, ACE) and begin a career in the fitness and recreation industry. Students will be exposed to lecture and activity courses to provide them with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills they need to be successful personal trainers. Topics include health screening, strength/fitness assessment, basic exercise science, and program design. 

A certified personal trainer will have the opportunity to obtain employment in the fitness industry in fitness centers, parks and recreation, educational settings, private businesses and corporations.  A personal trainer certification can also be a pathway to careers in strength and conditioning, group exercise, physical therapy, and athletic training.

We project that 15-20 students will earn the Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement each year it is offered.  Students and the instructor will work closely together to complete the clinical education portion of the certificate.  Completion of the personal trainer certificate will prepare students to pass a national exam in personal training (NSCA, NASM, ACE) and begin a career in the field.

Cabrillo College is seeking approval from the Chancellor’s Office for a Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement program in Career Technical Education. Cabrillo College’s Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students to pass a national exam in personal training (NSCA, NASM, ACE) and begin a career in the fitness and recreation industry. A labor market analysis indicates a high demand of job opportunities for personal trainers within the community that Cabrillo College serves. Based on all available data, there appears to be an undersupply of fitness trainers and fitness/aerobics instructors compared to the demand for this occupation in the Bay region and in the Santa Cruz-Monterey sub-region (Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties).1 The gap is about 2,465 students annually in the Bay region and 373 students annually in the SC-Monterey sub-region. 

The median hourly wage for students who earn a Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement and go on to pass a national certification exam is $21.77. There are employment opportunities for personal trainers in fitness and recreational sports centers, civic and social organizations; amusement and recreation industries, sports and recreation instruction, and other fitness facilities.

Students will be exposed to lecture and activity courses to provide them with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills they need to be successful personal trainers. Topics include health screening, strength/fitness assessment, basic exercise science, and program design. Upon completion of the certificate, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to establish and conduct a client assessment for strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness before designing an exercise program; apply the principles of functional anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, and exercise biomechanics to design training programs and address client questions; and explain the interrelated life-style issues of nutrition, recovery, stress, hydration, sleep, and exercise as they affect fitness and overall health. Students will also take part in progressive lab courses where they will be given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in the Cabrillo College Wellness Education Center with fellow students. This certificate is appropriate for students considering careers in personal training, strength and conditioning, group exercise, physical therapy, and athletic training.

The 18.5 required units for the personal trainer certificate include the following core courses: Biology of People-Anatomy and Physiology, Health and Physical Fitness, Introduction to Personal Training, Beginning Exercise and Nutrition for Wellness and Weight Loss and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).  Students must also choose a total of 3 units from a variety of activity classes such as Beginning Weight Training, Total Fitness, Bootcamp, Cross Training, Hatha Yoga, Swim Fitness and Water Aerobics. Students also participate in the four semester, progressive Personal Training Labs to give students the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in the Introduction to Personal Training Course.  This will provide students with hands on experience working with fellow Cabrillo College students on their fitness goals in the Cabrillo College Wellness Education Center.

Year 1 - FALL	UNITS
BIO 13A	3
KIN 4	3
KIN 4LA	1
Total Units Fall	7
Year 1 - Spring	Units
HS 21	3
KIN 15	0.5
KIN 4LB	1
3 units required from the following: KIN 27A, 31A, 34A, 54A, 37A, 61A, 62A	1
Total Units Spring	5.5
Total Units for Year 1	12.5
SUMMER	UNITS
Total Units Summer
Year 2 - FALL	UNITS
KIN 8A	2
KIN 4LC	1
One of the following: Kin 27A, 31A, 34A, 35A, 38A, 61A. 62A	1
Total Units Fall	4
Year 2 - SPRING	UNITS
KIN 4LD	1
One of the following: Kin 27A, 31A, 34A, 35A, 37A, 61A, 62A	1
Total Units for Spring	2
Total Units on Plan	18.5

The Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement can be a stand alone pathway for students interested in going directly into the workforce or it can also be part of the Kinesiology AA-T pathway. Students interested in professions such as athletic training, physical therapy, physical therapy aides, chiropractic care would benefit from obtaining this certificate.

Currently, West Valley College, Foothill College, Monterey Peninsula College offer Personal Trainer Certificate of Achievement programs, while Gavilan College has an AA degree with a personal training/fitness option. Contact was made with college representatives listed above.