Section 3:

Physical Activity Instructor Training

Introduction
Clinical Settings
Community Settings
Organizations Offering Physical Activity Instructor Certifications
CPR and First Aid Training
Reference

Introduction

Physical activity instruction is available to older adults in a variety of clinical and community settings. In clinical settings, the instruction is provided for treatment of existing diseases or conditions. The purpose of the instruction in community settings is generally for health promotion and injury and disease prevention. This section briefly describes the physical activity instructor training specific to each setting. It also lists a number of physical activity instructor certifications available for those working in community settings.

Clinical Settings

Physical activity instruction offered in clinical or health care settings is designed to assist patients in managing existing diseases, impairments, or risk factors for disease. A number of health professionals working in clinical settings are uniquely qualified in physical activity instruction for these treatment therapies. The training programs, offered through accredited universities and colleges, prepare health professionals to conduct safe and effective physical activity instruction. Such health professionals include Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialists, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists, Exercise Physiologists, Kinesiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants, and Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants.

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Community Settings

Physical activity programs in community settings are designed for apparently healthy individuals or for individuals with controlled diseases or risk factors for disease. In a number of community physical activity programs, specialized instructor training is not necessary. For example, leading a walking group or bicycle tour does not require special training in walking or bicycling. Offering dance classes does not demand special certification beyond having the proficiency to teach and perform the dance steps. Promoting gardening activities may call for horticultural expertise, but not physical activity expertise. These types of programs are very beneficial in providing opportunities for physical activity to older adults.

When offering physical activity programs in community settings designed for specific outcomes such as improving cardiovascular (aerobic) fitness, strength, or flexibility; instructors should have appropriate expertise to ensure that programs are safe and effective. These types of programs would include instruction such as group aerobics classes, personal training, and arthritis pool exercises. Although these types of physical activity programs for older adults are becoming more common, there is a shortage of professionally trained older adult physical activity instructors to develop and instruct such programs. Because only a few colleges and universities have comprehensive programs to prepare older adult physical activity instructors, a number of professional health and fitness organizations, associations, and individual entrepreneurs have developed training programs leading to certification. There are currently no national curriculum standards to guide development of older adult training programs, therefore they sometimes lack essential components for teaching how to instruct safe and effective classes for older adults.(1)

The Coalition to Recommend National Curriculum Standards for Preparing Senior Fitness Instructors was formed to address this issue at the 1995 International Conference on Aging and Physical Activity in Colorado. This coalition of fitness professionals represented the following organizations: the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America; the Council on Aging and Adult Development of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; the American Council on Exercise; the American Senior Fitness Association; the Ruby Gerontology Center of California State University at Fullerton; the Cooper Institute of Aerobics Research; and Desert Southwest Fitness. The purpose of the coalition was not to promote national certification or licensing, but to explore development of national curriculum standards. A draft of curriculum standards was presented at the conference and attendees were invited to provide input and discuss issues relating to the standards. Following the conference, it was recommended that other professional organizations such as the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education; the American Association of Retired Persons; the American College of Sports Medicine; the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association; the National Council on Aging; the National Personal Trainers Association; the National Recreation and Park Association; the U.S. National Senior Sports Organization; and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports be invited to comment on the proposed standards. To date, agreement on national standards has not been reached.

There is currently no state licensing, regulation, or certification of physical activity instructors working with older adults in Minnesota, or any other state in the country. It is the responsibility of the community organization offering the physical activity program to determine the needs of the older adults interested in the program and the training and certification requirements of the instructor. The current physical activity instructor certifications offered by member organizations of the coalition, the American College of Sports Medicine, the Arthritis Foundation, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association are included in this section. These certifications are generally for instructors working with apparently healthy adults, not specifically older adults. You will note that the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Senior Fitness Association, and the Arthritis Foundation offer certifications specific to instructors working with older adults.(1)

In all cases, instructors should be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid. For almost all of the certifications included in this section, CPR is a required prerequisite and First Aid is required for some. CPR and First Aid courses are offered by many universities, colleges, and technical schools. The American Heart Association offers CPR and the American Red Cross offers both CPR and First Aid courses. Contact information for the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross is included at the end of this section.

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Organizations Offering Physical Activity Instructor Certifications

Organizations offering physical activity instructor certifications for community settings are listed. Following is a brief description of each organization, the certifications offered, and contact information. Keep in mind that this is not an all-inclusive list. New certification programs developed by credible organizations will continue to become available.

Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)
AFAA offers six certifications and continuing education workshops. Contact AFAA for additional information about the certifications, exam schedules and locations, and continuing education opportunities. CPR training is required prior to taking any of the certification exams.

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
ACSM sets the standard for certifying professionals involved in the health and fitness field and in clinical settings. Within each of these two broad areas, Health & Fitness Track or Clinical Track, there are a number of certifications. Contact the ACSM Certification Resource Center to order a free catalog for further information. CPR training is required prior to taking any of the certification exams.

Certifications: Health & Fitness Track

Health/Fitness Director: This certification targets managers of health clubs and wellness centers. The successful candidate will demonstrate administrative leadership skills for health and fitness programs primarily for healthy individuals. Minimum requirements: a 2-year, 4-year, or Masters degree in a health-related field from a regionally accredited college/university; plus a minimum of 4000 hours of experience as a fitness manager or director OR current ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor certification plus 4000 hours of experience as a fitness manager or director. Health/Fitness Instructor: This certification targets personal trainers, strength trainers, or health/fitness professionals conducting submaximal exercise testing. The successful candidate will be able to conduct individual and group exercise programs, fitness testing, and health education for apparently healthy individuals. Minimum requirements: a 2-year, 4-year, or Masters degree in a health-related field from a regionally accredited college/university OR current enrollment as a junior or higher in a degree granting health-related field from a regionally accredited college/university OR a minimum of 900 hours of practical experience in a fitness setting. Exercise Leader: This certification targets aerobics instructors or any floor exercise program instructors. These professionals are involved in "on-the-floor" exercise leadership. The successful candidate will demonstrate hands-on techniques for teaching safe, effective, and fundamentally sound methods of exercise. Minimum requirements: fitness certification from a nationally recognized organization OR completed or current enrollment in group exercise related college courses at a regionally accredited college/university OR 300 hours of group exercise instruction.

Certifications: Clinical Track

Program Director: This certification targets health care managers in the clinical setting working with special populations. It is designed for professionals with primary responsibilities in developing and directing effective clinical exercise programs. Minimum requirements: Masters degree training in exercise science, medicine, or an allied health field plus 2 years of clinical experience; minimum of 1 year of recent experience in a position of administrative authority working in a clinical exercise program. Exercise Specialist: This certification targets individuals who are counseling patients, prescribing exercise, evaluating special populations, and conducting peak or symptom-limited exercise testing. The successful candidate will be competent in graded exercise testing, exercise prescription, exercise leadership, patient counseling, and education in clinical exercise programs. Minimum requirements: Bachelors degree in an allied health field or the equivalent (2-year degree plus a minimum of 2 years experience in cardiac rehabilitation/clinical exercise testing environment); minimum of 600 hours of practical experience in a clinical exercise program including exercise testing

Certificates of Enhanced Qualifications (CEQ):

Candidates must be certified as an ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor (Health & Fitness Track) or ACSM Exercise Specialist (Clinical Track) to be eligible for the following certifications:

Advanced Personal Trainer: This certification targets fitness instructors, rehabilitation specialists, personal trainers and wellness specialists. It focuses on the latest information on relevant topics in order to enhance one's skills when training an apparently healthy population that possesses varied health and medical conditions. Exercise and the Older Adult: This certification targets fitness instructors, personal trainers, cardiac and pulmonary exercise specialists, rehabilitation specialists, and any instructor or clinician who works with older adults. This certification is designed to educate and enhance one's skills when working with an older adult population in an exercise setting. Nutrition and Exercise: This certification focuses on basic nutrition, supplements, ergogenic aids, fad diets, protein requirements, carbohydrate and fluid intake for endurance exercise, disordered eating, osteoporosis, amenorrhea, and nutrition and disease. Scientific and Applied Aspects of Resistance Exercise Training: This certification includes physiological responses to resistance exercise training, nutritional concerns, strength assessment, and benefits and precautions of resistance exercise training for special populations including the elderly

Contact Information:

American College of Sports Medicine Certification Resource Center P.O. Box 1496 Baltimore, MD 21298-9724 1-800-486-5643 Website: www.wwilkins.com/acsmcrc (Attention: Non-MDH link) For information on ACSM membership and resources, contact the National Center: American College of Sports Medicine National Center P.O. Box 1440 Indianapolis, IN 46206-1440 317-637-9200 Fax: 317-634-7817 Website: www.acsm.org (Attention: Non-MDH link)

American Council on Exercise (ACE)
ACE offers three certifications in aerobics/group fitness, personal training, and weight management. Workshops and take-home workshops on older adults and other fitness topics are offered. CPR training is required prior to taking any of the certification exams.

American Senior Fitness Association (SFA)
SFA offers three certification programs. A Certificate Training Program or Full Certification is offered in each of the three areas. The Certificate Training Program is an open-book correspondence course. The Full Certification requires completing a closed-book proctored written, practical, and oral examination. It includes all the training and materials contained in the Certificate Training Program, plus a review and testing workshop and SFA membership with a subscription to the SFA publication titled Senior Fitness Bulletin. CPR and First Aid training are required prior to taking any of the certification exams.

Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation offers training and certification in both land and water exercise programs. Training workshops range from four to twelve hours in length and include lecture, pre-test, post-test, and skills practice. National certification is available and allows the person to train and certify others. Certified trainers are volunteers for the Arthritis Foundation and report statistical information back to the Arthritis Foundation. Re-certification is required every three years.Participation in any training workshop is limited to staff or volunteers of agencies and organizations that meet various criteria of the Arthritis Foundation. A site visit and written agreement with the Arthritis Foundation are required.

National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
NSCA offers two certifications: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT).

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CPR and First Aid Training

American Heart Association
The American Heart Association offers cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. Contact the Northland Affiliate for a schedule of classes and educational materials.

American Red Cross
The American Red Cross offers cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid training. Contact the chapter in your area for a schedule of classes or check the American Red Cross listing in your phone book for a branch location near you.

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Reference

(1) Jones, J. and Clark, J. (1998). National standards for preparing senior fitness instructors. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 6, 3, 207-221.

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