| The Cooper Institute (CI) was founded by the guy | | | | Disregarding the travel cost if you are out of town |
| who wrote the book "Aerobics" in 1968 and started | | | | (they do have a hotel at the Institute!), the |
| the whole world on this fitness craze. Since most of | | | | certification isn't prohibitively expensive. To take the |
| us are too young to remember a time before | | | | exam it costs $250 to sit for the exam. You can |
| physical fitness was a common factor in our lives, it's | | | | even register 48 hours before the exam. (It's given |
| interesting to see how much Dr. Cooper's book | | | | twice a month and the dates are known for about a |
| changed the way we live. | | | | year out) |
| CI is located in Texas and runs many of their | | | | The retake fee is a tad bit less, $195 to retake the |
| education courses in Dallas. If you're not local to | | | | exam again. You get a year to retake the exam at |
| Dallas (or willing to take a vacation), then their | | | | that rate. I don't believe there is a minimum wait |
| education programs may be of little help for you. | | | | period...other than the 2+ week wait between exams. |
| Even their DVD course has a 'hands on' component | | | | Workshops |
| that's given for a day and a half at their Dallas | | | | There are two 'workshops' that Cooper Institute |
| headquarters. | | | | offers, both are non-mandatory to sit for the exam, |
| NCCA | | | | but very helpful in preparation for the exam. |
| The Cooper Institute Personal Trainer Certification, | | | | Personal Training Education Workshop |
| also known as "CI-CPT" is accredited by the National | | | | Personal Training DVD with Live Training |
| Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). | | | | They both cost over $500 and you have to be in |
| Therefore it qualifies as one of our premier | | | | Dallas to participate. |
| certifications around. It's accreditation is relatively | | | | Validity |
| recent, however that isn't a negative at all. The | | | | The CI-CPT certification is valid for three years from |
| NCCA takes so long to permit new members, it's a | | | | when you pass the test. That's a good period of |
| very positive sign that CI has made it through the | | | | time, since most are for 2 years. |
| tough process. | | | | CEC's |
| Certifications Available | | | | Like all NCCA accredited certifications, the Cooper |
| For our purposes, we're interested in the CI-CPT | | | | Institute requires mandatory Continuing Education |
| designation...or the Cooper Institute Certified Personal | | | | Credits before you can renew after the three year |
| Trainer certification. (This use to be known as the | | | | certification. They expect their certificate holders to |
| CI-PTr, in case you see old references, it's the same | | | | stay current with at least 30 hours of the new |
| thing.) | | | | information in the industry. |
| Eligibility | | | | To make sure you take all the right courses, they |
| The eligibility isn't too difficult. You must be 18 years | | | | suggest you check their website ( |
| old, like all the others. You must have your CPR | | | | Renewal |
| training from a trusted organization. By trusted, they | | | | Renewal isn't really that difficult. Here's what you |
| mean American Red Cross. Online Certifications are | | | | need to do: |
| given the standard "Not Accepted, No Exceptions" | | | | 1. Complete a Renewal Form |
| answer; so don't even try to use that as your entry | | | | 2. Pay the Renewal Fee ($62.50, with an extra $50 if |
| pass! | | | | you need to extend an extra 6 months to get all |
| Guess what, that's it! Really. As you noticed, you do | | | | your CEC's completed) |
| NOT need to pass one of their classes in order to | | | | 3. Submit proof of your minimum 30 hours of |
| take the exam. Which is a nice deal compared to a | | | | continual education over the last 3 years. |
| few of the certifications that want you to pay them | | | | That's it! It's really not too bad with no ridiculous |
| for classes and materials you may not need just to | | | | requirements or anything that is just a sham |
| be eligible to sit for the exam. | | | | payment back to Certification Company like a few |
| Exam | | | | organizations do. |
| Well, the one problem with the exam is its only given | | | | Acceptance / Popularity |
| in Dallas, TX. So if you aren't going to be in Dallas on | | | | The popularity and value of the CI-CPT is much |
| your exam date (which is around twice a month), | | | | greater in the Dallas / Texas area than in, say, Maine. |
| you aren't going to be Cooper Institute Certified. | | | | It's seen as a regional certification, not because it's |
| Which is really too bad, as the CI Certification is a | | | | worse than an ACE or NCSF, but because it's just |
| good certification that's well respected in the area | | | | locally administered and therefore harder to find |
| and slowly getting more popular around the country. | | | | outside of the immediate area. |
| Until they start to branch out (if they even intend | | | | Summary |
| to...), it'll probably be more of a regionally recognized | | | | In the Texas region, there are few better |
| certification. That doesn't mean that walking into a | | | | certifications than the CI. It's very well respected in |
| gym with a CI-CPT certification will be a negative, | | | | the area and has a TON of resources for local |
| but you should be prepared to describe what CI is | | | | trainers. In fact, it's a fantastic set up for the Texas |
| and have a reference for them to check out. | | | | area, such that I wish I had that type of support in |
| Costs | | | | my area from my organizations. |