The Fitness Battleground

Key Points:

• Training certifications and individual trainers vary wildly in their knowledge base and skillset
• The right combination of qualifications can help you find the right fit for your goals
• If you want a one-stop-shop for everything from rehab to fitness, look for a physical therapist with a fitness/training certification (e.g. CSCS, USAW, CFL, CPT)

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The Fitness Battleground

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Lots of people in lots of professions are trying to get a slice of the fitness industry pie. This includes personal trainers, athletic trainers, wellness coaches, physical therapists, movement coaches, sport coaches…the list goes on. 

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Only 2 of these professions require a professional license (athletic trainers and physical therapists) and most of the others don’t need specific credentials or certifications to be able to “practice” in the field.

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Between this and the wide variety of educational and skill levels found within these professions, it’s no wonder that there’s confusion about who to turn to for your fitness needs.

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One of the ways to differentiate here is to look at which terms/titles are legally protected, meaning there are legal requirements to refer to yourself by that title. Below is a quick look at some protected and unprotected terms that you may encounter in the fitness industry and what they mean:

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Protected Terms

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Physical Therapist (AKA PT, DPT/MPT/MSPT/BPT [depending on degree], physiotherapist/physio)

• Qualified to work with anyone to address movement problems, including pain
• Cannot legally give a medical diagnosis, vital to managing many musculoskeletal conditions and more
• Can use: Exercise, modalities, taping and other preventative measures, manual therapies (including spinal manipulation in most jurisdictions)
  

Licensing:

• PT’s are licensed by a state-level licensing board and have to pass a nationally-recognized board exam

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Athletic Trainer (AKA certified athletic trainer, licensed athletic trainer, AT, ATC

• Qualified to help athletes with a range of movement problems, including pain
• Only supposed to treat “athletes”, but defining this is legally difficult
• Can use: Exercise, modalities (ice, heat, electrical stimulation), taping and other preventative measures, some manual therapies (manual stretching, soft tissue mobilization, etc.)
  

Licensing:

• ATC’s are licensed by a state-level licensing board and have to pass a nationally-recognized board exam

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Unprotected Terms

Personal Trainer (AKA PT [confusing, right?], certified personal trainer/CPT)

• Qualified to work with healthy individuals to improve their fitness
• Can use: Exercise
• Not qualified to help with any medical issue or diagnosis (i.e. “treating” low back pain or shoulder pain)
• Not qualified to put their hands on a client for treatment purposes, unless they also carry a license as i.e. a massage therapist
  

Licensing:

• Not licensed
• No certification required to use this term, though most will have some type of qualification
• Employers (gyms) and insurers may require a certification to employ or cover a trainer

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[Anything] coach (movement coach, strength and conditioning coach [S&C, CSCS], wellness coach, weightlifting coach, powerlifting coach)

• No specific overarching scope of practice
  

Licensing:

• Not licensed
• Certifications will vary based on job description, employer, or other organization (i.e. NCAA regulations let a coach “conduct” strength and conditioning workouts if they are “certified” in some way, but does not specify )
• Certain titles are generally linked to a specific certification, but this is not legally required (i.e. in the U.S., “strength and conditioning” typically = CSCS "weightlifting coach" = USAW, etc.)

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What Do I Need in a Trainer?

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The big takeaway from this list is that there are lots of people out there who can assign and lead you through exercises, but their actual qualifications and ability to do so effectively can vary wildly. 

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If you just need a general exercise coach, there are a lot of individuals with a dizzying array of certifications who could be able to help with that. But not all certifications are created equal, and certain certifications or combinations of certifications might get you closer to the professional you want in your corner.

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For instance:

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Physical Therapist + [CSCS/USAW/CFL/CPT]

A powerful combo for anyone looking to get and stay healthy

Good For:

• One-stop shop for fitness, rehab, and prevention
• Anyone with a medical condition or injury history that makes it hard to exercise or causes concern
• Anyone concerned with the safety and longevity of their training

Not Great For:

• People who don’t want to get fit and healthy in a safe and effective manner

What to Look For:

• A specific certification in your area of interest (i.e. USAW, CFL) could be helpful, but is probably not necessary if your goals are more general

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Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

A gold standard in the fitness industry, but not the end-all, be-all; some exam material is starting to fall behind the current research

Good For:

• If you want a trainer with more formal training/experience than a typical trainer
• If you want a trainer with a broad set of abilities in strength and conditioning (S&C)

Not Great For:

• Someone looking for a sport-specific coach - an S&C coach is not a sport coach, but they can help with sport-specific strength and conditioning

What to Look For:

• Sport background (especially if you want sport-specific S&C)
• Years of experience (keep in mind that newer professionals may have fresher ideas!)
• Experience with team vs individual training
• Additional certifications

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Weightlifting (USAW) or Powerlifting (USAPL) Coach

Coaches who specialize in training individuals for a particular strength sport, whether Olympic weightlifting or powerlifting

Good For:

• If you want a trainer who is focused specifically on skill development and programming for the Olympic lifts (clean and jerk, snatch) and powerlifting movements (squat, bench, deadlift)

Not Great For:

• Someone looking for a sport-specific coach - an S&C coach is not a sport coach, but they can help with sport-specific strength and conditioning

What to Look For:

• Additional/primary certifications: Many of these coaches take the USAW or USAPL coaching courses to further specialize in these sports and may have a more general fitness cert like a CSCS
• Years of experience (keep in mind that newer professionals may have fresher ideas!)
• Experience with team vs individual training

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Personal Trainer (CPT)

Good For:

• If you want a trainer with a general background in exercise

Not Great For:

• Sport-specific training or sport-specific S&C
• Rehabilitation
• Individuals who are medically complex and want to exercise

What to Look For:

• Certification from a known certifying body, including NASM, ACSM, ACE, ISSA, and NSCF
• Years of experience, areas of interest and focus
• Additional certifications

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CrossFit Certified (CFL-1, -2, etc.)

Good For:

• If you’re interested in CrossFit and the associated training methods

Not Great For:

• People who aren’t interested in CrossFit

What to Look For:

• Additional certifications: Lots of trainers pick up the CFL as a secondary “specialization”; others will pick CFL + USAW to put more focus on coaching barbell movements
• Higher levels of certification offer more expertise in coaching classes and movement in general; though still with a specific focus on CrossFit

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I hope this helps give you some understanding of the various players in the fitness space and what they can actually do. Many of these individuals can help you meet your fitness goals, but some might be particularly well-suited to your needs. Knowing what to look for in terms of certifications and experience can help you figure that out.

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Obviously, I’m a bit biased and would argue that a lot of folks would be well-served by seeking out a fitness-forward PT who has also has a background/certification in fitness and training. For more detail on that, check out my article here. If you have any questions relating to fitness or how Siento might be able to help you meet your goals, reach out to me and let’s start a conversation.

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