Mission Statement
The mission of the
National Council on Strength and Fitness Board for Certification is to
establish, assess and promote standards for fitness professionals in a
continued effort to foster a high level of professional competency and ethical
practice to serve the public’s interest.
Preamble
The Standards of Practice and
Disciplinary Process of the NCSF Board for Certification (NCSFBC) is intended
to assist and inform the public, certificants, and candidates for
certification, of the NCSFBC Standards of Professional Practice and the
Disciplinary Process relative to professional conduct and disciplinary
procedures.
The NCSFBC conducts a certification
program for personal trainers and has established a recertification requirement
for NCSF certified personal trainers (NCSF-CPT). The NCSFBC affirms that, after
a candidate has successfully passed the certification examination, the
Standards of Professional Practice for entry into the profession of personal
training have been satisfied. It is expected that a certificant or candidate
for certification agrees to comply at all times to the following Standards of
Professional Practice.
Standards of Professional Practice
A. Standards of Professional Practice for Personal Training – Direct Service
The following are minimal standards.
Each one is essential for the practice of personal training.
Standard 1: Role
The personal trainer renders service to clients as an independent agent or under the direction of a personal
training services coordinator.
Standard 2: On-Going Care Services
All services and program prescriptions should be documented in writing by the personal trainer and shall
become part of the client’s permanent records.
Standard 3: Documentation
The personal trainer shall accept responsibility for recording details of the client’s health status.
Documentation shall include:
Client's name, emergency contact information and any other identifying information.
Informed Consent, screening and participation determinations
Medical referrals and restrictions or limitations , if applicable
Evaluation data including date, assessments used, results and relevant findings.
Program goals and estimated length.
Program methods, results and revisions.
Date(s) of assessment and training.
Re-evaluation criteria
Personal trainer's signature on documentation.
Standard 4: Confidentiality
The personal trainer shall maintain
confidentiality as determined by law and shall accept responsibility for appropriately
communicating assessment results, program plans, and progress with other
persons involved in the client's program.
Standard 5: Health Screening
Prior to program participation, the
personal trainer shall fully assess the client’s level of function as it
pertains to health and fitness. The client's input shall be considered an
integral part of the initial assessment.
Standard 6: Program Planning
The personal training program
objectives shall include long and short-term goals based on evaluative criteria.
Goals shall be achievable and used to guide the program. Assessment measures to
determine effectiveness of the program shall be incorporated into the plan.
Additionally, a contingency or emergency plan should be included as applicable.
B. Standards of Professional Practice for Personal Training – Service Programs
Standard 1: Objectives
Basic to the development of any
program are its intended purposes. Objectives and protocols specific to goal
attainment should be premeditated and clearly outlined for each goal, including:
rationale, exercise prescriptions, timeline, re-evaluations and supportive services.
Standard 2: Programming
Each objective should be supported
by detailed plans for its implementation including specific protocols and plan
for revisions as necessary.
Standard 3: Evaluation
Objective methods of data collection
and analysis should be used in relation to each component of the program to
determine the effectiveness of the service. If the evaluation indicates a need
for change, appropriate revisions or modifications should be made.
Standard 4: Types of Services Offered
Personal training services must be appropriate
for the identified need and stay within the scope of the profession. In general
the service should aim at an overall enhancement of an individual’s health and
fitness status.
Standard 5: Personnel
The service program should be
directed by a National Council on Strength and Fitness Board for Certification
(NCSFBC) Certified Personal Trainer who has met the qualifications established
by the NCSFBC. Education, qualifications and experience of all other personnel
should meet existing standards and should be appropriate to their duties.
Standard 6: Facilities and Budget
Appropriate resources should be secured and used to facilitate the safest and most effective implementation of
the service program.
Standard 7: Records
Objective, permanent records of each aspect of the service program should
(1) indicate initial screening, evaluation
and assessment protocols and findings; (2) client goals, exercises
prescription(s) and lifestyle modification recommendations (3) dates of
subsequent follow-up evaluations.
