The National Association for Fitness Certification was established in 1992 to provide quality education and training for Group Fitness Instructors and Personal Trainers. NAFC's rigorous standards, practical application of scientific principles and affordable pricing is making it one of the fastest growing certifications today. NAFC was established by a group of experts in various fitness-related fields including Exercise Physiology, Adaptive Physical Education, Medicine and Nursing, and Professional Coaching. Group Fitness Instructors must demonstrate the ability to work with music and effectively lead a group exercise session. NAFC offers its certification primarily through correspondence courses.
Students have the opportunity to learn at their own pace and thoroughly absorb the material.
Across all educational and career fields, learning at home is widely recognized, with many correspondence schools and colleges being accredited by the most respected organizations. One of the unique aspects of this home study certification is its requirement that NAFC students pass a practical exam, demonstrating all the aspects of effective teaching. This is accomplished by having the student make his or her own instuctional videos. With NAFC, the emphasis is on safety, effectiveness, a comprehensive understanding of total fitness, and the ability to utilize this knowledge for the exercise students and clients. Even though there are a number of certification companies to choose from, many programs seem out of date, too scientific in their approach for practical purposes, or too lax in their standards to be credible.