The biggest complaint the Fitness Industry has with Certification Organizations is the lack of “hands-on, practical, skills testing.” Health club managers complain that the certifications only provide evidence that a trainer has fitness knowledge and does nothing to evaluate the skills a trainer should have in order to train people safely and effectively. Even though the IFPA Personal Trainer Certification wins great approval from the most knowledgeable of the fitness industries leadership, primarily because it is the very best at evaluating the knowledge trainers need to do their jobs, many managers were disappointed in the IFPA decision to drop the second part of the IFPA Certification: Part II - Practical Examination Component.

This decision was made due to the IHRSA recommendation that Certifications Organization seek accreditation through the National Organization of Competency Assurance (NOCA). NOCA has difficult standards to meet, made even more difficult when a practical component is part of the Certification Examination.

When the decision was made to drop the Practical Examination Component from the IFPA Personal Trainer Certification Exam, the IFPA went to work with the IBFP to develop an extensive Board Certification for Personal Trainers. The IFPA has been working with the industries finest leaders and experts to develop an extensive, hands-on, practical SKILLS EXAMINATION that will test an examinee on precisely the skills that will measure their competency to do their training activities safely and effectively.

Members of the IBFP Board of Examiners will evaluate the examinee.

The Examiners will be required to have:

• Phase One: Interviewing

• Phase Two: Fitness Assessment

• Phase Three: Exercise Prescription

• Phase Four: Program Design

• Phase Five: Exercise Technique

• Phase Six: Exercise Management

• Phase Seven: Lifestyle Coaching

Examinees will be required to pass both:

            Part I: Short Answer and Essay Exam

            Part II: Practical, Oral and Demonstration Exam

80% or better is required to PASS on each part. Both parts must be passed in order to receive the designation of “Board Certified Personal Fitness Trainer,” B.C. – P.F.T.

If an examinee only passes one part, they have six months to re-take and pass the second part. During this period, they will not have to re-take the part they previously passed. After the six-month window, examinees will have to re-take both parts.

Prior to receiving their Board Certification, candidate must have completed the Nationally Recognized Personal Fitness Trainer Certification Exam (or approved equivalent) and both First Aid and CPR from an approved organization. Candidates must also be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma (or equivalent).

IBFP Board Certification: Part I     BUY NOW

General Testing Information:

            Maximum Time Limit: 3 ½ Hours

            Number of test questions: Variable*

            Total items scored on each test: 200

            Format of Test: Essay and Short Answer (proctored)

            Maximum Score: 200

            Minimum passing score: 160

Part I Examination Fee:

            $449.00

            $195.00 for retaking Part I after failing to receive a passing score.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidate for the Board Certification as Personal Fitness Trainer (B.C.-P.F.T) must:

Testing Sections and Testing Objectives:

Section One: Phase One of PFT: Interviewing

1.1       Candidates must be prepared to determine the level of knowledge and experience of the fitness lifestyle as well as the client’s level of motivation for both beginning and maintaining an exercise program.

1.2       Candidates must be prepared to demonstrate their knowledge of interviewing, communications, motivation, coaching and teaching techniques to effectively motivate the client to begin and adhere to the fitness lifestyle.

1.3       Candidate must be prepared to demonstrate their knowledge of specific skills of communication and motivation; for example: determining personality types, listening skills, specific verbal patterns of speech as well as observation of non-verbal communication, appropriate use of open-ended vs. close ended questioning, etc.

1.4       Candidate must be prepared to demonstrate the ability to aid the client in setting appropriate and attainable goals.

1.5       Candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to determine the client's primary motivations to exercise and likely demotivators that could result in client dropout.

Section Two: Phase Two of PFT: Fitness Assessment

2.1       Candidates must be prepared to demonstrate their understanding of both the HHQ and PAR-Q.

2.2       Candidates must be prepared to manipulate the appropriate Program Design Variables in the event that the client demonstrates any abnormality on either the HHQ or PAR-Q.

2.3       Candidates must know all ACSM guidelines for exercise, Standard Operating Procedures for Training, Currently accepted protocols. Rules of Engagement for PFT and accepted industry standards for exercise safety.

2.4       Candidate must know how to determine and identify the typical dysfunctions associated with the various levels of training. Training dysfunctions fall under the 4 primary categories of muscle dysfunction, joint dysfunction, nerve dysfunction and biochemical dysfunction. Candidates must be able to identify dysfunction and recommend the client to the appropriate health care or medical professional when appropriate.

2.5       Candidate must be able to identify any serious dysfunction that could place the client in jeopardy during training.

2.6       Candidate must know when the clients demonstrate any indication of abnormality that would require medical examination prior to exercise, for example: ACSM Guidelines.

2.7       Candidates must know when to apply the appropriate Fitness Assessment and accurately interpret results.

2.8       Candidate must know how to interpret Fitness Assessment result to determine the safest most effective Program Design to achieve the client’s health and fitness goals.

2.9       Candidates must know how to determine the client’s functional level of participation in the fitness program, determine whether they have or need physicians clearance to exercise and if they present any risk factors toward fitness activities, for example: age, family history, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol, etc.

2.10   Candidates must know when and which classification of “Special Population Training Group” clients might fall into.

2.11   Candidate must know Emergency Procedures during testing and “when to stop testing protocols.”

2.12   Candidates must demonstrate the ability during both the Interviewing Phase and Fitness Assessment Phase to determine any “Pre-Existing Condition.”

2.13   Candidate must demonstrate mastery of all commonly accepted Fitness Assessments.

2.14   Candidate must demonstrate the ability to interpret the results of all commonly accepted Fitness Assessment.

2.15   Examples of Fitness Assessment the candidate must demonstrate mastery are (but no limited to):

2.15.1            Skin Fold Testing          

2.15.2            Circumference Measuring

2.15.3            HHQ

2.15.4            PAR-Q

2.15.5            Blood Pressure Testing

2.15.6            RHR Measuring

2.15.7            BMI

2.15.8            Astrand – Rhyming bicycle test

2.15.9            Muscular Strength Assessment

2.15.10         Muscular Endurance Assessment

2.15.11         Flexibility Assessments

2.15.12         Postural

Section 3: Phase Three: Personal Fitness Trainer: Exercise Prescription

3.1       Candidate must demonstrate the ability to interpret the data acquired from Phases I & II in order to select the appropriate exercise to match both the client’s wants and needs.

3.2       Candidate must demonstrate the understanding of exercise prescription and select appropriate Exercise in order to stimulate the appropriate level of adaptation within the appropriate “Component of Fitness”. The 10 “Component of Fitness” are:

3.2.1                Strength

3.2.2                Speed

3.2.3                Power

3.2.4                Aerobic Endurance

3.2.5                Anaerobic Endurance

3.2.6                Agility

3.2.7                Balance

3.2.8                Coordination

3.2.9                Flexibility

3.2.10            Body Composition’

3.3       Candidate must demonstrate an understanding of both the psychological as well as physiological client needs to develop safe and effective exercise prescription

3.4       Candidates must demonstrate a thorough understanding of how to safely and effectively implement exercise prescription for the client’s specific needs and goals. These include (but are not limited to);

3.4.1                Health Improvement

3.4.2                Fitness Improvement

3.4.3                Athletic Improvement     

3.4.4                Diabetes

3.4.5                Heart Disease

3.4.6                Obesity

3.4.7                High Cholesterol

3.4.8                Hypertension

3.4.9                Muscle Gain

3.4.10            Fat Loss

3.4.11            Flexibility Improvement

3.4.12            Postural Improvement

3.4.13            Stress Management

3.4.14            Core Training

3.4.15            Osteoporosis

3.4.16            Osteoarthritis

3.4.17            Injury Prevention

3.4.18            Injury Recovery

3.4.19            Improve Muscle Balance

3.4.20            Strength Improvements

3.4.21            Speed Improvements

3.4.22            Power Improvements

3.4.23            Endurance Improvements

3.4.24            Agility Improvements

3.4.25            Balance Improvements

3.4.26            Coordination Improvements

3.4.27            Exercise Induced Asthma

3.4.28            Wellness

3.4.29            Low Back Disorders

3.4.30            Other Special Population

3.5       Candidate must demonstrate an understanding of both care and prevention of injuries.

3.6       Candidate must demonstrate an understanding of nutrition and the interrelationship between exercise, nutrition and lifestyle.

3.7       Candidate must demonstrate an understanding of nutrition and lifestyle in order to educate their clients on both nutrition and lifestyle modifications to maximize the safety and effectiveness of exercise prescription and programming.

Section Four: Phase Four: Personal Fitness Trainer: Program Design

4.1       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of all exercise science principles and their practical application to the clients exercise program. These include (but are not limited to):

4.1.1                SAID Principle

4.1.2                GPO Principle

4.1.3                FITT Principle

4.1.4                Individuality Principle

4.1.5                Variation Principle

4.1.6                Strength Training Principles

4.1.7                Speed Training Principles

4.1.8                Power Training Principles

4.1.9                Endurance Training Principles

4.1.10            Agility Training Principles

4.1.11            Balance Training Principles

4.1.12            Coordination Training Principles

4.1.13            Flexibility Training Principles

4.1.14            All-or-None Training Principles

4.1.15            Special Populations Training Principles

4.2       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of all exercise science program design principles in order to design safe and effective exercise programs for all levels of clients, all special population groups and all ages.

4.3       Candidate must demonstrate an understanding of Periodization Principles in order to design comprehensive programs to safely and effective reach client’s goals, regardless of level, age or special need.

Section 5: Phase Five: Biomechanics/Exercise Technique

5.1       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Anatomy

5.2       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Physiology

5.3       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Muscle Structure

5.4       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Muscle Function

5.5       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Joint Function

5.6       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Injury Prevention

5.7       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Biomechanics

5.8       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Exercise Technique

5.9       Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Exercise Physiology

5.10   Candidate must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Kinesiology

Section 6: Phase Six: Exercise Management

6.1       Candidates must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of exercise safety guidelines including the ability to address any and all pre-existing conditions.

6.2       Candidate must demonstrate the appropriate response to an emergency situation, as well as quickly determine when an emergency is occurring.

6.3       Candidate must know when to call 911.

6.4       Candidate must know how to apply all currently accepted industry standards for exercise safety (including ACSM Guidelines, ect.)

6.5       Candidates must identify “Contra-indicated” exercise movements.

Section 7: Phase Seven: Lifestyle Fitness Coaching

7.1       Candidates must understand the principles of an effective coaching relationship to include (but not limited to):

7.1.1                Goals

7.1.2                Contracts

7.1.3                Ethics

7.1.4                Boundaries

7.1.5                Professionalism

7.1.6                Honesty

7.1.7                Integrity

7.1.8                B.C.-P.F.T.: Scope of Practice

7.1.9                Legal Issues

7.1.10            Coaching skills, insights and understanding

7.1.11            Skills for organizing, influencing and guiding change processes

7.1.12            The Coaching process.

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IBFP Board Certification: Part II   BUY NOW

General Testing Information:

            Maximum Time Limit: 3 ½ hours

            Number of test questions: Variable*

            Total items scored on each test: 200

            Format of Test:

This is a SKILLS Performance Examination. The candidate will be tasked to explain, perform, teach, demonstrate and spot any number of tasks determined by the Examination Board. The candidate can be tested on any exercise or skill from any and all seven sections described below for all seven phases of fitness training.

            Maximum Score: 200

            Minimum passing score: 160

Part II Examination Fee:

            $599.00

            $395.00 for retaking Part II after failing to receive a passing score.

Testing sections are the same for Part II; the only difference is the format on the examination. Part I is a series of short answer or essay questions. The total number of questions will vary depending on which version of the test the candidate receives for their examination.

In Part II, the candidate enters the Board Exam alone and will be tasked to explain, perform, teach, demonstrate and spot any number of tasks determined by the Examination Board. The Board of Examiners will ask the candidate questions from all seven sections to determine the candidate’s competency in all seven phases of fitness training.

Recommendations for Preparation

There are no required programs of study before a candidate elects to take the Board Examination.

However, if the candidate would like to take courses of study in preparation for the Board Exam, they can elect to take a variety of College courses matching the seven sections described for the exam. The IFPA has developed numerous course offerings that offer the PRACTICAL SKILLS TRAINING essential to success as a FITNESS PROFESSIONALS as well as the PRACTICAL SKILL TRAINING necessary to pass the Board Examination. The most appropriate courses for the Board Examination are:

1            IFPA Personal Fitness Trainer Certification Course

2            IFPA Advanced Personal Fitness Trainer Certification Course

3            IFPA Lifestyle Fitness Coach: Level I Certification Course

4            IFPA Functional Muscle Training Instructor Certification Course

5            IFPA Sports Nutrition Certification Course

5            IFPA Strength Training Specialist Certification Course

6            IFPA Post/Secondary Rehabilitation Certification Course