Senior Fitness Specialist

Help older adults build strength, balance, mobility, and confidence—safely. In the Senior Fitness Specialist certification, you’ll screen for fall risk and medical red flags; tailor sessions to common conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis, and cardiovascular concerns; and progress strength, power, and gait with joint-friendly methods. Learn balance drills, reactive step training, and dual-task work to reduce falls; use chairs, bands, and light implements to scale intensity; and blend mobility and breathing for better posture and daily function. You’ll cue clearly, individualize programming for varied abilities, coordinate with caregivers and clinicians, and track meaningful outcomes so clients stay active, independent, and engaged.

This course offers flexible learning pathways to suit your style:

E-course with E-book – Perfect for those who love learning on-the-go.
E-course with Printed Book – Ideal for a hands-on approach with the blend of digital and physical learning.
Printed Book with Physical Course Materials – Great for tactile learners who prefer comprehensive, hands-on materials.

Course Goals

Apply fall-risk screening and safe session setup for varied abilities.
Build strength, power, balance, and gait with joint-friendly progressions.
Modify for osteoporosis, arthritis, and cardiac considerations.
Reduce falls with reactive, balance, and dual-task training.
Track functional outcomes to sustain independence and quality of life.

Learning Objectives

Identify age-related changes in muscle, bone, balance, and cardiorespiratory systems.
Select appropriate assessments (history, fall risk, functional balance and gait tests).
Program lower- and upper-body strength, power, and mobility with safe loading.
Coach posture, breathing, and movement strategies for daily tasks and transfers.
Adjust volume, tempo, and rest based on symptoms, meds, and recovery status.

Skills Gained

Create progressive templates for balance, reactive step, and power training.
Choose safe substitutions for higher-risk moves (e.g., spinal flexion, high impact).
Implement chair-assisted, band-based, and low-load options that still drive results.
Teach home safety, pacing, and simple “micro-drills” clients can do between sessions.
Document progress with practical metrics and communicate clearly with care teams.

Course Essentials & Requirements

Course Package Includes:

_{^{Comprehensive Textbook}}
_{^{Study Guide}}
_{^{100-question multiple-choice, open-book certification exam}}
_{^{Certificate upon obtaining a passing exam score}}

Recommended Prerequisites:

_{^{CPR/First Aid Certification are highly recommended although not required.}}
_{^{Personal Trainer Certification is also encouraged to enhance your learning.}}

Course & Delivery Options:

^{E-book and E-course}
_{^{Your e-book will arrive via email within 48 business hours and you will have immediate access to the Study Guide and exam in your IFPA Account.}}

^{Physical Book and E-course}
_{^{Your physical book will ship within 7 business days, while the Study Guide and exam are ready to access now in your IFPA Account.}}

^{Complete Physical Course Package}
_{^{Your book, study guide, and exam will all ship together within 7 business days. For faster delivery, you can select rush shipping on the Special Services page.}}

Duration:

^{_{This course must be completed within six months from your registration date.}}

Extensions:

^{_{Extensions for an additional three months are available for purchase on the Special Services page.}}

_{^{Not yet a Certified Personal Trainer? Take the next step and explore our Personal Trainer Certifications!}}

Take Me!