Physical Fitness Specialist

Prior to 2006, The Cooper Institute (CI) offered the Physical Fitness Specialist course for those persons interested in personal training. Individuals passing an end-of-course exam and proficiency tests received a nationally recognized certificate. In an effort to meet current fitness industry standards, beginning in January 2006 The Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer (CI-CPT) exam was first offered, replacing the Physical Fitness Specialist certification. The CI-CPT certification is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which is the gold standard for fitness certifying organizations.

If you have a Cooper Institute Physical Fitness Specialist certification, the information below may help you decide if earning the CI-CPT credential is right for you.

Q. What is the difference between a Physical Fitness Specialist certification and The
....Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer (CI-CPT)?

The Physical Fitness Specialist is a curriculum-based certificate. This means you had to attend and participate in the Physical Fitness Specialist course and pass the course examination before earning the certificate. The exam measured how well you achieved the Physical Fitness Specialist course learning objectives.

The CI-CPT is a credentialing certification that verifies your knowledge of, skills, and competencies for the job of Personal Trainer – independent of a specific course of study or education/course provider. The exam questions are based upon a Personal Trainer job analysis instead of being based upon course learning objectives. The CI-CPT exam measures if you have the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and abilities to be able to successfully perform the job of an entry-level Personal Trainer.

Q. If I earned the Physical Fitness Specialist am I a Certified Personal Trainer?

Current industry standards define a Certified Personal Trainer (that is, someone who can use the initials “CPT” after their name) as a person who has successfully completed a nationally accredited Certified Personal Trainer exam. The Physical Fitness Specialist course and exam was in use prior to this industry standard and is an assessment of meeting course-based objectives. Thus, according to current fitness industry standards, the Physical Fitness Specialist course and exam cannot transfer over to the CI-CPT.

Q. Why was the change made from Physical Fitness Specialist to CI-CPT?

The change reflects quality improvement efforts across the fitness industry that have taken place over the last few years. In 2005, the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) made a recommendation to its member fitness clubs that they hire personal trainers who held at least one certification from a certifying organization that had achieved independent third-party accreditation. The Personal Trainer profession is currently unregulated by the government. The attainment of third-party accreditation gives hiring managers help in identifying quality certification programs.

In 2005, The Cooper Institute began the year-long process to develop the CI-CPT program using the standards that are required to obtain third party accreditation. The CI-CPT was first offered and accredited in 2006.

Q. Will my employer still accept my Physical Fitness Specialist certification?

Each employer decides the hiring requirements for their company. The Physical Fitness Specialist certificate is a valid certificate that shows that you attended an education course and successfully passed a test based on the information presented. The Physical Fitness Specialist certificate is still accepted by some employers.

If your employer requires a third-party accredited Certified Personal Trainer certificate with an expiration date, the Physical Fitness Specialist certificate does not fulfill this requirement. However, passing the CI-CPT exam does fulfill this requirement.

Q. Why is the Physical Fitness Specialist certification no longer renewable?

Course-based certificates, such as the Physical Fitness Specialist, typically do not require renewal. When the change was made to CI-CPT, the Physical Fitness Specialist certificates were available to be reprinted without an expiration date. The CI-CPT does require renewal. A certificate renewal program is a requirement of the accreditation process.

Q. I earned a Physical Fitness Specialist certification from The Cooper Institute prior
....to 2006. Should I now earn a CI-CPT?

Earning the CI-CPT credential can be of benefit to you. The current industry standard is for Personal Trainers to hold a Certified Personal Trainer, commonly known as a CPT, certification. If you earn the CI-CPT, you will show that you are current with industry standards and that you are eligible to use the initials CPT after your name. For employers that require a nationally accredited certification, the CI-CPT meets this hiring requirement. Some employers base hourly wage rates on the number of certifications that the employee holds. Therefore, by attaining the CI-CPT you may be eligible for higher pay.

A special discounted price is offered to encourage Physical Fitness Specialist certificate holders to become current with industry standards by earning the CPT credential. Call a Program Coordinator at 1-800-635-7050 for more details on the special price.

Q. Is the CI-CPT exam different from the Physical Fitness Specialist exam that I took?

Yes, the exam is different in several ways.

The Physical Fitness Specialist course provided instruction and training to aid participants in acquiring knowledge/skills/competencies that are identified in the learning/course objectives. The end of course test is an integral part of the certificate program. However, the primary purpose of the Physical Fitness Specialist program was to provide instruction and training.

The CI-CPT exam is a voluntary process in which individuals are assessed against predetermined standards for knowledge/skills/competencies and are granted a time-limited credential. The primary purpose of the CI-CPT certification is the assessment of the predetermined job-related standards and the assessment process is independent of a specific course of study or any education/course/curriculum provider.

The exam covers five (5) performance domains that were identified during the job analysis and CI-CPT development process. Information on the exam, the 5 performance domains, and the percentage of questions for each domain can be found in the CI-CPT Candidate Handbook. All potential exam candidates are encouraged to read the handbook before registering for the exam. You will need to know factual information for the exam, but in addition, a large portion of exam questions require you to be able to apply the knowledge to job-related situations. Many individuals seek instruction and training courses such as the one offered by The Cooper Institute as one means of preparation but the choice of preparatory work is solely the decision of the individual. It is important to understand that preparation methods provide you with personal training knowledge and/or skills. Preparation methods do not “teach the exam” or teach you how to take the exam. To prepare for the exam, it is your responsibility to absorb the knowledge to the extent that it is second nature for you to gather, analyze, and apply the knowledge to a job situation.

Q. Do I have to come to Dallas to take the CI-CPT exam?

At this time, the CI-CPT exam is offered only in Dallas, TX. In the near future, there are plans to make the exam more widely available.

Q. Is the CI-CPT certification renewable?

Yes, the CI-CPT credential is granted for a period of three years. During the three year period, certificants should participate in continuing education activities that serve to build upon or enhance the core competencies identified for Personal Trainers. The performance domains covered by the exam are Personal Trainer core competencies. You will need to accumulate at least 30 contact hours that meet this standard in order to apply for renewal. Renewals are granted for an additional three year period, and are only available to those certificants who are “Currently Certified and in Good Standing” with The Cooper Institute. For more information see Certification Renewal.

If you have other questions regarding the Physical Fitness Specialist certificate and/or the CI-CPT program, please email us at cicb@cooperinst.org.