Smart Fitness University

[Jay30384]

Hey fellow fitness Professionals,
I had a quick question. I'm a fitness director at a small chain of clubs in upstate New York and I was contacted by our old NASM rep. She now works for Smart Fitness University Online http://www.smartfitnesscenter.com
How it was presented to me was that it is a NCCA accredited certification program. They sell it for a monthly price and you can have as many of your staff get certified as you want for no additional money. They also offer business training with Jeffrey Gitomer. All of which costs you nothing more than the monthly contract price, somewhere around $200 a month for 24 months.
It SEEMS to be like a good move, but I was wondering if anyone has had any dealings with them for good or for bad. All constructive criticism appreciated.
Thanks,
Jay

[Oscar_Actuary]

All constructive criticism appreciated.

alright then
this smells of a not so subtle spam.

Otherwise, I got nothing.

[stuward]

It looks like spam but it's probably a scam.

[Jay30384]

Even with the NCCA stamp? That's the ones that NESTA, ACSM, NASM, ACE and all those have.

[Jungledoc]

Thing is, you say that you're the fitness director of a chain of clubs, but you have to ask a bunch of chumps like us these questions. That leaves us feeling like you aren't what you say you are. Shouldn't you be able to conclude this for yourself with fairly minimal effort? What organization are you certified with? Why not ask them? Why does the NASM or ACSM need the stamp of NCCA? Isn't that like Ford wanting the stamp of Chevy? Can't you contact those organizations as ask them yourself? Ask the NCCA if this company has their endorsement.

Then, and most importantly, look at the content of the training. If you believe it is good, sound material that you would want your trainers to be studying, then by all means sign up. 200 a month doesn't sound like much to me for a chain of fitness clubs.

But wait. Shouldn't the fitness director be training the trainers? Well, I don't know. Maybe not.

[hoosegow]

I couldn't find them on the better business bureau website. I looked at the CPT eligibility requirements. They are as follows:
Be 18 years of age
Be certified in CPR
and...
Wait. That was it.

72% is considered passing on their exam.

3 of the recommended readings are how to sell or effective negotiating.

[Jason Nunn]

Thing is, you say that you're the fitness director of a chain of clubs, but you have to ask a bunch of chumps like us these questions. That leaves us feeling like you aren't what you say you are. Shouldn't you be able to conclude this for yourself with fairly minimal effort? What organization are you certified with? Why not ask them? Why does the NASM or ACSM need the stamp of NCCA? Isn't that like Ford wanting the stamp of Chevy? Can't you contact those organizations as ask them yourself? Ask the NCCA if this company has their endorsement.

Then, and most importantly, look at the content of the training. If you believe it is good, sound material that you would want your trainers to be studying, then by all means sign up. 200 a month doesn't sound like much to me for a chain of fitness clubs.

But wait. Shouldn't the fitness director be training the trainers? Well, I don't know. Maybe not.

The NCCA is a certifing body that basically certifies organizations to certify, if that makes sense. They are not a "fitness" certification. So, it is more like the OSHA or someone like that certifying Ford.

I've never heard of this cert. Stick with NASM.

[Jay30384]

Thing is, you say that you're the fitness director of a chain of clubs, but you have to ask a bunch of chumps like us these questions. That leaves us feeling like you aren't what you say you are. Shouldn't you be able to conclude this for yourself with fairly minimal effort? What organization are you certified with? Why not ask them? Why does the NASM or ACSM need the stamp of NCCA? Isn't that like Ford wanting the stamp of Chevy? Can't you contact those organizations as ask them yourself? Ask the NCCA if this company has their endorsement.

Then, and most importantly, look at the content of the training. If you believe it is good, sound material that you would want your trainers to be studying, then by all means sign up. 200 a month doesn't sound like much to me for a chain of fitness clubs.

But wait. Shouldn't the fitness director be training the trainers? Well, I don't know. Maybe not.

Caught you on a bad day ace? I unfortunately assumed that there were professionals on this site that may have used this particular organization and I was looking for their opinion.

As per your statement about the NCCA. It has nothing to do with Ford wanting the stamp of Chevy. It is an accrediting agency, similar to what most notable colleges have.

And since we are going there, lets go with your statement of the fitness director training their trainers. I'm not sure what gym you train at or workout at, but any decent company has their trainers obtain a nationally recognized certification. If you're training with people that aren't, good luck.

[Jay30384]

I couldn't find them on the better business bureau website. I looked at the CPT eligibility requirements. They are as follows:
Be 18 years of age
Be certified in CPR
and...
Wait. That was it.

Those were the requirements to start your CPT. I don't know of any other certs that require anything more than that to start. As per the 73% passing rate, that seems a bit on the low side for my liking.

[Jungledoc]

Thing is, you say that you're the fitness director of a chain of clubs, but you have to ask a bunch of chumps like us these questions. That leaves us feeling like you aren't what you say you are. Shouldn't you be able to conclude this for yourself with fairly minimal effort? What organization are you certified with? Why not ask them? Why does the NASM or ACSM need the stamp of NCCA? Isn't that like Ford wanting the stamp of Chevy? Can't you contact those organizations as ask them yourself? Ask the NCCA if this company has their endorsement.

Then, and most importantly, look at the content of the training. If you believe it is good, sound material that you would want your trainers to be studying, then by all means sign up. 200 a month doesn't sound like much to me for a chain of fitness clubs.

But wait. Shouldn't the fitness director be training the trainers? Well, I don't know. Maybe not.

Caught you on a bad day ace? I unfortunately assumed that there were professionals on this site that may have used this particular organization and I was looking for their opinion.

As per your statement about the NCCA. It has nothing to do with Ford wanting the stamp of Chevy. It is an accrediting agency, similar to what most notable colleges have.

And since we are going there, lets go with your statement of the fitness director training their trainers. I'm not sure what gym you train at or workout at, but any decent company has their trainers obtain a nationally recognized certification. If you're training with people that aren't, good luck.

OK, sorry all around.

Since you ask, I train in a tin shack in the jungle. I train with occasional on-line coaching from someone who has no formal certification, he just knows tons about strength. Other than that, I'm my trainer. I have some certifications, but none that you would recognize! :)

[Oscar_Actuary]

oh, playing the tin shack card again....

[JasonJones]

oh, playing the tin shack card again....

Yeah! Any self-respecting strong man trains in a shack made from the bones of his enemy.

[josh60]

Any self-respecting strong man trains in a shack made from the bones of his enemy.

Tin shack? Only if his enemy was a robot.

[Jungledoc]

Yep. Feel sorry for me, so you won't be mad at me for, for, ah whatever it was I did.

[Jason Nunn]

I train with occasional on-line coaching from someone who has no formal certification, he just knows tons about strength.

Ok, now I'm curious.