Today, with people becoming more aware of the need for exercise as a means to stay fit, the use of a personal trainer is becoming more popular and recognized. Physical training is not being followed just for fitness, but as much for health reasons. This has lead to an industry which has seen a phenomenal growth, as it has become a business proposition for many. In turn this has led to a proliferation of institutions offering physical training, and making various exaggerated claims.

There are many institutions which are below standard that it is quite confusing for a lay man who is trying to decide on an appropriate one. Unless the trainer has diploma or a Bachelors degree in Physical training or a related subject, it is best to check if the person is holding an accreditation. With so many fitness training programs, and a whole new field of education in fitness training, these institutes offer services all over the country. They however may not all be of the required accredited quality.

The result of these pseudo or fly by night type institutions is that they threaten to spoil the name of this industry. Therefore many sports bodies and Universities are taking care by using well known staff including sports-medicine specialists, and even well known athletes to help draw up the curriculum and ensure the institute is properly certified. Some institutes have even gone further using the help of well known medical practitioners in certain injury prone fields such as orthopedics in order to draw up techniques to be used in training. Today they use the latest information on designing exercise programs. These programs teach in very practical ways the methods to be adopted for exercising, and on becoming a professional personal trainer.

A good training course should have covered subjects such as strength training and muscle mechanics, as these are the very basis on which the human body works. Such subjects are important for personal trainers who work in Gymnasiums and Health club. This will ensure the avoidance of injury and the general well being of the trainees. Trainers who do not hold accredited certification should not be used as personal trainers. This is important in the case of sports persons from any discipline, who use trainers to keep themselves fit.

In the United States there are many national bodies involved in the certification of personal trainers. The best thing you can do is check if they have the approval from National Commission for Certifying Agencies, often referred to as the NCCA, which functions under the Department of Education. The NCCA will accredit those who can act as certifying bodies. This is done by them only after checking the systems they follow. They also have established standards for accreditation bodies. Good education institutions do have third party accreditation, but they offer this only after adequate checks. This is to ensure that only those who are committed to adhering to their quality standards and follow strictly their training programs are licensed. This is important not only to ensure the standard of training but also to protect the name of the establishment.

There may be cases where a personal trainer has graduated from a well known university and perhaps even hold a master's degree in a related field of Science, but has not got an NCCA approved certification. These are rare cases, but the Department of Education has recognized such cases as appropriate alternatives, for the accredited certification. However the use of such people as trainers is left to the sole discretion of the concerned health clubs or gymnasiums.