AboutMichele C. Blake-Jones Expertise Dance, Group Exercise and Personal Fitness Training
Becoming and Enhancing your career as a fitness professional.
Preparing for fitness certifications.
Basic Kinesiology.
American Red Cross - Basic CPR/AED/First Aid
Experience 1. Dance, Group Exercise and Personal Fitness Training
2. Children, Adults, Older Adults, General Populations, Special Populations.
Organizations C.A.H.P.E.R.D, A.F.A.A. and A.C.S.M.
Publications A.F.A.A.'s American Fitness magzine
Education/Credentials 1) BS (Kinesiology), AA (Physical Education)
2) Community College Certifications: C.S.U.C. - Group Exercise, L.A.V.C. - Group Exercise, L.A.P.C. Personal Trainer, L.A.M.C. Group Exercise and Personal Trainer.
3) A.F.A.A Certifications: Fitness Practitioner,Primary Group, Step Training, KickBoxing, Personal Fitness Trainer, Advance Personal Fitness Trainer and Weightroom-Resistance Specialist.
4) Y.M.C.A Certifications: Fitness Leader, Strength Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Cardio/Step Instuctor and Strength/Conditioning
5) American Red Cross - CPR/AED/First Aid Certified Instructor
6)Older Adults Certifications: Silver Sneakers, Arthritis Exercise Program Instructor and Matter of Balance
7) Other certifications: Kardio Kick Instructor, Rhythm/Tribal Dance Workout Instructor and 24 Hour Fitness Exercise Instructor.
Awards and Honors 1. C.S.U.N. - Education Equity Award for Outstanding Service for the Kinesiology Department (1999)
2. C.S.U.N. - Certificate of Appreciation for the Kinesiology Major's Club (1999)
3. American Heart Association (Dance for Heart) - Certificate of Appreciation (1994)
4. American Red Cross - Healthy & Safety Service Award
Question How does one go about training to become a basic aerobic exercise instructor? I am interested in this as a second career. I am a registered nurse so I know some about the body, but I have just become interested in teaching exercise. Do you have any suggestions where to start?
Answer Hi Patricia,
Here some tips:
CHOOSING A CERTIFICATION(S):
• Contact at least five different fitness facilities and ask what certifying organizations do they accept for employment. There are usually less than ten accepted organizations compared to the hundreds of organizations that exist today. Usually the most common for employment are some of the first organizations that started certifying such as the American College of Sports Medicine (A.C.S.M.), the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (A.F.A.A.), Cooper’s Institute of Aerobics Research (I.A.R.), and the American Council on Exercise (A.C.E.). Most certifications are national and international recognized. The question is if that organization is acceptable for employment at most fitness facilities. Find out the qualifications and salary range before choosing an organization and applying for a fitness job.
• What organization is the best for certification? Research multiple organizations. Ask the organization if there is someone who could answer specific questions regarding the written and practical examinations. Speak with someone preferably with a person who has a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in fitness or related field, who is certified and who presents the certification. It should be someone who specializes in test-taking strategies, motor learning and motor development. Most organizations have common goals to teach a certain amount of information, administer written and/or practical examinations and require continuing education courses to maintain certifications.
• If a fitness facility only accepts one organization, it is probably because the director or owner is certified through the company, he or she works for the organization and/or the facility has a contact with that organization. Besides employment acceptance, some factors for choosing an organization are prices, difficulty of exam (personal opinion), frequency and location of exam, resources and career guidance. In each facility, you will find fitness professional that are certified through many different organization. The organization doesn’t make you professional. You make yourself professional.
• Keep in mind that you can find people who have had positive and/or negative experiences from every organization and school. Don’t waste time, energy and money on other people’s opinion and experience. Concentrate on your professional career. Do your own research. Simply put your heart, mind and soul into your career no matter what educational pathway that you choose.
PREPARING FOR CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR DEGREES:
• Purchase all certification materials (textbooks, study guides, practice test, flash cards, DVDs/videos, etc.).
• Do not prepare for a certification, prepare for a career. Do not memorized. Learn, understand and apply the information to your career.
• There are two ways to know and understand information. One way is the practical application (talking and demonstrating). This is usually the strongest aspect for fitness professionals. The other way is the theoretical application (reading, writing, perception and accuracy). Read, write, type, talk out load and practice physical components to prepare for certifications.
• Prepare for the written and practical examination before attending the certification. No organizations can teach all that information in one or a few days. Workshops are designed to review knowledge and skills. Take a minimum of four to eight weeks to prepare for certification examinations.
• Humble yourself. Having a lot of education, certifications, degrees, licenses and/or work experience does not guarantee a passing score.
• Think positively. Stop saying “I am a bad test-taker.” You can pass the examination the first time if you take any and all steps to prepare for certification such as contacting the organization and asking questions. A person who is certified and/or is a fitness director is not always the best person to train with. Some people may be successful fitness professionals and understand different levels of physical fitness and exercise science but do not specialize in test-taking strategies, motor development and motor learning.
• Find a mentor(s) who will help you before and after completion of certifications and/or degrees.
PREPARING FOR WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS:
• Read carefully at least twice.
• If the organization offers a study guide, read it first. Some study guides list the chapters to read for specific topics. As you fill out the study guide, write down the pages where you found the answers. Sometimes the answer can be found in several places in the textbook. Sometimes the answers are in the glossary and most of the time you have read the entire chapter to understand the topics.
• Read and study one topic at a time. Take the theoretical part of the study guide and read each term in each subject area. Then think about how all the terms related to each other. Write, type and convert to flash cards.
• Highlight the key terms in the textbook and other study materials.
• Draw and/or collect pictures to help you with visual images for the theoretical part of the examination.
• Sometimes the written exam includes questions that are not covered in the textbook, study guide and/or other study materials. The information is given during the certification so take the notes during the workshop.
• If the organization offers a practice test, take it in a timed and uninterrupted environment. Example: 100 questions should be taken on one hour. After grading the practice test, read every question and every choice of answer again. Highlight the key terms in every question or statement. On the true/false questions, circle all incorrect terms and then write the correct term(s) to make it into a correct statement. On the multiple choice questions, circle all incorrect terms that make that answer wrong. Write all similar terms on the practice test.
• Do not memorize the information…KNOW, UNDERSTAND and APPLY the information to your career. Certifications are not just vocabulary words. First, learn the word and definition. Second, write it in a sentence. Third, apply it other words under the same topic such as kinesiology.
• Continuing to study after you take the examination. You might have to retest. If you fail the test, do not contact the organization and tell the representatives the large amount of education and experience that you have. Do not tell them that you studies for months and that there is no way that you could have failed. Do not them that you know everything and ask them to quiz you verbally. It is a WRITTEN TEST! Do not tell them they are trying to trick you and take all your money. All organizations have re-test fees and it is written on your receipt and/or other study material. Do not ask them to change your score because you failed the minimum requirement (usually 70-80%) by one or two points. You failed at least twenty-one questions. Do not ask them to send you a copy of your examinations. You will be retaking the same test again. All your excuses will not change your test score. You took the test not the representatives in the office or the teachers at the workshop. Accept your score and take the next steps. Do ask for a categorical subject breakdown of the questions that you missed. Do ask for help from someone who truly understands the certification information and can help you with test-taking strategies. Open up your mind and change your attitude, then someone can begin to help you accomplish your goals.
PREPARING FOR PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS:
• Read everything carefully at least twice.
• If the organization offers an instructional video/DVD, watch it at least twice and take notes.
• Write or type all the requirements for the practical exam and what you plan to do for each section on an index card..
• Practice all the categories many times with and without a mirror. Practice facing all four ways of the room. Practice the space – the element of movement and dance.
• Have someone time you and make sure that you do all the requirements.
• Have someone carefully look at how you move your body in space from different angles. Find someone who can give you honest constructive criticism and positive feedback.
• Have someone video tape you from different angles. Watch yourself many times. You will be your worse critic.
• Keep your choreography simple. It is a certification, not a competition. You’re your complex choreography for advance participants.
• Learn to move specifically for the type of activity that is required for the certification. A jazz dancer should move differently from a marital artist. A step instructor should move differently from a football player. Moving comfortably does not mean moving efficiently.
2008 by Michele C. Blake/Moderation By Michele: Health and Fitness Services
If you have any additional questions, please feel to contact me,
