is this personal trainer qualified?

So my gym called and offered me a free session with a personal trainer for my birthday.  I am excited because I would love some help in the weights area.  But when I look her credentials up on the gyms website, this is what it says.

Eduation/Certifications
- BS in Corporate Recreation
and Wellness
- Personal Trainer 1 Year
- APEX/Bodybugg™ certification
- CPR/First Aid
Related Hobbies/Experience
- Played volleyball 4 years at .....(deleted name of college)

- Love to workout

ummmm, is she qualified? Maybe to sell me the Bodybugg.  I am going to go to the session, but is this someone I should pay for future sessions?

By the way, I looked at all of the other trainers at this gym and none of them have any qualifications besides a college degree and the Bodybugg certification.

Thanks!

You'll need to see how the free session goes and then decide. You'll know immediately if she is qualified or not - does she seem confident? is she knowledgable about the equipment and the exercises involved? does she give you advise that pertains to your particular figure/weight?

I'm not sure if there's any official 'degree' that personal trainers acquire. From what I understand, these are either ex-athletes (i.e. she played volleyball), or just people/nutritionists who have spent a lot of time in gyms and know the ropes. Don't let the short job experience put you off.

With a BS in Corporate Wellness and Recreation she is probably more qualified than many of the personal trainers out there.  My opinion.

I thought that the degree was a good one too.  I am looking forward to meeting with her.  Thanks for the input!

Just to clarify, and I'm not an expert, there are several organizations that certify personal trainers.  Generally speaking you take a course and at the end you are tested and if you pass you receive a certification.  None of the certification programs require any type of college degree.  So your instructor only has one year of experience as a personal trainer but she has a four year college degree in a related field to back her up. 

in my experience a Pt can have all the bit's of paper in the world and still know jack squat about really training people.

Best bet is to ask for references of people they've trained, ask for before and after shots, and go to the session and decide for yourself.

My old PT had reel's of qualifications pretty much got me no where in the end i got frustrated at her lack of ability to answer questions or give me explinations of what we where doing and why we where doing it. Then one day i realised she gave exactly the same program to EVERY person she trained regardless of age, fitness and physical condition so i dropped her ass.

My new personal trainer has practically no qualifications, however not only has she compeated herself in countless figure competitions, but she's trained 100's of women to do the same and was able to provide lots of good references, i've been with her for about 8 weeks now and suddenly my transformation has been amazing.

These days i most see PT qualifications in the same way as i see my degree. I did a degree in Software Development and it wasn't till i got out of uni that i realised i knew JACK SQUAT about computers and programming, everything i use in my practical day job i've learn't since UNI, all my degree does is prove i have a brain in my head.

PT qualifications are the same, they prove the person has a brain and is able to understand health and fitness concepts that doens't mean they'll make a good PT in the real world.

Qualifications arn't everything, experience and good references is far more important.

I get ya.  One of the trainers on the website had a degree in human relations, another had a degree in science.  I just thought her degree relates to what she is doing.  I was just wondering if you should go with a trainer that doesn't have all those certifications like ISSA, NETA and whatever other ones are out there. 

Thanks leiela!  Great advice!

Don't get me wrong, I am very excited to meet her and see how things go.  I met with one of the guys there about a year ago and I wasn't impressed, so I didn't meet with him again. 

I can't wait to see if she talks about bulking up or if she suggests lower weight/more repetitions, etc.  Then I will know to run the other way! I have learned so much ready on here, I just want someone to introduce me to the free weights so that I will feel more comfortable. 

It looks like you know what you want, so when you meet with her, don't be afriad to ask! Oftentimes people get intimidated by trainers who try to take them in a certian direction and end up quitting because they arent' getting what they want - but it could have all been solved by a little communication! I've been working with a trainer for a little over a year now, but I know if I hadn't communicated I would have quit within the first month. I have a rib injury that prevents me from doing certain types of activities, and when he steers me towards an activity that might hurt, I speak up and tell him he needs to find me something else! I also have to tailor my workouts to my other physical activities (running in the summer, skiing in the winter) so I tell him what I have going on, and he changes it up to prepare me for my activities!

Communicate, and you'll be fine. You can also talk to her about her qualifications/ training style during the first meeting.

Good luck - and have fun! In my time with my trainer, I've lost 15lbs - trainers produce results!

Thank you spacedreamer.  She already asked me some good questions over the phone, so that impressed me!  I am thinking I might be one of those people that need the push from a trainer.  I spend most of my time walking/running outside and lifting weights at home and basically "wasting" my money by not going to the gym.  I haven't seen results, so I hope this is just what I need.

I'm studying for my certification now...(my test is in a week!eek!)

I know the gym I work at (I work the front desk now) you must be nationally certified to personal train. I'm doing mine through the National Council on Strength and Fitness..it can be taken as a course or home-study. Anyone can do it, regardless of degree. I'm working on my BS in Dietetics right now.

She seems well-qualified..4 years of playing college volleyball is great along with her degree...I played some college lacrosse and she should have some great knowledge and different training ideas from playing a sport.

When you said if she wants you to bulk up or not, it shouldn't be about what they want..it's about you.What your personal fitness goals should be one of the first things she asks!

Good luck & enjoy!

I agree w/ Stevielyn.  It isnt about what the trainer wants....it is about how you want to look and feel. 

Obviously you want a trainer who will motivate you, so attitude and chemistry between you both is very important.  You also want a trainer who will teach you the proper form - dont want any injuries.  You have to be able to trust your trainer....after all your health is in her hands for the session!

Good luck to you!

Thanks!  What I meant about the bulking up part is that I have read here over and over that is impossible for a woman to bulk up, so I am curious to hear her views on the subject.  Will she go with the pink dumbell theory or will she motivate me to try lifting heavier weights because I can't "bulk up".  I just read so much conflicting advice on here that it can get very confusing.  I want to lose weight and get strong and healthy.  I am sure she can help me with that.  But in the end, I know it all depends on me!  Thanks again for all of the advice!

Good luck stevielyn, with your tests!