Personal Training

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Personal Training is designed to prepare students for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) personal trainer certifications. These certifications are generally required for employment in personal training positions and/or professional advancement within the fitness industry. The curriculum provides students with the foundational skills needed to design and implement fitness programs appropriate to clients’ goals and aligned with current industry best practices. A CCL in Personal Training: Advanced, an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Exercise Science: Health, Fitness, and Sports Performance, and an Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Exercise Science are also available for students interested in continuing their studies in this field.

Details

Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Personal Training (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5421
Total credits required
18-18.5
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Apply a foundational understanding of the relevant scientific concepts of physiology, biomechanics and psychology.
  2. Locate and evaluate relevant scholarly literature.
  3. Conduct common, evidence-based assessments of health and human movement.
  4. Design basic, evidence-based physical activity programs for healthy and athletic populations.
  5. Implement basic, evidence-based physical activity programs for healthy and athletic populations.
  6. Apply a fundamental understanding of theories of motivation and behavior change to encourage exercise adoption and adherence.
  7. Adapt instructional techniques to ensure client safety and goal attainment.
  8. Apply industry standards of care to mitigate risk and ensure the safety of clients.
  9. Demonstrate communication behaviors appropriate to the field.
  10. Demonstrate industry-accepted professional, ethical, and business standards.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

$44,780

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2022.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EXS101 Introduction to Exercise Science Critical course Gateway course 3
EXS125 Introduction to Exercise Physiology Critical course 3
EXS146 Introduction to Exercise Testing 1
EXS215 Resistance Training and Recovery Techniques 3
EXS217 Cardiorespiratory and Flexibility Training 3
EMT101 or
WED106
Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Health Care Providers or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED) OR Current CPR/AED 0–0.5
PED101RT or
PED101ST
Resistance Training for Improved Sports Performance or Strength Training 1
FON100 or
FON241
Introductory Nutrition or Principles of Human Nutrition or SG 3
RE Restricted Electives 1

Restricted Electives

Complete one (1) credit from one of the following course options not already selected in the Required Courses area. Choose a course that best aligns with your academic and professional goals. Consult with an academic, faculty, or program advisor as needed.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EXS+++++ Any EXS Exercise Science course 1
FON+++++ Any FON Food and Nutrition course 1
HES+++++ Any HES Health Science course 1
PED+++++ Any PED Physical Education course 1
IFS110 Critical Research for College Success 1

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EXS101 Introduction to Exercise Science Critical course Gateway course 3
EXS125 Introduction to Exercise Physiology Critical course 3
PED101RT or
PED101ST
Resistance Training for Improved Sports Performance or Strength Training 1

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EXS146 Introduction to Exercise Testing 1
EXS215 Resistance Training and Recovery Techniques 3
EXS217 Cardiorespiratory and Flexibility Training 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
FON100 or
FON241
Introductory Nutrition or Principles of Human Nutrition or SG 3
EMT101 or
WED106
Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Health Care Providers or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED) OR Current CPR/AED 0–0.5
RE Restricted Electives 1

Restricted Electives

Complete one (1) credit from one of the following course options not already selected in the Required Courses area. Choose a course that best aligns with your academic and professional goals. Consult with an academic, faculty, or program advisor as needed.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
EXS+++++ Any EXS Exercise Science course 1
FON+++++ Any FON Food and Nutrition course 1
HES+++++ Any HES Health Science course 1
PED+++++ Any PED Physical Education course 1
IFS110 Critical Research for College Success 1
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=178661).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.