Program Highlights
The Personal Trainer Diploma is designed to prepare students for an exciting career in fitness training. Its objective is to expose students to the range of knowledge and skills required in this dynamic and evolving industry and to prepare them for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certification exam. Courses focus on the competencies required by today’s employers, including body sciences, nutrition, design of fitness programs, motivational techniques, sales fundamentals, and NASM certification preparation.
The program provides students with:
- A solid foundation in the essential principles of the personal fitness training environment, including client intake and assessment, fitness program design, and behavior management.
- A strong preparation in body science.
- Professional skills in high demand by employers.
- These skills include verbal communication, customer service, sales, and managing a personal training business.
- Essential computer and internet literacy and
- proficiency in key Microsoft Office applications.
Career Opportunities
Health and fitness professionals enjoy a range of opportunities for employment. A variety of work environments await program graduates, such as gyms and fitness facilities, corporate fitness centers, hotels, cruise ships and vacation resorts, and rehabilitation centers. Many personal trainers are self-employed. As a fitness professional, each day provides the opportunity to enhance the health and well-being of others in careers, such as:
- Certified Personal Trainer
- Group Fitness / Exercise Instructor
- Fitness Supervisor
- Health and Wellness Coach
Graduates who choose to write the NASM certification exam will pay an additional fee to NASM.
Admissions Requirements
Standard Admission
Students must meet ONE of the following criteria:
- Alberta High School Diploma, verified by transcript, or non-Alberta equivalent. OR
- General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.) AND
- Successful interview with school administration
Mature Admission
Students must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Passing score on CAST level 3 OR Accuplacer
- Successful interview with school administration.
- NOTE Students whose first language is not English must present evidence of English language proficiency:
Approved English Language Proficiency (ELP):
- IELTS Academic: 6 (no section scores below 5.5)
- TOEFL iBT 71
- CELPIP General: 7 (with no section score below 6)
- CLB 7 in each strand, not an average of 7
- Duolingo English Test (minimum score of 93)
- Completion of one year of post-secondary training where the language of instruction is English.
Get Started
Fill out the form below to request more information or apply for this program.
Topics of Study
Introduction to Keyboarding
Learn about the components of the computer and keyboard, as well as the seating, posture, and hand positioning necessary for efficient keyboarding.
Keyboard Skill Building Level 1
Students will increase key recognition and build confidence using the keyboard, while improving speed and accuracy.
Personal Computer Fundamentals
Explore the history of personal computing, the hardware and software components necessary for personal computer use, file management, multimedia options, and browsing the internet.
Microsoft Windows 10 Level 1
Cover the basic concepts and most commonly used features and functions of Windows 10, including: opening applications, using Help and shutting down the computer.
Internet Fundamentals
Explore the various components of the internet using Google Chrome and learn common procedures used to maximize successful use of the Internet and its many features.
MS Word Level 1
Beginner Microsoft Word. Learn to edit and format documents, insert tables, images, shapes, and other graphic elements in World.
MS Excel Level 1
Beginner Microsoft Excel. Learn how to create and manage worksheets, enter data, create basic formulas, and more.
MS Outlook Level 1
Beginner Microsoft Outlook. Learn how to manage email, contacts, scheduling and tasks in Microsoft Outlook.
Personal Training Fundamentals
Students gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a personal trainer, as well as what a typical personal training job looks like when they start their careers
Body Sciences
This course teaches the structures, components, and functions of body systems. Students also learn the primary methods of how the body produces energy for exercise and how the various body systems respond and adapt to exercise.
Client Intake and Assessment
Learn the importance of having an understanding of each and every client’s personal and professional background, as well as their physical capabilities, health status, goals, and desires
Programming Essentials 1
This course is designed for students to learn about flexibility training, cardiorespiratory training, core training, balance training, plyometric training, and SAO training concepts.
Programming Essentials 2
Learn the science and principles of resistance training and how it is used to effectively design individually tailored, safe, and appropriate resistance-training workouts
Programming Essentials 3
Learn about personal training considerations when working with clients with age considerations, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, CHO, osteoporosis, arthritis, cancer, pregnancy, chronic lung disease, and intermittent claudication.
Nutrition Fundamentals
Students will learn how to recognize the interaction between nutrition and proper functioning of the human movement system so that they can create effective programs for their clients to meet their goals
Business Verbal Communication
Learn how to develop and implement an action plan for continuously improving their own verbal communication skills.
Customer Service
Learn tips for managing time and stress, communicating effectively with customers, and managing customer relationships. This course highlights being prepared, and dealing professionally with customer conflicts and complaints.
Behavior Management
This course is designed for students to learn about and explore behavior coaching, assessing and changing physical activity behavior, building motivation, and promoting physical activity.
Sales and Business Management
This course is designed for students to learn about and explore personal training as a business. They will look at sales, marketing, closing the sale, and tracking sales retention.
Comprehensive Review and Career Preparation
This course prepares students to take the NASM CPT Certification exam, paying particular attention to test-taking skills and improvement of weak areas of knowledge.
Basic Rescuer (Level C) CPR Certification
This course serves as an introduction to First Aid, concentrating on CPR skills, controlling bleeding, treating shock, and respiratory emergencies.
Business Essentials
Business Essentials provides a broad introduction to business, covering business principles, structure, and functions of management.
Thought Patterns for High Performance
Thought Patterns for High Performance™ is an educational process designed to expose students to concepts that can significantly change their lives. It is designed to improve the student’s learning experience and prepare him or her for personal and professional growth and success.
