About the Fitness Specialist Program

Course description:
The Fitness specialist program is designed to prepare students for work in the fitness industry. Personal fitness trainer and other fitness certifications can be obtained after completing the program. The year-long program consists of one classroom period and one practicum period. The practicum class must complete 90 hours per semester with a flexible schedule (before school, after school, a selected class period, and/or weekends). The practicum will be conducted at local fitness/wellness facilities, workout centers, sports fitness classes, and /or team workout sessions.

Rotating Practicum/Internships:

  • TA for Sports Fitness classes/Strength training with LHS sports teams
  • Community fitness classes
  • Local area fitness centers/gyms (Gold Gym, Crystal Springs Fitness Center, YMCA, Liberty Athletic and Racquet Club, Liberty Valley College Fitness Center.
  • Medical (cardiac rehab/medical supervised fitness rehab)- Liberty Valley Clinic

    Program Background Info:

    The health and medical communities agree the preventive fitness is the future of the health care market. With insurance companies looking to cut costs, medical professionals and managed care groups alike are finding preventive medicine is future of health care. With more and more fitness centers opening around the country (and in our community), there is more of a demand for fitness professionals in these facilities. Personal trainers and fitness leaders are among the fastest growing occupations in the nation.

    Certification Process:

    Many fitness professionals can be certified without a formal college education. Specialized knowledge and training can prepare individuals for these certifications through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CPT) or the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Students can also achieve higher certifications by continuing their education at the college/university level if they so desire.

    What Occupational Resources Say About Fitness Professions:

  • Washington State Occupational Information- Had this to say about jobs in fitness instructors/personal trainers in their career report #8642
  • "Businesses and organizations are increasing aware of the benefits exercise has on employee wellness and productivity. (Fitness) Workers who have one or more national certification will fare best."
  • "Certification by national agencies in one or more fields, such as aerobics or weight training is often preferred."
  • Occupational Outlook Quarterly (Spring 1996) listed Fitness professionals as one of the top 15 "High paying, fast growing occupations." It is also the highest among the top 15 that the usual training is "on the job" and did not require a college education.
  • Occupational Outlook Quarterly (Summer 1995) said, "Ten years ago, working out in a health club and having basic knowledge of the machines on the floor might have been enough for you to get a fitness job there. Not anymore. To become part of the fitness staff in most health clubs today, you need a certification in one or more areas..." "Current certification has become the standard for most fitness personnel. Certification is the minimum required by a majority of fitness clubs today and as the years go by, more and more will require it."
  • Fitness Instructors are listed in the book "100 Best Careers for the Year 2000," by Shelly Field.
     

    Objectives of the Liberty High School Fitness Specialist Program:

    1. Knowledge of and skill in risk-factor and health-status identification, fitness appraisal and exercise prescription.
    2. Demonstrate and evaluate the physiology and psychological effects of regular exercise.
    3. Demonstrate the ability to incorporate suitable and innovative activities that will improve an individuals functional capacity.
    4. Demonstrate the ability to effectively educate and /or counsel individuals regarding lifestyle modification.
    5. Demonstrate the knowledge in functional anatomy and kinesiology and the ability to apply the knowledge in a practical setting.
    6. Demonstrate the knowledge of physiology of exercise and risk-factor identification and the ability to apply the integrate goals, assessment data, and principles of exercise science to design programs in a practical setting.
    7. Demonstrate the ability to teach safe/effective exercise techniques.
    8. Demonstrate the knowledge of nutrition and the ability to counsel patients/clients about proper nutritional habits.
    9. Demonstrate the techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid (American Red Cross certifications in both).
    10. Demonstrate the management and marketing of fitness programs.
    11. Demonstrate interpersonal communication and customer service workplace skills.
    12. Adhere to ethical codes, laws, regulations and procedures within recognized scope of practice.
    13. Describe the legal considerations and concerns of fitness professionals and facilities.

    Weekly Lesson Plan for Fitness Specialist

    First Semester

    Week / Topic

    1 Intro to Fitness/Wellness
    2 CPR/First Aid
    3 CPR/First Aid
    4 Anatomy and Physiology
    5 Anatomy and Physiology (labs)
    6 Physiology of Exercise (anaerobic vs. aerobic) (labs)
    7 Cardio respiratory Endurance Assessment
    8 Cardio respiratory Endurance Assessment (labs)
    9 Principles of Cardio respiratory Exercise Prescription
    10 Principles of Cardio respiratory Exercise Prescription (labs)
    11 Principles of Strength and Endurance Assessment
    12 Principles of Strength and Endurance Assessment (labs)
    13 Principles of Strength and Endurance Assessment (labs)
    14 Principles of Strength Training
    15 Principles of Strength Training (labs)
    16 Muscular Flexibility Assessment (labs)
    17 Muscular Flexibility Assessment (labs)
    18 Principles of Muscular Flexibility Prescription (labs)

    Second semester

    Week / Topic

    19 Other components of Fitness (proprioception, agility, balance)
    20 Principles of Fitness Assessment (labs)
    21 Body composition Assessment (labs)
    22 Body composition Assessment (labs)
    23 Principles of nutrition
    24 Principles of nutrition (labs)
    25 Principles of weight management (labs)
    26 Prevention/treatment of cardiovascular disease (labs)
    27 Prevention/treatment of cancer and other diseases
    28 Fitness industry/health club management
    29 Fitness industry/health club management
    30 Marketing of fitness
    31 Interpersonal/client communications (labs)
    32 Careers, job interviews, resumes
    33 Careers, job interviews, resumes
    34 Fitness job rotation- aerobics (labs)
    35 Fitness job rotation- personal fitness trainer (labs)
    36 Fitness job rotation- lifestyle/weight management (labs)