Personal trainers abound in the nearly every urban area now, but which one is right for you? Pick up the local paper, check the online classifieds, even pop into your neighborhood gym and you’ll find dozens of people who promise you results–they’ll slim your waistline, bulge your muscles, drop you a dress size. However, there are National Board standards and processes for certification that personal trainers can go through–they don’t have to. Anyone can throw out his shingle and say he’s a personal trainer…but is that what you want? Make sure to ask if they are nationally certified. This national certification ensures that your trainer has taken classes in exercise physiology. They are required to know the body, required to know what exercises work what muscle, and in return, what exercises might hurt you if you say, have a bad back.

Ask to see their qualifications. Ask for references. A certified trainer will be more than happy to show you. Even if he or she is not certified, the ability to present references might be enough to assure this person knows what they are doing.

Also, beware of health clubs that have trainers on staff. Some gyms do not require any experience AT ALL for their trainers. These trainers are sometimes hourly workers given shirts that say, “Trainer” on the back…but are not required to have trained a single person or have certification as a trainer. Not to say they won’t have experience, but they are not required. Other national gym chains do require certification by the NFPT, the National Federation of Personal Trainers.

There are several schools and courses that give trainers their certification, but the National Federation of Personal Trainers is the most recognized. If a facility requires certification, most note that this body is the one they look for first. The NFPT has rigorous courses and a comprehensive test that students must pass in order to get their certificate. The classes are not cheap, so it makes sense to say that a person has to be serious to go through with the program.

All in all, the best advice on choosing a personal trainer is to meet with him or her, ask about qualifications and references, and go through a sample workout. Most trainers will sit down with you to to discuss your goals and then will design a plan. If you do not find this on your initial consultation, you might want to find another trainer. Also, oftentimes, personal trainers will have some background in nutrition as well, and can help clients come up with healthy eating plans, too. As we all know, it is diet and exercise, hand in hand, that really get the best results