Personal Trainer vs Strength & Conditioning Coach

sligolad1

I am struggling to understand the distinction between these two titles in an Irish context. Would it be possible for someone with a strength & conditioning qualification (e.g. NFQ Level 6) to take on clients on a one-to-one basis (i.e. personal training) without having completed a PT specific course or being registered with REPS Ireland? Is it more beneficial from a legal/insurance point of view to do a personal training course accredited with REPS instead of an S&C course?

JayRoc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058219673/personal-trainer-vs-strength-conditioning-coach

Reps Ireland is only important to Reps Ireland. There is no governing body for personal trainers (or to be fair, S+C coaches) in Ireland so they are irrelevant tbh.

Generally speaking, an S+C coach would probably be expected to have a higher standard of education than a PT who has just done a weekend course, but of course, this is simply perception. My Auntie could call herself a Strength and Conditioning coach.

Any piece of paper will get you insurance so if that is your only consideration for which qualification to choose, you should just choose the cheapest shortest one.

I had a discussion recently with someone who had a degree in S+C who didn't seem to understand they didn't need a separate PT cert before they could get insured to do some PTs. But how and ever.

sligolad1

So basically it wouldn't be worth doing a course just to get reps certification if there was a better quality (+cheaper) course available even if it wasn't PT specific?

*Unless you were looking to work in a gym that only hires people with a specific PT/REPS qualification.

JayRoc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118220624#Comment_118220624

I have no idea if a Reps-approved qualification is more likely to get you more work. Maybe in commercial gyms it is something they look for, so your best bet is to contact a few of the facilities you would like to work for and ask them.

Generally when I have hired coaches/trainers I would have done it because I knew them and had seen them coach.

Personally I would insist on a mixture of formal qualifications and technical coaching ability; for example, I had an intern a few years back who had a degree in sports science but couldn't coach a back squat (This all sounds like I'm ragging on degrees and I'm not, it's just that coaching is as much practical as theoretical).

If you want to coach in a crossfit gym I'd say a level one would be a bare minimum.

Regardless of which you choose I would also personally suggest being 1st aid certified.

Good luck

sligolad1

Thanks for taking the time to reply, very helpful info!

Cill94

Everything JayRoc said is bang on.

I work as a PT and have no specific PT qualification. I do have a bachelors in health and performance science and a Masters in S&C, and that was enough for my insurance company.

The standard for PT courses is really bad, so I see no reason to do it if you already have a cert.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058219673/personal-trainer-vs-strength-conditioning-coach

Personal Training is generalist.

Strength conditioning is specialist.

or that should be the way. There are few barriers to entry in either. Strength and conditioning coaching can just as easily be 1-on-1. The piece of paper or REPS just served to get insured. Neither actually helps you.