Fitness Specialist Certificate Program

This program trains students to be personal trainers and group exercise leaders. Emphasis is placed on the principles of exercise and physical conditioning, techniques of leading individual and group exercise classes, assessment protocols, strategies for working with special populations, appropriate methods to establishing healthy behavior, and the designing of personalized exercise programs. Students learn to develop safe, effective exercise plans for a variety of clients.

The fitness industry continues to experience growth and has an ongoing need for professionally qualified group exercise instructors and personal trainers in health clubs, gyms, fitness centers, and sports medicine clinics.

This program prepares students for the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Council of Exercise (ACE), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and many other National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor certification exams. Please note that students enrolled in an occupational program must earn a grade of "C"; or better in courses required for the major.

Based on 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 enrollment data, the estimated enrollment completer projection of students to earn the award annually is 10 students.

The Health and Exercise Science program at San Diego City College (SDCC) offers certificates of performance and achievement, and associate degrees in the field of health, exercise science, nutrition, and fitness. The program’s mission is to provide are search-based practical approach to the multi-dimensional study of human movement, while engaging students in hands-on experiences to promote critical thinking, effective communication, and a comprehensive understanding of the health and exercise science discipline. The program meets this mission by offering a variety of exercise science and health classes that can help meet the needs of our diverse community. The Health and Exercise

Science program teaches students to lead by example in promoting a healthy lifestyle. It enables students to develop knowledge, skills, and abilities in exercise planning, participation, and behavior change not only for themselves, but also to the campus and community. The program embraces both the challenge to inspire our students to be individual improvement of health and wellness, and encourages our students to share their information and experience within the community.

This is a program revision to an active program at the State Chancellor’s Office. COCI CTRL# 07072 needs to be edited and/or revised in connection with the approval of this proposed program. This proposal is needed to for the following reasons:1.  Replace EXSC 284 with NUTR 170 in courses required for the major

2.  Revise program and award description; change award title from Fitness Specialist to Personal Trainer.

Note: The Certificate of Achievement in Personal Trainer (previously titled Fitness Specialist) at San Diego City College received Regional Consortia recommendation prior to 2007. Please refer to the San Diego & Imperial Community Colleges Regional Consortium Program Finder at https://careered.org/college-program-finder/ to find Fitness Specialist among the listing of approved programs at San Diego City College.