Frequently Asked Questions

GETTING CERTIFIED
What type of certifications do you offer?
NETA offers Group Exercise and Personal Trainer certification.

Is NETA Accredited?
NETA's Personal Trainer Certification and Group Exercise Certifications are accredited by NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies). See Accreditation for more details.

What specialty certifications does NETA offer?
Pilates Mat, Yoga, Pilates Reformer, and Kettlebell.

How long are the NETA certifications valid?
Each certification is valid for two years.

Can I get certified without going to a workshop?
Yes, NETA has test only options for Group Exercise and Personal Trainer Certification.

How much is the Group Fitness test only certification?
$149. The price does not include cost of the recommended NETA Fitness Professional's Manual.

Test Only Option Process FAQ:
If you are interested in taking the Personal Training or Group Exercise Test Only Option, here are the steps you should follow...

1. Find a Comira testing center location: Go to www.netafit.org and click onto CERTIFICATIONS. Choose the certification you want to receive (Group Exercise or Personal Training). On the information page you should find a link (in blue writing) to the Comira testing centers. Click onto that link and you can type in your zip code and it will show you where the closest testing center is to your location.
2. Once you find a testing center that you are willing to travel to, the next step is to call NETA at 1-800-237-6242. Customer Service can help you register for that option over the phone. (You can only register over the phone or by mail for this option.)
3. Once you are registered for this option, NETA will email your information to Comira to let them know you are able to take our exam at any of their testing centers. NETA wills end out a confirmation letter to you in the mail. You must bring this letter with you to the testing center. This confirmation letter will give you the company of Comira's phone number (1-800-947-4228) and you can call this number anytime after you get the letter to schedule where and when you want to take the exam.
4. letter will also inform that Comira will charge a $39 testing fee (a fee to use their site) that you will have to pay to them.
5. You will find out your results right away so if you pass Comira will email NETA your results. For Group Exercise NETA will print off your certificate and mail it out to you. For Personal Training you must mail, fax, or email a copy of your current CPR to NETA. Once that is received NETA will send your certificate out to you in the mail.

How much is the Personal Trainer test only certification?
$249. The price does not include the cost of the NETA Fitness Professional's Manual.

How do I earn a Yoga Specialty Certification?
NETA and Linda Christy Weiler have teamed up to create a NETA Yoga Specialty Certification. To earn a certification:

1. Purchase and complete NETA's Intro to Teaching Yoga home study program.
2. Obtain 18 CEC's from the following home study programs: Enlighten Your Body; Asana Excellence; Yoga for Personal Trainers; Hatha Yoga; Yoga Anatomy.
3. Provide proof of completion to NETA.

Or attend a Yoga certificate workshop and earn a certification.

How do I earn a Pilates Specialty Certification?
Or attend a Pilates certificate workshop and earn a certification.

1. Purchase and complete NETA's Intro to Teaching Pilates home study program
2. Obtain 15 CECs from the following home study programs: Pilates Intermediate, Pilates Advanced, Bender Ball Pilates, Total Pilates, and Enlighten Your Body.

What happens at the Group Exercise Instructor Certification workshop?
The Group Exercise Instructor Certification workshop is designed to serve as a review of the topics of examination by means of lecture and activity. This is where the hands-on practical application takes place. It is a learning environment for the certification candidate to clarify information they have already studied.

The NETA exam will be administered by a 3rd party proctor arranged by NETA. The exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions. A score of 70% is required to pass. All examination results are sent through the U.S. mail within 6 weeks of the examination date.

How do I prepare for the Group Exercise Instructor Certification examination?
The NETA Fitness Professional's Manual is an excellent tool to help prepare for the examination. Other study tools include the Group Exercise Instructor Study Guide which includes the Group Exercise Instructor Practice Exam. To be successful, NETA recommends that participants study the material at least 30 days in advance and understand as much of the information as possible prior to the workshop.

Can I use ACE or AFAA credits toward my renewal?
Yes. NETA will accept credits from ACE or AFAA workshops. Upon renewal, you will need to submit copies of the certificates of completion that list the number of credits for each course. Do NOT send individual completion forms.

How do I know how many credits are good towards my NETA certification?
If an ACE workshop is .4 ACE credits, 4 credits can be applied toward your renewal.

Can I petition college courses?
Yes, the course must be exercise, fitness or health related. Courses, such as Self Defense, Biology or Chemistry are not valid courses to petition. CPR First Aid, and lifeguard courses are not valid CEC courses. It is a $15 petition fee for each course submitted. A course transcript along with a course agenda and contact hours are needed for review.

Do I need to purchase the appropriate textbook if I am registering for a Group Exercise, Personal Training, Pilates, Yoga, Pilates Reformer or Kettlebell?
Yes. The material contained in the corresponding textbooks represents the crux of the course material. It is important for students to follow along with the current textbook during the workshops. We recognize that some students may have access to the required textbooks without having to purchase them. It is for this reason that NETA keeps the cost of the textbooks separate from the actual workshop tuition costs.

Do I need a prior fitness related certification or commensurate course work in the exercise sciences to be able to take the Yoga and Pilates 2-Day workshops?
No. Current fitness related certification or commensurate course work in the exercise sciences is only a recommendation to attend the Pilates Workshop.

What if I don’t have my current CPR for the Personal Trainer Certification workshop, can I still attend?
Yes you can still attend and take the exam. If you pass, your certificate will be held on to until you can show NETA you have proof of current CPR. Once you have CPR, you can either mail it in or fax it in. Once received, your certificate will be mailed out.

Will NETA help me find a job once I am certified?
Although NETA does not currently offer placement services, potential employers can search our database of instructors who choose to submit their professional information via our “Get on the List” Program. Call 1-800-237-6242 for more information on adding your name and professional information on our “Get on the List” program.

What if I am not sure if I am ready to take the certification exam the day of the workshop?
If you attend a workshop and decide you are not ready to take the exam you may indicate your decision to the workshop trainer. When you are ready to sit for the exam you can register for another workshop in your area for a $25 re-registration fee. You may attend the entire workshop again or just take the exam.

Can I take the Specialty Certifications just for CECs and not take the exam?
Yes, everyone in attendance receives a certificate of completion.

What if I don’t pass the certification exam?
If you don’t pass the certification exam, you may re-take the exam at another time for a $99 re-take fee. You will need to register for another workshop in your area and indicate that you will be taking a “re-take” exam. You are welcome to come just to take the exam or you may attend the entire workshop for the same fee. We recommend that you attend the entire workshop if you feel that would help you to assimilate the material prior to re-taking the exam.

Do you have age requirements for your certifications?
If you are under the age of 18, you can take the certification workshop, a Minor Waiver Form must be signed.

What form of payment do you accept?
Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. You can also send a check or money order to our mailing address along with your order. 5955 Golden Valley Road, Suite 240, Minneapolis, MN 55422

What if something comes up and I can’t make it to the workshop?
By not attending the workshop, you will automatically receive a Tuition Credit Voucher in the mail. To re-register, just send in the voucher with a $25 re-registration fee and a completed order and we will send you a new confirmation.

Can I get a re-print of my certificate?
Re-prints are available for $15.00 for certifications and $5 for CEC workshops. You may order this over the phone with a Visa, MasterCard or Discover, or through the mail with a check or money order.

KEEPING YOUR CERTIFICATION CURRENT
How do I renew my certification?
Approximately 3-4 months prior to your expiration date, NETA will mail a renewal notice to the address listed in the system. (Please notify us of any updates to your address to insure receipt of current information.) Fill out the renewal form, include copies of a minimum of 20 CECs earned within the 2 year period, a copy of your CPR card, and a $45 renewal fee.

If I have more than one NETA certification, how do I keep both certifications current?
Each certification has its own expiration date. You will need to have 20 credits within both 2-year periods. Credits will overlap and credits earned will go towards both certifications.

Do you have to be a certified Instructor to take the CEC workshops?
No. Anyone can enroll in the workshops, but credits will only be applied to current certifications.

How many Continuing Education Credits do I need to renew my certification?
You must earn 20 CECs within the two year certification period. A minimum of 6 credits must be from NETA.

If the CECs are not ACE or AFAA, what do I do?
Complete and return a petition form. There is a $15 petition fee for each course being petitioned.

Can I get all my credits through home study or just workshops?
You can get all your credit with just home study courses or even with just one home study course. You can take all workshops if you want too, or you can do both. The credits just have to add up to at least 20 credits.

Once my certification expires do the CECs taken during my 6-month grace period count towards recertification?
Yes, CECs taken during your grace period will count towards your renewal.

What is considered NETA CECs?
Anything purchased through NETA is considered NETA CECs. Conventions/Expos offering NETA CECs do not count as NETA CECs. They must be directly purchased through NETA to count.

HOW TO GET CEC'S
See the CEC and Home Study pages.

ORDERING FROM NETA
You can order apparel, music, videos, and home study materials securely online by going to the NETA Store.

How long does it take to receive my books/merchandise?
Regular shipping through USPS can take from 10-14 days.

MISC. QUESTIONS
What does NETA stand for?
National Exercise Trainers Association

How do we get workshops scheduled in our area?
To host a workshop, contact Linda at 1-800-237-6242 ext 250, or click on Host a Workshop for information.

What type of dress should I wear to workshops?
Workout attire, exercise clothing, and exercise shoes.

What is Comira?
Comira (CATS Test Center) provides end-to-end testing services for licensing, certification, assessment and educational testing programs. NETA uses Comira for our test only option for Group Fitness and Personal Training.

Does NETA accept on-line CPR?
Yes, recommended websites are cprandfirstaid.net or procpr.org.

What curriculum is covered during the 2-day Personal Training Workshop/Exam?
The Personal Training curriculum consists of 14 hours of lecture and hands-on practical skills development. The certification exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions representing the following subjects

• 40% Exercise Sciences
• 10% Injury Management
• 10% Medical Considerations
• 10% Administrative & Legal Issues
• 10% Training Principle & Monitoring Intensity
• 20% Exercise Programming for Healthy Adults

**Must achieve a minimum score of 70%**

What curriculum is covered during the Group Fitness Workshop/Exam?
The Group Fitness curriculum consists of 6 hours of lecture and hands-on practical skills development. The certification exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions representing the following subjects:

• 10% Exercise Physiology
• 3% Anatomy
• 3% Kinesiology
• 4% Biomechanics
• 4% Nutrition
• 9% Injury Prevention
• 1% Exercise Related Injuries
• 2% Responding to Injuries
• 11% Medical Considerations
• 1% Music Licensing & Copyright
• 7% Communication & Leadership
• 2% Health Risk Assessment
• 12% Physical Fitness
• 4% Weight Management
• 3% Resistance Training
• 2% Special Populations
• 1% Flexibility
• 12% Teaching Skills
• 8% Class Structure
• 1% Optional GX Formats

How many questions are the Personal Trainer Certification and Group Fitness exams?

• 100 multiple choice questions
• 70% minimum passing score
• 90 minutes to complete the exam

How do I receive my test results for Personal or Group Exercise exams?
Personal or Group Exercise Certification exam results can take up to 30 days to receive by USPS First Class Mail. Results cannot be emailed, faxed, or given over the phone.

How can I submit my NETA Home Study answer sheet?
You can submit your answer sheet by mail, fax, or on-line. Instructions for each will be detailed within each home study. Results will be mailed within 7 days of completion.