About American Fitness Training of Athletics (AFTA)

Thank you for coming to the user-friendly AFTA website. We are improving our look and standards to make a positive impact on the industry.

I would like to start by saying that I am very pleased how AFTA has grown in the past years. Due to my experience in power meets, personal training, kickboxing/martial arts, owning a gym, and exercising for overall health-- I decided that the fitness field was definitely my career for life. With many family members having asthma, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other health related issues-- I understand first hand why living a healthy lifestyle is so important. It is also important to have guidance when beginning your plan for healthy living. This is why having a personal trainer or class instructor is beneficial. The problem is that the industry only has one trainer to every 10,000 people who desperately need the guidance. This is why I decided to work with others to compile education courses that will help educate enrollees of the fitness field to tackle the ever growing problem of poor health.

In 2008, AFTA selected the 2009 - 2011 advisory board.  Each advisory board member is experienced and highly educated to serve in  curriculum and exam recommendations and/or decisions.

Already there are many certifying companies, organizations, and schools in the industry. So why is there a need for AFTA you ask? Simply put, we are the bridge between credibility and convenience.  To keep trainers/instructors knowledgeable in many training aspects, we have several certification courses as well as home study continuing education courses.  We continuously research current credible studies to keep up-to-date training information.  Even after a person is certified with one of our online courses, the trainers can continue reviewing the online material for updates.  Each course offers the option of an at-home exam or a proctored exam in the enrollee's residential area. 

AFTA's home study courses are shipped free.  Enrollment in both the online courses and home study courses is one year from date of purchase.  This means you have 12 months to submit the final exam.  If you do not obtain the minimum exam score of 85, you have one more attempt during the 12 month enrollment period at no additional cost.  We also do not require a yearly membership fee.

Even though we do not require a college degree, over 85% of our trainers since January 2005 have a degree.  Who are some of the trainers/instructors?  Many are club owners, independent trainers, M.D.s, Ph.D's, university strength coaches, physical therapists, bodybuilders, firemen, paramedics, phys ed teachers, nurses, law enforcement, military fitness trainers, and nutritional counselors, while others are fitness enthusiasts or newcomers to the training industry -- wanting to help and give something positive to others. 

AFTA does not require current CPR/First aid/AED to enroll or to obtain certification, but we strongly recommend you obtain at least CPR/first aid before beginning work as a personal trainer.

 When you choose AFTA, you are joining an organization that keeps expanding, improving, and demanding higher standards.  In the fitness field you need a recognized name and title. With AFTA, that is exactly what you receive!

Join a team of fitness enthusiasts and professionals today. Choose AFTA!

Chad Barnhart, AFTA Fitness Director