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 is accredited by NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies). See Accreditation for more details.

What specialty certificates does NETA offer?
Pilates, Yoga, Stability Ball, Cycle, Kickboxing, Active Older Adults, Bender Ball Training, Drums Alive!, and Pilates Reformer.

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 required NETA Fitness Professional's Manual.

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 Instructor Certificate?
NETA and Linda Christy Weiler have teamed up to create a NETA Yoga Instructor Specialty Certificate. To earn a certificate:

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; Breathe, Stretch, Relax & Meditate; Yoga for Prevention of Back Pain; Yoga for Personal Trainers; Hatha Yoga; Yoga Anatomy.
3. Provide proof of completion to NETA.

Or attend a Yoga certificate workshop and earn a certificate.

What is the difference between a certification and a specialty certificate?
A certification is valid for two years and requires continuing education to renew. NETA offers a Group Excercise Certification and a Personal Trainer Certification. Both of these intensive certifications cover basic yet essential knowledge of health and fitness necessary for delivering safe fitness guidance. Having one or both of these is usually required for fitness staff wherever classes or trainings are conducted.

A specialty certificate does not expire and therefore, does not require continuing education. Acquiring specialty certificates increases the fitness professional's knowledge base and marketability. Specialty training is often recommended and sometimes required for Group Excercise Instructors and Personal Trainers by employers. NETA offers Specialty Certificates in Yoga, Pilates, Active Older Adults, Cycling, Kickboxing, Stability Ball, Vinyasa Yoga, Drums Alive!, Bender Ball Training, and Pilates Reformer.

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. Note: Certifications expiring before March 1, 2008 only require 15 CECs. Certifications expiring after March 1, 2008 require 20 CECs.

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.

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.

Do I need to purchase the appropriate textbook if I am registering for a Group Exercise, Personal Training, Pilates, Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Drums Alive!, Bender Ball Training, or Pilates Reforme workshop?
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 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 and First Aid 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.

Can I take the Specialty Certificate workshops just for CECs and not get certified?
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.

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.

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.

Is there any other way to pay other than a Visa or MasterCard?
You can 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 certificates and $5 for CEC workshops. You may order this over the phone with a visa or mastercard, 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.

Can all 20 credits be earned through home study courses?
Although not necessarily recommended, you may earn most or all of your CECs via home study.

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 Group Exercise Instructor to take the CEC workshops?
No. Anyone can enroll in the workshops, but credits will only be applied to current certifications.

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.