Three New Certificates Launched for Health and Fitness Professionals

To earn the certificates students are required to complete all four core courses, which are offered in a two-module format; each module consists of two courses that are designed to be taken at the same time. Students may also register for individual courses if desired. The two-module series is offered three times per year in the fall, spring and summer. An internship option is available following the fitness management program. In addition to the new programs, registration is open for the School’s ongoing certificate programs in personal fitness:  Personal Fitness Training and Advanced Training.

These programs are designed for anyone interested in the rapidly growing industry of fitness training, including fitness professionals from all fields, individuals seeking a new career as a personal trainer, and allied health and medical professionals such as physical therapists, athletic trainers, nurses, physicians, chiropractors, public health educators, and nutritionists and wellness consultants seeking advanced education or new career opportunities.

Depending upon the certificate program, students will learn:  to prepare for a career working with women of all ages at medically-based fitness facilities; to implement successful business systems in health and wellness settings, or to apply client’s health history toward optimal nutritional health and well-being.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, fitness trainer was listed among the fastest growing occupations, expected to grow 44 percent through 2012. Earning a professional certificate in one of these new areas can provide a significant competitive edge in a field that continues to experience explosive growth.

Benefits of the professional certification include guidance from instructors who hold either a master’s or doctoral degree in exercise science, biomechanics, exercise physiology, kinesiology, physical therapy, nutrition or an exercise science-related degree. The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency for the American Dietetic Association (ADA), has approved the Professional Certificate in Nutrition for Optimal Health, Wellness and Sports program for 120 Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs). The Professional Certificate in Fitness Management is offered in partnership with IDEA Health & Fitness Association and Health Club Managers, Inc., and the Professional Certificate in Women’s Exercise Training and Wellness is offered in partnership with the Women’s Health Foundation and Healthy Moms® Fitness. Networking opportunities with industry experts, medical professionals, professors, researchers and business leaders in the industry are also available.

To enroll in one of the new certificate programs or to check the course schedule and fees, visit www.tesc.edu and click on “Professional Certificates.” For more information about professional certificates in Fitness Management, Women’s Exercise Training and Wellness, Nutrition for Optimal Health, Wellness and Sports; Personal Fitness Training; and Advanced Training contact Thomas Edison State College at (888) 442-8372 or via e-mail spcs@tesc.edu.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING STUDIES
The School of Professional and Continuing Studies at Thomas Edison State College offers a broad array of high-quality professional certificates, seminars, workshops and other noncredit programs specifically designed for the working adult to develop and enhance knowledge, skills and competencies in the workplace. In addition to programs available for individual enrollment, the School works with corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations to develop customized professional development programs. Further information about the School of Professional and Continuing Studies may be obtained by calling (888) 442-8372, via e-mail at spcs@tesc.edu or by visiting the College Web site at www.tesc.edu and click on “Professional Certificates.”

ABOUT THOMAS EDISON STATE COLLEGE
Thomas Edison State College provides flexible, high-quality, collegiate learning opportunities for self-directed adults. One of New Jersey’s 12 senior public institutions of higher education, the College offers 17 associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees in more than 100 areas of study. Students earn degrees through a wide variety of rigorous and high-quality academic methods that can be customized to meet their individual needs. Identified by Forbes magazine as one of the top 20 colleges and universities in the nation in the use of technology to create learning opportunities for adults, Thomas Edison State College is a national leader in the assessment of adult learning and a pioneer in the use of educational technologies. The College is home to The John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy. The New Jersey State Library is an affiliate of Thomas Edison State College. Further information about admission to the College may be obtained by calling (888) 442-8372, via e-mail at info@tesc.edu or by visiting the College Web site at www.tesc.edu.