FAQS

A bachelor's degree in Sports Science and Physical Education most appropriately provides the scientific foundation necessary for any exercise professional. It is the knowledge and application of the basic movement and exercise sciences that will lead to the practice of the profession in a manner based on research data and critical thinking. At the same time there is further professional training and specialization in one or some of the many services of the Fitness industry. Vocational training and Continuing Education is something that is done by providers in the private sector. It is therefore up to each professional how knowledgeable he wants to be in the various services, trends, new equipment, etc., in order to have a competitive advantage over his competitors. NASM's programs provide insight into specific models that apply to the healthy population, individuals with musculoskeletal imbalances, and high-level athletes.

Each country in the European Union, as well as each state in the USA, has its own legislative and regulatory framework regarding the licensing of fitness trainers and exercise service providers. In Cyprus the profession of a gymnast is regulated by the Law on the Registration of Gymnasts of 1995, which defines a University Degree in Sports Science and Physical Education as the necessary qualification for a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus or the European Union to have the right Union to provide exercise and Physical Education services in the Republic of Cyprus. Therefore, NASM's Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) and Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) certifications are only for bachelor's degree holders, while the NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) is aimed at Sport Science and Physical Education graduates (especially those who have just graduated and want to organize the knowledge they have gained by learning a personalized exercise model), but also to Sports Science and Physical Education students who have complete their 2nd year of studies, but without having the right to practice the profession without supervision.

HNFC Cyprus offers a multitude of degrees which aim at the global and complete training of the prospective personal trainer, who at the end of the training, will be an integrated health professional.

The core degrees offered by the HNFC through the American Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), are three in a logical order which initially gives the basis and training in the OPT (Optimum Performance Training) model and then specializations either in the direction of Sports Performance, or towards corrective exercise programs.

The Programs are as follows:

1. International Certified Personal Trainer certification (CPT), which is the number one choice worldwide and the most popular personal trainer certification degree.

2. The specialized degree Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES), specialist in improving sports performance. It mainly concerns already experienced gymnasts who want to work at team level and with high or low level athletes. University degree is a necessary condition.

3. The specialized degree of the specialist in corrective exercise programs, Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES). It concerns gymnasts or health professionals (e.g. physical therapists) who wish to deal mainly with the part of correcting muscle imbalances, movement patterns, but also injury prevention. A university degree is a prerequisite.

Having built a strong foundation through the specific certifications, the next step is continuous development through some special programs involving all trainees.

The options in this case are:

Specialization Degree in Cancer Exercise .
Specialization Degree in Posture and Movement Assessment with the Functional Movement Systems (FMS) method.
Specialization degree in sports nutrition.
Pspecialization degree in weight loss.

Then and after one or more of the above courses have been completed, the personal trainer candidate has the opportunity to attend additional certifications that will bring him even closer or they will expand the audience (target group) to which he wants to address. The options in this case are as follows:

Specialization degree for Personal training in small groups of people.
Specialization degree as a certified Let's Bands Coach.
Specialization degree in a special exercise program for elderly people.
Specialization degree in a special exercise program for women.
Degree of specialization in a special exercise program for children.
Specialization degree in a special exercise program for people involved in martial arts.

All of these certifications are intended to give a personal trainer that extra something and make them stand out from the competition as a complete health scientist.

It is known that both in Greece and in Cyprus there are various companies that offer certifications related to exercise, the main one being the Personal Trainer certification. The reality is that very few certifications are actually accredited by independent quality assurance bodies, so they are somewhat self-proclaimed certifications.NASM certifications are licenses to practice in America and other countries, so they have been evaluated by professional and government bodies in those countries. Additionally, and unlike other local certifications, the exams are given through the NASM platform, which ensures the reliability and transparency of the results. NASM certifications are internationally recognized and their holders are included in an international registry.

The material for all trainings in Cyprus is exactly the same as the material for American trainings. Students have access to the material (videos, books, notes) in both English and Greek. The quality is ensured by faithful translations of the material into Greek, which are included in the tuition.

Sports science and exercise science are rapidly developing. Exercise professionals are called upon to practice on the basis of the latest scientific findings and the latest knowledge. NASM continually updates its materials and training manuals, and students have access to its training platform for up to five years after certification.

NASM trainings and certifications are aimed at professionals and people with relevance in sports science. In addition, they provide models for assessing, planning and re-evaluating practitioners and athletes of all levels, which are taught directly. The basis of the certifications is the OPT model (Optimum Performance Model) which acts as the backbone of the three basic trainings. Therefore, rather than tiers that other certification companies have (which often hide additional costs until completion) NASM offers an educational pathway, starting with the healthy population, to performance athletes, and moving on to special populations that require tailored approaches.