Senior Fitness Specialist (NASM-SFS)

Chapter 1: Introduction to Senior Fitness
The Senior Fitness Specialization (SFS) is a comprehensive program for fitness professionals delivered in an immersive online experience that combines current evidence-based information on the physiological and psychological considerations of aging, assessment strategies for the older adult, exercise progressions, and program design considerations for the older client.

Chapter 2: Scope of Practice
In this chapter, you'll examine the scope of practice for Senior Fitness Specialists and understand their role in the healthcare continuum.

Chapter 3: Physical and Physiological Considerations of Aging
You'll understand the physiological changes that occur in the nervous system and the cardiorespiratory system as people age. Learn how the musculoskeletal system changes with age and understand safety concerns.

Chapter 4: Psychological Considerations of Aging
In this chapter, you'll learn age-related influences on the quality of life, emotional well-being, and self-perception for the older adult client. You'll also understand the psychosocial effects that exercise can have.

Chapter 5: Fitness Assessments for the Active Older Adult
This chapter will help you understand the components of an integrated assessment to be used with older adults. Learn how to conduct a screening process and interpret the data to reveal health risks. Utilize several different assessments to enable successful behavior change, physiological and functional fitness improvement.

Chapter 6: Flexibility Guidelines for Active Older Adults
This chapter discusses the rationale for flexibility training. Learn to safely progress an older adult through flexibility training and apply appropriate acute variables when performing flexibility training with older adults.

Chapter 7: Cardiorespiratory Training Guidelines for Active Older Adults
You'll get an understanding of cardiorespiratory training and how to safely assist older adults through it. Find out how to apply the FITTE principles when performing this type of training.

Chapter 8: Core, Balance, and Plyometric Training Guidelines for Active Older Adults
This section explains the epidemiology of falls and importance for fall prevention programming in older adults. Learn different core, balance and reactive trainings to help prevent the risk of falls.

Chapter 9: Resistance Training Guidelines for Active Older Adults
In this chapter, you'll learn the adaptations that occur during the stabilization-endurance, strength-endurance, muscular hypertrophy, maximal strength, and power phases on the Optimum Performance Training (OPT™) Model. Know how to use appropriate resistance training exercises based on the different levels of the OPT™ Model.

Chapter 10: Program Design for the Active Older Adult
This chapter will help you define and describe the acute training variables within each phase of the Optimum Performance Training (OPT™) Model. Be familiar with the physiological considerations when designing cardiorespiratory and resistance training programs for older adult clients.

Chapter 11: Common Medical Conditions and Programming Modifications
Be able to determine various chronic conditions and comorbidities associated with active older adults. Understand how medical conditions affect the body and be able to outline exercise recommendations for those with chronic conditions and comorbidities.

Chapter 12: Nutrition Guidelines and Considerations for Active Older Adults
You'll understand the caloric requirements, guidelines and considerations for macronutrient consumption for older client health. Explain proper micronutrient considerations and determine nutrition guidelines for them.

Chapter 13: Professional and Business Development
In this chapter, you'll learn the legal requirements when working as a personal trainer and NASM's Code of Professional Conduct. Develop a plan of action to best market services.

You will have 365 days from the date of enrollment to take your final exam, which consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. There is a time limit of 90 minutes, and you must pass with a 70% or higher. You will have 3 attempts to pass, but additional retests can be purchased by calling Member Services.

It's important for fitness professionals to understand their scope of practice. As a Senior Fitness Specialist, you will be able to perform individualized assessments and design safe, scientifically based exercise programs for older adults. You'll be able to provide older adults with advice about healthy lifestyle choices and help them improve their quality of life, while knowing when to refer them to a qualified healthcare practitioner.

NASM-SFS is approved for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by the following organizations:

• NASM 1.6 CEU’s
• AFAA 16 CEU’s

You will have 1 year from the day of enrollment to take your final exam. An extension can be purchased by calling Member Services.

No, you do not need to renew your NASM Senior Fitness Specialization. Once you pass your final exam, your NASM-SFS specialization certificate never expires.

Don't worry! You'll have 3 attempts to pass the final exam, and you can purchase additional retests by calling Member Services.

While a fitness certification or specialization is recommended, it is not required to take the Senior Fitness Specialization program.

The final exam is administered online within your student portal. It consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and 90 minutes for completion. You must score a 70% or higher to pass and you will have 3 attempts.