What to look for in a personal trainer

I was browsing through some articles on Mensfitness.com and Menshealth.com and I came across an interesting article, essentially outlining some things to look for in a personal trainer. I decided to do some more research (gotta love Google!) and here are some of the common themes:

1) Which certification does the trainer have? According to the article I read, there are over 400 agencies through which you can become certified, most of them after only a few minutes of reading and taking a test...online! There are 3 or 4 reputable certifications available: the American College of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, National Academy of Sports Medicine, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. These are the top agencies that are rated and approved by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA). This agency reviews other agencies and foundations/associations and ensures that they are up to par and provide a safe and reliable accreditation. If you belong to a gym, the front desk should have access to the trainer's certificates. If you are working with a trainer at home, ask them to bring a copy of it. If they are not certified, a BS in Exercise Science or Exercise Physiology will also suffice.

2) Is the trainer insured? Whether at a gym or at home, ALL trainers MUST be insured!!! As a trainer, having insurance is equivalent to having full-coverage insurance on your car. The most basic policy is $1MM per incident and $2MM per year. However, depending on the number of clients and where the training is taking place, the trainer could hold more insurance coverage, but this basic amount is MANDATORY!!!

3) Did they ask you questions? The trainer should never jump into a workout immediately...NEVER!!! The first session should be the trainer asking you questions about your medical history and asking you what goals you have in mind. Next, a basic evaluation should take place: resting heart rate, height, weight, body fat percentage and maybe physical fitness test.

4) This isn't a question but more of something to look for: you should not look better than your trainer!! I'm not saying every trainer should be jacked with massive muscles but if the trainer is getting winded demonstrating the exercises, there's a problem!!

These are a few things to ask and look for in a trainer. If you have any other questions or comments, ask away!!