Beware the Personal Fitness Trainer Certification class offered by AAI / ISMA that is instructed by Joe Cannon. The guy is a sham, as is the organization he is a part of, and the entire class is an attempt to defraud people who are only interested in helping others through learning and becoming certified as a Personal Trainer.
Before I ever drove up to PA, I registered over the phone and paid AAI/ISMA with my credit card. The woman on the phone told me that the class itself was offered to train people and certify them in one day. I thought that this would be a wonderful fot for me, but I was wrong. So wrong.
When I pulled into the parking lot at the "La Crest Fitness Center" (really a run-down YMCA), I should have known what I was in for. However, I had already paid my money and decided to see it through. The "class" was held in a fitness room with a bunch of old, filthy desks scattered here and there. Joe Cannon showed up late, after we had been waiting for over 20 minutes and told the class that he had been stuck in "traffic." He then started into his "lesson" which was really just reading his notes. After about twenty minutes, he then instructed everyone with a AAI / ISMA training certificate who was there to renew their certificate to raise their hands. He then told them they were free to go and that their certificates had been renewed. I couldn't believe that. These people had learned NOTHING new before being allowed to renew their certificates!
Just to cut to the chase, the class was from 9 am to 5 pm and was supposed to train the class in the following disciplines: Muscle Anatomy and Physiology; Designing Strength Conditioning Programs; Reps, Sets, Loads and periodization; Fitness Assessment 1& 2 and finally, Cardio Conditioning for Personal Trainers. We did ONLY Muscle Anatomy, a little information on strength training and that is it. The test which followed the class consisted of ONE HUNDRED multiple choice questions and we had ONE HOUR to complete it. There were several pages of the test where we were supposed to diagram muscle groups, proper weightlifting form, etc., etc. And Joe Cannon told us just to skip those. Why? BECAUSE HE SKIPPED TEACHING US THAT INFORMATION!
I took the test and guess what? I did not pass. Joe sent me an email a few weeks later letting me know that I did not pass, but that I could take the test again, up to three times in a calendar year, all for only $30 a test. Isn't that nice? I asked to see my test and Joe said that was impossible. I asked him why and he said he was too busy. I asked him to fax me a copy and he stated again that he was too busy. Sound fishy to you?
This class is a sham, the instructor, Joe Cannon, is a joke and AAI / ISMA should be avoided like the plague. If you have any intentions of doing what I did and trying to accomplish what AAI / ISMA says is possible (i.E. Taking the class and becoming certified in one day) forget it. Save your money. These guys are running a scam and don't let them get you.
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