Fitness Trainer
The Fitness Trainer program at Clark is a 90-credit (2-year) program. Upon completion of the program requirements, students will earn an Associate in Applied Science degree. Fitness Training is an emerging profession within the health care industry in the field of preventive medicine. Fitness Trainers have the opportunity to make a positive difference in people's health and quality of life. Students will develop knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for working with clients who are interested in improving their health through fitness. Coursework will include theory and practical application courses related to fitness training.

In order to progress from one course or quarter to the next, students enrolled in the Clark College Fitness Trainer program must earn at least a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C average) for their General Education classes, and a 2.0 or higher in each Fitness Trainer Specialty class. Fitness Trainer Specialty classes have limited seats available.

Students who are interested in this program should refer to the Fitness Trainer website at www.clark.edu/fitnesstrainer and follow the direction given on the "Get Started" page (right-hand menu item).

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Communicate exercise-science related principles at levels appropriate to both clients and professional peers.
  • Use appropriate strategies to motivate clients to adopt healthier behaviors.
  • Design fitness plans for healthy adults, special populations (e.g., pregnant women, elderly, those with chronic diseases, etc.), and performance-oriented clients (e.g., those training to better perform a sport) utilizing appropriate principles of safe and effective exercise prescription.
  • Design fitness-related assessments on clients.
  • Effectively instruct clients how to perform safe and effective exercise technique.
  • Exhibit a foundation of professional and business-related skills necessary for becoming a personal trainer.
  • Be prepared for a nationally accredited Fitness Trainer certification exam.
Students who complete the Fitness Trainer program at Clark College may choose to continue on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Concordia University in Portland or from Central Washington University. Please see a faculty advisor for additional information about transfer options and requirements.

For information regarding the application process, preliminary requirements, and final admission process, please refer to www.clark.edu/fitnesstrainer online.
Fitness Trainer (AAS)
General Education Requirements
Communication Skills (6 credits required)
ENGL&101
ENGLISH COMPOSITION I
5 cr.
BUS 211
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
3 cr.
or ENGL&102
ENGLISH COMPOSITION II
5 cr.
or ENGL 109
WRITING ABOUT THE SCIENCES
5 cr.
Health & Physical Education (3 credits required)
HPE 258
FITNESS-WELLNESS
3 cr.
Computational Skills (3 credits required)
MATH 090
ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA
5 cr.
or MATH 091
ALGEBRA II
5 cr.
Human Relations (3 credits required)
 
CMST&210
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION *
5 cr.
Humanities (3 credits required)
 
Social Sciences (3 credits required)
PSYC&100
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
5 cr.
or PSYC&200
LIFESPAN PSYCHOLOGY
5 cr.
Natural Sciences (3 credits required)
BIOL 164
HUMAN BIOLOGY **
4 cr.
BIOL 165
HUMAN BIOLOGY LAB **
1 cr.
Major Area Requirements
FT 101
FITNESS TRAINER SEMINAR
1 cr.
FT 151
FITNESS CENTER SKILLS
2 cr.
FT 152
FLEXIBILITY, POSTURE AND CORE
2 cr.
FT 153
EXERCISE TECHNIQUES
2 cr.
FT 154
POWER DEVELOPMENT
2 cr.
or FT 155
GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR (offered Summer Quarter)
2 cr.
FT 200
NUTRITION FOR FITNESS
3 cr.
FT 210
WELLNESS COACHING
3 cr.
FT 220
FACILITY MANAGEMENT
3 cr.
FT 230
FITNESS TESTING
3 cr.
FT 250
STRUCTURAL KINESIOLOGY
3 cr.
FT 251
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
4 cr.
FT 260
EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION I-HEALTHY POPULATIONS
5 cr.
FT 261
EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION II-SPECIAL POPULATIONS
5 cr.
FT 262
EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION III-PERFORMANCE TRAINING
4 cr.
FT 270
PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS OF FITNESS TRAINING
3 cr.
FT 275
FITNESS TRAINING INTERNSHIP
4 cr.
FT 290
SPECIAL PROJECTS (1 credit required)
1-5 cr.
FT 299
FINAL SKILL ASSESSMENT
1 cr.
HLTH 100
FOOD AND YOUR HEALTH
2 cr.
PE 291
CARE AND PREVENTION OF ATHLETIC INJURIES
3 cr.
Additional Major Area Requirements
Elective(s)***
3 cr.
Total Required Credits: 90-92
* CMST&210 fulfills Humanities and Human Relations requirements.
** BIOL& 251, 252, and 253 can substitute for BIOL 164/165.
*** Suggested Electives (can be taken any quarter) - any Health, HPE, PE, Business or Management courses.
Program Outcomes
Program outcomes are overarching skills that are emphasized and reinforced throughout several courses in a specific program; they are measurable statements that define what students should be able to do by the end of a certificate or degree at Clark College.
  • Communicate exercise-science related principles at levels appropriate to both clients and to professional peers.
  • Use appropriate strategies to motivate clients to adopt healthier behaviors.
  • Perform health- and fitness-related assessments on clients.
  • Design fitness plans for healthy adults, special populations, and performance-oriented clients utilizing appropriate principles of safe and effective exercise prescription.
  • Effectively instruct clients how to perform safe and effective exercise technique.
  • Exhibit a foundation of professional and business-related skills necessary for becoming a personal trainer.
  • Successfully complete all criteria necessary for a nationally accredited Fitness Trainer certification exam.
  • Prepare to be a competent entry-level Personal Fitness Trainers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (abilities) learning domains.
General Education Outcomes
  • Communications: Communicate with various audiences using a variety of methods as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Human Relations: Demonstrate interpersonal/human relations skills as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Computational Skills: Solve quantitative problems and interpret the solutions as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Health and PE: Demonstrate progress toward healthier behaviors as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Humanities: Analyze, interpret, and evaluate works and ideas in the Humanities within appropriate global and historical contexts as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Social Science: Evaluate, analyze, and explain events, behaviors, and institutions using perspectives and methods in the Social Sciences as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
  • Science: Apply fundamental principles and relationships from the Natural Sciences to solve problems as appropriate for a career and technical education program.
Group Fitness Instructor (CERT)
The Fitness Trainer Program's Group Fitness Instructor Certificate of Completion program prepares students with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to become group fitness instructors. Students completing the program may take the ACE™ Group Fitness Instructor certification exam that is hosted at Clark College shortly after completing the program requirements listed below.
Major Area Requirements
FT 150
FUNDAMENTALS OF FITNESS
3 cr.
or FT 260
EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION I-HEALTHY POPULATIONS
5 cr.
FT 155
GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR
2 cr.
HLTH 120
ADULT CPR AND FIRST AID
1 cr.
or FT 220
FACILITY MANAGEMENT
3 cr.
Total Required Credits: 6-10
Program Outcomes
Program outcomes are overarching skills that are emphasized and reinforced throughout several courses in a specific program; they are measurable statements that define what students should be able to do by the end of a certificate or degree at Clark College.
  • Apply appropriate skills as a group fitness instructor.
  • Successfully complete all criteria necessary for a nationally accredited Fitness Trainer certification exam.
  • Apply basic principles of fitness.