FREE Blueprint to launch your $100/hr PT business
SCROLL
CODE OF ETHICS
NCSF Certified Personal Trainers - as members of the Health profession, have ethical responsibilities to their employers, clients, society, as well as to other health professionals. The following ethical foundations for professional activities in the field of personal training and health promotion serve as a Code of Conduct for practicing professionals. The Code implements many of these foundations in the form of rules of ethical conduct. Non-compliance with the Code may affect an individual's initial or continuing status as a recognized certified professional by the National Council on Strength & Fitness Board for Certification.
01
The Trainer-Client
relationship
The welfare of the client is central to all considerations in the trainer-client relationship. Included in this relationship is the obligation of the trainer to respect the rights of clients, colleagues, and other health professionals. Trainers have an obligation to communicate only factual information and never misrepresent competency on any level particularly one that is outside the scope of the profession. Trainers must respect that the right of a client to make his/her own choices about his/her health activities is fundamental. The principle of justice requires strict avoidance of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or any other basis that would constitute illegal discrimination (justice).
02
Trainer Conduct
and Practice
The personal trainer should only deal honestly with clients and colleagues. This includes not misrepresenting himself or herself through any form of communication in an untruthful, misleading, or deceptive manner. Furthermore, maintenance of professional competence through study, application, and enhancement of health and fitness knowledge and skills is an obligation of the practicing personal trainer. All personal trainers certified by the NCSF are required to participate in, and report, continued learning. NCSF certified professionals are obligated to respond to evidence of questionable conduct or unethical behavior by any other NCSF member through appropriate procedures established by the NCSF Board for Certification.
03
Avoid conflict
of interest
Avoiding conflicts of interest: Potential conflicts of interest are inherent in the practice of the personal trainer.
Personal trainers are expected to recognize such situations and deal with them in accordance with the best interests of the client.
04
Professional Relations
The personal trainer should respect and cooperate with other personal trainers, fitness instructors, and allied health professionals.
Personal Trainers should not participate in activities of a professional nature, nor represent themselves as qualified to perform tasks, which are outside the scope of the personal trainer profession. NCSF certified professionals have an obligation to identify those individuals perpetrating acts that are professionally inappropriate.
05
Societal Responsibilities
The personal trainer has a continuing responsibility to society as a whole and should support and participate in activities that enhance the community. As a member of society, the personal trainer must respect the laws of that society. As professionals and representatives of the NCSF, personal trainers are required to uphold the dignity and honor of the profession and comply with professional standards of practice.
01
The Trainer-Client relationship
1. The Client-Trainer relationship is the central focus of all ethical concerns, and the welfare of the client should form the basis of all judgments.
​
2. The Trainer should serve the client by exercising all reasonable means to ensure that the most appropriate training, health and fitness recommendations are provided to the client.
​
3. The Client-Trainer relationship has an ethical basis and is built on confidentiality, trust, and honesty. The trainer must adhere to all applicable legal or contractual constraints while in the client-trainer relationship.
​
4. Sexual misconduct on the part of the trainer is an abuse of professional power and a violation of client trust. Sexual contact or a romantic relationship between a trainer and a current client is always unethical.
​
5. The trainer has an obligation to obtain the informed consent of each client. In obtaining informed consent for any course of physical measurement or activity, the trainer should present to the client, or to the person legally responsible for the client, in understandable terms, pertinent facts and recommendations consistent with good professional practice. Such information should include alternate modes of testing or physical activity and the objectives, risks, benefits, possible complications, and anticipated results of such activities or testing protocols.
​
6. It is unethical to recommend, refer, prescribe, provide, or seek compensation for therapies or products that are of no benefit to the client.
​
7. The trainer should respect the rights of clients, colleagues, and others and safeguard client information and confidences within the limits of the law. If during the process of providing information for consent it is known that results of a particular test or other information must be given to governmental authorities or other third parties, it should be identified and explained to the client.
​
8. The trainer should not discriminate against clients based on race, color, national origin, religion, or on any other basis that would constitute illegal discrimination. This being said, trainers should know their professional limitations and not engage in exercise prescription for clients with special needs that the trainer is not educated or trained to manage safely or effectively.
02
Trainer and Conduct Practice
1. The trainer should recognize the boundaries of his or her particular competencies and expertise, and provide only those services and use only those techniques for which he or she is qualified by education, training, or experience.
​
2. The trainer should participate in continuing education activities to maintain current scientific and professional knowledge relevant to the professional services he or she renders. The trainer should provide services involving new preventative therapies or training techniques only after undertaking appropriate training and study.
​
3. In any training environment, the trainer should exercise careful judgment and take appropriate precautions to protect the client's welfare with regards to equipment, facilities and environmental factors as well as evaluate the condition of the client before each training session to ensure the designated activities are appropriate for the client at the time of delivery.
​
4. The trainer should not publicize or represent himself or herself in any untruthful, misleading, or deceptive manner to clients, colleagues, other health-care professionals, or the public. This includes identifying oneself as certified if the certification credential was never designated by the NCSF Board for Certification or the date of certification has expired.
5. The trainer who has reason to believe that he or she is infected with the human immunodeficiency virus or other serious infectious agents that might be communicated to clients should voluntarily be tested for the protection of his or her clients. In making decisions about client evaluations, physical testing and training activities, a trainer infected with such an agent should adhere to the fundamental professional obligation to avoid harm to clients.
​
6. The trainer should not practice or attempt to provide professional services while impaired by alcohol, drugs of any kind, or physical or mental disability. The trainer who experiences substance abuse problems or who is physically or emotionally impaired should seek appropriate assistance to address these problems and limit his or her professional practice until the impairment no longer affects the quality of client service.
​
7. The trainer may not imply NCSF endorsement for commercial venture. Disclosure of affiliation and/or use of the initials NCSF, NCSF Board for Certification or NCSF-CPT are not to be made as part of a firm, partnership or corporate name. Disclosure in violation of this article may be grounds for disciplinary action.
03
Conflicts of Interest
1. Potential conflicts of interest are inherent in the field of health and fitness. Conflicts of interest should be resolved in accordance with the best interest of the client. If there is concern about a possibly significant conflict of interest, the trainer should disclose his or her concerns to the client.
If a conflict of interest cannot be resolved, the trainer should take steps to withdraw as a service provider for the client. If conflicts of interest are unresolved, the trainer should seek consultation with colleagues or an institutional ethics committee, or the NCSF Board for Certification’s Professional Practice and Disciplinary Committee.
2. Commercial promotions of fitness or health-related products and services may generate bias unrelated to product merit, creating, or appearing to create, inappropriate undue influence. The trainer should be aware of this potential conflict of interest and offer fitness advice that is as accurate, balanced, complete, and devoid of bias as possible.
​
3. The trainer should recommend nutritional modifications based solely upon published evidenced based findings and guidelines health considerations and client needs, regardless of any direct or indirect interests in or benefit from a supplement company or other supplier.
​
4. When the trainer receives anything of substantial value, including royalties, from companies in the health-fitness industry, such as a manufacturer of supplements and fitness devices, this fact should be disclosed to clients and colleagues when material.
04
Professional Relations
1. The trainer's relationships with other trainers, fitness directors, physicians, physical therapists, and other allied health professionals should reflect fairness, honesty, and integrity, sharing of mutual respect and concern for the client.
​
2. The trainer should consult, refer, or cooperate with other trainers, health professionals, and institutions to the extent necessary to serve the best interests of their clients.
3. The trainer should respect all laws, uphold the dignity and honor of the profession, and accept the profession's self-imposed discipline. The professional competence and conduct of trainers is best examined by professional associations and peer-review committees; active professionals should remain in good standard with these groups. These groups deserve the full participation and cooperation of the personal trainer.
​
4. The trainer should strive to address, through the appropriate procedures the status of those trainers who demonstrate questionable competence, impairment, or unethical or illegal behavior. In addition, the trainer should cooperate with appropriate authorities to prevent the continuation of such behavior.
NCSF Personal Trainer Certification Courses (Singapore)
Gurmit Singh
Celebrity
"I took this course simply to understand how I can better train my body. It’s beyond just lifting weights and hoping the muscles will grow! Absolutely enjoyed the course :)"
Jia En
Fitness Influencer
(@iamjiaen)
"Done with the Master of all PT Trainers. Such a funny & entertaining 2 days of practical!"
Kingsley Tay
National Volleyballer, Coach @ Revollve Volleyball Academy
"Very informative and engaging course that puts theory into practice. Khit is really knowledgeable and approachable which makes the course alot more enjoyable."
Dr Ooi Wei Seong
Cancer specialist
(Oncologist)
"Good range of topics covered, interactive class participation which is highly encouraging. Khit made the class enjoyable despite long sessions. Nutrition subject was well covered."
OUR REVIEWS
