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Non-Credit Courses and Certificates

Personal Fitness Trainer

Ideal for

those ready to enter a fun and energetic profession!  We offer a number of programs to help get your fitness career off and running!  To be successful in a fitness and wellbeing career, you will need a passion for a healthy lifestyle and the knowledge and skill to support others in their quest for the same.

Program Overview

Whether for a career move or your own personal knowledge, get all the information you need to become a Certified Personal Trainer. This challenging Personal Fitness Brochure course will prepare you for the World Instructor Training School (WITS) certification exam.  WITS is an international fitness certifying body that is known and respected by fitness experts and employers. The program is approved by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

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Being prepared for this challenging course is an important factor in your ability to succeed as a Personal Trainer.  This course requires reading, studying, and written testing as well as physical skills competency validation.

Personal Fitness Brochure

Why A Career In Personal Training & How In-Person Practical Skill Labs Puts You Ahead In The Job Market!   Register Here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5914668203817392222

W.I.T.S. Personal Fitness Certification 

PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINER: 

TEXT BOOK INFORMATION:

An e-book is included for course with no extra cost to the student. The link will be sent to you prior to the start of class from Cindy Tolin, Program Coordinator.

However, if you prefer a hard copy of the text you will need to purchase that on your own.

You may call 888-330-9487 to order

Fitness Professional's Handbook 8th edition. ISBN-13: 9781718217836 or click here: Textbook Link     Amazon may also have it.

FALL 2024

Registration-Apply Here or Call 203-575-8029

Fax: (203)-575-8243

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 U.S. Mail: CT State Community College-Naugatuck Valley

Non-credit Registration-F323 750 Chase Parkway Waterbury, CT 06708

Call: 203-575-8029 today to get registered!

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Program Coordinator:

Cynthia Tolin

Non-Credit/Workforce

Personal Fitness Trainer Certification

This challenging course is for candidates wanting LIVE instruction with in-depth, hands-on practical labs to master the career skills & knowledge.  Your veteran teacher will share all the do’s and don’ts in working with clients. You will learn key topics including biomechanics, exercise physiology, fitness testing, equipment usage, and health assessment as you participate in classroom and hands-on practical training in our Waterbury Campus fitness center. This personal trainer course is a great way to prepare for the national exam.  36 hours

Senior Fitness Specialist Certificate - Online

This certification is for health and fitness professionals wanting to gain knowledge, training, and competency to assess fitness levels, design fitness programs and provide motivating exercise instruction for older adults. This course is a great addition to your knowledge base and allows you the opportunity to learn the proper exercise techniques, stretching, programming and safety needed for your older adult clients.

Prerequisite - Student's must have a health related bachelor's degree or be a certified personal trainer to enroll.

Fitness Business Management - Online

Learn how to successfully manage a personal training program or health fitness department as a strategic business unit (SBU) while earning a certificate in this innovative management program.  Complete core learning online and gain valuable experience in the field by adding an optional field internship.  Upon completion, you'll be prepared for a career in health clubs, wellness centers, personal training studios, physical therapy clinics, YMCAs, JCCs, college/university centers or recreational settings. Online/self-paced.  200 hours/6 months

Introduction to Natural Healing - Online

Learn how to promote wellness, balance, and health in all aspects of your daily life. Discover how true health depends upon wholeness of the mind, body, and spirit. Explore naturopathy and proper breathing techniques that enhance health. Examine using the power of the mind for healing the body; delve into vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, free radicals, and the basic requirements that constitute a healthy diet. Herbal healing, aromatherapy, body therapies, massage techniques, osteopathy, chiropractic, Tai Chi, reflexology, yoga, Feng Shui, and therapeutic touch will also be discussed. Online Format

Nutrition for Optimal Health, Wellness and Sports - Online

This nationally recognized online program has been designed to meet the growing demand of allied health/medical professionals, Registered Dieticians, fitness professionals, personal trainers, and the general public who want to learn about developing individulized nutritional programs for clients, patients, or personal improvement. This innovative and comprehensive Web-based certificate program provides an in-depth examination of contemporary nutritional topics such as meal plan analysis, functional food implementation, antioxidants, public nutrition, sports nutrition, vitamin supplementation, and weight management.  Online

Yoga- Philosophy and Practice

This course investigates the philosophy of yoga, its origins, and its place in our contemporary lives. It teaches the different aspects of yoga and areas of study that encompass the foundational principles of the discipline. Students will learn the basic poses as well as meditation and breathing techniques. 45 hours

Stress Management Certificate - Online

Explore the physiological, social, and psychological impacts of stress and study the modalities to get stress under control. Examine the relationship between stress and health, nutrition, and physical activity; and discover how stress can develop in the workplace. Trace both the psychological effects of stress, and understand how stress affects health and wellbeing. Learn about the different therapies that can help reduce stress, including how healthy living habits-such as exercise and diet- can help counteract the negative impact of stress.

Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers

In this classroom-based course, health care professionals learn to recognize several life-threatening emergencies, provide CPR to victims of all ages, use an automated electronic defibrillator (AED), and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner.  Participants who successfully complete the written exam and skills validation will receive an American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers certification card, valid for two years. This course meets most health care employers' requirements for formal BLS evaluation and meets the requirements for many health care education programs, including those at NVCC. 

Degree and Certificate Credit Programs

Related Degree and Certificate Programs that may interest you.

  • Business Management A.S.
  • General Studies A.S.
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences A.A.
  • Physical Therapy Assistant A.S.
  • Business Management Certificate

Learn about Payment Options and How to register on this page.

Important Information

  • You must be 18 year of age.
  • A high school diploma or GED is  strongly recommended and is often required by employers for Certified Personal Trainer. 
  • Textbooks and Educational Materials: 
    • An e-book is included for course with no extra cost to the student. The link will be sent to you prior to the start of class from Cindy Tolin, Program Coordinator.

      However, if you prefer a hard copy of the text you will need to purchase that on your own.

      You may call 888-330-9487 to order: 

      Fitness Professional's Handbook 8th edition. ISBN-13: 9781718217836 or click here: Textbook Link     Amazon may also have it.

  • Basic Life Support (CPR/AED) certification is required for Personal Trainer Certification. NVCC offers Basic Life Support courses to fulfill the CPR/AED certification  requirement for WITS National Personal Trainer Certification. Access BLS schedule here.
  • Refund Policy, Changes and Cancellations: Withdrawal and refund requests must be received three business days (72 hours) prior to the beginning of class unless stated otherwise in the course description. Refunds are not granted after this deadline. Telephone: 203-575-8029 Fax: 203-575-8243 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mail: Non-Credit Refunds, Founders Hall Room F323, Naugatuck Valley Community College, 750 Chase Pkwy., Waterbury, CT 06708 If there is a course cancellation due to insufficient enrollment, students will be notified by phone, mail and/or email. Please make sure when registering that your contact information is up-to-date. We would like to offer you the opportunity to transfer to another section, if available, or to another class of your choosing. If we have not heard from you within 7 business days, a refund will automatically be processed. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing. The person registered in our records system is the person who will receive the refund. The College reserves the right to make changes to the information listed in this publication or to cancel courses due to insufficient enrollment or other reasonable causes. Full refund is made if the College cancels the course. 
  • College closings due to inclement weather: Closings are announced over local AM/ FM radio/TV stations, on the college website (nv.edu), on the college’s main phone line (203-575-8000) and a text message is sent to everyone who is registered through the myCommNetAlert System. Likewise, in the event of an early closing, the same communication will occur. If the college has a delayed opening, all classes that begin before the delayed opening time will not be held that day and will be rescheduled at another time. Danbury and off-site cancellations: If NVCC cancels or delays classes, this applies to Waterbury and Danbury Campuses as well as all off-site locations. 
  • Students with Special Needs-ADA: Students who may require academic adjustments on the basis of a disability are encouraged to contact the Counselor for Students with Disabilities (Vince McCann - 203-596-6808) at the Waterbury and Danbury Campuses. After providing documentation and completing the disability disclosure process, students are then encouraged to meet with their instructor(s) to discuss the adjustments approved by the appropriate disabilities contact and to complete the Adjustments Agreement form.  Students are therefore encouraged to meet with the Disabilities Counselor and their instructor(s) at the beginning of each semester.  Adjustments are not retroactive.   Instructors, in conjunction with appropriate college personnel, will provide assistance and/or adjustments only to those students who have completed the disability disclosure and academic adjustments process. 

Course Registration and Payment Plans

No formal application to the College is required for non-credit/workforce training courses.

Registrations are accepted on an ongoing basis for upcoming classes.

Ways to register

Call us: 203-575-8029 for information (Motorcycle registrations cannot be taken by phone)

Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

New Secure Fillable Format Workforce Development and Continuing Education Registration Form 

Fax: 203-575-8243 (secure line)

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mail and send with payment (checks or money order made out to NVCC only) to:

Office of Non-Credit Lifelong Learning Registration
Founders Hall, Room F323
750 Chase Parkway
Waterbury, CT 06708

Or stop by, we're happy to assist you!

Accepted Forms of Payment:



Money Orders or Checks

Mail-in registrations credit cards or checks only, Please do not mail cash!

Career Spotlight

Careers in fitness and wellbeing are in demand. The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) statistics note the average annual income as $44,938 and the entry level hourly rate as $11.48. Employment in this occupation is projected to grow faster than average and the number of annual job openings will offer excellent job opportunities. 

Personal Trainers must combine a unique set of knowledge and skills.  You will be teacher, coach, mentor, and leader in a growing industry.  The CTDOL provides additional career information at: Personal Trainer Career.

Personal Trainers work in a variety of settings from large gyms and small residential facilities to self-employment with a private client list.  Part-time and full time work is available.  Early morning and evening hours are often required as well as weekends and some holidays.