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YES

Youth Exercise Specialization

Leave your mark on the world by helping young people get fit. This specialization prepares you to motivate and train children and teenagers, giving them the foundation of knowledge and habits they’ll need to live an active, healthy lifestyle.

  • Change the lives of young people by motivating them to live an active life

  • Learn how to safely modify exercise and nutritional recommendations for youth ages 6-19

  • Expand your fitness business by working with an entirely new demographic

  • Self-paced online program makes it easy and convenient to launch your new career from home in as little as 2-4 weeks

  • CEU Value: 1.0 NASM

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Working with youth clients provides an unparalleled opportunity to change lives by preparing them with the knowledge and habits they’ll need to live a long, healthy life. In this specialization, you’ll learn the important differences between adult and youth clients and how to adjust your training for a younger client base. Includes chapters on cardiorespiratory training, resistance training, plyometric training, and much more!

When you choose NASM for your Youth Exercise Specialization, you’ll get access to:

  • • World-class fitness & nutrition experts.

  • • Peer-reviewed content from the brightest minds in the industry.

  • • State-of-the-art digital learning platform designed to meet multiple learning styles.

  • • A curriculum that is consistently reviewed and updated with the most up-to-date material available.

See the full Youth Exercise Specialization curriculum here.

NASM’s online program makes earning your Youth Exercise Specialization as easy and convenient as can be. By completing the self-guided study materials at your own pace, you can begin working with clients in as little as 2-4 weeks.

To earn your NASM Youth Exercise Specialization, you simply have to:

  1. 1) Register in the NASM YES program.

  2. 2) Complete the self-guided online study materials in your own time from the comfort of home.

  3. 3) Pass the certification exam.

After completing the study materials, you’ll take an online exam to earn your Youth Exercise Specialization. This exam features:

  • • 60 multiple-choice questions

  • • 90 minutes to complete

  • • Open-book format

  • • 70% required to pass

  • • 3 test attempts included

NASM has over 35 years of experience training the world’s top fitness professionals, and we do it better than anyone else. NASM credentials stand out to employers and distinguish you as a highly trained fitness professional.

Since our formation, we’ve trained over 1.5 million fitness professionals in 100+ countries. In that time we’ve developed extensive partnerships with over 12,000 gyms and health clubs. That means we have the connections necessary to help you get in the door and gain employment from the fitness company of your dreams.

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CURRICULUM

There are no prerequisites for this course. Although the course is primarily intended for personal trainers, fitness coaches, nutrition coaches and other fitness/health professionals, there is no requirement that you be one to take the course.

Chapter 1: Rationale for Youth Fitness Training
This chapter will provide a better understanding of the different terms that identify the youth population, the difference between overweight and obesity, and be able to describe why so many youths are overweight.

Chapter 2: Anatomical and Physiological Considerations for Youth
Understand the key physiological differences between children, adolescents, and adults.

Chapter 3: Psychological Considerations for Youth
Self-perceptions and self-belief help the youth be successful in a fitness program. Provide young clients with tools and strategies to help better adapt activities and habits in pursuance of a fitness goals.

Chapter 4: Fitness Assessment for Youth
Be able to recognize the expectations for health and fitness professionals. Understand the special considerations for test administration in youth.

Chapter 5: Youth Flexibility Guidelines
Understand and provide general exercise guidelines and various flexibility options for youth.

Chapter 6: Cardiorespiratory Training for Youth
Understand and develop general cardiorespiratory training guidelines and programs for youth.

Chapter 7: Core and Balance Training Guidelines for Youth
Determine the appropriate core and balance exercise programs that are safe, effective, and fun for youth based on the OPT™ Model.

Chapter 8: Plyometric, Speed, Agility, and Quickness Training for Youth
Understand the importance of plyometric and speed, agility, and quickness training (SAQ) for youth. Determine appropriate exercises to incorporate into a youth programs based on the OPT™ Model.

Chapter 9: Resistance Training for Youth
Design and implement a safe, effective, and progressive resistance training program for youth, as well as eliminate myths about the safety of youth engaging in resistance training.

Chapter 10: Integrated Program Design for Youth Clients
Be able to define cardiorespiratory stage training, the principles behind each stage, and how each stage fits into the OPT™ Model.

Chapter 11: Nutrition for Youth
Recognize the current trends of youth eating habits while understanding the effects of obesity on their population. Understand nutrition recommendations and basic fluid intake guidelines for youth.

Chapter 12: Professional Development
Understand the legal and ethical responsibilities related to a health and fitness professional working with youth.

After the completion of the course, you will take an online final exam from the comfort of your own home, or wherever you prefer to take tests. The exam has 60 questions with a time limit of 90 minutes. To pass, you need a score of 70% or higher. Don’t fret though, if you score below that, you have up to 3 attempts to pass.

Youth Exercise Specialization FAQs

As one of the most trusted sources of fitness training certifications in the world, NASM is a distinguished name that will stand out to fitness employers. When you choose NASM for your Youth Exercise Specialization, you’ll get access to world-class fitness experts, your top choice of gyms to work for, and much more:

  • • Peer-Reviewed Content from the Brightest Minds in the Industry

  • • State-of-the-Art Digital Learning Platform

  • • Programs Designed to Meet Multiple Learning Styles

  • • 35+ Years Of Experience Training Fitness Professionals

  • • 1.5M+ Fitness Professionals Trained

  • • 100+ Countries with NASM Fitness and Coach Professionals

  • • 12K+ Gym & Health Club Partnerships

A fitness credential is recommended, but not required, for the Youth Exercise Specialization.

You can complete your Youth Exercise Specialization in as few as 2-4 weeks. In addition to its interactive multimedia-rich content, learning tools, and other resources, you can also receive assistance from NASM experts when questions arise.

Absolutely! You can complete the Youth Exercise Specialization while also working full-time. The study material is 100% online and self-paced, and can be accessed on a computer, or a mobile device such as a phone or tablet.

The Youth Exercise Specialization final exam is taken online inside your student portal. You'll have 365 days from the date of purchase, to study and complete the exam. This exam features:

  • • 60 multiple-choice questions

  • • 90 minutes to complete

  • • Open-book format

  • • 70% required to pass

  • • 3 test attempts included

Don’t worry! You’ll have 3 attempts to pass the final exam, and you can purchase additional retests by calling Member Services at 1-800-460-6276.

No. Once you pass the final exam, your Youth Exercise Specialization with NASM will never expire.

If you have any additional questions about this course, check out the NASM FAQ page or contact us today 1-800-460-6276!