Online Certificate in
Fitness Business Management
The Online Professional Certificate in Fitness Business Management
is an interactive, comprehensive Web-based Certificate program with an
optional field internship elective course. It is designed as a
“one-of-a-kind” Program that teaches students how to manage a Personal
Training Program &/or Fitness Department as a Strategic Business
Unit (S.B.U.). This Program will provide students with a reality-based
framework and practical training skills necessary to prepare
certificate graduates to work as a Fitness Manager in both commercial
and non-commercial based health clubs in either the United States
&/or overseas. Specific learning topics include fitness
management, marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, personnel management,
customer service, and business administration concepts.
For your convenience, students may register and complete the certificate programs in two different formats:
1. Start and End Date Format - Click Here to Register
Additional Information
For your convenience, students may register and complete the certificate programs in two different formats:
1. Start and End Date Format - Click Here to Register
- The certificate is offered in a traditional college format with courses offered with specific start and end dates. This format is preferred by students that need to have structured assignment due dates.
- Courses are 5 to 6 weeks in length and are offered year-round, in the Spring, Summer, and Fall semester (the yearly schedule is presented below under Additional Information).
- Students may elect to take two courses at a time as the program has been designed or one at a time if your schedule does not permit the extra course work.
- The certificate is offered in a self-paced format. This format is preferred by students that would like to complete the courses at their own pace and without specific assignment due dates.
- With Open Enrollment, you can register whenever you like and pay for the entire program at once. Once logged into the program, you have six (6) full months to complete all the required courses to receive the certificate.
Additional Information
Click here to view the yearly course schedule-Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Click here to review a detailed Start-End Date Certificate Program Fact Sheet.
Click here for a list of CECs/CEUs
This program is offered in partnership with IDEA Health & Fitness Association, Health Club Managers, Inc., and Personal Fitness Professional (PFP).
Course 1: Business Development and Entrepreneurship in Fitness
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
This course examines the planning process for starting a new venture, as well as the most common approaches to develop a strategic business plan for specific types of health and fitness-related facilities. The course presents the skill-sets and competencies that the fitness manager needs in order to be a successful entrepreneur, owner, or department head. Studies of topics include planning policies and procedures, entrepreneurship, business plan development, budget formulation, and strategic planning. (ACSM, 50.0. ISSA, 10.0. NCSF, 10.0. NFPT 1.0. NSPA, 2.0. HFPA, 30.0. SFA 2.0. State of IL - Advanced Practice Nurse, 20.0).
Course 2: Financial Principles and Business Concepts
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
This course provides an introduction to financial and managerial accounting concepts, revenue and budgetary procedures, and the financial status necessary to be a successful business entity in the fitness industry. Topics include fee structures, financial impact analysis, price setting strategies, financial forecasting, and the relationship between financial analysis and strategic business planning. The course examines additional business concepts including purchasing, contractual agreements, risk management and negligence, technology issues, and other fiscal concerns. (ACSM, 50.0. ISSA, 10.0. NCSF, 10.0. NFPT 1.0. NSPA, 2.0. HFPA, 30.0. SFA 2.0. State of IL - Advanced Practice Nurse, 20.0).
Course 3: Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service Management (CSM)
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of how successful marketing and branding guides a company’s business strategy and influences, discovers, and creates a demand for fitness services and products. Examination of the elements of the marketing mix as they pertain to the fitness enterprise include sales and service management strategies, customer relationship management methods, and sales techniques in fitness. (ACSM, 50.0. ISSA, 10.0. NCSF, 10.0. NFPT 1.0. NSPA, 2.0. HFPA, 30.0. SFA 2.0. State of IL - Advanced Practice Nurse, 20.0).
Course 4: Fitness Management and Business Administration
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
This course provides an examination of the organization and administration of for profit and not-for-profit health/fitness facilities, with emphasis on business management principles and operational concepts, including organizational structure, facility management, industry standards and guidelines, personnel management, and management practices. The course helps the fitness manager develop leadership skills, managerial or administrative skills, and interpersonal or human skills. The course is supplemented by the analysis and review of fitness management situations through observations and case studies. (ACSM, 50.0. ISSA, 10.0. NCSF, 10.0. NFPT 1.0. NSPA, 2.0.HFPA. 30.0. SFA 2.0. State of IL - Advanced Practice Nurse, 20.0).
Course 5: Optional Elective-Field Internship in Fitness Business Management
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
Prerequisite: 4 Core Courses
NOTE: This course is an optional course and is not required to receive the Professional Certificate. Learn to work with professionals in the fitness and health industry for a Fitness Management experience interning at fitness facilities and health centers. Students intern for 60 total hours in this course.
Click here to review a detailed Start-End Date Certificate Program Fact Sheet.
Click here for a list of CECs/CEUs
This program is offered in partnership with IDEA Health & Fitness Association, Health Club Managers, Inc., and Personal Fitness Professional (PFP).
Certificate Course Descriptions
Course 1: Business Development and Entrepreneurship in Fitness
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
This course examines the planning process for starting a new venture, as well as the most common approaches to develop a strategic business plan for specific types of health and fitness-related facilities. The course presents the skill-sets and competencies that the fitness manager needs in order to be a successful entrepreneur, owner, or department head. Studies of topics include planning policies and procedures, entrepreneurship, business plan development, budget formulation, and strategic planning. (ACSM, 50.0. ISSA, 10.0. NCSF, 10.0. NFPT 1.0. NSPA, 2.0. HFPA, 30.0. SFA 2.0. State of IL - Advanced Practice Nurse, 20.0).
Course 2: Financial Principles and Business Concepts
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
This course provides an introduction to financial and managerial accounting concepts, revenue and budgetary procedures, and the financial status necessary to be a successful business entity in the fitness industry. Topics include fee structures, financial impact analysis, price setting strategies, financial forecasting, and the relationship between financial analysis and strategic business planning. The course examines additional business concepts including purchasing, contractual agreements, risk management and negligence, technology issues, and other fiscal concerns. (ACSM, 50.0. ISSA, 10.0. NCSF, 10.0. NFPT 1.0. NSPA, 2.0. HFPA, 30.0. SFA 2.0. State of IL - Advanced Practice Nurse, 20.0).
Course 3: Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service Management (CSM)
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of how successful marketing and branding guides a company’s business strategy and influences, discovers, and creates a demand for fitness services and products. Examination of the elements of the marketing mix as they pertain to the fitness enterprise include sales and service management strategies, customer relationship management methods, and sales techniques in fitness. (ACSM, 50.0. ISSA, 10.0. NCSF, 10.0. NFPT 1.0. NSPA, 2.0. HFPA, 30.0. SFA 2.0. State of IL - Advanced Practice Nurse, 20.0).
Course 4: Fitness Management and Business Administration
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
This course provides an examination of the organization and administration of for profit and not-for-profit health/fitness facilities, with emphasis on business management principles and operational concepts, including organizational structure, facility management, industry standards and guidelines, personnel management, and management practices. The course helps the fitness manager develop leadership skills, managerial or administrative skills, and interpersonal or human skills. The course is supplemented by the analysis and review of fitness management situations through observations and case studies. (ACSM, 50.0. ISSA, 10.0. NCSF, 10.0. NFPT 1.0. NSPA, 2.0.HFPA. 30.0. SFA 2.0. State of IL - Advanced Practice Nurse, 20.0).
Course 5: Optional Elective-Field Internship in Fitness Business Management
Instructor: Ken Baldwin, M.ED, ACSM-H/FI
Prerequisite: 4 Core Courses
NOTE: This course is an optional course and is not required to receive the Professional Certificate. Learn to work with professionals in the fitness and health industry for a Fitness Management experience interning at fitness facilities and health centers. Students intern for 60 total hours in this course.