CAWS Partners with NASM to bring NASM’s Certified Personal Trainer Qualification to the UK

Fitness education company CAWS has partnered with long-time, global training provider, NASM, to deliver the NASM Certified Personal Trainer Qualification (CPT) to the UK for the first time.

CAWS is an online fitness education company that creates original content, courses and curricula specific to the needs of fitness sector employers and Coaches. On occasion, CAWS collaborates with other brands and content creators to build education programmes, or make existing content more accessible or affordable for more Coaches and Personal Trainers. As Mel Spooner, CAWS Managing Director, explains: “When we do, we choose authentic, credible partners, with the reputation to back it up,”

NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) is an American fitness training provider that has offered the best in personal training qualifications for more than 30 years. The CPT is a globally recognised qualification for aspiring Coaches. Via a network of close international partners, more than 1 million Coaches have graduated the NASM CPT qualification during that time, who are amongst some of the top performing Coaches in the industry (as cited by employers).

Mark Mastrov, founder of New Evolution Ventures (NEV) and 24 Hour Fitness, shared: “I have seen firsthand the knowledge and experience NASM brings to the fitness industry. Their training methods are based on science and fact, not fads or guesswork, and they produce remarkable results. NASM’s techniques have helped thousands worldwide achieve their fitness goals, including hundreds of professional and elite athletes.”

CAWS will be the only UK partner to deliver the NASM CPT, which will be available from March. For the first time, it will be available from £59.00 per month per Coach, a change which falls in line with CAWS goal to make high-quality content more accessible and affordable for more Coaches and aspiring Personal Trainers.

CAWS Education Director, Dr Col Robertson, added: “This is more important now than ever as we grow the industry in spite of the global cost-of-living crisis. Delivered online, the CPT speaks to our 'learn anywhere, any time’ ethos, and gives us the opportunity to further promote diversity and accessibility across the industry. Ultimately it means we can make top-level education in our sector more easily available, especially to career changers and to accommodate the modern busy lifestyle. Our digital delivery strategy aligns with that of higher education and FE, where more than 30% of university programmes are delivered wholly online today.

"We are working closely with NASM to create a number of new additions to the traditional CPT experience, allowing us to best support the local UK market and mentor upcoming Coaches."

Mel Spooner highlighted one aspect of CAWS motivation behind the partnership: “We all know there’s a skill and talent shortage in the UK sector right now. We established CAWS to help solve education and workforce challenges in the industry. The recruitment challenge our sector faces is one that needs addressing today. Our Club Partners tell us that NASM CPTs are among the top-performing Coaches that they see across their gym facilities and they are looking for new graduate CPTs to work in their locations right now. This partnership allows us to help. I have partnered with NASM on various projects in the UK and overseas over the last 10 years, and this is an obvious evolution of our relationship.”

Dave Correia, Vice President at NASM, added: “We couldn’t be more pleased to launch the NASM-CPT in the UK with Mel’s team. It has always been our mission to arm fitness professionals with the necessary tools to change as many lives as possible through fitness, nutrition, and wellness. Partnering with CAWS gives us the launchpad to educate aspiring Personal Trainers in the UK with the content and methodology to coach clients to reach their goals and to do so in a safe and effective manner.”

For questions or to find out more contact Mel Spooner, [email protected]. CAWS is a CIMSPA accredited training provider.