American Fitness Professionals & Associates
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What AFPA is
American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA) is an online certification school for people who want to work in nutrition, health coaching, personal training or fitness instruction. The home page describes it as providing "quality holistic and evidence-based certification courses led by experts to fast-track your impact in the wellness space." It is a learner product: you pick a certification, study it online at your own pace and earn a credential, then keep it current with AFPA's continuing education courses.
The home page counts more than 130,000 students certified, more than 30 years in education, more than 15 certification programs and 98.9% student satisfaction, and it mentions "over 2000+ 5 star reviews." The core promise on timing is that "In just 6 months or less, you can become certified on your own time, from anywhere in the world."
The four program areas
AFPA organizes its catalog into nutrition, health coaching, personal training and fitness, plus bundles and continuing education.
Nutrition. Certifications are the Master Level Nutrition Coach, Holistic Nutrition Coach, Autoimmune Holistic Nutrition, Plant-Based Nutrition, Sports Nutrition and Holistic Health Coach. The nutrition page frames the goal as teaching students "how to deliver nutrition advice and expertise in a way that helps people make meaningful progress," from holistic nutrition to weight management.
Health coaching. Certifications are the Certified Master Health and Wellness Coach Program, the Holistic Health Coach and the Health and Wellness Coach. The home page features the Master program as "Certified Master Health & Wellness Coach (NBHWC-Approved)," and the menu includes NBHWC Exam Prep for readers preparing for that board exam. A video on the site walks through what the NBHWC-approved health coaching program is like. The health coaching menu also lists an Advanced Health Coaching Intensive, marked "(Live)," so not everything is self-study.
Personal training and fitness. Certifications are the Master Level Personal Trainer, Personal Trainer, Advanced Personal Trainer, Pre & Postnatal Fitness Specialist, Pilates Instructor and Yoga Instructor. AFPA says its personal training programs suit both "a beginner helping the novice get in shape" and "an advanced trainer looking to take your clients to the next level."
Specialization certificates. Shorter certificates add a focus: Perimenopause Whole-Health Specialist, Gut Health Nutrition Specialist, Nutrition & Behavior Change, Coaching for Weight Loss, Mobility Specialist, Kettlebell Essentials: The Iron Cardio Approach, and Principles of Exercise Programming. The newest, the Perimenopause Whole-Health Specialist, is a 32-module program that the site says is taught by a faculty of a medical doctor, registered dietitians, PhD exercise scientists and board-certified health coaches, and describes as "Accredited, self-paced."
Bundles and higher-level credentials
Bundles combine two certifications into one program, and AFPA says bundling saves money and lets you "Earn higher level credentials that set you apart." The higher-level credentials are the Certified Master Health and Wellness Coach, Master Level Nutrition Coach, Master Level Personal Trainer and Holistic Health Coach. The named bundles are:
- Pilates and Yoga Instructor
- Personal Trainer and Pre & Postnatal Fitness Specialist
- Autoimmune & Gut Health
- Holistic Nutrition & Autoimmune Nutrition
- Personal Trainer & Holistic Nutrition Coach
- Pregnancy Health Coach
- Personal Trainer & Health and Wellness Coach
- Weight Loss Coach
The pitch is cross-disciplinary: a trainer who can also coach nutrition, or a nutrition coach who also handles pregnancy health, can offer more to the same client.
How the learning works
Every certification is online and self-paced. The site says "Our programs are self-paced and online, which allows you to fit them into your schedule." On curriculum, AFPA says: "Wellness is different for each person. That's why we take an integrative approach. Our curriculum is evidence-based and filled to the brim with up-to-date scientific research but is also nuanced and holistic."
Graduates' reviews on the home page add detail. Dazy Gallegos, a Holistic Nutrition Coach, writes that she finished "in just under 6 months" and that the course "really covered all aspects of holistic health (known as the 7 dimensions of wellness)." Lauren Rasky, a Holistic Health Coach, says she "liked that the information presented had studies and actually showed you the research as it was teaching you things." Raven Harrington writes: "I can always email or reach out if I have any questions and I get a response immediately."
The Resources section offers free guides and downloads, a blog, webinars and workshops, student success stories, renewal information and a help center.
Accreditation
AFPA's home page says it "has received and continues to pursue numerous international accreditations and recognitions from third-party accrediting organizations," and the About menu and footer link to an Accreditation & Approvals page and an Accreditation and Associations page. The one approval named on the home page is NBHWC approval for the Certified Master Health & Wellness Coach program. AFPA also calls its programs "non-degreed training programs": professional certifications, not academic degrees.
Continuing education
The continuing education side is sold two ways: a CE membership, and à la carte CE courses in five areas (nutrition, health coaching, personal training and fitness, general wellness, and business). The site describes it as a "growing catalog of CE courses designed to deepen your knowledge and help you maintain your credentials." The footer also lists CE Advantage, a page on renewing your certification, a code of ethics and professional insurance.
Prices, financing and contact
The home page does not list program prices. It runs time-limited codes instead; recent offers included 25% off certifications and CE courses with code FALL26 through September 30, and 40% off the perimenopause certificate with code PMPLAUNCH. AFPA describes its programs as having "minimal financial commitment and flexible payment plan options," and the About menu includes a Financing Options page and a Speak to an Advisor link. To get started, the site says to "call us today at 800.494.7782." There is also an affiliate partner program.
Who it suits
AFPA suits someone who wants to start a coaching or training career from home, around a job or family, without a fixed class schedule. Brett Bennett, a Master Level Nutrition Coach, says the schedule is "perfect for anyone who may have another job, is going to school, or has a family." It is a particularly good fit for nutrition and health coaching, where the catalog is deepest: holistic, autoimmune, plant-based, sports and gut health nutrition, plus an NBHWC-approved master coaching program with exam prep.
Trainers who want to add nutrition or prenatal fitness can buy both in one bundle, and working coaches get a CE catalog and membership to keep their credentials current.
The main caveat is that prices and module details are not on the home page, so plan to compare a few course pages or talk to an advisor before choosing. The model is self-study first, with a live intensive and webinars as the exceptions.