Austin Community College’s Exercise Science program was awarded initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in the area of Personal Fitness Training.  The program is the fifth in the nation to receive this accreditation and the first in Texas.

“We are all very pleased with this outcome as it involved a rigorous self-study in the fall semester and, in the spring, an on-site visit from a team representing the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES),” says Pam Soto, Exercise Science department chair.

ACC’s Exercise Science program provides students the scientific understanding and practical skills required to design efficient and safe fitness programs.

“My experience at ACC was definitely worth it. You need to study hard to grasp the material, but the professors are there to help you succeed,” says Erica Nix, ACC graduate.

Nix now works as a personal fitness trainer in Austin and was named Austin Chronicle’s 2018 Best in Austin Personal Trainer.

“The most rewarding part is when my clients feel the change. They tell me they picked up something heavy without issue or they complete a job more effectively. That means their life is literally better. ”

Careers in exercise science are growing and expected to increase more than 11 percent over the next four years in Central Texas according to labor market information.

“There’s a growing need for professional trainers,” says Soto. “The fact is, many trainers lack either the educational background or interpersonal and practical skills clients need.”

ACC’s program includes classroom instruction and practical instruction with hands-on labs. Students in the associate degree track or Personal Fitness Trainer Certificate program also get an internship. Graduates are eligible for national certification exams.

Applications for fall are now being accepted. To learn more, visit austincc.edu/exercisescience.