Mississippi State is joining only one other university in having its fitness instructor training program recognized by an international professional organization.
Greg Altorfer, assistant director for fitness with the university's recreational sports department, modeled the program after one at Florida State University.
Persons completing the training are eligible for International Fitness Professionals Association certification. Normally, prospective instructors must pass IFPA's own exams to be certified.
Altorfer said the entire staff in the strength and aerobic conditioning area at the Joe Frank Sanderson Center, MSU's 150,000-square-foot recreation complex, must complete a three-day training seminar and pass an 11-page essay exam. Those wishing to add IFPA certification need now only pay a discounted fee, he added.
Altorfer said certification "gives us something special to offer, another reason for students to intern at Mississippi State."
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For more information on fitness activities available at the Sanderson Center, telephone Altorfer at (662) 325-7981 or access the Recreational Sports web site at http://www.msstate.edu/dept/recsports.
