By Muriel Normoyle, NCEF and University of Limerick Graduate with a Certificate in Exercise & Health Fitness. Muriel's specialisms include Advanced Personal Training and she is currently studying Children's Fitness and Fit for Life Wellness Coaching.
I’m so happy to finally hold a highly recognised, reputable Advanced Personal Training qualification from NCEF and the University of Limerick! But let me take you back to where it all began.
I returned home from Australia in 2012 and although I had my B.Sc. Degree in Construction, I was facing a recession and work was nowhere to be found. Add into the mix that I had just become a new mum so I was trying to juggle a LOT in life! I always had a love for fitness (well, walking, that counts right?) but it was in Australia that I discovered my love for running and martial arts. So now that I was home in Ireland, I decided to return to the gym.
I realised very quickly that I was completely LOST. I didn’t know what machines to use, all I knew was how to walk on the treadmill so I hired a Personal Trainer to show me the ropes. It was in this phase that I had started lifting weights and I fell in love with the fitness industry but I wanted more, I wanted my own qualification in fitness, I wanted to be my own Personal Trainer.
I searched for so many personal training courses online! All I could find were courses providing a cert after 6 weeks. The only thing was, these courses were not accredited courses. Then a friend recommended the NCEF and low and behold, it was the ONLY university accredited course in the country! This was gonna be great!
I was returning to study as an older adult (not that old but you know, I wasn’t 21 anymore!). I had other responsibilities. I was a full-time mom working part-time at home so I had no time to waste. I needed to be guaranteed that the course I chose and invested in would be recognised and properly accredited.
I chose the NCEF as they had several online e-learning modules that I could study from home via an online learning hub; this meant I could embark on a new study journey whilst still being at home with my young daughter. I now had the freedom to study in my own time and at my own pace. The e-learning facility offers spoken lectures, printable handouts and sample assessments to help me keep track of my progress.
For your final module assessments, you are required to record videos and submit them via Dropbox. This sounds daunting (trust me, it’s not) but little did I know that recording those videos would give me the courage and confidence to make videos for Instagram and Facebook and launch my Personal Training business.
I’m still only finding my feet but at least I know that by choosing the NCEF that I’m finally on the right path.
I look back on my time with the NCEF with great pride and I feel like I have made some friends for life. I would 100% recommend the NCEF, especially if you are struggling with time and need the freedom to study at a time and pace that suits you.
Follow Muriel on social media here:
Instagram: jazzymoo_pt
Facebook: Moo Moo Fitness
