Online Sports Performance Certificate – Accelrated, With NASM PES Prep
Grow your career in athletic training and prepare for the NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist Exam with a Graduate Certificate in Sports Performance Training at Concordia University Chicago (CUC). Enroll today.
Application Deadline: August 20, 2025
Classes Start: August 25, 2025
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Online Sports Performance Training Graduate Certification
Earn your Sports Performance Graduate Certificate from Concordia University Chicago to enhance your athletic performance knowledge and prepare for the NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist Exam.
Sports Performance Training Graduate Certificate Program Details
The Sports Performance and Training Graduate Certificate program was designed for sports performance coaches, athletic trainers and other sports professionals who work with all levels of athletes from high school players up to Olympic competitors. This 12-credit-hour certificate will prepare students to pursue the National Academy of Sports Medicine’s Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) credential and help athletes reach peak performance.
Value of Earning a Sports Trainer Certification
Earning a Graduate Certificate in Sports Performance provides substantial value by equipping you with specialized knowledge and skills essential for advancing in the sports industry. Whether you are aiming to enhance your current career or seeking new opportunities, this certification serves as a testament to your commitment to excellence in sports performance. Here’s how this certificate can add value to your professional life as a sports performance or health and wellness coach:
1. Advanced Training Techniques:
Gain in-depth understanding of the latest training methodologies, including periodization, plyometrics and agility training. This knowledge allows you to design more effective programs tailored to athletes’ specific needs. Train athletes for higher performance outcomes to give them a competitive edge in their sport.
2. Sports Psychology Insights:
Learn how to apply psychological principles to enhance athlete motivation, focus and resilience. This skill set is crucial for helping athletes overcome mental barriers and achieve peak performance.
3. Biomechanics and Movement Analysis:
Acquire the ability to analyze and improve athletes’ movement patterns to reduce injury risk and enhance performance. Understanding biomechanics ensures that you can optimize an athlete’s exercise techniques.
4. Nutrition and Recovery Strategies:
Develop expertise in sports nutrition and recovery techniques, which are vital for supporting athletes’ training and competition schedules. Proper nutrition and recovery strategies can significantly impact an athlete’s performance and longevity in their sport.
5. Evidence-Based Practices:
The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based approaches, ensuring that the techniques and strategies you employ are backed by the latest research. This credibility enhances your reputation as a knowledgeable and effective sports performance professional.
6. Career Advancement:
A sports performance certificate can help you stand out in the competitive job market, making you a more attractive candidate for promotions or new job opportunities. Employers value candidates who are continuously improving their skills and knowledge.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- 2.85 minimum GPA
- Objective statement
- Letters of recommendation
New Opportunities with a Sports Performance Training Graduate Certificate
A sports performance training graduate certificate opens up a diverse range of career opportunities, allowing you to expand your professional horizons and take on more specialized roles within the sports industry.
Graduates of the Sports Performance Training Graduate Certificate go on to serve in a variety of capacities in fitness, wellness, sports management and leadership careers. Many of our students pursue careers such as:
- Certified Sports Performance Coach for Professional Sports Teams: With your advanced training and sports performance certification, you can pursue a role as a performance coach, working directly with professional athletes to optimize their training and performance. A sports performance coach’s role often involves collaboration with coaches, medical staff and nutritionists to develop comprehensive training programs.
- Strength and Conditioning Coach: This certificate qualifies you to design and implement strength and conditioning programs for athletes at all levels, from student-athletes to elite. You can work in various settings, including colleges, universities, sports clubs and private training facilities to promote injury prevention.
- Sports Science Consultant: Use your expertise to advise sports teams organizations or fitness professionals on how to leverage sports science to enhance performance. This might include utilizing data analytics, monitoring athlete workload and recommending evidence-based training interventions.
- Roles in Sports Technology Companies: As sports technology continues to evolve, there is a growing demand for professionals who can bridge the gap between technology and sports performance. Your certificate can qualify you for roles in developing, testing or implementing cutting-edge sports technologies, such as wearable devices or performance-tracking software.
- Further Education Opportunities: A graduate certificate can serve as a stepping stone to further academic pursuits, such as a master’s or doctoral degree in fields like exercise science, kinesiology or sports medicine. These advanced degrees can lead to opportunities in academia, research or high-performance sports centers.
- High-Performance Sports Centers: Work in specialized sports performance centers where you can apply your skills to train elite athletes. These roles often involve working with top-tier athletes preparing for major competitions, such as the Olympics or professional leagues. Help competitive athletes reach peak athletic performance through advanced fitness training programs.
By earning a sports performance training graduate certificate, you position yourself at the forefront of the industry, equipped with the skills and knowledge to excel in a variety of high-impact roles.
Program Takeaways and Key Concepts
The Graduate Certificate in Sports Performance Training offers a comprehensive and hands-on learning experience, equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the field. Here are the key takeaways and concepts you’ll gain from the program:
- Principles of Sports Performance Training: Develop a strong understanding of the scientific principles behind sports performance, including biomechanics, physiology and sport psychology. Learn how to apply these concepts when improving athletic performance to minimize injury risks.
- Program Design in Sports Performance: Master the art and science of designing customized training programs tailored to the specific needs of athletes in various sports. You’ll learn to create balanced plans that integrate strength, endurance, flexibility and skill development for optimal results when training athletes.
- Hands-On Practicum Experience: Apply your knowledge in a real-world setting through practical experience. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with athletes, designing and implementing performance training programs under the guidance of experienced personal trainers.
- Exploration of Special Topics: Stay informed on the latest trends and emerging topics in sports performance. Engage in discussions and critical thinking about innovative training techniques, new research findings and advancements in sports technology.
By completing this program, you’ll gain a robust skill set in sports performance training, enabling you to design and implement effective training programs, apply scientific principles to enhance athletic performance and stay current with industry advancements. You can even start your own business if you choose and become a certified athletic trainer.
The CUC Advantage
As a Christian-based institution, we are dedicated to preparing the next generation of leaders to live a life fulfilled by purpose and meaning. Because we aim to model Christlike behavior, our doors are open to all. So, bring your curiosity, your personality and your values. Be a living example of what it means to serve a cause greater than yourself by pursuing an education where ideas inspire you, the Gospel lives and forms you and God’s calling takes root. Show the world what it means to stand tall.
A Dedication to Integrity
Integrity forms the cornerstone of CUC’s principles. Our faculty, staff and students are committed to living genuinely, guided by their faith. Within our programs, students are encouraged to exhibit resilience and unwavering dedication to their academic endeavors.
Cost-Effectiveness
Esteemed Faculty
Access the expertise of seasoned faculty members within the realm of exercise science. Be confident that you’ll be provided with premier private education by industry-leading professionals.
Online Learning
Study at your own pace with our online sports performance coaching certification. Help others reach optimal performance by advancing your education. Every sports performance course is offered 100% online for increased flexibility.
Institutional Accreditation
Concordia University Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to award baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees.
Industry Certification
This program prepares individuals for the National Academy of Sports Medicine’s Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) exam.
Sports Performance Training Career Outlook
Our Sports Performance Training Graduate Certificate equips students with specialized skills to enhance athletic performance and promote optimal wellness. This program is specifically designed for coaches, athletic trainers and sports professionals who work with athletes of all levels, from high school players to Olympic competitors. By pursuing a Sports Performance Training concentration, students can accelerate their careers and gain a competitive edge in the dynamic field of sports performance training, ultimately helping athletes achieve their peak potential.
Potential Careers
- Strength and Conditioning Coach: Design and implement training programs that enhance athletes’ strength, speed and agility, helping them reach peak performance in their respective sports.
- Sports Performance Specialist: Work with athletes to develop and refine specific skills, such as power, endurance and flexibility, using advanced training techniques and technology.
- Athletic Performance Analyst: Use data and technology to assess and improve athletic performance, identifying strengths and areas for improvement to optimize training and competition outcomes.
- High-Performance Director: Lead and manage sports performance programs for teams or organizations, overseeing all aspects of athlete development, including training, nutrition and injury prevention.
- Personal Trainer for Elite Athletes: Provide one-on-one training to professional or high-level amateur athletes, creating customized workout routines that target their unique performance goals and physical needs.
Student Testimonials
“The professors are super helpful. Two of my professors who were very meaningful to me were also athletic trainers. They would meet every few weeks and talk about the coursework and my job.Get to know your professors. They can help you with day to day or even land a job. Send an introductory email so stand out as a student. You can get to learn about how they are experts in their field.”
“Make that commitment that once you’re going to start the program that you are going to be dedicated to completing it and finishing it.”
“Be committed to see it through and give 100% because that’s really how you’re going to be able to take what you learn and apply it into a career setting.”
“It’s hard to get your masters and be a mom, to be working full time. But it’s a great sense of ‘yeah I did that, while working a full time job, it’s rewarding”.I would say Concordia and getting my masters was the jumpstart of what made me great today.”
“CISSN I passed with flying colors and I got over a 90%.” Getting your Masters degree prepares you to be an auto mechanic. When you get your Masters you learn how to build the car so it teaches you how to understand the scientific principles very deeply that surround these certifications.
I will tell you that it improved my practice a hundred times over just having a really strong grip on the scientific foundations that builds the certification. I was balancing 5 kids and owning a gym. The professors are good at working with adults who are working. The program is entirely doable and designed for working adults and that’s why you choose asynchronous online education.
A big thank you to all the amazing professors I had in my time at Concordia, I will tell you I really got my money’s worth out of that program. You are going to get out what you put in. If you put in the work you will reap the reward. You will make the connections you need to make. You will learn what you need to learn to be a better practitioner”
Lock in Your Tuition!
As long as there are no interruptions in your course of study, we guarantee your tuition will remain the same and never increase while earning this degree. This guarantee ensures a stable and predictable investment in your education.
Don’t miss out on our Tuition Guarantee – enroll today!
