Health/Fitness Technician

The two-year health/fitness AAS degree designed to prepare students to enter the growing fitness industry. Typically, students pursue jobs as personal trainers, strength coaches, fitness coaches, wellness directors, cooperate fitness, and senior fitness specialists. Many of the courses are transferable into four-year degrees such as physical education, sports medicine and exercise science. The HFT program also specializes in preparing students to take a number of nationally recognized certification exams.

Students may enter the program in the fall, winter or spring, acknowledging that it will take two years from the starting quarter to complete the degree. Depending on the quarter, program classes are offered between 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Fitness Coach Certification

Certification for personal trainer or fitness coaches is an industry standard. Employers and prospective clients will look for a professional certification before they will hire a personal trainer or fitness coach. A fitness certification is not part of the HFT program; however, upon completion of the program, students will be more than prepared to take any accredited national certification exam. The success rate for these exams is very high among HFT graduates. The benefit of the HFT degree is the extensive hands-on experience and in-depth study into every aspect of fitness and exercise. The educational experience offered in the HFT program is far superior to a personal training certification alone.

Transfer to a Four-Year Degree

Graduates of the Health Fitness Technician Degree are eligible for direct transfer into Bachelor of Applied Science with a specialization in Fitness and Lifestyle Management offered at SFCC. The classes for this program are primarily offered online with some on-campus classes offered in the evening. See our Bachelor of Applied Science for more information.

FMT 106 — Anatomical and Physiological Kinesiology — 5.0 Credits

This course is designed to study the anatomical aspects of the human body, including the skeletal, muscular, mechanical, and functional. Special attention is given to the analysis of movement problems.
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FMT 111 — Physiology of Exercise — 5.0 Credits

This course explores the range and ability of the human body. Areas of study include brain-body connections; physiological responses of the lungs and heart to exercise; and effects of drugs, hormones and environment on human performance. The training effects of exercise, fatigue, as well as general fitness brought about by regular exercise. In addition, the acute and chronic adaptations to training at altitude will be explored.
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FMT 112 — Special Considerations in Exercise — 3.0 Credits

This course analyzes the physiological and psychological characteristics of older adults, adolescents, children, and pre/post natal individuals as they apply to fitness assessment and exercise programming. It also examines the impact of exercise on various conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, obesity, and musculoskeletal disease. In addition to lecture, lab time is designed to develop "hands-on" knowledge of fitness assessment, exercise technique and related modifications. Prerequisite: FMT 204.
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FMT 115 — Leadership Dynamics — 3.0 Credits

This course is designed to study concepts involved in developing leadership traits: When leaders are at their best, what followers expect, and how to enlist others and foster collaboration. In addition, this course studies communication and how it applies to leadership and job-related skills.
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FMT 119 — Principles of Strength Training — 5.0 Credits

This course explores the scientific principles involved with increasing human strength. The skeletal muscles and joints are studied. All forms of isotonic and isometric exercise are taught. Effects of nutrition, fatigue and exercise on the muscular system are analyzed.
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FMT 204 — Health Appraisal and Exercise Prescription — 5.0 Credits

This course incorporates current fitness industry standards with regards to appropriate assessment techniques, i.e., participant screening, health appraisal, health history, physical assessments, determination of risk factors and lifestyle patterns. Following the comprehensive health/fitness appraisal, techniques for exercise prescription and programming are developed. Components of exercise prescription are incorporated, which include goal setting, strength programming, cardiovascular programming, flexibility, nutrition guidance and behavior modification. Feedback and evaluation methods are developed.
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FMT 209 — Exercise and the Cardiovascular System — 3.0 Credits

This course is designed for physical education, health science and fitness management technician majors who have desire to gain basic knowledge of the cardiovascular system at rest, in response to exercise and major disease states. The evaluation of risk factors, fundamentals of electrocardiography, exercise testing techniques, clinical management of major disease states and rehabilitation are discussed.
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FMT 225 — Personal Training — 5.0 Credits

This course enables students to recommend and develop safe exercise routines based on the following processes: 1) health screening, 2) fitness assessments, 3) client goals, 4) client motivation, 5) re-evaluation and 6) education. Students become competent in fitness testing protocols, proper exercise technique, nutrition for weight loss and sports performance; as well as legal, ethical and professional standards currently followed in the fitness industry. Students are prepared to take The American Council or Exercise Personal Trainer Certification exam.
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FMT 235 — Biomechanics — 5.0 Credits

This course covers the application of the mechanical principles involved in sport and exercise. Students are supplied with basic tools to facilitate the identification, analysis, and solution of problems related to human movement. Topics covered include basic terminology, kinematic and kinetic concepts, linear and angular movement, and equilibrium.
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“I completed the HFT Program at Spokane Falls Community College, then immediately took the NSCA CPT test and passed on my first attempt. With the wide variety of exercise implementation, training styles and usage of exercise equipment, I immediately felt confident to train range of different people with my own style and exercise protocols. With that confidence, I have been able to build a clientele that supports the lifestyle of my Wife and me. She is also a personal trainer who graduated the HFT Program. I can confidently say that I am building a career in the fitness industry that can support my family and me and the foundation for that was laid in the HFT Program.”

Donnie Kissick – HFT Graduate

"The HFT program was so much more than I could have ever hoped for. I started with the idea that I wanted to know everything about the body and the keys to make a perfect program for anyone. I graduated with the confidence to do that, but I also found out how much more there is to helping people, and an idea of how many different ways that can look."

Cody Denham – HFT Graduate

“I enrolled in the HFT program to increase my own knowledge on fitness and nutrition. I had no initial intent of becoming a certified personal trainer. However, before I graduated from the program I decided to take (and aced!) the NSCA-CPT. The biggest benefits have been the ability to write my own effective fitness program and to quickly evaluate the quality of other fitness/nutrition programs. As a Navy Reservist, I have also been able to use my education to improve my own physical fitness test scores as well as provide effective mentorship to my junior Sailors, allowing them to increase their own fitness scores and overall health.”

Michelle Taylor – HFT Graduate

Is the HFT Program for Me?

Most of our students are passionate about fitness, health and helping others succeed. Whether you're looking for a new career or interested in increasing your expertise in the fitness industry, the HFT program will give you the tools you need to succeed.

What kind of careers do graduates enter?

Personal trainer
Strength coach
Fitness coach
Wellness director
Cooperate fitness
Senior fitness specialist
Group exercise instructor

Why HFT at SFCC?

This program prepares students to take any of the nationally accredited certified personal training exams. The hands-on experience you get from our highly qualified and experienced instructors is something that cannot be offered through any of the online programs. We are the only two-year program in the region offering this kind of instruction. And this program is the perfect entry into our SFCC Bachelors in Applied Management - Fitness and LIfestyle emphasis degree.