BAKU, Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan’s Youth and Sports Ministry says fitness trainers with a university degree in sports do not need an additional certificate, but questions remain over how private gyms verify the qualifications of other instructors.
The ministry’s press service said graduates of the Azerbaijan Sports Academy already receive professional instruction and pass specialized examinations as part of their degree programs. Their diploma therefore serves as evidence of their training, according to a report by Bizim.Media.
Azerbaijan’s law on physical culture and sport requires people working as coaches in gyms to have relevant sports education or a certificate issued through an accredited process, the outlet reported. The issue has drawn attention because gym clients often rely on instructors to select exercises and training loads without knowing what education or professional preparation those instructors have.
Fitness trainer Kamil Zeynalli said knowledge should be the main consideration when evaluating a coach. He said some instructors without certificates are capable of leading workouts properly, but he nevertheless supports certification for all trainers as an additional sign of competence.
Zeynalli said he worked for years without a certificate before later obtaining one. He added that trainers seeking certification should apply to the Bodybuilding Federation.
The ministry’s response did not specify which authority inspects trainers at private gyms, how such checks are conducted or what measures are taken when an instructor lacks verified qualifications. Zeynalli’s comments about federation certification also did not clarify who is responsible for enforcement.
The available guidance means the absence of a separate certificate does not by itself show that a trainer is unqualified, because an instructor may hold a relevant university degree. It leaves unanswered, however, how authorities monitor coaches who have neither documented sports education nor an accredited certificate.
Source: Vesti Baku, citing Bizim.Media.