You see them everywhere – from Instagram, to TV, to friends and family. Personal trainers are those people who have the privilege of helping others achieve their fitness goals – whether it’s losing weight, building muscle or increasing stamina. Working as a personal trainer is a rewarding job with plenty of opportunities for growth and advancement. In this blog post, we discuss what it takes to become a personal trainer, common career path options for aspiring trainers and insider tips for landing your dream job. Read on to discover if this job is right for you!
Before you commit to becoming a personal trainer, remember that there are different types of personal trainers. There are many different specialities within the fitness industry and knowing which one is right for you is key. If you want to be a generalist and work with a wide variety of clients, then you can follow the same career path as a specialist. If you have a particular interest in a certain area of fitness, like weight loss, sports performance or injury rehabilitation, then you may want to consider a specialist career path. Another important aspect to keep in mind before starting your journey to becoming a personal trainer is that there are many different ways to become certified. The traditional method of becoming certified is to complete a personal training certification program at a local college. These programs are usually around 300 hours of instruction and cost thousands of dollars to complete.
If you’ve decided you’re interested in becoming a personal trainer, you’ll need to first decide if you want to pursue a career as a generalist or specialize in a specific area of fitness. To become a generalist, you will need to get certified as a personal trainer. This can be achieved through a variety of methods: - You can earn a recognized certification from a fitness organization, such as the American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) or National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). - You can complete a personal training program at a college or university. This is a good option if you don’t have the funds to pursue a certification or don’t have time to study while holding a full-time job. - You can get certified as a fitness instructor through a fitness association. This is a good option if you want to specialize in group fitness (i.e. dance, Zumba, yoga, etc.).
If you’ve decided to become a specialist and pursue a career in weight loss, sports performance or injury rehabilitation, you will also need to get certified in those areas. Here are some of the most common certifications and training program options for new trainers: - Sports Performance and Injury Rehabilitation Certification: This is a good option if you want to specialize in either sports performance or injury rehabilitation. You will want to find a program that offers both certifications in one. This way, you can focus your studies on whichever area is most relevant to your current life situation. - Weight Loss Certification: This is a good option if you want to specialize in weight loss. You will want to find a program that offers the certification and the coaching training (i.e. the training on how to coach others to lose weight and keep it off).
As mentioned, there are many different ways to become certified as a personal trainer. One way to become certified is by completing an online certification course. Online certification courses are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of reasons. First, these courses are extremely flexible and convenient. Most online certification courses are offered as part-time courses that you can take from home at your own pace. Second, online courses are cost-effective. Most online courses are offered at a fraction of the cost of traditional on-campus courses. With that said, the effectiveness of online courses varies from provider to provider. To help you make the most informed decision possible, we’ve put together this in-depth guide to online certification courses. In this guide, you’ll learn more about what to look for in an online certification course, how much you can expect to pay and much more. With this guide, you’ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision about the best online certification courses.
Finally, when you become a personal trainer, you have the opportunity to do more than just help people stay fit. You can be a positive role model who inspires others to get healthier, feel better about themselves and live a more fulfilling life. It's a rewarding career that lets you help others, while also improving your own health. With the right training and knowledge, you can also get paid well.