Personal trainers must be educated in exercise science or the study of movement. Knowing exercise physiology is also beneficial, as this is the body's reaction to physical effort. But really successful personal trainers also need to have knowledge outside the theoretical area, as they have to be aware of the professional standards that exist in the fitness business.
What Are the Professional Standards for Personal Trainers?
Professional standards are similar to a code of ethics. They define what constitutes ethical behavior. They also give principles for providing high-quality service.
Professional standards are not limited to personal trainers. These criteria can also be found in commercial and financial vocations. Legal experts and physicians have criteria as well. If someone has a professional practice or offers a service, they very certainly have criteria to adhere to.
Why Are Professional Fitness Standards Important?
Professional standards help to maintain fitness professionals on track. They established a high bar for personal training professionals to strive towards. Clients are more likely to choose to work with a trainer if they can expect a high quality of service. When all trainers stick to these criteria, the industry as a whole improves.
Following these guidelines can also help you become a sought-after trainer. Clients will understand that when they deal with you, they will be treated with dignity and respect. This may make them feel more at ease during the training session. It also gives assurance that the trainer will act ethically and morally.
Maintaining standards might also help you advance in your personal training profession. Clients will not want to collaborate with you if you have a long list of standard infractions. You may potentially face disciplinary action depending on the severity of the offence.
Fitness Industry Professional Standards
Several associations in the fitness industry have their own set of standards, like the following:
- When instructing clients, act with honesty. This involves delivering research-based training services. It also entails following by all levels of legislation (local, state, and federal).
- Having a perspective of fairness and honesty with other fitness experts. This includes respecting the ideas and opinions of other trainers. Having integrity also entails not poaching their clients.
- Creating a secure training environment. Any fitness training program must be safe. If your customers are hurt as a result of unsafe training, you are not meeting this requirement.
- Keeping your prejudices from interfering with your client's fitness routine. Your client's goals come first as a personal trainer. It's not about what you want them to take away from the training. It's all about what they want—as long as what they want is acceptable and realistic.
- Referring clients whose needs transcend your degree of expertise. Perhaps your client need therapeutic exercise. If you are unfamiliar with this, the norm calls for you to recommend the customer to someone who is. Look for a fitness specialist in your community. Suggest that this specialist collaborate with your customer to ensure that they receive what they want.
- Respecting the privacy of a customer. The fitness records of your customer should be kept private. Any chats you have with them are also private. This rule is violated if you disclose your client's sensitive information with others.
- Keeping a professional look. This involves practicing proper hygiene. Consider yourself a customer who has a trainer that is untidy or unclean. It's difficult to consider them a professional. This may also have an effect on how you feel about them throughout the personal training session.
How Exercise Professionals Can Establish and Maintain a High Standard
Naturally, the greatest method to avoid a potential infraction is to constantly deliver excellent service. Here are a few suggestions:
- Always show your clients respect. Consider yourself in their position. How would you feel if you were treated the same way they are treated? Would you consider yourself to be respected? If not, this points to an issue. Remember that respect may be expressed in a variety of ways. What you say is important, but so is how you say it. Respect also entails being on time and being sensitive to your client's sentiments and position.
- Obtain your certification. Remember that studying as much as you can about fitness is an important component of adhering to these guidelines. Earning your trainer certification is an excellent starting point. Certified professionals understand what is expected of them and how to meet those expectations. They also have the necessary skills to design a safe and efficient fitness routine.
- With our Partner, the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), you can save up to 40% for all trainer certifications.