imageHOW TO BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER



HOW TO BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER?

THE STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO MAKING A LIVING AS A PERSONAL TRAINER

WHAT IS A PERSONAL TRAINER?

The Step By Step Guide to Becoming a Personal Trainer

A personal trainer is a person that has varying degrees of knowledge about a specified field of fitness or general fitness instruction. Most personal trainers use multiple types of exercises varying on intensity depending on the age and physical ability of the client. They motivate their clients to increase their level of fitness by setting goals and providing structured workout plans and dieting tips.

WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION DO YOU NEED TO BE A PERSONAL TRAINER?

Sometimes employees will require you to have a certain type of certification or even an associate's or bachelor's degree in a particular fitness-related field such as kinesiology ( is the study of human and animal movement, performance and function with a natural or holistic application) or exercise physiology ( is the field of study using the knowledge of physiological mechanics to improve the overall health of individuals. In this field athletic guidance and training are used to assist in disease prevention, rehabilitation, improve physical performance.). They may also require a you to shadow an experienced personal trainer for a period of time, to acquire hands on experience. There are several schools that offer fitness training degrees.

TOP SCHOOLS OFFERING SPORTS AND FITNESS DEGREES

CAN I MAKE GOOD MONEY AS A PERSONAL TRAINER?

The obesity rates are increasing. Currently obesity affects approx. 93.3 million adults in the United States. Obesity-related illnesses such as some types of cancer, stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes are some of the leading causes of premature death. This is serious problem that has an estimated medical cost of over $147,000,000 a year.

The need for fitness individuals has risen to an all-time high. Today careers in personal trainers can be more lucrative than ever before. Full time personal trainers can incomes ranging from $50,000 to $130,000 a year. In the U.S. alone, there were more than 6 billion visits to gyms and health clubs in 2018. There are currently more than 39,570 gyms and 38,477 health clubs in the United States. These current statistics are the reason why you can expect to have a successful career if you choose to be a personal trainer.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER?

Becoming a certified personal trainer in not easy. You have study and learn the essential functions of the human anatomy and how they apply to fitness. Personal trainers have to have knowledge of biometrics, exercise techniques, physiology and proper nutrition of the body to give their clients the best possible results.

Typically, personal programs are self-paced. This means that you can work more diligently and get your certification at an accelerated pace or if you have a busy schedule and cannot dedicate as much time, you can complete the course within your personal time restraints.

TESTING CENTER EXAMS

Some certifications require you to attend workshops to acquire the knowledge and experience need to complete their course exam. This can vary depending on the training program. Workshops are only available during certain periods and may or may not be available in your area. Some travel may be required. You should conduct a little research before choosing a certification to be sure it fits into your schedule.

ONLINE PROGRAMS

Most schools and universities offer an online personal training certification program. These types of online courses will allow you to get your certification at your own pace. Some courses only require a couple of hours a day to achieve a certification in as little as two months.

Note: Online courses will have a time limit to complete. It is normally three to six months.

ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN PERSONAL TRAINING

Universities that offer associate's degrees, will require you to take the usual classes required to achieve the number of credits for the degree. The average number of credits required at colleges is 90. These degrees are usually named “Exercise Science” or “Fitness and Health” or some variation. The curriculum offered in these types of degrees typically offer fundamental and introductory versions of athletic training, aerobics, first, aid, anatomy, physiology, fitness. They will also require you to take math, science, art, etc., along with your core courses for your degree.

BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PERSONAL TRAINING

Just as you are required to in an associate's degree, you will be required take the core and critical thinking classes. These types of degrees will have referred to as kinesiology, exercise science or physical education or some variation. Bachelor's Degrees offer a more thorough study of physical fitness, strength, nutrition, human anatomy and wellness. The curriculum will include: weight management, human anatomy, theory of exercise, fitness and health analysis, sports and fitness nutrition and strength and conditioning. This type of degree will give you a solid background in the personal training field.

MASTER'S DEGREE IN PERSONAL TRAINING

Master's degrees give an in-depth study of the human anatomy and its functions. This level of education will involve the study of epidemiology, applied kinesiology, exercise physiology, sport physiology, physical activity for the aged, biostatistics and other related fields of study. At the level you will learn how to analyze and design custom fitness and nutritional programs for individuals.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PERSONAL TRAINER?

Personal trainers should motivate and educate their clients. You should ask question to find out what the client wants to achieve out of fitness and implement some micro and macro goals to work for. This assessment should include asking questions about any physical injuries or medical limitations. For instance, a micro goal may be to lose 10lbs. in the next two weeks and a macro goal may be to lose 40lbs. this year. These variations of goal setting will help keep your clients motivated and coming back for more.

WHAT MUCH DOES IT COST TO BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER?

Personal training cost can vary depending on the level of training you want to attain. Becoming a certified personal trainer only takes a little more effort, but can give you that extra edge over the competition. When a personal trainer is certified, it can give the client more trust and confidence that you know what you are doing. You can also justify possibly charging a higher hourly rate than a trainer that is not certified.

The average cost of becoming a certified personal trainer is $200.00 to $600.00 for entry-level certifications and an advanced certification can run upwards of $2000.00 to $3000.00. These training courses will usually include: expert advice, instructional support, how to business guides, text books and other related study materials, video lessons, practice test, e-books and a final exam with credentials confirmation.

IS IT WORTH BECOMING A PERSONAL TRAINER?

The answer is yes. A personal training career can be a financially lucrative endeavor. The median annual income for a personal trainer is $56,875.00. Annual incomes can vary from $28,000 to $81,000, depending on your market size and location. There are some personal trainers that have become famous due to social media and the internet. Some of these more famous trainers are making millions of dollars combining personal and online training for clients.

IS IT HARD TO BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER?

Becoming a personal trainer is not difficult, but does require a focused work ethic and serious study practice. You should be open minded when deciding the best entry-level or advanced certification to pursue. As a personal trainer, be prepared to spend a lot of time in the gym honing your craft and learning the most effective workout techniques available.

HOW TO MARKET MYSELF AS A PERSONAL TRAINER?

Marketing yourself as a personal trainer is the best way to get started and build a client base. First and foremost, get a website. It does not have to an expensive one. It should be a free-standing site with its own domain and hosting. This will allow you to SEO (Search Engine Optimization) it at a later date. Make sure to get some professionally done business cards. Do not try to depend totally on social media or Facebook for marketing. Social media is flooded with people marketing themselves. Remember first impressions matter. Be pleasant and friendly and speak to everyone. If possible, we recommend that you get active on social media to help build a brand. If you need help, we recommend contacting SEMC and have them help you to set up a marketing strategy. Contact SEMC for a free marketing assessment as well. SEMC specializes in marketing for personal trainers. They can also help with SEO, blogging, social media setup, hosting and maintenance. There are a huge number of personal trainers around and a good marketing strategy can be the difference between success and failure. You need to approach as business, which is what it is.

DO I NEED A LICENSE TO BE A PERSONAL TRAINER?

No, you do not need a license to be a personal trainer because there are no federal or state regulations mandating any particular certification. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 182,000 personal trainers in the United States currently and that number is increasing daily. Currently more than 5,000,000 American have personal trainers. There is a buyer beware kind of situation today when it comes to the fitness industry.

When you decide to become personal trainer, you should acquire personal trainer insurance. This type of insurance covers you against claims related to the day to day operations of your business. It will also provide coverages for general liability, business personal property, professional liability and damages to premises rented. This type of insurance cost between $150 and $1500 annually. We recommend to get this type of insurance to give you piece of mind while conducting business. Some insurance companies may require you to have a certification or they may even give you a discount on your policy.



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