HOW TO BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER?

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

WHAT IS A PERSONAL TRAINER?

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

• 1. Texas A & M University College Station Address: 400 Bizzell St, College Station, TX 77843, Phone: (979) 845-3211 Record Enrollment: 64,882

Texas A&M University—College Station is a public institution that was founded in 1876, that uses a semester-based academic calendar. Originally an all men Mechanical and Agricultural College, Texas A&M is now a coed college offering a multitude of classes and over a thousand clubs. There are more than 60 sororities and fraternities available on campus. More than 10% of the attending student go Greek and more than 25% of the students participate in intramural sport programs.

• 2. Northwestern University Address: 633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208, Phone: (847) 491-3741 Record Enrollment: 1414

Northwestern College is a private Christian institution that was founded in 1882 and is Orange City, Iowa. It has an average undergraduate enrollment of 1,032. This university offer more than 40 majors and support facilities such as the Peer Learning Center. This center has tutors and writing workshops available for students. On campus students have over 50 intramural sports available including badminton, pickle ball and chess.

• 3. Florida State University Address: 600 W College Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32306, Phone: (850) 644-2525 Record Enrollment: 32.417

Founded in 1851; oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, Florida State has a 93% retention rate for first year students and a 72% four-year graduation rate. This college also offers 297 degrees programs, consisting of bachelor's, master's, doctoral, specialist, professional degrees.

• 4. Concordia University Irvine Address: 1530 Concordia, Irvine, CA 92612, Phone: (800) 229-1200 Record Enrollment: 4266

Concordia University Irvine is a private Christian University located in Irvine, California, that prepares students for their vocations. Concordia University offers bachelors', masters', and doctoral degrees with a beautiful Southern California backdrop, with online and regional cohort options.

• 5. Rice University Address: 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005 , Phone: (713) 348-0000 Record Enrollment: 27,068

Rice University is a private institution founded in 1912 in Houston, Texas. It is ranked #17 in the top ranked schools to attend. Rice University is located in the heart of Houston's Museum District, which offers student and enriched student life in the nation's fourth largest city. They have several student run institutions on campus. They are Willy's Pub, Rice Coffehouse and the Valhalla Pub. The residential colleges offer academic and social events, housing, and dining.

• 6. Columbia University in the city of New York Address: 116th St & Broadway, New York, NY 10027, Phone: (212) 305-8060 Record Enrollment: 30.870

Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university, located in New York City. It was established in 1754 near the Upper West Side Region of Manhattan. It is ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the world. Columbia University was established was established as King's College by royal charter (a formal issued by monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent). Columbia's scholars and scientist have contributed to the development of some major scientific accomplishments.

• 7. University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida Address: Gainesville, FL 32611, Phone: (352) 392-3261 Record Enrollment: 54,906

University of Florida is an American public space-grant, sea-grant and land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. Gainesville traces its origins to 1853, and has been in continuous operation since 1906. It is the third largest university in Florida and the eighth largest single campus university in the United States by enrollment. University of Florida in Gainesville is ranked (tied) as the seventh best university to attend in the United States by U. S. News & World Report.

• 8. Purdue University Global Address: 1515 W Cypress Creek Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, Phone: (954) 515-3000 Record Enrollment: 28,793

Purdue University Global is an adult-serving public university, with most of the classes being offered online. It offers degree courses and fields of study at the associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. Purdue University Global was established in April, 2018 by Purdue's University acquisition of former private for-profit Kaplan University. The school's headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois, the main campus is located in Indianapolis, Indiana for accreditation purposes and the online support centers are located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Chicago, Illinois.

• 9. Marquette University Address: 1250 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233, Phone: (800) 222-6544 Record Enrollment: 11,000

Marquette University is Wisconsin’s largest private university. The student body is comprised of more than 11,000 students that travel from all 50 states and 70 countries to attend. Marquette has a nationally ranked Law School, Graduate School, Graduate School of Management and the only Dentist School in Wisconsin. The university’s undergraduate program is based on nine knowledge areas. Those areas are Business Administrations, Education, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Nursing and Professional Studies, Health Sciences, Communications. Students can also enjoy the various entertainment venues available on Lake Michigan.

• 10. Washington State University Address: Pullman, WA, Phone: (509) 335-3564 Record Enrollment: 26,098

Washington State University is a public institution founded in 1890 that implements a semester-based academic calendar. There are regional locations in Vancouver, Spokane and the Tri-Cities, with the main campus located in Pullman. Washington State has approx. 300 organizations and clubs not including sororities and fraternities for students to choose from. Freshman are required to live on campus unless they are married or over the age of twenty.

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.