Being a personal trainer is a great way to stay in shape, have some fun, and keep others active. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it usually comes with a pretty nice paycheck, too!
Although there are plenty of things that a personal trainer does, first and foremost, a personal trainer assists clients in setting and reaching their fitness goals. This could include weight loss, muscle gain, injury prevention, improved mobility or strength, or any other goals that a person is looking to reach!
Personal trainers may work at a gym or fitness studio, or they may offer their services to clients in their homes. But that’s not all. There are different specializations and types of personal trainers.
If you want to become a personal trainer yourself, keep reading. This article includes a comprehensive guide on how to become a personal trainer which covers the necessary qualifications and certifications, required skill sets, employment opportunities, and strategies for starting a business or finding a job.
First Things First: What Is a Personal Trainer?
Before we dive into how to become a personal trainer, let’s take a second to talk about what they are.
Personal trainers are people who create safe, specific, and tailored exercise plans for individuals are groups. You should note that they’re different from other kinds of exercise professionals.
Here are a couple of exercise professionals that commonly get conflated with personal trainers:
- Fitness trainers focus on overall fitness and health
- Exercise specialists help clients with specific conditions or concerns such as pregnancy or injury rehabilitation.
- Health coaches provide advice and support to clients in all aspects of life, including diet and stress management.
- Bodybuilding and strength training coaches provide guidance to clients who want to improve their strength, flexibility, or physique.
Deciding if Personal Training is Right for You
Now that we know what a personal trainer is, it’s time to figure out whether you should actually become one or not There are both pros and cons to becoming a personal trainer, and t’s important to weigh these before embarking on this career path.
Let’s go over each of them in a little bit more detail.
Pros
When it comes to being a personal trainer, a couple of the pros include:
- You get to help people: Personal training allows you to help others to achieve their fitness and wellness goals, which can be incredibly rewarding.
- Flexibility: Personal trainers can work in a variety of settings, such as gyms, fitness centers, or even as self-employed individuals, giving you plenty of options regarding work hours and schedules.
- Stay fit: Personal trainers typically stay in good shape themselves, simply by doing their job.
Cons
On the contrary, there are also a few reasons why you might not want to be a personal trainer. A couple of things you’ll want to keep in mind include:
- High competition: There are many personal trainers, so it can be challenging to stand out in this field.
- Unpredictable income: As a personal trainer, you may not have a stable income stream, which can make it difficult to plan your finances.
- Physical demands: Personal trainers need to be fit and energetic themselves, which can be demanding on the body. The job may take a toll if you don’t properly care for yourself.
However, as long as you’re aware that these could be potential downsides to getting a job, you’re not likely to have too many issues.
Soft Skills for Personal Trainers
Personal training is all about helping others achieve their goals, and it takes a certain kind of person to excel in this field. If you want to be a personal trainer, you’re going to have to have a couple of key skills, including:
- Time management skills: You’ll often need to manage multiple sessions throughout the day, making sure you’re finishing on time with satisfied clients.
- Communication skills: You’ll need to communicate effectively with your clients to understand their fitness goals and how to motivate them.
- Customer service: Client retention is essential for an independent personal training business. You will need to provide excellent customer service and continually monitor their progress to meet their needs.
- Flexibility: You’ll need to adapt to different types of clients, working with older or overweight individuals as comfortably as you work with athletes.
- Problem-solving: As a personal trainer, adaptability is key. Clients bring their fears and challenges, and it’s your job to help them work through them.
Remember, these are just some of the soft skills you’ll need. You’ll also need exercise skills, an understanding of body anatomy, and more.
The Steps to Becoming a Personal Trainer
Okay, so let’s say you’ve weighed the pros and cons of being a personal trainer and you’ve decided to take the leap. Now all that’s left is to actually do the thing!
In order to become a personal trainer, you’ll need to follow a couple of key steps. Let me break down the different steps required to become a certified personal trainer and provide more information on each step.
Step 1: Get a High School Education and AED/CPR Certification
To get started as a personal trainer, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent. You should also become certified in first aid and CPR. Many organizations offer AED/CPR courses that you can complete in just one day, making this piece pretty easy.
Step 2: Prepare for Personal Trainer Certification
To become a certified personal trainer, you must meet the eligibility requirements for and enroll in a certification course. This includes study material, gaining experience in the field, and taking a final the exam.
Many certification organizations offer their courses online, and each course has its requirements and specifics. The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) offers various certification programs, including the Certified Personal Trainer program.
Another example is the American Council on Exercise‘s (ACE) certification program, which has a functional training specialty that focuses on training movements for everyday life.
You may also consider finding a mentor or working as an assistant to a more experienced personal trainer to gain experience and develop your skills.
Step 3: Take the Certification Examination
After preparing for the certification exam, you must take and pass it. Typically, certification exams are made up of multiple-choice questions and take about an hour to complete.
There are some certifications that also involve an in-person portion, where you’ll be required to give an exercise class yourself. The exact methodology will vary depending on your chosen certification.
For example, you can take the NASM certification exam at a proctored testing center near you, and ACE’s personal training certification exams are computer-based only.
Step 4: Choose a Fitness Specialty
Personal trainers typically choose a fitness specialty that they enjoy and are passionate about, such as strength training, weight loss, or sports conditioning.
Specializing in a specific area can help you stand out as a trainer and help clients meet their specific goals. Although this isn’t a required step, it can help you stand out from the crowd and can make getting clients a whole lot easier..
Step 5: Building a Portfolio
It’s essential to develop a portfolio of successful client training sessions and customized fitness plans to showcase your skills as a personal trainer. This can help you build trust with potential clients and stand out in a competitive industry.
For example, you may choose to document your clients’ progress, such as before-and-after pictures that show the results of their training sessions. You may also create a video portfolio that showcases your training style and expertise.
Step 6: Get a Job
With your portfolio in hand, you’re ready to head out to job interviews and actually land a position! You’ll want to check out fitness clubs, gyms, and dance centers to see who might be hiring.
Alternatively, you can start your own studio or rent out studio space to start private lessons. These options are much more costly, however, so they can be a bit tougher for newly certified trainers.
Hard Skills Required for Personal Trainers
Earlier, we talked about soft skills that you’ll have to have if you want to be a personal trainer. However, you’ll also need some soft skills. Let’s go over a few of these soft skills to help you out.
Assessment of Fitness Level
Being able to assess your client’s fitness level is critical in personal training. This skill involves evaluating your client’s physical capabilities, identifying their strengths, and finding areas that require improvement.
For this skill, you’ll need to learn to use tools like body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage to evaluate your clients. You’ll also need to take into consideration their lifestyle habits, their workout history, and their overall fitness goals to create an accurate assessment.
Nutrition and Weight Management
One of the core functions of personal training is helping clients manage their nutrition and weight. This skill involves educating clients on maintaining a balanced diet and managing their weight.
As a personal trainer, this involves educating clients about healthy eating and supplementing their workout regimen with proper nutrition. You’ll need to know about things like appropriate supplements and micro and macronutrients in order to provide proper recommendations for your clients.
Exercise Mechanisms
Finally, personal trainers must have extensive knowledge of exercise mechanisms and control the risk of injury during workouts. Mastery of exercise mechanisms includes knowing the appropriate positions to execute workouts and how to spot potential problems.
Always update yourself on the latest workout mechanisms, research, and trends in the industry. That way, you’re up to date on any new clinical research that could affect your techniques.
Financial Help for Personal Training Certifications
When it comes to pursuing a career in personal training, it can be a pretty big financial investment. That can make getting your certification a bit tricky.
Luckily, there are a variety of opportunities available to help defray the costs of certification and education. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Scholarship Opportunities
One option to explore is scholarship opportunities. Depending on where you study, you may be able to get scholarships that help you complete your certification.
Keep in mind that these are often only available at colleges and universities.
Discounts
Another option is to look for discounts. Some organizations run discounts or list their courses on Groupon, which can make it easier for you to get your certification.
Financing
Sometimes, you can also use financing and payment plans. That way, you can pay for your course over time rather than in one big lump sum, making it more accessible.
For instance, the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) offers its own financing options for those pursuing their CPT certification.
Employment Opportunities for Certified Personal Trainers
As a personal trainer, your employment opportunities may vary depending on your goals, experience, and level of certification. As mentioned earlier, some of the most common employment settings for personal trainers include commercial gyms and fitness centers, corporate wellness programs, and private training studios.
If you are interested in more specialized training areas, you may also consider working with competitive athletes or in corrective exercise or injury rehabilitation.
Personal trainers can also become fitness directors or gym owners.
Fitness directors are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a gym or fitness center while also managing and mentoring a team of personal trainers.
Gym owners, on the other hand, have the opportunity to own their own businesses and control their own schedules.
A Breakdown of the Income Opportunities for Personal Trainers
Now that you know what kinds of employment opportunities are out there, you might want to know just what the income is going to be like.
Usually, personal trainers charge a flat rate per session, and prices will vary based on location and the trainer’s experience and qualifications. Some trainers may also earn commissions or bonuses for achieving certain milestones and retaining a steady, reliable customer base. As a result, your income can vary quite a bit.
However, in general, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported personal trainers’ mean annual wage was $40,700
Now, if that doesn’t sound like enough to you, don’t panic. You can also build up your income by offering additional services such as nutrition counseling or group training classes to increase your income further.
Finding a Personal Training Job
When it comes to finding a personal training job, you need to be proactive and creative. A couple of ways that you can get out there and start looking for a personal training job include:
- Job Boards, Career Websites, and Social Media: There are many online communities and job boards that are dedicated to fitness-related professions. You can create a profile on these websites and start networking with other professionals in the industry. You can also keep an eye on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram for networking opportunities.
- Visiting Gyms and Training Studios: It’s essential to visit local gyms and training studios that you’re interested in working with. Introduce yourself to the staff and offer your services if they are hiring.
- Referrals from Mentors and Advisors: Mentors and advisors can be a valuable resource when you’re starting out in the fitness industry. If you have a mentor or coach, ask them for referrals or suggestions on finding a job that fits your skill set.
Whichever strategy you choose, the key is to be persistent and don’t give up. Finding a personal training job can take time, but with effort and a little creativity, you will eventually find the right opportunity.
Starting Your Own Personal Training Business
While most personal trainers work at already established businesses, remember that you’re also able to launch your own fitness studio!
While this can be challenging, it can also be a great way to increase your income. If you want to start your own business, you’ll need to follow the following steps.
Step One: Develop Your Idea
The first thing to do when starting your own business is to think about what makes you unique. Identify what services you offer that other trainers don’t, and hone in on that.
You’ll also want to do some research to see what other personal trainers in your area are offering. Get a feel for the going rates in your area and for what the demand is like.
With those steps out of the way, you’re ready to create a business plan outlining your services, target audience, financial projections, and marketing strategies. This will serve as a roadmap for your business and help you stay focused on your goals.
Step Two: Launch Your Business
Once you’ve got your roadmap made, it’s time to actually launch your business. You’ll want to start by getting any legal considerations out of the way, such as:
- Registering your business: Register your business with your state and obtain any necessary licenses and permits.
- Purchasing insurance: Purchase liability insurance to protect yourself and your business from potential lawsuits.
- Getting familiar with HIPAA: Familiarize yourself with HIPAA regulations if you plan to offer any health or nutrition advice.
Once you’ve handled those legal aspects, it’s time to start marketing. Use social media to showcase your work and past results to potential clients. You can also use word of mouth to help tell people about your new business.
Step Three: Hiring Support
As your business grows, consider hiring additional personal trainers to work under your brand. This is what will help you keep up with demand and continue to be successful.
You can also consider hiring administrative support or outsourcing tasks like billing, scheduling, and social media management.
Next Steps: Start Your Career as a Personal Trainer
Becoming a personal trainer can be an exciting and rewarding career choice. With hard work, passion, and commitment, your dream of becoming a personal trainer can be accomplished.
So, it’s time to put away the hesitation and get moving. Get out there and show the world what you’ve got and how you can be the next big personal trainer!