Personal Training is one of the fastest growing career options today. When you become a personal trainer you not only meet and work with different kinds of people, but also earn a decent income. In order to make personal training a lucrative career, you do need to make yourself adept at the A-to-Z of the profession.
Basic Essentials: The two primary requirements to become a personal trainer are: education and aptitude.
Education: You need to know everything about the human anatomy, nutrition and exercise structures if you want to become a personal trainer. You can either take up academic classes to get a degree or you can take up a certification course from any of the following seven national certifying agencies: American Council on Exercise, Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, American College of Sports Medicine, National Academy of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, International Sports Sciences Association, and American Dietetic Association. The certification fees, depending upon the agency, vary from $175 to $600.
Physical Education, Human Kinetics, Kinesiology, and Human Movement Science programs are some of your academic options, after which you get a Bachelor’s Degree. Before enrolling for the courses, you should survey the reference books, visit a counselor and perhaps chat up with ex-students. If you find the groundwork knowledge interesting, and in line with your career goals, then taking up such a program is the best way to go about becoming a personal trainer.
Aptitude: If you want to become a good personal trainer, you need to check yourself for or inculcate within yourself some positive qualities such as:
- Friendly Attitude
- Outgoing Personality
- Enthusiasm and Passion
- Cool and Calm demeanor
- Teaching and listening skills
- Physical and mental flexibility
Continuing Education: Another requirement for those who want to become a personal trainer is constantly updation of knowledge. Getting certified is only the first step; you need to constantly add to your knowledge. There are several journals you should take to reading in your spare time. Some of these are: ACSM Health and Fitness Journal, IDEA Source and IDEA Personal Trainer and NSCA Strength and Conditioning Journal. You also need to visit other health clubs regularly to learn the new techniques being used.
Special Certification is essential to:
- Further enhance your knowledge
- Further enhance your skills
- Broaden your customer base
- Earn a higher income
Insurance: Insurance is a must to protect yourself and your clients from personal injury as well as damage to furniture and other property. Fitness activities are unpredictable and mishap may occur. The liability insurance, depending upon the terms, will cost you from $200 to $500 a year.
Setting up business: Practice is the only way of gaining the much-required experience. You can offer your services to family and friends, or even join as a junior trainer in a gymnasium while you are undergoing a certification course. Once you become a personal trainer you can offer your services as a contractor to any of the health clubs in your neighborhood. You can also offer your services on contract to corporate houses to run employee-health programs. You can even give personal training at individual homes. The earning potential is more here though you need excellent personal contact to achieve this. You can charge a fee from $25-$75 per hour. The fee is directly proportional to your background, profile and client list.
Publicity: You need to visit health clubs and corporate houses personally and make a pitch for a contract. The first contract will be the most difficult. You may even have to work as a trainer to prove that you have the requisite aptitude and skills. However, each contact that you make will be invaluable. It will open up a new business opportunity. That is why there is no better way to grow in this business than through personal networking.
