There is no central authority that governs fitness instructor certification. Legally, anybody can set up shop as a fitness instructor; however, Oregon-based fitness coach Ben Cohn advises that most health clubs require fitness instructors to have certification from a reputable school in order to teach at their facility. This is mostly a liability issue, helping to avoid claims of negligence if somebody gets hurt while training.
Kinds of Certification
Says Cohn, the most common kinds of fitness instructor certification are personal trainer and group fitness. These are demanded by most health clubs. You can also get certifications in specific methods or classes, such as kettlebell training, yoga or step aerobics. A third kind of fitness instructor certification is in a proprietary training system, such as CrossFit. These certifications include both training in the method and a license to use the inherent intellectual properties.
Classes
According to fitness certification school the Cooper Institute, general fitness instructor requirements usually include training in exercise science, first aid, sports psychology, physiology and nutrition. Training in specific methods, including proprietary systems, will also include training the techniques of that exercise program. Kettlebell training, for example, would include training in the lifts and motions most effective when using kettlebells.
Diploma Mills
Cohn warns that diploma mills can be a problem in fitness industry training. These schools don't check to see if students complete their work and often give certifications for completing classes with little real value. Worse, many health clubs know the names of the worst culprits and won't hire people who've spent hundreds or thousands on a diploma mill certificate. Although there are many quality programs, proprietary systems are often the worst offenders in this department.
Earning Potential
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) compiles earnings data on professionals in all types of jobs. According to the BLS, mean annual salary for certified fitness instructors fell between $30,000 and $37,000 in 2009.
Growth Potential
The BLS expects certified fitness instructor jobs to grow much faster than average between 2008 and 2018, projecting a 29-percent growth in opportunities during that decade. This is owing to aging baby boomers concerned with staying healthy into old age plus a nationwide reduction in physical education classes and sports programs in public schools.
References
- Ben Cohn; Fitness Coach; Hillsboro, OR
- "Cooper Institute Group Fitness Trainer;" Cooper Institute; 2003
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Fitness Jobs
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