According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many of the careers in the sports and fitness fields -- including personal training, coaching and athletic training -- are expected to grow substantially until at least 2018, with potential for continued growth after that date. Certification and a part-time job can help you get your foot in the door for more lucrative full-time positions.
Personal Trainer
Personal trainers often work one-on-one or in small groups with clients at gyms or fitness centers. A number of organizations such as the American Council on Exercise, the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the National Academy of Sports Medicine offer highly recognized personal training certification programs. Some of these certifications require a four-year degree before you can sit for the exam, so do some research before choosing the right certification for you. Once you're certified, you can expect to spend a fair amount of your time selling your services to potential clients. You might want to look for fitness centers in more affluent areas, where personal training is a common investment. According to the American Council on Exercise, both part- and full-time personal trainers can expect to average around $25 per training hour as of 2010, but keep in mind that if you're paid on commission, you won't receive reimbursement for the hours spent recruiting clients or designing programs.
Athletic Trainer
Athletic trainers work with athletes primarily at the high school, college and professional level. They often act as an intermediary between coaches and doctors, treating injuries and illnesses and making sure that athletes are ready to return to the court or field after an injury. Athletic training requires at least a bachelor's degree as well as certification from the National Athletic Trainer's Association. You can expect to work long hours monitoring practices and games and also providing early morning and afternoon treatments to injured athletes. The pay varies widely based on where in the country you're practicing and what level of athletes you're treating.
Coach
Almost any sport requires coaches to instruct athletes on play and strategy, spurring them on toward better performance. If you want to pursue a coaching career at the middle school, high school or college level, you should have a college degree in exercise science or physical education. Because coaches often are expected to teach another subject as well, you may need to receive certification in a separate subject area.
If you want to coach club teams, you probably won't need a degree in the field, but you will need expert knowledge and experience in the sport. You also will have to continually prove your coaching ability, because most parents won't pay a lot of money for their children to participate on a poorly coached club team.
References
- ACE: Considering a Career Change? Jobs for Fitness Professionals Are Expected to Grow 27% by 2016
- American College of Sports Medicine: Careers in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science
- American College of Sports Medicine: Fitness/Wellness-Related Career Opportunities
- United States Department of Labor: Selected Occupational Projections Data
- ACE: 2010 Salary Survey Results
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