Concerns about staying healthy and preventing illness have made personal fitness training one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For people who thrive on helping others assess their fitness levels and reach nutrition and weight loss goals, training for the career can be a good investment. Preparing yourself to succeed as a personal fitness trainer starts with formal education, followed by certification and a lifetime of continuing education course work.
Step 1
Obtain a bachelor's or an associate's degree in a field related to fitness. An increasing number of fitness clubs, schools and other institutions that hire fitness experts require personal trainers to have a bachelor's degree in fields such as exercise science, physical education or nutrition, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While some employers may hire a person with a certification in lieu of a college degree, employers that require a bachelor's degree likely will ask that you also have certification.
Step 2
Study for and pass a personal fitness trainer certification exam. Generally, personal trainers must obtain certification from an accredited fitness organization before they can begin working with clients, notes the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The certification exam offered by the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit certification, education and training organization founded in 1985, tests your knowledge of fitness trainer responsibilities such as screening a client's risk factors, assessing a client's fitness level and developing an exercise program for a client.
Step 3
Take continuing education classes. Specialized course work offered online or in concert with industry conferences will deepen your knowledge of topics within the field, such as designing exercise programs for specific age groups. Continuing education also provides the most current research on nutrition, exercise science and professional ethics. The American Council on Exercise recommends taking courses that help you adapt to the needs of your current and future clients.
Tips and Warnings
- Pilates and yoga teachers need specialized training in their particular method of exercise, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many certifying organizations require that you obtain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation before taking their exam.
- After passing your first certification exam, you must earn recertification every two years by completing continuing education classes, attending fitness-related conferences, writing and publishing articles or making presentations.
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