In the1970s, scantily dressed young women in colorful leotards conducted exercise classes in small gyms, while amply muscled bodybuilders assisted their clients on the bench press. Back then, being in shape and looking the part were the major requirements for fitness trainers. Then, in 1983, organizations such as the American Council on Exercise and the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America introduced fitness instructor certification programs. Now, certification is a requirement for fitness center employment, but the certification process is not an easy walk on a treadmill.
Function
Personal trainers are people who work best in interpersonal, one-to-one or small group settings. Their clients are often older people or people with weight problems, injuries or motivational issues. Thus trainers may require more medical knowledge than group exercise instructors. While the social aspects of a group exercise class often keep people motivated and compliant, personal trainers do not not benefit from group energy, so they must find other ways of intrinsically motivating their clients. If the client becomes too attached to a trainer, the motivation may be extrinsic, meaning that the client is getting in shape for her trainer, not herself. Basic knowledge of psychology is helpful. Personal trainers usually work in the weight room so they must understand program design, which includes setting the proper weight and prescribing the appropriate sets and repetitions. They must also learn the testing and screening procedures.
Certification
Most certification exams require you to identify the major muscle groups of the body, their primary movements and their planes of motion. Examples of primary movements include flexion or bending, extension or straightening, abduction, which is moving a limb toward the center of the body or adduction, which is moving the limb away from the body. You will also be tested on the planes of motion. The sagital plane is associated with forward and backward movement, the frontal plane is side-to-side movement and the transverse is rotational movement. The energy systems segment of the exam is often the most complex. The ATP-PC system supports short bursts of high-intensity exercise, the glycolic system is used for high-intensity activities lasting from 45 to 240 seconds, and the oxidative system supports aerobic exercise lasting more than 240 seconds. Advanced certifications focus on special clients, such as pregnant women, seniors and those with arthritis or post-rehabilitation.
Salary
Personal trainers can expect to spend at least a few hundred dollars a year on certification and continuing education, so their salary must justify their expenses. Fortunately, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a "much faster than average" growth in this profession, which, according to their website, implies a 20 percent increase in fitness trainer jobs between 2008 and 2018. The results of the 2010 American Council on Exercise Salary Survey indicate that full-time personal trainers earn an annual average of $53,323, while part-time trainers, working about 16 weekly hours, earn $18,650. Full-time trainers with advanced certifications earned $55,771, and part time trainers with advanced certifications earned $20,588. Highest salaries were in the Northeast, and lowest salaries were in the Northwest. These salaries represent a 19 percent increase since 2005.
Prevention/Solution
A current CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a prerequisite for fitness center employment. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association offer certification programs, which must be renewed every two years. Most fitness centers now have defibrillators, so take a certification program that teaches you how to use them.
Benefits
Benefits are the slippery slope of the fitness trainer industry. Self-employed trainers do not have health insurance, retirement plans or vacation pay. Some fitness centers may offer benefits to trainers who work 20 hours a week. Others have more stringent requirements but will allow you to combine personal training hours with group exercise, sales or front-desk duties to make the minimum hours.
Time Frame
Fitness trainer education is an ongoing process. You must maintain your certification by attending conferences, workshops or taking online quizzes. As exercise research methods gain sophistication, exercise theories evolve. Staying abreast of the latest the latest developments is crucial for fitness trainers.
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Fitness Workers
- American Heart Association CPR Guidelines
- American Red Cross CPR
- American Council on Exercise Fitness Salary Survey
- Starting a Personal Training Business: Personal Training School Comparison
- American College of Sports Medicine: Certified Personal Trainer Scope of Practice
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