Personal trainers design exercise programs to help their clients meet fitness goals and show their clients how to exercise for maximum benefit while preventing injuries. Trainers may also work with medical personnel to design fitness programs for physical and cardiac rehabilitation. Personal trainers need knowledge of the muscular system, how the body responds to exercise and basic body mechanics. In the U.S., an independent personal trainer can make $60 an hour or more, depending on geographic location, his areas of expertise and the results he achieves with his clients.
Step 1
Decide what type of training you want. Some trainers focus on body building while others specialize in weight loss. You may also want to consider therapeutic training, such as in a physical therapy setting, or working with special populations, such as the disabled or super obese. There are also aquatic personal trainers who specialize in water training.
Step 2
Sign up for a personal trainer course that matches your goals. Agencies such as the American Council on Exercise, American College of Sports Medicine and Aquatic Exercise Association offer home-study courses and weekend workshops. Not all courses are created equal; choose an organization accredited by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence to ensure they have a reputable program.
Step 3
Practice what you have learned. A course will give you the basics, but the best way to learn how to train is to actually train. Create a program for a friend or assist an actual trainer in the gym to get a feel for what it's like to actually work with a client.
Step 4
Get liability insurance and CPR training before you take on clients. The liability insurance will protect you if a client gets injured, and CPR gives you the tools to handle emergencies. Some gyms may also require that you carry your own insurance and CPR certification. Some personal trainer courses may offer CPR as part of their course materials.
Step 5
Take the exam offered by the same agency that provided your training materials. The agency may offer computerized exams at test centers in your area, or you may need to attend a workshop to complete the exam. Other agencies may send you a written exam to be completed and mailed back. Consult your certifying agency to determine how to schedule your exam.
Tips and Warnings
- Some colleges and universities offer personal trainer and exercise science degree programs, which are longer in duration and involve more in-depth training than the weekend workshops or home-study courses. At the end of the college courses, students can sit for a certifying exam from an accredited agency, such as the American Council on Exercise.
Things You'll Need
- Personal trainer course materials
References
- "Personal Trainer Manual"; American Council on Exercise; 2000
- StateUniversity.com: Personal Trainer Job Description
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