Personal trainers lead, instruct and motivate people to meet personal fitness and healthy living goals. As a personal trainer you may be self-employed or work at a health club. Personal trainers are not required to be certified; however, receiving certification before seeking employment may better your chances of being hired by a fitness organization.
Job Description
As a personal trainer, you will be in charge of providing information and instruction to clients on exercise activities, cardiovascular fitness, strength training and stretching techniques. You may be asked to work in hospitals, health clubs, country clubs, universities, resorts and in the homes of clients. You will assess an initial level of fitness and build a specialized program that will help address the clients' needs. As a personal trainer you will chart progress, demonstrate various exercises and help clients improve their exercise techniques.
Certifications and Qualifications
Certification isn't required to start a career in personal training; however, most institutions hire trainers certified by one of the leading fitness organizations, such as the American College of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, National Strength and Conditioning Association or the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Most certifying organizations require that you have a high school diploma, be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and pass an exam containing written and practical sections dealing with human physiology, exercise techniques, assessment of client fitness levels and development of exercise programs.
Salary Potential
The median annual wages of an individual working as a personal trainer were $29,210 as of May 2008. The middle 50 percent of personal trainers made between $19,610 and $44,420 a year. The bottom 10 percent of personal trainers earned less than $16,120, while the top 10 percent earned $60,760 or more. This does not include the earnings levels of those who are self-employed. The salary of a successful self-employed personal trainer can be significantly higher.
Career Outlook
As health care costs rise, more individuals and organizations see the benefit in regular fitness in their lives. The current movement toward healthier living will likely lead to more employment opportunities for personal trainers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs for fitness workers are expected to increase 29 percent during the 2008 to 2018 decade. This growth rate is much faster than the average for all occupations.
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