A personal trainer develops a fitness program tailored to the needs and abilities of her client. She must take into account any health conditions or physical limitations, the client's particular fitness goal and the client's ability and inclination to stick to prescribed exercises separate from the trainer. She must develop a rapport with the client, so he is more likely to trust her with his safety and follow her advice, and she must guide him through each exercise so he understands the benefits and knows how to perform it safely and effectively. A trainer is only as good as her foundation, which can take various forms.
Education
Formal education isn't absolutely necessary to be a personal trainer, but an understanding of biology, anatomy and chemistry is helpful in learning the way muscle development and aerobic conditioning happen. Some personal trainers have only a high school education, while others have advanced degrees in sports medicine, nutrition and exercise science. The more education you have, the deeper your understanding of the subject matter will be. This enables you to provide more complete advice and guidance to your clients, and can result in better results.
Certification
Laws vary by state, but many states don't even require you to be certified as a personal trainer. When it comes time to find employment, a certification goes a long way in establishing your knowledge base and your client's trust. There is no central certifying body, but many national organizations offer home-study courses that prepare you to take a certification exam. You'll study body mechanics, nutrition, instructional techniques and safety, and learn how to assess your clients risk level to better plan an appropriate fitness routine. To be certified, you must be at least 18 years old and be certified in CPR and AED.
Employment
Personal trainers work in gyms or community centers, or may freelance. Freelancers work out of clients homes, their own homes, or may even pay a fee to train clients in a gym without being formally employed by that gym. Most gyms require you to be certified so they have some assurance of your capability and understanding of the field, and freelancers may not be able to find liability insurance without certification. Freelancers generally set their own hours, with the understanding that they must be available when their clients are for higher client retention. Gyms may require a set schedule, but others sell personal training sessions on an "appointment-only" basis and require that the trainer only show up when an appointment is scheduled.
Continuing Education
Continuing education requirements vary according to the organization from which you obtain your certification. Most organizations require you to accumulate a certain number of credits every year or two to maintain your certification, and credits may be acquired by taking specialized classes, seminars, or even home-study courses. Continuing education credits involve enrollment fees, for which the freelance trainer is responsible, but some gyms pay the fees for their trainers in the interest of providing better training for their members.
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