Getting fit is becoming more and more popular with people, especially because we’re starting to realize how important it is to be healthy and lead a better lifestyle. Personal trainers have been in high demand over the last few years because many people nowadays want to live a healthy lifestyle. If you love training and working out, and have the necessary people skills then becoming a personal trainer could be the right career for you. This career can also be very fulfilling as it is all about helping people achieve their goals. However, being a fitness enthusiast isn’t the only requirement. There are a few things that you need to do first like getting certified, choosing a specialty, and finding a job. So, keep reading to learn how you can become a personal trainer.
Get Certified
The first step you should take in order to begin your career as a personal trainer is to get certified. It is essential that you get certified by an accredited organization so do your research before taking any further steps. You should also find out if the exam is taken online or on-site if you must attend a workshop before the exam, the cost, whether the certification is national or international, and how to renew it. If you plan to work with a specific client or gym, then you should first ask them about their certificate requirements.
Choose Your Speciality
Choosing a specialty is a very important step. Some people choose to do this after working with different types of clients and determining which type they enjoy working with the most. You can also take more classes and courses in order to get a specialty certificate. Your choice of specialty will make you more popular and in demand as many clients prefer specialized trainers, and you can also charge more according to your specialty. Getting a specialty certification won’t be hard; you will find that many organizations offer them. Additionally, they offer discounts for applicants who have a basic certification. Some of the specialties that you should consider include working with athletes, helping clients lose weight, medical exercises, nutrition, or working with senior citizens.
Personal Trainer Salary
The first question that comes to mind when you start a new job is how much will you get paid? The fastest and easiest way to make money as a personal trainer is by working at a gym. However, not all gyms pay the same which is why you need to research different gyms until you find one that offers the PT salary that is right for you at this stage of your career. If you plan to be a private trainer then you should make sure to draft a contract that can guarantee your rights. You should include in the contract your payments, when and how you will get paid, and you should include a penalty for late-payments and cancelation.
Keep Your Certification Current
The best way to keep your certification current is to continue your education. There are new developments every day in the world of nutrition and fitness so you must remain updated. You will find in any certifying organization many courses, workshops, and other methods of earning credits and getting the information and knowledge required to further your career. There are different degrees that you can choose from like exercise science or exercise physiology. Ensure you get CPR training as well in case any of your clients suffer cardiac arrest during training. Being CPR certified will enable you to save someone’s life which will make your clients feel more confident and safe around you.
Become Successful
If you want to be indispensable in this business then you should become successful. This is easier than done but it isn’t impossible. It requires hard work, experience, skills, and talent. Your certification may open doors for you to work at certain gyms or with certain clients but it is your hard work and success that will help keep these jobs and even open more doors for you. Being a good personal trainer requires more than fitness, you should also have the necessary people skills. You should listen to your clients, connect with them, and give feedback.
Being a personal trainer isn’t just a job, it is also a lifestyle as it allows you to work on yourself to become better physically, mentally, and emotionally. This career is also in high demand right now so if you feel that you have the required skills for it you should get certified, choose a specialty, learn about the salary, continue your education, and work hard to become successful and dispensable.
