Are you passionate about fitness? Do you find yourself working out on your time or talking with friends about the latest workout routine that they are doing? If so, becoming a personal trainer is the right idea for you.
Becoming a fully qualified personal trainer takes dedication and specialized training. This blog post will outline the steps to becoming qualified as a personal trainer!
How to Become a Qualified Personal Trainer
Below are the key steps that you should take to become a fully qualified personal trainer:
1. Have the Key Prerequisites Checked to Ascertain You meet Requirements
To become a fully qualified personal trainer, you must be in reasonably good physical condition. It makes sense that if you want to help others who are not as fit as yourself, you should understand what it is like to be in their shoes! In addition, there are some key prerequisites that the most successful personal trainers have.
These include:
- A strong desire to help others and devotion to fitness
- A minimum of a high school education
- CPR/AER certification
2. Decide Upon Your Training Methodology
You may choose to follow different training methodologies, including bodybuilding, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), or complete fitness. If you want to become a strength and conditioning trainer, you will focus on two training methodologies.
If you are undecided, it might be helpful to attend a personal training certification workshop to understand better the different types of personal training and which one may be a good fit for you.
3. Choose the Right Certification
There are different personal training certifications that you can choose from, but ensure there is an accreditation for the certificate through a reputable organization.
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) are highly respected organizations for personal training certifications.
Study Active, CIMSPA endorsed, is another reputable institution that offers top personal trainer courses.
4. Complete the Education
If you plan on taking a certification course, you will need to complete all of the education requirements. However, if you plan to attend college, the education requirement differs depending on what degree track you wish to follow.
5. Get Experience
To become a successful personal trainer, gaining experience is essential. You can do it in various ways, such as working at a local gym or becoming a certified personal trainer. As you gain experience, ensure that you keep a portfolio of your work to show potential clients.
6. Start a Business
Once you have completed all the steps and have gained some experience, it is time to start your business. You can do it by setting up a website or social media page and marketing yourself as a personal trainer. Don’t forget to network with other trainers in the area to establish yourself as an authority figure in your community.
7. Gain Credibility With Your Clients
Gaining credibility with your clients will depend on how you act around them. Some ways that you can show that you are competent to include staying up to date on current issues and having a professional appearance. It builds trust between you and your client; it will be challenging to help them meet their fitness goals without trust.
Wrap Up
Becoming a personal trainer is one of the most rewarding jobs that you can have. Not only do you get to help people reach their fitness goals, but you can also set your schedule. Just remember that it does take work and dedication to become successful. With these seven steps, you should be well on your way to becoming a successful personal trainer.