How to become a personal trainer

[jm0311]

whats the best way to start with this? what should I look out for as far as certifications go?

please help!

[notgumbel]

Do reps with search button

[askthetrainer]

whats the best way to start with this? what should I look out for as far as certifications go?

please help!

I would suggest you go to the largest and most populous gym in your city and schedule a meeting with the fitness manager to talk and/or shadow first...

Becoming a Personal Trainer

I pretty much poured everything I know about the profession on these pages so take your time...

Information about Personal Trainers

[bringfitback]

whats the best way to start with this? what should I look out for as far as certifications go?

please help!

If you live in Texas, there is a great school called PFTA. This school allows you to become a CPT through the Texas Work Commision, as well as prepares you for both the NASM and NSCA. School website is pftaschools dot com

The school last anywhere from 4 weeks to 15 weeks, depending if you go full time or only on Saturdays.

Good luck!

[unauthorized]

whats the best way to start with this? what should I look out for as far as certifications go?

please help!

search button. This Q get's asked daily here. It's pretty simple
1. what gym?
2. ask the gym management which certifications they accept
3. pick one out of the 20 they accept
4. pass it, and you're now certified

[subieshane]

are you sure you want to do it? Its not so glamorous all the time, id go into detail but im too tired of dealing with clients wanting something for free or being late and wanting full time and listening to them bitch when they dont get it, but ask trainers around your area about the pros and cons of training, not the guy trying to hire you since he'll most likely act like a recruiter and fluff everything.

[jm0311]

thanks. not looking for the glam. But I just like being in the gym setting

Whats an average annual salary like?

[subieshane]

varies, ever heard of the term feast or famine? How good are you at selling yourself and are you doing independent or working for a gym?

[domtrainer]

Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics - they have average salaries for fitness trainers on there.

[Jhertilus]

whats the best way to start with this? what should I look out for as far as certifications go?

please help!

ideally you want to start off with a nationally accredited cert. Skip all the BS $50 certs or certs you get over a weekend. Certifications by the NCCA are a great start.
I'll give you a non exhaustive list
ACE - below average difficulty, CYA and the basics
NSCA - above average dificulty, great with workout programming
NASM - medium difficulty , lots of postural correctiom
ACSM - very hard, very medical
AFAA - easy, great starter cert


Or you could go to a school like NPTI which will give you 400+ hours of experience...the drawback is the cost

If you found a gym that was willing to hire you as an uncertified trainer and kind of bring you along you could skip the NPTI thing

If you decide to get a certification on your own THEN I would say it's a good idea to attend perform better seminars to network with other trainers and get some useful hands on experience.

[penafitness]

whats the best way to start with this? what should I look out for as far as certifications go?

please help!

First figure out where you'd want to work and see what certs they prefer.