How old were you when you got into Personal Training?

[Duke Nukem]

After nearly 10 years working as a security guard i am looking at changing careers. I ve spent the last 2 years getting fit and it has become a large part of my life. So much so that i could see myself working in the fitness industry. Here in Australia there are 12 week courses to become a PT but i would rather do the 2 year course at Tafe which is more highly regarded here. I ve just turned 27 so if i did the 2 year course i would be atleast 29 closer to 30.Alot of the trainers at my gym are younger than myself and i was wondering if it is a young persons profession. How old were you guys when you got into personal trainer? What would be some of the advantages/disadvantages of becoming a Personal Trainer a little later in life?
Cheers

[Keltron]

I was 28 and I looked like crap. Hadn't worked out in ages.

[lilmanthatcould]

Got in at 19yo

If anything I would thinking being older would help you. Alot of people see young age as "inexperience" and even if your 30 with 1 year of experience you automatically seem to have 10x more experiance then the 20yo with 2 years.

Why don't you do the 12 week course (providing it will get you a job) and work as a trainer while completing the two year course

[KyleAaron]

Almost 38 when I started the first course, almost 40 now.

Older trainers have an advantage over younger trainers. The only advantage the young have is that they're cheap. Our society is agist and sexist, younger trainers are perceived as more "fun" but clueless; older trainers are perceived as more serious, experienced and knowledgeable. For group training, bootcamps etc the younger trainers may have a slight advantage in recruiting clients, for personal training, older trainers have the advantage. After all, most clients are 30-50 years old. Not many 20 year old clients, and few of the younger ones are male.

Women trainers are perceived as more social and chatty, men as more likely to work you harder. This is particularly true if the person has strength or sports goals.

In both age and gender, the prejudice is slight, so that a trainer's behaviour and demonstrated knowledge can overcome it. But that's how they're starting out.

[Jbonito]

I started when I was 18 opened up a business by 19 and I am now expanding to two locations at 21. Don't ever let your age be an issue (or an excuse) if you want something go after it!

[jamezgt]

18 :]

[TheDude8734]

I started training last fall (Nov 2010) and am working at a local gym where I am currently the youngest and only male trainer here. So I am somewhat a noob in the field, but I have a steady amount of hours and experience with a vast clientel to date. There can be a case made for benefits to the age differences, but that will differ for each client and what they personally prefer. The gym environment in which you are working can also be an influence, as some gyms attract certain clientel based on what programs are offered, equipment available, environment, etc.

I say not to worry about your current age, or the age you will be by the time you start.
If you are really interested in a career in the field of PT and you know that it is what you want to do, then I absolutely think you should go with the approach that will give you an advantage that a more prestigious program can offer. Look at it as an investment in what you want to pursue.

When it comes down to it, you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in the effort and time to provide a quality product for those who seek your help you will not have a problem in this field of work.
Your satisfied clients will either A. Purchase more sessions B. Remember you for future session purchases C. Tell others in the gym how you provided a good workout; or D. All of the above.
Let your sessions do the talking for you, not your age, besides age is just a number.

One thing I want to note is that the process of becoming certified is only the start of the learning process. You will find that through the beginning you will find your preferences and style as to what you like to offer clients who look to you for help. This profession involves constant research and experimentation with new ideas and theories. The ability to evolve and modify based on each client and session/situation is key to your sucess as a trainer

These are just a few things I've found along the way of what is just the beginning of my training career, but I hope this helps you in your start as well.

[jaymac90]

I just turned 21 and will be certified within the month. The one thing with age for me is since I'm young, I'm going to work my a$$ of because I have something to prove and that I actually understand how to pt.

[STEALTHCAT]

After nearly 10 years working as a security guard i am looking at changing careers. I ve spent the last 2 years getting fit and it has become a large part of my life. So much so that i could see myself working in the fitness industry. Here in Australia there are 12 week courses to become a PT but i would rather do the 2 year course at Tafe which is more highly regarded here. I ve just turned 27 so if i did the 2 year course i would be atleast 29 closer to 30.Alot of the trainers at my gym are younger than myself and i was wondering if it is a young persons profession. How old were you guys when you got into personal trainer? What would be some of the advantages/disadvantages of becoming a Personal Trainer a little later in life?
Cheers

2 year course for what man?? wat is this course?? Just do the stuoid 3 months PT course and get in working a.s.a.p after that and get some experience. Courses will do **** man. They really mean **** in terms of being successfull.

1.you gotta be good with people and know how to create rapport and fast
2. You gotta be knowledgable (course covers basics. you need to learn on your own here and constantly read **** and add to your knowledge bank)
3. im 29 I started when i was 25ish.
4. No disadvantages in terms of age because no one will take a 19 year old pt seriously unless they are very mature and come across in a certain way. Your dealing with people here from all walks of life and all sorts of ages so if anything being older is better.

My advice based on what i experienced is do some certified course as fast as possible. Get your first job and get a feel for it and then try to develop from that point wether its creating your own business or working in a few gyms/studios etc. No clients give a dam about what courses you have or any of that. If your good at what you do and have good sound knowledge and can help clients then you will be ok. But you have to learn on your own and always better your base knowledge.

[Duke Nukem]

2 year course for what man?? wat is this course?

The diploma of fitness at Tafe takes 2 years to complete,a diploma at a registered training organisation can be completed in 12 weeks. The people i ve spoken to say that the Tafe course is held in higher regard with employers as it is more extensive. Its the same qualification either way so i am probably better off doing the 12 week course and looking at getting some work. I am also going to do my level 1 strength and conditioning course as i am interested in working with athletes.

[Duke Nukem]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

[OminousD27]

16 years old. Got interested and saw ad for penn foster PT but wanted Nasm instead. Needed to be 18 tho so as soon as i turned i signed up and was certified 3 months later. Been independent since.

[jamezgt]

The diploma of fitness at Tafe takes 2 years to complete,a diploma at a registered training organisation can be completed in 12 weeks. The people i ve spoken to say that the Tafe course is held in higher regard with employers as it is more extensive. Its the same qualification either way so i am probably better off doing the 12 week course and looking at getting some work. I am also going to do my level 1 strength and conditioning course as i am interested in working with athletes.

Nothing wrong with doing the 2 year program.

I graduated from a 2 year Kinesiology/Fitness program last year - and I would NEVER learn that outside from working at a studio, or a gym. The things you learn in school is far more important than having experience in the gym lifting weights. But I do have to admit, Personal Training has a lot to do with communication, but you need the knowledge behind you to back everything up that you do.

That's just my opinion D:

[STEALTHCAT]

Nothing wrong with doing the 2 year program.

I graduated from a 2 year Kinesiology/Fitness program last year - and I would NEVER learn that outside from working at a studio, or a gym. The things you learn in school is far more important than having experience in the gym lifting weights. But I do have to admit, Personal Training has a lot to do with communication, but you need the knowledge behind you to back everything up that you do.

That's just my opinion D:

I think if you wanna work with athletes then yeahthe TAFE course would be good. Wasnt aware of the level 1 coach qualification and other quali's. But in terms of pure personal training there is alot of stuff that you need to know and this takes alot of self education . This part is only 50% of the deal with PT cos your people skills will be of heavy importance. So I would say that a person who has superior knowledge but low-medium people skills may not be as successfull as a person who has adequate knowledge but superior people skills. (only in pt). Working with athletes or coaching would be a different thing all together.

[jamezgt]

I think if you wanna work with athletes then yeahthe TAFE course would be good. Wasnt aware of the level 1 coach qualification and other quali's. But in terms of pure personal training there is alot of stuff that you need to know and this takes alot of self education . This part is only 50% of the deal with PT cos your people skills will be of heavy importance. So I would say that a person who has superior knowledge but low-medium people skills may not be as successfull as a person who has adequate knowledge but superior people skills. (only in pt). Working with athletes or coaching would be a different thing all together.

Completely agree with you.

Being book smart won't teach you how to build rapport with clients, or teach you how to approach clients.

[vanfreak]

After nearly 10 years working as a security guard i am looking at changing careers. I ve spent the last 2 years getting fit and it has become a large part of my life. So much so that i could see myself working in the fitness industry. Here in Australia there are 12 week courses to become a PT but i would rather do the 2 year course at Tafe which is more highly regarded here. I ve just turned 27 so if i did the 2 year course i would be atleast 29 closer to 30.Alot of the trainers at my gym are younger than myself and i was wondering if it is a young persons profession. How old were you guys when you got into personal trainer? What would be some of the advantages/disadvantages of becoming a Personal Trainer a little later in life?
Cheers

...44 when I started.Having the time of my life,can outlast the 20 somethings like nobodies business...I'm going to be 48 in July and have never been happier..I do wonder how much longer I'll be able to keep doing this, and then I think , it will change but there will be more people in my age category than not so who knows?Never been more in love with any career I've ever had..

[KyleAaron]

Being book smart won't teach you how to build rapport with clients, or teach you how to approach clients.

It's all important. You have to be able to demonstrate competence, establish trust and rapport. Book smarts help with the "competence" bit, which can but does not always help with the "trust" part.

This is where being older helps: people will tend to assume you are competent more than they would with someone younger, and they're more likely to trust you. Again, individual behaviour matters a lot, but that's the prejudice that exists, before they've even spoken to you or seen you coach anyone they're inclined to a certain opinion of you based on your age and gender.

Working in a mainstream community or commercial gym, a trainer doesn't have to worry about prejudice, because they have so many chances to interact with potential clients. Whatever they thought of you the first time they met you or saw you coach someone, by the tenth time they've seen you they'll have a different idea of you. Exactly what idea they'll have depends on whether you are able to demonstrate competence, establish trust and rapport.

A lot of that is simply confidence and communication skills, as I mentioned here.

[fast40]

It's all important. You have to be able to demonstrate competence, establish trust and rapport. Book smarts help with the "competence" bit, which can but does not always help with the "trust" part.

This is where being older helps: people will tend to assume you are competent more than they would with someone younger, and they're more likely to trust you. Again, individual behaviour matters a lot, but that's the prejudice that exists, before they've even spoken to you or seen you coach anyone they're inclined to a certain opinion of you based on your age and gender.

Working in a mainstream community or commercial gym, a trainer doesn't have to worry about prejudice, because they have so many chances to interact with potential clients. Whatever they thought of you the first time they met you or saw you coach someone, by the tenth time they've seen you they'll have a different idea of you. Exactly what idea they'll have depends on whether you are able to demonstrate competence, establish trust and rapport.

A lot of that is simply confidence and communication skills, as I mentioned here.

I agree.

Legally started training people in my 40s. Clients came out of the woodwork from the network of people I already knew. I do it part-time with a single person here and there, but when I'm finished with someone, or reducing the number of visits...there is always another waiting. Always.

Being an older trainer brought perspective to what I'm able to do for people, which I don't think I would have had in my 20s. I'm living the benefit of a lifetime of fitness and health. Rarely do I encounter someone of my age, in the shape that I'm in...rarely. I can still compete in sports with the young 20 something guys...none of my buddies at my age are close to doing that and most are out of sports entirely.

Most of my clients come to me because they tell me "they want someone that can relate to their situation"....and seem to feel that my age I can relate better, which I think I can.

There is a looming market of people waiting for personal trainers as we get less active, eat worse and technology takes manual labor jobs. Millions and millions of people around the world live sedentary lifestyles that will catch up to them...then its your gold nugget.

Age does matter to some clients. Others...they just want a person knowledgable, trusting and gives them the motivation they don't yet have within them...its your job to help them find it.

Good luck.

[121fitness]

Got in at 19yo

If anything I would thinking being older would help you. Alot of people see young age as "inexperience" and even if your 30 with 1 year of experience you automatically seem to have 10x more experiance then the 20yo with 2 years.

Why don't you do the 12 week course (providing it will get you a job) and work as a trainer while completing the two year course

Totally agree with you here. I started at 19 as well, in the long run we have an advantage, but when you in late teens early 20's people will see you as "inexperienced"

[cthulhupun]

I was 32 when I first actually got into training, and I'm 33 now. I've been an athlete all of my life (and still play rugby at a fairly high level, being fitter than many of the 18/19 year old guys on the team). Even now, I'm more interested in my own rugby training than personal training, and I only train rugby players and my girlfriend. I have been a teacher for over a decade, which greatly helps my ability to train others.

[Al Shades]

After nearly 10 years working as a security guard i am looking at changing careers. I ve spent the last 2 years getting fit and it has become a large part of my life. So much so that i could see myself working in the fitness industry. Here in Australia there are 12 week courses to become a PT but i would rather do the 2 year course at Tafe which is more highly regarded here. I ve just turned 27 so if i did the 2 year course i would be atleast 29 closer to 30.Alot of the trainers at my gym are younger than myself and i was wondering if it is a young persons profession. How old were you guys when you got into personal trainer? What would be some of the advantages/disadvantages of becoming a Personal Trainer a little later in life?
Cheers

Young PT's are usually broke PT's. The primary customer demographic for this industry is middle-aged housewives. They don't want to work with college kids.

[Sicshift]

Tried to get certified when I was 16 back in 1996 but they made me wait until I was 18. Been certified since in many companies and areas.

[SL1D3R]

I was 18 when I first started training, but I wasn't certified. Now I'm 34 and still not certified. I don't know anything about the industry, but I've been lifting since I was 15. I'll probably start with the Ace certification and then move to NASM.

[PrideofIndia]

Just getting into to it now (age 19)..just bought books to study from but will have to balance that with college but im still very excited for the future