Fitness Trainer Career Profile - Fitness Trainer Schools
Afitness trainer (AKA fitness training instructor, personal trainer, or PT), is someone whose job it is to help clients get into better shape, either by working in a rehabilitation center, a gym, health spa, or on a one to one basis. Fitness trainers develop and supervise programs for individuals needing additional strength and conditioning for sport, recreational activities, or requiring conditioning in order to increase to their functional daily living and work performance. Some fitness trainers provide corporate fitness programs, while others work with high profile clients such as CEO`s, famous athletes, or actors on a one to one basis. Being a fitness trainer provides excellent career opportunities, job security, and the ability to work in a variety of settings, specialties, and locations worldwide.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Employment of fitness workers is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. An increasing number of people spend more time and money on fitness, and more businesses are recognizing the benefits of health and fitness programs and other services such as wellness programs for their employees. Aging baby boomers are concerned with staying healthy, physically fit, and independent. They have become the largest demographic group of health club members. The reduction of physical education programs in schools, combined with parents’ growing concern about childhood obesity, has resulted in rapid increases in children’s health club membership. Health club membership among young adults also has grown steadily, driven by concern with physical fitness and by rising incomes. As health clubs strive to provide more personalized service to keep their members motivated, they will continue to offer personal training and a wide variety of group exercise classes.”
Working in Gyms or Fitness Centers
If you work in a gym you’ll spend most of your time patrolling the area looking for opportunities to give advice or demonstrate the correct form. At the same time customers will approach you when they have specific questions and may ask you to create a personal training program. You’ll also be required to take gym goers through an ‘induction’ where you show them the ropes for the first time. If you work with clients directly however you will be required to focus more time and energy on each individual. This means you’ll have to develop a personalized training routine and diet plan, then attend the gym with them and probably check up on them from time to time to ensure they’re sticking to it. Another part of your job will also be to provide consultation sessions to potential future clients. It’s the equivalent of being a home tutor as opposed to a teacher.
In either scenario it is important for a personal trainer to have a good understanding of the myriad aspects of health and fitness. This means you’ll need to confidently impart knowledge on how to lose weight (a popular one), build muscle, write a fitness program, use free weights and resistance machines, avoid injury and more. Clients will range both in terms of their fitness and in terms of their training goals which is why it’s important to have such a wide ranging knowledge; you need to be able to advise everyone from future Mr Olympias and sports teams to Grannies who just want to shed a couple of pounds. It’s also important that you be able to advise clients on nutrition and supplementation and it’s likely if you work in a gym that there will be supplements on sale there.
Educational Requirements
Statistics show that 50 percent of personal trainers` clients have special medical needs, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, neurological conditions, fibromyalgia, diabetes or obesity. Personal Trainers must also possess the knowledge to tailor each client`s program around conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, cardiac problems, or rehabilitation from injury. Therefore, it is particularly important that fitness trainers understand and apply basic exercise principles related to applied kinesiology, physiology, injury prevention, conditioning, resistance training, and functional training. For this reason, personal trainers in the US are required to have certification in order to work in a gym or health spa, usually in the form of a diploma, and will have to pass an exam. Passing exams or working towards accredited certification will require you to learn not only the ins and outs of being a fitness instructor, but also basic biology and dietetics. By the end you should have a good understanding of the human body and know your synapses from your andenosine triphosphates.
The best fitness training schools offer a comprehensive education, technical support, and also provide continuing education support. A comprehensive program offers your basic training course as well as supplemental classes. Theses classes normally include client risk analysis and some diet and nutrition education.
Secure Your Future As A Fitness Trainer
Find Fitness Trainer Programs
Explore accredited Fitness Trainer programs and request additional information about requirements, tuition, financial aid, and start dates directly from schools offering programs that match your interests:
Find Personal Trainer Schools
Daymar Institute
Campus
We Change Lives... One Person At A Time®. We offer certificate, associate degree, and bachelor's degree programs for careers in a variety of fields, including medical, criminal justice, computer technology, and business.
Programs:- Personal Fitness Training
- Clarksville
Carrington College California
Campus
Carrington College California offers the programs you need to begin a career in healthcare. Choose from Healthcare, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, or Veterinary Services.
Programs:- Certificate in Fitness Training
- AS in Fitness Training
- Pleasant Hill
Branford Hall Career Institute
Campus
Branford Hall Career Institute offers career-focused education that gives you the job skills you need to make the leap into some of today's hottest careers.
Programs:- Professional Fitness Trainer
- Branford
- Southington
- Springfield
Carrington College
Campus
Carrington College has helped over 45,000 graduates realize their dream of a career in healthcare. Now it's your turn. Choose from eleven conveniently located campuses.
Programs:- Fitness Training
- Tucson
- Phoenix
Vatterott College
Campus
Advance your career with a certificate, diploma or bachelor's degree from Vatterott College. Our innovative, hands-on training helps you build the life you want.
Programs:- Personal Fitness Trainer
- Omaha
- Fairview Heights
Globe University/MSB
Campus
Globe University is focused on providing students with the knowledge, skills, and credentials they need to reach their personal and professional goals.
Programs:- AAS in Health Fitness Specialist
- BS in Health Fitness Specialist
- Master of Science in Health Fitness Management
- Minneapolis
- Middleton
ATI Career Training Center
Campus
ATI has over 35 years of experience helping working adults like you get hands-on career training. Quality programs are offered in healthcare, automotive and electronics.
Programs:- Personal Fitness Trainer
- Miami
Daymar College
Campus
We Change Lives... One Person At A Time. ® Start your career education with Daymar College. We offer certificate, diploma, associate, and bachelor's degree programs for careers in the business, medical, legal, and computer technology fields.
Programs:- Personal Fitness Training - Diploma
- Personal Fitness Training - Associate
- Bellevue
Keystone Technical Institute
Campus
Keystone Technical Institute can train you for a better job and a brighter future. Choose from a variety of career programs, including Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Paralegal, Computer/Network Technician and more.
Programs:- Personal Fitness Trainer
- Harrisburg
Pinnacle Career Institute
Campus
Help get your career started with an education from Pinnacle Career Institute. We offer certificate and associate degree programs for careers in the fields of business, alternative energy, health care, fitness, technology, HVAC, and electronics.
Programs:- Personal Trainer - South Kansas City
- Personal Trainer - North Kansas City
- Kansas City
Bryan College
Campus
Get your career started with training from Bryan College! We offer programs in Court Reporting, Advanced Health & Fitness Training, and Health Information Management & Coding at both our Sacramento and Los Angeles campuses.
Programs:- Advanced Health and Fitness Training
- Rancho Cordova
Missouri College
Campus
Earn a college degree that really means something. Missouri College has designed its Health Care, Computer and Business programs with all the skills and knowledge students will need for success.
Programs:- Fitness Trainer
- Saint Louis
Brown Mackie College
Campus
Work to meet your full potential with a career-focused education from The Brown Mackie College system of schools. Choose from a range of diploma, certificate, associate's and bachelor's degree programs in the fields of Accounting and Business, Healthcare, Legal Studies, and Technology. Small classes, flexible schedules, and plenty of personal attention.
Programs:- Diploma in Fitness Trainer
- Associate of Applied Science in Health & Fitness Training
- Certificate in Fitness Trainer
- Salina
- Lenexa
- Tucson
- Fort Wayne
Penn Foster Schools
Campus
Penn Foster offers affordable, self-paced career-focused distance education programs in fields like business, criminal justice, health services, technology, engineering, paralegal studies and more.
Programs:- Certified Personal Trainer
- Scranton
Everest College of Business, Technology and Health Care
Campus
Everest College is one of Canada's national career-training leaders in three core areas: Business, Technology and Health Care. With over 30 campuses and more than 100 years of combined experience in providing focused, relevant career training, Everest College is committed to helping you acquire your desired job skills, fast!
Programs:- Health, Fitness and Nutrition Consultant
- Ottawa
- North York
- Kitchener
- Hamilton
- Mississauga
- London
- Windsor
- Sudbury
