{"id":10598,"date":"2022-12-03T06:43:15","date_gmt":"2022-12-03T06:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/7-things-to-know-before-becoming-a-personal-trainer\/"},"modified":"2022-12-03T06:43:15","modified_gmt":"2022-12-03T06:43:15","slug":"7-things-to-know-before-becoming-a-personal-trainer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultimatehealthreport.com\/7-things-to-know-before-becoming-a-personal-trainer\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Things to Know Before Becoming a Personal Trainer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When Idaho resident Katie Hug reached 270 pounds, becoming a certified personal trainer wasn\u2019t on her mind.<\/p>\n
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She was taking a long list of medications. She felt tired and hungry most of the time. And in between chasing three little kids around, she ate \u2026 a lot. It was her way of dealing with anxiety, stress, and depression. Not exactly the hallmark of health and fitness you might expect of a personal trainer.<\/p>\n
But then something happened. She went to see her doctor. And what she learned about her health changed everything. “You’re morbidly obese,” her doctor said. “If you don’t start taking steps toward a healthy lifestyle, you’ll die.”<\/p>\n
That was Hug\u2019s tipping point.<\/p>\n
She got laser-focused on eating healthier. She started exercising 15 minutes a day. Walking, jogging, and running followed, along with losing over 130 pounds. She looked different. She felt different. And she was so motivated by her transformation that she became a Certified Personal Trainer<\/span> <\/span>and group fitness instructor.\u00a0<\/p>\n Have you<\/em> thought about becoming a personal trainer?<\/p>\n Maybe you have your own story to tell. Or perhaps you’ve always lived an active, healthy lifestyle\u2014and want to help others achieve their health and fitness goals while <\/em>earning a living.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Working as a personal trainer is decidedly different from holding a typical desk job (note: that\u2019s not to say one is better than the other; it\u2019s simply a matter of preferences and career aspirations). For example, unlike your 9-5, personal training allows you to:<\/p>\n Sounds pretty good, right?<\/p>\n If you\u2019re already drooling at the potential rewards (both financially and otherwise) of becoming a personal trainer, you may wish to tamper your excitement just a little.<\/p>\n As with any career, you can’t expect day-to-day life to always be sunshine and butterflies\u2014you will still encounter challenges when trying to become and\/or work as a personal trainer. Continue reading to find out what they are, specifically, and valuable tips on how you could overcome them.<\/p>\n How are you doing financially? Do you currently have access to spare cash you could use for a suitable personal training certification?<\/p>\n In general, \u201centry-level\u201d personal training certifications cost anywhere between $200 to $800. AFPA\u2019s Personal Trainer Certification<\/span>,<\/span> for example, costs $599.<\/p>\n Here’s some advice: Try not to base your choice of personal training certification solely on price. It’s not the cheaper, the better. On the flip side, the most expensive may not necessarily be suitable for you.<\/p>\n While your budget should always take precedence, factors worth considering when choosing between personal training certifications include:<\/p>\n In addition to the cost of the actual personal trainer certification program, there are also other expenses you should account for, including:<\/p>\n Like all new personal trainers, your starting client base is likely zero. So, regardless of whether you work at a gym or run your own personal training business, you\u2019ll need to figure out how to attract potential clients. Doing the following may help:<\/p>\n o \u00a0 <\/span>Build a website: <\/strong>You don\u2019t need a fancy website. Even a single page with your smiling photo, your schedule, a brief bio (of who you are, how you\u2019re different from other personal trainers, and what you bring to the table), and your contact information will suffice. Looking for more guidance? Click here to find out how to build a website you’d be proud of<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n o \u00a0 <\/span>Explore online marketing: <\/strong>Online marketing, like creating a lead magnet, can help you connect with potential clients. Developing social media profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and even LinkedIn, then pushing out helpful, relevant fitness content, could also help you build an audience of potential clients. Find a step-by-step guide to getting started with content marketing here<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s worth remembering that even if you\u2019ve done everything \u201ccorrectly,\u201d building up a stable base of clients can take time.<\/p>\n That means you should be prepared for income fluctuations. For example, you can have no breathing space between clients one week, then gaps based on client schedules in the next, which means your take-home pay can decrease significantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here are two things you could do to better cope with the financial ups and downs of becoming a personal trainer:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re on someone else\u2019s payroll (e.g., you\u2019re employed by a gym, fitness studio, fitness center, or cruise ship), taxes may already be taken care of. But that changes the moment you work independently. And a word of caution: Filing your taxes can get complicated.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what you can expect:<\/p>\n Yes, you\u2019ll apply everything you\u2019ve learned from your personal trainer certification program, from exercise science to sports performance, to design a safe, effective workout program that\u2019ll help your clients reach their fitness goals. You\u2019ll demonstrate proper exercise execution, count their reps, and correct their form whenever necessary.\u00a0<\/p>\n You may also play an active role in injury treatment and prevention. Special note:<\/span> That said, operating within your scope of practice is paramount\u2014so do refer your clients to a sports medicine professional for any injury diagnoses, then take into account their guidance when modifying your client\u2019s workout program where relevant.\u00a0<\/p>\n But here’s the critical bit: As a certified personal trainer, your job scope extends beyond the physical side of things.<\/p>\n For example, you\u2019ll need to have a good grasp of behavior change psychology<\/span>.<\/span> This helps you understand how you can better tailor your personal training services to your client’s unique priorities and lifestyle factors so they stay motivated to stay on track to achieve their health and fitness goals.<\/p>\n Your communication skills matter, too. Ideally, you\u2019d want to communicate in a manner that empowers, motivates, and supports your client. If you\u2019d like to learn more about how you could communicate with your clients to improve client relationships and overall success, check out this article, \u201c5 Components of Effective Communication in Health Education and Counseling\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n From underlying health conditions to exercise contraindications to injury history, every client is different.<\/p>\n So, as a certified personal trainer, you may struggle to remember key client information\u2014especially as your client base grows and\/or if you are a group fitness instructor.<\/p>\n Staying organized is crucial to prevent you from missing out on essential client health information<\/span>,<\/span> which could result in serious health consequences for your client and legal complications for your personal training business.<\/p>\n One tip you may find helpful as you transition into your new personal training career is to create a file for every new client you bring on board.<\/p>\n Ideally, all client files should contain the following information:<\/p>\n Note that this doesn\u2019t have to be a physical<\/em> file (although it could be if you wish).<\/p>\n Instead, you could depend on apps to streamline your client\u2019s \u201cdatabase.\u201d Popular apps amongst fitness professionals<\/span> <\/span>in the personal training industry include Practice Better, True Coach, The Training Notebook, and GAIN Trainer.<\/p>\n That said, many operate on a subscription-based business model (i.e., they charge recurring fees). Also, the more clients you have, typically, the more you’ll have to pay.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d prefer something a little friendlier on the bottom line of your personal training business\u2014and don\u2019t see a need for those apps\u2019 fancier features, like in-app messaging\u2014consider the following free organization apps and software (note: some of them may offer paid plans with more storage space, but, in general, the free option will suffice for new personal trainers):<\/p>\n Still have a few questions you need answers to before you commit to a personal training certification and become a personal trainer? Then, you’re in the right place.<\/p>\n First question:<\/span> How do fitness trainers get paid? Or, rather, how will you<\/em> get paid once you pass the final exam of your personal training certification and land your first job as a certified personal trainer?<\/p>\n Well, it depends on whether you\u2019re employed or work independently (i.e., you run your own business):<\/p>\n Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a college degree (i.e., a bachelor’s degree) to become a personal trainer.<\/p>\n Well, yes, while there may be one or two certification programs (e.g., the Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association) that list a bachelor’s degree from an American college as a prerequisite, most programs out there only require you to hold a high school diploma:<\/p>\n In addition to having to hold a high school diploma, note that most of these programs will also require you to be at least 18 years of age and hold active CPR\/AED certifications before you can purchase their exam voucher, sit for their final exam, or become a personal trainer.<\/p>\n So, you meet all the prerequisites (i.e., you’re above 18 years old, hold a high school diploma, and either hold or will get CPR\/AED certifications) to enroll in a personal training course. Instead of “Can<\/em> I become a personal trainer” the question now becomes, “Should <\/em>I become a personal trainer?\u201d<\/p>\n As difficult as this may be to hear, that\u2019s a question only you can answer. That said, asking yourself the following questions may help bring you clarity and guide your decision:<\/p>\n Pursuing a career as a personal trainer can offer you several advantages over a typical 9-5 desk job.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re passionate about training clients and helping them take charge of their health, it could help you live your passion daily while<\/em> earning an income. You may also be able to work more flexible hours and continuously gain new skills and expertise throughout your career via Continuing Education Courses or specialized fitness certification programs.<\/p>\n Still, before taking your first step to becoming a personal trainer, you must be prepared for what a career in the fitness industry may entail:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Sure that this career is right for you? Good news:<\/span> Your education level doesn\u2019t have to be a limiting factor. Most certification programs don\u2019t list an advanced degree (i.e., a bachelor\u2019s degree) as a prerequisite. Instead, in general, all you\u2019ll need is to be at least 18 years old, hold active CPR\/AED certifications, and have a high school diploma.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhy Personal Training Is a Different Career<\/h2>\n
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Challenges of Becoming and\/or Being a Personal Trainer<\/h2>\n
Financial Considerations<\/h3>\n
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Certified Personal Trainer?<\/h4>\n
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Other Costs and Expenses to Consider<\/h4>\n
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Expect Income Fluctuations<\/h3>\n
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You Need to Take Care of Your Own Taxes<\/h3>\n
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You\u2019ll Have to Do More Than Fitness Training<\/h3>\n
You Need to Stay Organized<\/h3>\n
What to Keep Track Of<\/h4>\n
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Make Use of Apps<\/h3>\n
Other Questions About Starting a Personal Training Career<\/h2>\n
How Certified Personal Trainers Get Paid (It Depends on Whether They\u2019re Employees or Business Owners)<\/h3>\n
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How to Become a Personal Trainer without a College Degree<\/h3>\n
Is It Worth It Becoming a Personal Trainer?<\/h3>\n
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Main Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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References<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n