Fitness instructors

I'm thinking about becoming an Instructor, what qualifications do I need and whats the average salary? Anything would be useful, thanks.
 
I'm not familiar with what's best in the UK or what the going rate is.

Here in the states, the tops certs tend to be NSCA, ACSM and NASM. They all have flaws and none of them completely compare anyone to really be a trainer. But they get your feet in the door, which is second best to an actual degree I suppose.

In my area trainers make anywhere from 35-100 bucks an hour, most falling someplace in the middle.
 
Wow, what a good idea.

Good luck with that.

I hope you pursue that.
 
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Are you looking at working for yourself or working for a gym or something like that?
You will need to do a course, whatever it may be in the UK and have your first aid up-to-date.
If you're working for a gym or some place, the money is not spectacular, unless you are somone that really drags in the clients.
If you work for yourself, you can basically charge what you like, but then again, it's up to you to find clients and fill in your day.
 
I'm thinking about becoming an Instructor, what qualifications do I need and whats the average salary? Anything would be useful, thanks.

The money is min wage, and the only way to earn more is to be a sucsessful PT, but the gym traps you in to contracts so you cant take their clients.
Shifts can be long, you get treated badly and you can never please anyone. Plus you'll spend the rest of your life telling people the same stuff over and over again.
Also, with the credit crunch, unused gym memberships are the 1st thing ppl cancel and gyms have seen a huge loss this year. but that might pick up!

Aside from that... it can be fun, and you can make a lot of friends. You get paid more for taking classes, and if you really really know your stuff, you could end up writing or being a manger etc...

If you want to become a manager lots of online sites you can do the work, but most gyms will offer training.

I wouldnt advise doing lifegaurd training!!!! You'll end up being stuck on poolside duty all day getting hot and tired!
 
Hi, thanks for the advice. I was thinking maybe starting with a gym, so I can get some experience and then maybe going self-employed. But thats after seeing how my own sports carear ends up; how much would being a national champion help?
 
Hi

To work in a gym in the UK as a Gym Instructor you need to be Level 2 qualified, most colleges with sport facilities will do this qualification, YMCA, NASM etc. Check out REP's website as you need to be registered with them to practice teaching fitness in UK. They have a list of registered qualification providers. To be a PT you need to be Level 3 qualified.

Good luck
 
ok cheers, if u don't mind me asking what your wage is and what the average wage is for personal trainers and gym instructors in the uk? That would be great if you could
 
Gym Instructors earn on average £7/8 per hr. Some private gyms only pay minimum wage however. PTs can charge whatever they like if self employed (average for my area £30/50 per hr, this can be much more in large cities). However if a PT is employed by a gym then they will only get a percentage of this on top of their normal hourly gym instructor rate and the gym keeps the rest. Self employed PTs will have to have their own insurance and if you don't have your own premises/gym to see clients at you will need to pay a retainer to a local gym to be allowed to take your clients there to train them. This will eat into your hourly fee.

Starting out in this industry there is little or no money to be made, you have to be in it for other reasons.
 
@blindside I don't think any special qualification require for becoming fitness instructor but you have to have a good experience and recommendation from fitness classes/gym.
 
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