how do you become a personal trainer?

W

WOLVERINE1

0
I'm a member at Gold's Gym in NYC, and I'm having a great time here. The weights & facilities are real good, not to mention the people give off a very productive, serious vibe. So I was workin out today and I thought that becoming a personal trainer would be a good summer job, or a good side job when I'm living in NYC permanently after finishing college in U of T.

SO... how do you become a personal trainer? what does it take? how much training is required? what are the pay rates like?

Hope this question hasnt been asked before. Thanks
 
You become a personal trainer by studying under one of the training associations (which means taking home a large 300 - 600 page manual and studying it from cover to cover) and then taking a test at one of their facilities.

I'm studying right now to be an NSCA trainer (one of the most prestigious certifications, as is my understanding) and it's pretty tough. Of course, I imagine if you had enough free time you could get through the book and take your test in 1 - 2 months. It'd be tough. Here's a listing of some of the chapters:

I. Muscle Physiology
- Muscle Microstructure & Macrostructure
- Sliding-Filament Theory of Muscular Contraction
- Types of Muscle Action
- Force Production

II. Neuromuscular Adaptations to Conditioning
- Neuromuscular Anatomy and Physiology
- Motor Unit Recruitment Patterns during Exercise
- Role of Proprioceptors in Learning Physical Skills
- Neuriomuscular adaptations to Exercise Conditioning

III. The Biomechanics of Resistance Exercise
- The Musculoskeletal system
- Human strength and power
- Sources of Resistance to Muscle Contraction
- Power Ouput During Resistance Exercise
- Movement Analysis and Exercise Prescription
- Applying knowledge of the Biomechanics of Resistance

IV. Bone, Muscle, and Connective Tissue Adaptations to Physical Activity
- Adaptation fo bone to exercise
- Adaptation of muscle to exercise
- Adapatation of connective tissue to exercise

V. Bioenergetics
- Adenosine Triphosphate
- Biological Energy Systems
- Substrate Depletion and Repletion
- Bioenergetic limiting Factors in Exercise Performance
- Oxygen uptake and Anaerobic Contribution to Work
- Metabolic Specificity of Training
- Applying Knowledge of Bioenergetics

Then it goes on for another 30 chapters. Getting to the end fo Chapter 5 will get you to page 80 out of 540 pages. It's pretty intense.

Other certifications may be less tough, but I can't really tell you about those.

As far as pay, it's pretty good. I think you can expect to start at least at $20 / hr and make as much as $50 / hr when you're at the highest level (or more if you freelance). Pay increases depend on the gym - but generally have to do with your level of certification, how many supplementary certifications you've received, and how long you've been a trainer.

The toughest part about being a trainer is getting clients. If you work at a gym, it's not so tough because they come in all the time, but you might not always have steady work. (If you're trying to be a GOOD trainer, the toughest part is staying abreast of all the research in sports training, nutrition, and supplementation).

You should totally go for it, though.
 
hmm

Well with Personal Training I mean i was curious and i googled it and you'll notice there is more thien a home study option. You could go to school full time for it. I'v seen anywhere from 6 month courses to 2 year courses and thein after the 2 years if ur that seirous you can go on to another 24 month program to get ur deploma. This is all full time schooling prob cost you around 10-15 grand CAN. Its pretty nutty. And also for a personal trainer whos freelancing like out of his own home i saw digits of $40-$120 USD per hr.
 
Fil said:
You become a personal trainer by studying under one of the training associations (which means taking home a large 300 - 600 page manual and studying it from cover to cover) and then taking a test at one of their facilities.

I'm studying right now to be an NSCA trainer (one of the most prestigious certifications, as is my understanding) and it's pretty tough. Of course, I imagine if you had enough free time you could get through the book and take your test in 1 - 2 months. It'd be tough. Here's a listing of some of the chapters:

I. Muscle Physiology
- Muscle Microstructure & Macrostructure
- Sliding-Filament Theory of Muscular Contraction
- Types of Muscle Action
- Force Production

II. Neuromuscular Adaptations to Conditioning
- Neuromuscular Anatomy and Physiology
- Motor Unit Recruitment Patterns during Exercise
- Role of Proprioceptors in Learning Physical Skills
- Neuriomuscular adaptations to Exercise Conditioning

III. The Biomechanics of Resistance Exercise
- The Musculoskeletal system
- Human strength and power
- Sources of Resistance to Muscle Contraction
- Power Ouput During Resistance Exercise
- Movement Analysis and Exercise Prescription
- Applying knowledge of the Biomechanics of Resistance

IV. Bone, Muscle, and Connective Tissue Adaptations to Physical Activity
- Adaptation fo bone to exercise
- Adaptation of muscle to exercise
- Adapatation of connective tissue to exercise

V. Bioenergetics
- Adenosine Triphosphate
- Biological Energy Systems
- Substrate Depletion and Repletion
- Bioenergetic limiting Factors in Exercise Performance
- Oxygen uptake and Anaerobic Contribution to Work
- Metabolic Specificity of Training
- Applying Knowledge of Bioenergetics

Then it goes on for another 30 chapters. Getting to the end fo Chapter 5 will get you to page 80 out of 540 pages. It's pretty intense.

Other certifications may be less tough, but I can't really tell you about those.

As far as pay, it's pretty good. I think you can expect to start at least at $20 / hr and make as much as $50 / hr when you're at the highest level (or more if you freelance). Pay increases depend on the gym - but generally have to do with your level of certification, how many supplementary certifications you've received, and how long you've been a trainer.

The toughest part about being a trainer is getting clients. If you work at a gym, it's not so tough because they come in all the time, but you might not always have steady work. (If you're trying to be a GOOD trainer, the toughest part is staying abreast of all the research in sports training, nutrition, and supplementation).

You should totally go for it, though.
Click to expand...

Is this the text book your refering to Fil?

NSCA's Essentials of Personal Training textbook


Is the exam fee, Initial registration + Retake fee?
 
Logan,

I did the NSPA which was recommended to me from several people and a Dr. Anyway, it was fairly tough, but with hardcore studying, I was able to ace it in 2 months.

I received the course materials and studyied for 1 month... Then, I took a 3 day (9 hours a day) class and continnued to study for 2 weeks. Finally, I took a 5 hour re-hash class and studied for 2 more weeks. The test was tough, but I was very comfortable with the material because of all of my studying (I did 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening of studying every day for ~2 months).

First thing to do, is think about what certification program you wanna do.

I freelance for $60 per hour.

The very best way to get more business is by word-of-mouth. So, your happy customers will recommend you to freinds, co-workers and family.

Good luck,
Rip
 
Wolverine - check out this resource

hardearnedptsecrets.com

it basically cuts through all the B.S. of being a gym trainer and how to save yourself alot of wasted time.

Hope it helps!
 
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