How to become a personal trainer?

Mariale

Mariale

New member
Hi all,

I've been a marketing manager for about 2 years and I think I'm starting to get bored of being in front of computers all the time.

I've been going to the gym for 1 year already and all my friends use to tell me that I inspire them to keep motivated with their fitness goals as I never give up. I have some personal routines for when I train in the gym or outdoors and I know how to eat healthy and how to establish diets depending on the goals.

I am wondering if I could make my way as a personal trainer?

I think I'm good with people, and may have enough knowledge about the fitness lifestyle.

Should I quit my job and start? How should I go about it?
 
Becoming a personal trainer (a good one) is a lot of work. My fiance is a personal trainer and started with her Kinesiology degree (4 years university). Most personal trainers at your average gym have only gone through 1 or 2 certification courses, which take a few weekends and don't really qualify them for much other than a motivational side-kick. The difference between the two is also pay. Even if you get a bunch of certifications, group training, etc, you will never get paid much above minimum without years-and-years of experience, but it's really hard to get full time work when you get started.

As a Kinesiologist, however, the door is wide open to what you can do, whether it is at a high-end gym, or working with Physiotherapists / Chiropractors / etc.
 
allcdnboy said:
Becoming a personal trainer (a good one) is a lot of work. My fiance is a personal trainer and started with her Kinesiology degree (4 years university). Most personal trainers at your average gym have only gone through 1 or 2 certification courses, which take a few weekends and don't really qualify them for much other than a motivational side-kick. The difference between the two is also pay. Even if you get a bunch of certifications, group training, etc, you will never get paid much above minimum without years-and-years of experience, but it's really hard to get full time work when you get started.

As a Kinesiologist, however, the door is wide open to what you can do, whether it is at a high-end gym, or working with Physiotherapists / Chiropractors / etc.
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Hey allcdnboy, I haven't even considered yet that there would be some professional education at universities to become a personal trainer. I was thinking that maybe I could start getting a couple clients (out of my friends) and making some extra bucks during the nights or weekends. However, certification is certainly very important because if I want to quit my job I definitely need to be making enough money. Seems like my goal will turn into a long-term goal as I would like to make my way as a good trainer.

Which university did your wife go? (if you can mention it publicly here). Any idea of good, real online universities? I've been trying to find some but they don't look so trustworthy.
Also, I've read that there are some certifications like NASM and NPTI, do you think I should even bother with those?
 
We're in Canada, so not sure how relevant the information would be to you. Although, once she finished her degree, she was sure to get certification through ACSM, since it's one of the big ones that is recognized all over North America.

Online certificates are a decent start to know if it's right for you, but you won't be able to get a degree online since a large portion of any quality degree / certification in training requires a lot of hands-on work, including a practicum, just like any other health science.
 
Hey allcdnboy,
Yeah I have no plans of moving to Canada hehe
I've found a ton of information about certifications and I think I'll go for the ACSM, or the NASM.
In the meantime I'll try to reduce my work hours so that I can focus on getting those.
I think I'll also consider signing up to a university and start next year.
Thanks so much for your guidance. I was definitely lost lol I thought it'd be a quick process.
 
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