Your first goal should be to become nationally certified.  Granted, there are great trainers who are not certified, and bad trainers who are, but a certification is something that says you have good, sound knowledge.  It can’t hurt you.  You’ll notice I called certification your first “goal” instead of your first “step” because there are different ways of going about this.  Some people get certified, and then look for a job.  This is probably ideal because you can go into an interview with your certification in hand.  The manager will assume you know your stuff already, and as long as he or she likes you, you’ve got a good chance of being hired. 

For budgetary or other reasons, some people get a job first, and then get certified.  This allows you to earn money to pay for the certification, and to learn on the job, thus making the certification a little easier.  There are some gyms that hire you and require you to get their certification.  This type of certification is usually priced lower than usual, around $50 or so.  The advantages are that you get a job, and you get basic knowledge to do that job.  The drawback is that this type of certification is usually not national, and not accepted at other gyms, and only gives you very basic knowledge.  Just so you have an idea, a national certification can cost from $300 to $600.  Be cautious of certifications that cost significantly less. 

Keep in mind that if you do get one of these certifications, you may eventually need to get another one to work at a different gym, and I highly recommend a national certification if you’re branching out on your own.  I have worked with trainers in the past who have had the “single gym” certifications, and trust me, you won’t be doing your clients (or yourself) any favors by stopping there.  Your path depends on your goals, budget, and opportunity.  Perhaps the gym you wish to work at requires certification before beginning employment.  Perhaps you prefer to open your own business.  In these situations, you should get nationally certified first.  Perhaps you’re on a budget, or want to try personal training first to see if this is what you really want to do before you invest a lot of money and time into it.  In these cases, you may work at a gym first and get their certification, and go from there.

In any event, let’s say it’s now time for you to get certified.  The first certification you receive is general.  For example, I am certified by ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association).  The personal training certification is called "Certified Fitness Trainer".  This gives the basic knowledge that all trainers need to know to train clients.  Now you can work anywhere in the country (and in many cases, any country) as a personal trainer. 

What if I want to specialize?

As a trainer, you’ll work with all kinds of people for all kinds of different reasons, and you may find that there is a certain population you would like to specialize in.  Certifications must be renewed every 2 years through continuing education.  Not only will you keep your certification valid, you’ll keep up with new training ideas, equipment, and practices.  This is where your additional training for your specialization comes in, should you choose to do this.  You are free to choose the type of continuing education credits you would like.  For example, there are short courses on back problems or boot camps.  These are relatively inexpensive and can come in handy if you want to tweak your knowledge in a certain area.  On the other hand, you can get additional certifications to become a Youth Fitness Trainer, Specialist in Fitness for Older Adults, Specialist in Martial Arts Conditioning, and much more.  Each certification teaches you more specific information for your chosen population.  You can also take courses from other organizations and have them count for credit with ISSA.  Note: Most certifying bodies operate this way.  I am giving ISSA examples based on my experience.  This learning process takes time, and you’ll always be learning. Keep in mind, you are not REQUIRED to have a specialty certification to train a certain population, but it does help your credentials.  For example, let’s say you want to train older adults.  You may get individual clients here and there who want you to train them and your Certified Fitness Trainer certification is good enough for them.  They may not even ask about more specialized training.  Some do, some don't - each client is different.  On the other hand, however, if you would like to work exclusively in a retirement home, I would highly recommend a Specialist in Fitness for Older Adults certification in addition to your original one.

Becoming a personal trainer is one thing.  You get certified and get a job – and not necessarily in that order.  To become a good personal trainer, get certified, get a job, learn from anyone you can, learn from your mistakes and those of others, and never think you know it all.  With your certification(s), additional specialized courses, and life experience, you can become a great personal trainer for any group you choose!

Copyright © 2009 by A.M. Birmingham, ISSA CFT

      

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