Certifications for personal trainers:

Certifications and licenses differ from one state to another seeking to become personal trainers.

As personal trainers mainly advice people who are looking for weight loss or get in shape etc.

Personal trainers have a very good knowledge in human body mainly in fitness and nutrition.

They are majorly found working in gyms, sports centers or work independently.

• AFAA certification which is an acronym for Aerobics and Fitness Association of America which is considered as reputable fitness organization.

• To get this certification candidates must pass two examinations written and practical  which will test their knowledge of proper exercise techniques, physiology, anatomy, fitness evaluation of clients, nutrition and other aspects of training.

• Candidates with this certification will be eligible for a very wide range of job opportunities and will have to take additional continuing education classes and pass the examinations.

• CPR certification which means Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation is given to the candidates who can potentially save someone’s life as some stress exercises can be dangerous for people who suffer from heart conditions and other long term physical ailments.

• Therefore it is very important for trainers to have this CPR certification which will help them in case of emergency.

• This certification mainly contains courses about how to potentially save somebody’s life.

• This certification should be renewed every one or two years.

• AED certification which means automated external defibrillators as many employers will look for this certification these are machines which applies for quick electric therapy to reestablish normal rhythm in heart.

• These days many fitness centers and sports centers have these machines to use in case of emergency.

• Formal education certificates as many employers will look for the candidates who have college degree or certificate program in physical education, nutrition, fitness and anatomy and other related areas.

• Candidates who complete these programs will earn this certification for better chances of finding jobs.

Educational requirements of personal trainer:

Personal trainers provide training to the clients to make them stay fit and to lead a healthy lifestyle they suggest on nutrition as well.

They do all this by first evaluating and then constructing an individual plan to help the clients in meeting their goals.

These fitness plans may include aerobic exercises, using weight machines, cardiovascular exercises etc.

• The basic qualification required for personal trainer is a high school diploma or GED those interested in becoming personal trainers need to take up courses in biology, physics, health, anatomy and English.

• They need to keep their body in condition by practicing through peer motivation and by excelling in physical education.

• As most of the employers do not look for personal trainers attending the formal training programs but they can earn diploma or certification to get more opportunities and increase employment and earning potential.

• Most of the employers will look for the candidates who have certifications in personal training, kinesiology (which is a study related to anatomy) and exercise science.

• Personal trainers to earn better opportunities earn a four years bachelor’s degree and does a course work in physical fitness, general education and liberal arts.

• They include a training program with courses in nutrition, anatomy, physiology, strength training, body building and fitness instructions.

• As personal trainers they must possess their own qualifications like showing clients how to exercise, eat right food and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• They must exercise regularly and eat nutritional and balanced diet and remain physically fit always.

• Personal trainers should be able to mingle with everyone and be outgoing, easy to be around and have good communication skills to attract clients.

• And it is an added advantage if they have any prior experience in sales to attract and maintain clientele.

Salary and remuneration for personal trainers:

Depending on various factors like years of experience, geographical location the salary of personal trainers differs according to rules and regulations of each state.

• The median average annual income of personal trainers is between $25,470 and an hourly wage of $12.03 per annum.

• The starting salary of personal trainers who less than one year of experience is between $24,868 and $37,000 per annum.

• Personal trainers who have   more than one year of experience earned an average salary of $23,877 and $39,853 per annum.

• Personal trainers with more than five years of experience up to nine years earned between $29,479 and $49,555 per annum.

• The income of Personal trainers who are with ten to nineteen years of experience earn between $33,783 and $62,291 per annum.

• Personal trainers with more than twenty years of experience will get an average income of $24,417 and $58,958 per annum.

The type of employer they work also plays an important role in determining salaries as it mostly depends on the company size and the industry type.

Salaries according to different employer

• Personal trainers working for physical therapy industry earn the highest salary of between $40,000 and $56,160 per annum.

• Personal trainers working for health care industry earn an average income of $26,891 and $49,910 per annum.

• Personal trainers working for military services earn an average income of $22,185 and $48,484 per annum.

• Personal trainers working for gyms, fitness clubs earn an average income of $24,369 and $44,947 per annum.

Salaries according to different states in United States:

• Personal trainers working in San Diego can earn an average income of $29,479 and $61,674 per annum.

• Personal trainers working in New York can earn an average income of $29,479 and $61,042 per annum.

• Personal trainers working in Chicago can earn an average income of $24,470 and $54,371 per annum.

• Personal trainers working in Houston can earn an average income of $26,773 and $52,494 per annum.

• Personal trainers working in Denver can earn an average income of $18,313 and $49,439 per annum.

• Personal trainers working in Philadelphia can earn an average income of $23,583 and $35,608 per annum.

Duties and responsibilities of personal trainer:

Personal trainers are usually found working in hospitals, clubs, civic and community centers with the main focus being providing fitness classes, muscular strength, and endurance (which is the power to withstand hardship or stress), body building, flexibility and etc.

Their main responsibility is talking care of the clients and making them stay fit with good health by providing suitable exercises.

• They need to setup a schedule and arrange for sessions that fit client’s schedule.
• They are responsible for evaluating client’s fitness to know about their muscular strength and endurance and design fitness programs accordingly.
• Personal trainers are responsible for choosing the activities and exercises based on their level of fitness.
• They need to adjust goals for the clients on the basis of client’s age and fitness level to avoid any injuries.
• They are responsible for presenting all the exercises within the client’s regime (a systematic plan for therapy often including diet) for the client to perform the exercises without any risk or injury.
• They need to record client’s activities and adjust the fitness programs and goals as needed and when they are met trainer has to make new set of goals and create a new regimen.
• They need to understand the needs of the client and plan the workout routine accordingly.
• They need to demonstrate the exercises and make sure that the client is performing the exercise correctly.
• They are responsible for explaining the effects of particular exercises to the client.
• They need to make sure that the equipment used by the clients is in good condition.
• They need to motivate clients in achieving the fitness goals and help them stay healthy.
• They need to be punctual in their work and make sure that the designed workout routine is followed properly by the client.
• They are responsible for setting up rehabilitation programs in case the client suffers from injury.
• They need to provide fitness tips and also suggest about the nutrition for improved workout programs for the clients.

Skills needed for personal trainers:

Personal trainers help change the lives of clients and make them confident and look healthy than before with their training and nutrition programs.

Many clients depend on them for accurate fitness instructions.

They are mainly employed in gyms, clubs, spas, or they may work independently but they need to have some common skills and abilities to be a successful personal trainer.

The essential skills those are important for personal trainer as follows:

• Healthy lifestyle: Personal trainers are expected to keep themselves healthy as they set examples for their clients and they need lots of stamina and endurance to work throughout the day when required for performing in this way they need to have certain level of healthy eating habits along with commitment to physical fitness.

• Communication skills: Personal trainers main profession is to train the client exercises which are according to the type of their body for this they need to communicate or explain exercises and its effects on the body in such a way that client understands and follows. Having good communication will also help in attracting customers to choose the trainers so having communication skills will also increase their earning potentials.

• Listening skills: Personal trainers must also be good listeners as each client has different needs which will be expressed in different ways depending on the person. Personal trainers must be able to decipher want the client is looking for and convert their goals and expectations into a healthy and naturalistic plan.

• Motivational skills: Personal trainers must be able to motivate clients as they feel that trainers will change their lives and expect a commanding presence that will inspire them to work harder and make them meet their fitness goals. Personal trainers must motivate clients in helping them do suitable exercises, and making them maintains their diet with good nutrition etc.

• Customer service: One of the main skills which personal trainers need to have are understanding the fundamentals of customer service as they work whole time with the public they need to maintain professional manner and maintain a positive relationship with the clients. They may come across people who are extremely obese and have other health issues personal trainers must make them feel comfortable in their surrounding which will help them perform better.

Who is a personal trainer what is their job?

Personal trainer is a professional person who provides one-to-one training programs and assist clients in motivating them to become fit. They majorly guide fitness programs and are usually chosen by the people who want to stay in shape or by a sports person who is training to become athletic.  These personal trainers are usually found working in fitness centers and some work for corporations, country clubs and senior homes, maintain their own fitness centers or work for other facility centers. Some personal trainers provide services at their homes or work out at client’s homes and train fitness programs. They usually advise clients on fitness and make suggestions on improving their fitness by explaining which exercises are best suited for them. And they make sure that clients are using the best posture when exercising and encourage them to perform a workout that would exceed what they would do, had they been training alone. They are often found working at irregular hours as they must be available to the clients when they want them.

It is mainly a job which is associated with glamour as many celebrities, movie stars and professional athletes appoint their own personal trainers who help them stay fit. Personal trainers who work independently make more money than the trainers who work for gyms, spas etc. When they are working independently they have a more flexible schedule with the only responsibility being finding the clients. They are expected to have knowledge in all areas of fitness like aerobic training, strength training, flexibility, etc. It would be an added advantage for them who have skills in specific sports. They need to have good knowledge in nutrition and must have good understanding of the basic concepts. They are mainly helpful for those who are looking to lose weight, muscle gain, anti-aging, post trauma or accident rehabilitation, body building and power-lifting etc.