Demand for personal trainers and fitness experts is booming, with fitness training one of the fastest growing industries in the health sector. Personal trainers have great flexibility in their career, with the option to work in a variety of places like health clubs, outdoor boot camps, group training, weight training, and even aqua fitness.
Personal trainers help people lose weight, gain fitness, and feel good about themselves.
How to become a personal trainer
There are a number of pathways to working as a personal trainer. Firstly, you should ensure that the institute you look at is accredited to give you a recognised health or fitness qualification. You can study courses such as a Diploma of Fitness or Certificate in Sport and Recreation at a TAFE institute, or study a Bachelor of Health or Sport Science at University. These vary greatly both in length of time and skills taught, so it is important to research what you hope to get out of your qualification.
You may learn about fitness conditioning, health and sports nutrition, personal training and communication skills, depending on your course. It can also be important as a personal trainer to undertake a first aid certificate, in order to have the necessary skills should your client sustain an injury. This will ensure you are upholding worksafe principles while training clients.
Working as a personal trainer
Once you have completed a qualification, you need to market yourself. Even personal trainers who work in health clubs need to build up a number of clients in order to have a steady income, and this often comes through word of mouth from other satisfied customers. Many personal trainers also work for themselves, and therefore need to have a good understanding of business principles in order to make a living for themselves. However, fitness training as a career is incredibly varied, allowing you the satisfaction of getting out from behind a desk, and helping people achieve their weight loss and health goals.
Read an interview with a personal trainer.