Are you considering turning your obsession for fitness into a fulfilling life career? Start off on your best footing and follow these easy steps to become a certified personal trainer today!
The fact that you are passionate about fitness and training while also living the fit-style is in itself a huge achievement in life. However, for some ardent, passionate, fitness-conscious individuals, it is not just enough to that extent; they are compelled to take this to the higher level by helping others live this fulfilling life. If you want to extend this passion to help more people to live fit, you may consider becoming a certified personal trainer and turning this zeal to a full-time career in fitness and training.
Being a personal trainer is not only amazing, but also offers great potentials for career and personal growth. You are not only having a chance to work on your own schedule, but also do what you are passionate about while helping others accomplish their fitness and training goals to live a more meaningful life.
Once you have made up your mind to become a certified personal trainer, it is good to remember that you have to set aside and invest some average amounts of money, time and other resources. Impacting others and empowering them to engage in fitness practice and learning in order to live a healthier life will require proper planning and investment. Clients are always looking for experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic trainers and therefore very necessary to take steps to get certified.
Important Steps to become a certified personal trainer
Here are some of the steps you need to take in your journey of becoming a certified personal trainer;
1. Identify a suitable certification organization
There are quite a number of accredited programs and organizations that offer certifications in the fitness and training industry. You should make sure that you choose the best organization that will give your career the boost needed to be successful. While on this first step, you should make sure that you have at least a high school diploma as many of these reputable organizations require that as the minimum qualification.
Among the most reputable of these organizations from the globe include American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) etc. There are quite a number of others to consider. As a good start, if you already have a place or a gym that you would like to join after your certification, you should check to ascertain whether they accept certifications from these organizations. Some are very particular on where you should have attained this.
2. Choose a specialization
Do you want to train individuals or groups? You should decide in advance on where you want to specialize in. A personal trainer and a group fitness instructor are very different professionals. However, you can be both. You can get certified in one now and the other later. You should be aware that these choices come with consequences and consume your resources both in time and money. Get certified first in the one that excites you most.
3. Make a worthwhile investment
Getting fitness and training certification is not usually cheap. You should therefore treat it as an investment for your career so that you can help people out and earn a meaningful amount of cash. However, there are times that you are tight on budget; identify gyms that offer sponsorships for certifications. Look around for these and invest in their efforts. This will give you a chance to get legally working as a qualified fitness trainer.
4. Put your best foot forward
In your certification program, put your best foot forward and prepare for exams well in advance. This is the only sure way to pass and get your certification. Develop a working study program that will see you succeed. Once you are through with exams and have passed well, congratulations! However, you need to decide whether you want to join well-established gyms or want to work as an independent instructor.
Finally, you should be able to meet the necessary legal requirements for practice such as acquiring insurance. Most importantly, be a good example by exercising regularly.