Beyond High School

Here's a list of programs that you should consider if you're interested in this career:

• Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
• Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
• Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
• Physical Fitness Technician
• Yoga Teacher Training/Yoga Therapy

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

One to two years post-secondary training

The education and training required for fitness trainers and instructors varies by specialty. Employers usually prefer to hire those with certification, but requirements vary by facility.

Insider Info

Additional Information

Not all personal trainers (PTs) are equal in their training. Currently, the field is largely unregulated and not all employers pay attention to accreditation. This could change, though, so it pays to do the research required to find the best education possible.

Dr. Kirstin Lane, chair of a group promoting exercise physiology, agrees. "Many clubs and studios still offer employment as a PT without the proper qualifications. But increasing consumer awareness of the need for formal education is causing an increased demand for regulation. This will make hiring unqualified PTs very difficult in the next five to 10 years."

Neal I. Pire agrees that proper certification from recognized bodies is key. He is an exercise physiologist with a master's degree in applied physiology from Columbia University, and owns his own personal training company in New Jersey.

"Personal trainers should have earned an appropriate certification from a nationally accredited organization," he says. In the U.S., these organizations include:

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
• American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Pire adds that all working trainers must be CPR-AED certified. This means that they have learned how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

When determining where you will train or certify, trusting your instinct might be best. If it sounds too good to be true (such as, "Become a personal trainer is just two weeks!") then it probably is.

It is not just that it may not be the best certification available. As a personal trainer, you will have to know how to help your client in a way that helps them improve their fitness without causing injury, and a short course may not prepare you well for that.

Extra Requirements

Most fitness trainers or instructors have certification related to the area of fitness in which they specialize. Personal trainers usually must be certified before they begin working with clients or with members of a gym or health club. Group fitness instructors may begin work without certification, but employers often encourage or require them to get their credentials. Most fitness instructors receive certification for their preferred type of training, such as yoga, kickboxing, or strength training. Many organizations offer certification. For example the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredits certifying organizations in the fitness and wellness industry, including several that offer personal trainer or general certification. In addition, some private companies offer certification in the types of classes they offer.

For additional information, visit these websites:

• http://www.credentialingexcellence.org/Accreditation/Earn-Accreditation/NCCA