Advice on preparing for a career in strength and fitness training
of Sports Medicine. The magazines published by these organizations, such as Fitness Journal offered by IDEA, do an excellent job of providing trainers with practical information about the business side of personal training. Unfortunately, not all certificaAdvice on preparing for a career in strength and tion organizations have high standards, fitness training and with more than 300 organizations certifying exercise instructors, it may be difficult to determine just how qualified Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, “In a so-called certified trainer is.
Further, f someone is serious about getting few of these organizations require that Shaq’s Big Challenge, we saw children in shape and has some disposable their trainers demonstrate their skills coerced into emotional submission, income, they can have their pick in practical, hands-on examinations. humiliated in front of millions, and of just about any personal trainer at a nearby gym. But because the industry is their struggle with weight turned into a Can you imagine using this standard in other professions, such as dentistry? public spectacle.”
unregulated, they’ll probably find that Would you want someone working on If you are interested in becoming few of these trainers have any formal an outstanding personal trainer, first get your teeth if their training consisted of academic background in exercise scireading books and passing multiplean academic degree in the field of exerence. Most do have certifications, and choice exams? almost all have hard bodies, Even if your interest is in plenty of enthusiasm and good personal training for the averteeth. Personal training can be age adult, non-athletic market, an extremely well-paying proconsider obtaining a strength fession, and these trainers want coaching certification.
One of to expand their client list – the the fastest growing markets in question is, are they worthy of the personal training industry their clients’ business? is working with children and Although the media loves young adults, and with a tight to highlight former athletes economy, being able to work who have become great with a larger population base coaches, consider that being helps provide job security. an elite athlete or having a We invite you to consider the great body is not necessarBFS clinician Jeff Sellers teaching the Six Absolutes of strength coaching certification ily any indication that these Perfect Technique. offered by BFS.
We have over individuals will be great cise science. Then, increase your knowl- 36 years in the field of working with trainers. In 2007 Shaquille O’Neal, young athletes, and our certification has edge of the field of personal training whose academic degree is in business, by becoming certified. For the personal both a hands-on exam and a continuing was involved in Shaq’s Big Challenge, a education requirement.
training market, some popular organitelevision series about Shaq’s efforts to In summary, if you want to zations that offer certifications are the help six obese middle school children, become a personal trainer, start with National Strength and Conditioning ages 11 to 14, lose weight and pass formal academic classes and then conAssociation, American College of the President’s Physical Fitness Test. tinue your education with certifications Sports Medicine, American Council Shaq’s methods brought criticism. in the field. After all, the more you Noted Martin Binks, PhD, a consulting on Exercise, IDEA Health and Fitness Association, and the National Academy learn, the more you earn!
professor in the Duke Department of Personal Trainer?
From BFS Magazine — May/June 2012. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
