For people who enjoy being at the gym, personal training can give them an excuse to be there and they get to help people become fit as well. To become a personal trainer, you not only have to enjoy working with people and working out, but you have to be certified as well. Here are the steps you should take to work in a gym as a personal trainer.
Become Certified
There are many ways to become certified in personal training in Los Angeles. You can get certified online by taking a course and/or attending workshops or attend courses at a local learning institution. There are five certifying bodies you should consider becoming a personal trainer.
- American College of Sports Medicine – ACSM
- American Council on Exercise – ACE
- International Sport Sciences Association – ISSA
- National Academy of Sports Medicine – NASM
- National Strength and Conditioning Association – NSCA
Some gyms also offer their own courses for becoming a personal trainer, but if you are interested in certification from one of these programs, you should contact the gym you want to work for to see which they accept. You will need to be willing to make a financial investment in your career because becoming certified can cost between $400 to $1,000, depending on the package you choose.
Training Specialties
Not all trainers focus on the same type of training and you should select a specialty before you choose which certification you will seek. Personal training involves working one-on-one with clients to help them get into shape, or into better shape. If you would rather teach a class to a room full of people, then you can become a certified fitness instructor. Some people choose to get both certifications in order to be more flexible so they can find a job.
Getting Insurance
Before you start training clients, you will need to get insurance in case anything happens while you’re working with a client. If you do work for a gym, they may insure you, but if you want to work on your own, you will need to have a liability insurance policy. Check with the body you are certified by to see if they offer insurance policies, or shop for insurance on your own to find a policy you can afford.
Stay in Shape
You should practice what you preach by staying in shape when you work as a personal trainer. No one wants to learn about dieting and exercise from someone who is flabby or out of shape. Personal training is about teaching others, but it is also about setting an example for your clients to attain. A career as a personal trainer can be rewarding, but you need to take these steps to find a job.
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