How to become a certified Personal Trainer
Are you passionate about fitness and health? Can you motivate people to reach their fitness goals? If you enjoy working with people, consider becoming a Personal trainer. This career offers interesting and engaging employment opportunities. Personal trainer jobs provide rewarding career opportunities and if you choose to specialise, there are a range of fitness jobs that you can choose from. Browse Job Mail, register your CV and apply for fitness instructor jobs online. If you want to find out how to become a personal trainer, here is some useful information about this career path.
What is a personal trainer?
Personal Trainers help their clients to become fit and healthy. They motivate and educate their clients with the aim of helping them to reach their fitness goals.
What are the duties of a personal trainer?
Personal Trainers liaise with their clients in order to determine their needs with regards to health and fitness. They assess their clients to create a personal plan that will help them to become healthier and fitter. The plan will incorporate each client’s personal preferences and aspirations. Goals could include developing strength, losing weight or increasing fitness levels.
Once the Personal Trainer has drawn up a plan, they book sessions with the client to guide them through the exercises. The sessions should be challenging as well as fun. During the session, the Personal Trainer makes sure that their client is performing the exercises correctly. They also keep their client motivated and encourage them to reach their goals. Sessions may be held individually or in groups. Part of a Personal Trainer’s role is to communicate clearly so that their client is aware of the steps that they need to take to reach their goals. It is important for Personal Trainers to explain the fitness program and exercises to their client in a comprehensive manner. Other responsibilities which are associated with this position include preparing for sessions, writing programs and monitoring each client’s progress. Educating clients is one of the essential duties involved in fitness jobs. To perform this role adequately Personal Trainers need to keep up-to-date with new information in the health and fitness industry.
Where do Personal Trainers work?
Typically, Personal Trainers work in gyms or fitness studios. If you are just starting out, it is advisable to work in a gym so you can build up a base of clients. Another advantage of working in a gym is that you can learn from other trainers.
What is the expected salary of a Personal Trainer?
According to Pay Scale those employed in personal trainer jobs earn an average of R120,687 per year in South Africa.
What is required of a Personal Trainer?
If you are interested in becoming a Personal Trainer, you will need excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You will need to be good at motivating people. A passion for health and fitness is also essential for this career path. As a Personal Trainer you will be required to be physically fit and healthy.
How to become a Personal Trainer?
To become a Personal Trainer you will need to pass an exam in order to receive a certification. It is advisable to obtain a Personal Training certification from a SAQA accredited educational institution. The Exercise Teachers Academy offers training countrywide. Another option is to attend training at the Health and Fitness Professional Academy which is based in Gauteng. If you stay near Sandton the IFP is a good option and the International Institute of Fitness Trainers offers courses in Pretoria. The ICK operates from Johannesburg while the Trifocus Fitness Academy caters to students countrywide.
The requirements differ according to each institute but as a general guideline you will need a Senior Certificate to be eligible for the Personal Training courses. Another option is an NQF Level 4 qualification. You will need to be in good health and have a good level of fitness to enter into the programs.
Once you are qualified, it is advisable to continue your training so that you can stay up-to-date with current information in the health and fitness industry. Adding other qualifications to your Personal Trainer certification will allow you to charge more for your sessions. Continuous education will enable you to offer your clients a superior service. Conferences and industry exhibitions are other ways to expand your knowledge and build your client base.
What career opportunities does certification open up?
If you choose to specialise and continue your studies, there are many career paths that you can follow. Options include consultation work or fitness instruction. You could also write fitness articles for online and printed publications.
Once you are qualified, you can start searching for Personal Trainer jobs online. If you enjoy helping people to be fit and healthy, Personal Training may be the perfect career for you. Why not register your CV on Job Mail, browse through the vacancies on Job Mail and see what employment opportunities are available in the industry?
