To become a personal trainer, first of all, you need to be interested in fitness, or at least interested in weight loss, body building, nutrition, diet or something related to personal training. I’ve seen personal trainers from all backgrounds, from women who wanted to lose weight, and most of them are still overweight and I never understood why anyone would pay a dollar to someone who was also overweight, body builders who train their clients as if their body building, including their weight loss, muscle toning, corporate clients who only want to lose body fat and tone up, which is INSANE to me because the only thing most bodybuilder personal trainers know is how to body build – I should know – I was a body builder before getting my degree. I DEFINITELY thought that I knew EVERYTHING about EXERCISE. When I think back to what I know and what I knew then, I realize I knew less than one percent than what is out there.
Bodybuilding is just one small area, tiny for fitness, in the fitness area, again, less than one percent of the population. Most people want to lose weight, muscle tone, look good, and fit in the clothes they like. That has nothing to do with bodybuilding. So DO NOT HIRE A BODYBUILDER for PERSONAL TRAINING!!! ONLY HIRE people with at least a degree and some experience in the area. It’s no wonder why the corporate world will only hire people with a degree and experience, yet many people will give $40 – 100 per hour to a high school grad with a great body (who has good genetics and can lift a pencil and lose 50 pounds)!
So first of all, know your stuff.
Secondly, get a degree related to physical fitness, health, or medicine.
Thirdly, get certified. There are many personal trainer certifications out there.
ACE is the most popular. ACE Personal Training is focused on the common, general public. There is ACSM and the NASM which are known to be more focused on athletes.
