Looking for Personal Trainer career paths? We provide some insight in this post.
The continually evolving world of health and fitness has spawned a number of career options over the past decade. Personal training is one of the more commonly-known and lucrative options, currently a $10 billion industry. Whether you’ve already finished college or high school, or perhaps you’re contemplating getting out of your day job to kick start a career as a personal trainer, there are several personal trainer career paths to choose from.
Interestingly, the fitness industry – and a career as a personal trainer – is a thriving, diverse industry with an abundance of opportunities for different persons and aspirations. Whether you wish to become an independent contractor or plan to be employed full time, you’ll have a variety of employment options.
Personal Trainer Career Paths – What and How?
A personal trainer helps an individual lose weight and keep physically fit and healthy by working with them to develop a fitness training program that they follow. Using individualized exercises and programming, personal trainers help each client achieve their personal goals and targets.
To do this, a personal trainer must be able to understand the unique situation of each client, create individual/group exercises and nutritional behaviors, and keep them psychologically motivated to keep to the routine.
Although you can choose to get a degree in a program related to human anatomy, physiology, biology, or biochemistry, these generally focus more on science and less on personal training skillsets. On the other hand, a certificate or degree that is specifically tailored to personal training competencies generally takes less time and provides you with more relevant skills needed in the day-to-day life of a fitness trainer.
Career Paths
Fitness trainers have four major career possibilities, depending on your personality and aspirations.
Contractor: As an independent contractor, you’d work directly with your clients. You would have the liberty to set your rates (per session or per hour), and the liberty of how and where your sessions are held. However, you will have to take care of the administrative and marketing duties yourself. You will likely pay a rental fee for the facility you use, and may have to purchase or rent all of your equipment.
Employed Trainers: As a semi-dependent personal trainer, you will leave every administrative duty to your employer – including gym space. This is especially advantageous for those who are just starting out, allowing you to learn the ropes without compromising your earnings. However, you should expect to be paid less than an independent trainer.
Studio or Club Owner: One of the ultimate goals of any personal trainer is running a personal business. At the height of running a personal business as a personal trainer, you can open your own fitness studio or club, setting yourself up for the establishment of a future franchise. Studio or gym ownership can be a very profitable venture for a personal trainer, with great potential for growth and expansion. Like an independent contractor, you will have to take care of the administrative responsibilities and need to recruit and train employed staff as well.
Specialized Trainer: There are also opportunities for specialized/boutique forms of fitness training, such as Cross-Fit training. As a cross-fit coach, you will be required to know every cross-fit technique, with the added task of grouping, supervising, and encouraging club members.
No matter what personal trainer career paths you choose, Bryan University has a degree program that can help you achieve greatness.
If you are not a student, but are thinking of a career in personal training and fitness, what are you waiting for? Contact us and set up a time to speak with one of our admissions representatives. Or, check out program options at Bryan University:
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