Introduction
So, you’ve decided to become a Personal Trainer. Perhaps you’re looking at a career change, or maybe you love fitness and helping others, and you’re considering becoming a personal trainer for the first step in your career. This article will present becoming a personal trainer in 4 simple steps.
These steps may not be exactly the route every personal trainer has taken; some may [have] add[ed] many more steps, however it is best practice to follow these steps without taking any away.
4 Steps to Becoming a Personal Trainer
Set Your Goals
You may know that you want to become a Personal Trainer, but if you don’t set some goals, you may lack the direction you need to get you where you want to be. Think of goal setting less as the end destination, more so a map that can guide your continued journey.
For example, if you know that you want to specialise in coaching functional fitness, then that’ll inform you that in addition to a L3 PT Qualification, you may also need an additional functional fitness coaching qualification. Similarly, if your goal is to specialise in helping people to lose weight, you may wish to take a nutrition course.
Enrol onto a Personal Training Course
Okay, so it isn’t quite that simple. Correction – you should qualify in a high quality and recognised personal trainer course. Additionally, you will need both a Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification and a Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training in order to become a Personal Trainer. The PFCA Level 3 Personal Trainer Course is actually a combined L2 and L3 Course. It is also CIMSPA approved, and teaches areas such as:
Personal Training Business Development: The course focuses on the entrepreneurial aspects of being a personal trainer. It includes guidance on setting up as a self-employed trainer, managing a business, marketing strategies, and tips for promoting success.
Personal Training Professionalism: Those who enrol on the PFCA L3 PT Course are educated on the legal and professional standards expected in personal training, ensuring they operate within ethical guidelines.
Anatomy: Getting onto the theoretical aspects of personal trainers; those who enrol will get a deep dive into functional anatomy, ensuring you have a solid understanding of the human body and how it relates to exercise and training.
Training Structure: This area teaches how to effectively organise, plan, and conduct exercise sessions, both for individual clients and groups, ensuring a well-rounded and engaging experience.
Programme Design: The course covers the development of fitness programs tailored to meet diverse client needs in various settings, enhancing the your ability to cater to a wide audience.
Specificity: Special emphasis is placed on customising sessions and programs to address the unique needs and goals of each client, ensuring personalised and effective training plans.
Nutrition: You’ll gain a strong foundation in nutrition, focusing on its importance for exercise, elite athletic performance, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Lifestyle: This part of the course explores how lifestyle factors and medical conditions can impact a client’s health and wellness, preparing trainers to offer holistic guidance.
Communication: Effective communication skills are highlighted, teaching those who enrol how to engage with clients positively, conduct thorough consultations, and motivate them towards adopting healthier lifestyle choices.
Be sure to take a look at our full range of personal training courses.
Get your first Personal Training Job
Once you have acquired your Level 3 Personal Trainer Qualification, it is time to get a job as a personal trainer. In order to do this, you need insurance. Qualifying at the PFCA guarantees access to insurance to cover your practice.
Starting out as a personal trainer, you may have to work many hours on the gym floor or marketing yourself online in order to acquire clients. This is completely normal and expected. You may want to get hired at an existing gym/club, work as a freelancer at a gym, or start out completely on your own.
Keep on Learning
In order to become the best personal trainer you can be, it is vital that you stay up to date with continuous learning. Things change fast in the personal training industry; clients want different things, science and theories of programme design change, and marketing trends are always evolving.
It is therefore absolutely imperative that you keep learning in order to stay ahead of the crowd.
Conclusion
In conclusion, becoming a Personal Trainer is a journey that requires dedication, strategic planning, and continuous learning. By setting clear goals, obtaining a recognized qualification through a course like the PFCA Online Level 3 Personal Trainer Course, securing your first job, and committing to ongoing education, you can establish a successful career in personal training.
Please remember that the path to becoming a personal trainer may vary for each individual, however these steps provide a simple guideline template for becoming a PT.