Considerations Before Becoming a Gym Instructor
Introduction
Becoming a gym instructor can be your first step into a long and successful career in the fitness industry; however, if you have no experience in the industry or are making a career change from a completely different field, there are some considerations that you may want to make before taking the step! This article will break them down for you.
What do Gym Instructors do?
Being a gym instructor isn’t quite the same as being a personal trainer. Whilst the role of PT predominantly includes working with clients on a one to one basis and coaching them in a paid client to trainer relationship, the role of gym instructor is more of an advisory role. This means that they work on the gym floor maintaining a safe environment, and are the go-to person for advice on various areas of fitness and using equipment in the gym correctly and safely.
Personality of Gym Instructors
To become a gym instructor, you really have to be the right kind of person. Personality attributes include things such as being outgoing, friendly, willing to help and passionate about helping others. This is because much of the role involves putting yourself out there whilst on the gym floor to help and providing advice when not necessarily being asked for it. These character attributes are beneficial in a few respects; firstly, they ensure a positive environment is maintained in the gym, but they will also benefit personal trainers working on the gym floor looking for clients. Similarly, gym instructors should be patient and responsible, as it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that people in the gym are exercising safely and effectively.
Qualifications
Once you’ve figured out that you’re the right kind of person to become a gym instructor, it’s time to consider qualifications. To become a gym instructor, it is crucially important that you have the right level of qualification. At the bare minimum, you will need a Level 2 Gym Instructing Qualification. You should also consider, though, that many gyms actually require you to also have a Level 3 Personal Training Qualification in order to work there as a gym instructor. Once you’ve got your qualifications in hand, you should also consider registering with CIMSPA to get official recognition. At the PFCA, we teach a combined L2 & L3 PT Course; this combined course ensures maximum accessibility into the industry, as the only requirements for entry are that you are over 16 and can speak English. Additionally, our L2 & L3 PT Course is CIMSPA recognised, and the PFCA is a CIMSPA accredited course provider. The course itself goes above and beyond ordinary requirements, meaning that you are more than ready for any gym instructing role once qualified.
The Working Hours of Gym Instructors
Another consideration you should make before becoming a gym instructor is the hours. Gyms aren’t 9-5 environments, which is reflected in the working hours as a gym instructor. Shift work is a common practice in gyms, with early mornings and late nights to ensure that the gym is covered at all times. You should therefore bear in mind that this may be an expectation of you when you start your career as a gym instructor.
Conclusion
To conclude, becoming a gym instructor can be an extremely fulfilling career step, being the first entry point into the fitness industry. The job itself is more than keeping a safe gym environment; it is also about guiding gym users, teaching them about the equipment, and helping them to stay fit and healthy. If you feel like gym instruction might be the next career step for you, then be sure to check out our Level 2 & 3 Personal Trainer Course.
