While the Internet has, overall, helped the personal trainer business and career field, it has also caused it some damage. Unfortunately, there are a large number of “diploma mills” that are encouraging people to get their certification from their ‘schools.” The problem with this is that, when they go to find a job, they find out that there is no substance behind their certificate. Their diploma-mill school is not accredited and not recognized, and consequently, they lose a job that they otherwise might have gotten.

So what’s a personal trainer diploma mill look like?  Usually, they have outstanding looking websites, they offer their courses online, and they claim to be a recognized certification program.  In other words, on first glance, they offer the same things that legitimate certification programs offer.  Some of these go so far as to lie about having tax-exempt, nonprofit status.

So how do you avoid getting ripped off by a diploma mill?  The best way is to stick with major certification schools. These are the schools that you’ve either already heard of, or that others in the field have recommended. Without exception, the most trusted personal training schools right now have existed for 10 years or more. They have strong recognition within the industry.  That’s because their programs require an extensive amount of effort in order to pass their exams.

Which brings us to another clue that your school might be a diploma mill:  If the program seems just too simple, then it’s probably not legit. After all, certification really means nothing if anyone could get it.

 Why do so many people get conned by these personal trainer diploma mills?  Usually the person starts shopping for a school and realizes that it’s difficult to choose a program. He also comes face-to-face with the fact that this will cost money.  That’s when the person usually encounters “the answer” (supposedly).  For just $49, he can receive his certification in just a couple of short weeks.  Sounds good, right?  No–it sounds too good to be true! And as you’ve no doubt heard, this means it probably is.

This doesn’t mean, though, that you should automatically assume that an expensive school is on the level. Instead, do this.  Find who accredits the school that you’re considering. This should be in their literature and on their website.  Let’s assume that the school claims to be accredited by the Acme Organization. Once you’ve found it, do a Google search on phrases such as: “Acme organization scam.”  If it is, indeed, a scam, you’ll find that many people have already noted this online. Another good search phrase is “is Acme organization legitimate?” Again, you should find that the subject has already been discussed, and you should know right away whether to enroll in that school–or to steer clear.

Before we examine these strategies, let’s take a look at what test anxiety is. Put simply, it’s a kind of performance anxiety.  Performance anxiety is a recognized condition wherein a person performs poorly at the very thing he’s worried about.  This worry triggers adrenaline, and this adrenaline rush locks up critical thinking functions, including remembering and problem-solving.  That’s why test anxiety is so prevalent. Most people have an important test that causes much worry.  This worrying becomes self-defeating, since it sets the processes into motion that will cause you to forget much of the information that you’ve studied.

Does it still sound hopeless to you?  Relax:  We’re coming to the good part. There are several good strategies that will help you beat the enemy of test anxiety. Here are nine of the best ones.

1)    The first and most obvious way to fight test anxiety is to make sure that you’re well-prepared for the exam.  Knowing that you’re ready for the test builds confidence.  Since test anxiety happens because of the adrenaline rush caused by fear, you’re less likely to have this adrenaline rush when you’re prepared for the test.  In other words, confidence will kill anxiety.

2)    This next one is related to the first one: One effective way of getting rid of anxiety is to take several practice tests before the real thing.  Why? Because when you see that you are doing well on these practice versions, your confidence will rise.  This will once again overcome test anxiety.

3)    Get rid of stress by preparing your body.  What does this mean?  Several things:  First, begin exercising, especially during the week or two before the exam.  Also, eat a healthy diet, since this helps to keep your brain alert. Finally, make sure that the day before the test, you get plenty of rest.

4)    Think positive thoughts.  Remember that test anxiety comes about because of adrenaline released when you fear the possible outcome.  In other words, it all starts in your thoughts.  This means you should refuse to engage in negative self-talk.  Tell yourself, instead, all the reasons that you should do well. (“I’ve studied for two weeks, it’s my favorite subject, I usually do well on tests,” and so on)

5)    Avoid some of the very things that you think will help you on study nights. For instance, many people decide that, in order to stay up late studying, they’ll stay alert by drinking lots of coffee, drinking energy drinks, or taking caffeine pills. The problem is that these things tend to make you jittery.  If those “jitters” stay with you when you enter the testing room, it’s likely to exacerbate test anxiety.  Instead, drink water or juice—and get a good night’s sleep.

6)    Organize everything that you’ll need for the nest, before you go to bed. Make sure you set the alarm.  It’s important that your day starts off right. If you find yourself scrambling to find everything at the last minute, you’ll go into the testing room already stressed out.

7)    If the questions look harder than you’d expected, scan through the test to find the items that you can do easily. Do these first, both to save your time, and also to give yourself confidence that you can do this.  That confidence might help remind you of some of the other answers that your anxiety was at first blocking.

8)    Some people have reported success with scheduling mini-breaks during the test.  Simply put, tackle several questions for about 10 minutes, then take a minute to rest your eyes and practice some breathing exercises. Then go another 10  minutes followed by another mini-break, and so on.

9)    Finally, let’s talk about anxiety during essay portions.  If you find your mind blank, just start writing.  Often, the process of writing will trigger something in your brain and make you start remembering things.  The other important consideration is to make an outline for your essay.  This helps you organize your thoughts, so that when your brain freezes, you’ll have an easy guide to get you back on track.

Bottom line:  You don’t have to feel like a helpless victim of test anxiety.  By practicing these nine steps, you can feel confident as you tackle your exam. And that confidence will be your ticket to a higher grade.

To receive certification from ACSM, you’ll need to be 18 or older and have a high school diploma as well as your CPR certification.  The exam cost is $279, and then you must enroll in continuing education programs every three years to keep the certification current. There are four certifications available through ACSM:

ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Exam (CPT)
ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist Exam
ACSM  Certified Health Fitness Specialist Exam (HFS)
ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist Exam

GEI is the Group Exercise Instructor. By obtaining this certification, you’ll be qualified to teach a group about exercise activities and about the basics of fitness. To obtain ACSM certification, you’ll need to show that you can develop lesson plans for both individuals and groups, and that you can be flexible with different exercise techniques. Most important, you’ll need to show that you can supervise groups of participants.

CPT stands for Certified Personal Trainer.  This is offered because many college athletes decide that, to help them reach their peak potential, they must have an individualized exercise program.  By becoming an ACSM certified trainer, you’ll be able to make a difference in many people’s lives, but most commonly, young athletes’.

HFS stands for Health Fitness Specialist.  The Fitness Specialist does much of the same work as the personal trainer, except he adds to this anything pertaining to the client’s fitness. This means that as part of his training, he’ll learn about proper nutrition and proper life habits that contribute to overall fitness. There is also a large field in this category for workers who can work with populations who have medically controlled diseases.  Becoming a fitness specialist will require both an Associate’s Degree as well as your certification.

Your ACSM certification in any of these areas will open many doors for you! ACSM is the world’s largest sports medicine and training organization and is highly respected. That’s because it’s not easy to pass their certification programs. However, the training that you’ll undergo will be worth it, as you’ll have a credential that is well known, and career that you’ll love and which will bring you much fulfillment. You can find out more information about ACSM certification by visiting their website at www.acsm.org.

Concept 1:  People memorize when they encounter information repeatedly.

Concept 2:  People memorize when they write down important information.

By combining these first two principles, we can develop several good memorization techniques. For instance, one classic idea is to write out flash cards for yourself.  This makes use of both the written and repetition concepts:  You write out the facts on the cards and then you show them to yourself until you’ve got them remembered. Another good idea is to write notes during class time (do not type them; you don’t get the same results).  Again, writing the information helps commit the facts to your memory, and then after class, you can read and re-read the notes until you can recall the facts with ease.

Concept 3: Auditory learners remember facts that they hear.  This also provides us with a few possible memorization techniques. For instance, the auditory learner will find it helpful to read his notes or his text out loud to himself.  Similar to this tip is the idea of recording your notes on a cassette tape or mp3 file, to play back to yourself over and over until you have it memorized.

Concept 4: Linking the unknown helps you recall information. This is the area where some of the most creative memorization techniques have been discovered.  Here are a few samples:

• Put the information to music.  Many a school child has remembered world capitals or the 50 United States by putting them to the tune of a song that they already know (“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” for instance). We’re linking the unknown (capital cities) to the known (the song).
•  Envision your house and each item that you need to memorize as a different part of that house. Then take a tour.  Let’s say that your list is of the first 10 Presidents of the United States.  As you walk to the house porch, you envision George Washington on the porch swing.  Then you open the door, and John Adams greets you after you knock.  In the living room on the right, Thomas Jefferson is sitting on your couch putting final touches on the Declaration of Independence. And so on. Again, we’re linking the unfamiliar (the Presidents) with the familiar (your house).

There are many other strategies you could use.  Just keep in mind that they should make use of the basic principles of repetition, writing, and linking the unfamiliar with the familiar.

1) The aging population.  The trend toward a graying population is not likely to stop any time soon–or even during your lifetime. And as more and more people reach mid -life and beyond, they become more concerned about their health.  This means they want to get fit, and that’s where you come in.  Either in a gym setting or working on your own, you’ll be able to find plenty of clients to keep you going.  SUGGESTION:  While others are casting a broad net, you might have better luck if in your marketing, you specifically target those who are approaching their senior years.

2) The fattening population.  It’s no secret to you that North Americans are now the fattest in the nation. This is primarily because of the proliferation of restaurants offering unhealthy choices, combined with jobs that have Americans moving around less and less. Fortunately, there has been a “Great Awakening” of late, as people realize that they need to fight the flab.  This is a perfect opportunity for the trainer.  SUGGESTION:  Overweight people already feel self-conscious about their condition.  The smart fitness trainer, rather than calling attention to their weight, takes the approach:  “Do you want to look better and feel better?”  This turns a new fitness program into a positive rather than a negative.

 3) The many paths available.  We alluded to this earlier, but there are just so many ways of getting into the career field.  Some gyms like hiring trainers, while other people, with a more entrepreneurial spirit, prefer setting up shop for themselves.  These people either have their own facilities or travel to people’s homes and places of business.  And if you ever need to find something different, you can always move into schools or hospitals to practice your fitness skills. Rest assured, there will almost always be a place for you once you’ve received your trainer’s certification.  SUGGESTION:  Try working for yourself at the same time that you’re working for a gym or other employer. This will allow you the stability of a regular job, while you begin securing more and more clients for your private business on the side.  See our post on How to Expand your Career.

 According to one recent study, there will be a 27 percent growth in the job market for fitness pros in over the next decade.  It pays well, it’s enjoyable, and it’s a secure field. If fitness is your passion, then by all means–jump in, because the water will be warm for quite a while!

Well–it’s not entirely different, but there are some subtle differences between the fitness coach and trainer.  You already know what a trainer is, so let’s look at what a coach is, and then consider how it differs from the fitness trainer.

Fitness coaching is something of a guided, ongoing conversation between you and the fitness coach. This conversation also involves certain fitness processes.  So far, it sounds similar to a trainer, right? Let’s delve deeper. A trainer is certified and trained to create and implement a specific workout program for the client. He assesses the client’s physical abilities, takes note of your limitations, and then centers your workout program around those extremes.  He also helps his client create and work on his own personal fitness goals.  The trainer makes sure the person is performing his routine as perfectly as possible.

When the trainer steps out beyond these parameters, he steps into the world of personal coaching.  The coach’s function is to educate a client’s mind about fitness and inspire the heart.  He imparts health-related wisdom to the person and keeps him accountable. It’s the coach’s role to question the client, to make sure he’s following the coach’s guidelines, and to motivate him to do so.  He wants to modify the person’s behavior and inspire him to move beyond what he had thought his limitations were.

In essence, the personal coach acts as more of a mentor to the client. He helps him to both develop a personal fitness strategy and motivates the client to stay with it; the trainer simply helps the person develop the right tactics which will help him reach his goal.

The fact that there is a subtle difference between trainer and coach does not mean that you have to choose one or the other for your career. In fact, many people aren’t aware of the distinction.  In fact, you might do well to call yourself a “trainer,” while still delving into the coaching arena. More than ever, people want that mentoring relationship with their trainer that actually characterizes the personal coach. It’s a way to build positive buzz for your business.

On the other hand, those who promote themselves as a coach usually find that they can charge a slightly higher fee than if they’re promoted as a trainer. Either way, there are advantages–and either way, you can become in the fitness field that you love, and make good money doing it.

Fitness Trainer Job Listings

Fitness Trainer Certifications 

At a fitness training school, you’ll be taught the basics in areas such as nutrition, physiology, anatomy, and metabolism. You’ll get hands-on practice in conducting physical assessments, and help with designing and implementing fitness plans.  You’ll be shown how to work in a gym setting or even at people’s work sites.

There are enough fitness training schools you can afford to be choosy. Think about what your specialty will be, and see if the school offers something specifically for you.  There are schools with specializations in specific areas like running, yoga, working with seniors, aerobics, strength training, (CSCS and NCSF) sports medicine (NASM ACSM), working with youth, and more. If, in your actual career, you need to at first cast a wide net, you simply advertise yourself as a certified trainer.  Afterward, though, if you have specific training in a specific field, you’ll be better equipped to advertise that specialty.  More info here on Three Main Fitness Certifications.   If you are looking for a fitness school, try The National Fitness Training Institute. 

As a fitness trainer, you can either work for an employer or start your own business. It’s smart, though, to be prepared in case you have to work for someone else. In that case, you’ll need to meet their minimum requirements.  Usually this means that you’ll need at least an AS (Associate of Science) in physical education, exercise science, sports medicine, physiology, or some related health-care field.  Many of the better positions will expect at least a BS (Bachelor of Science) or an MS (Master of Science).  The higher you go with your training, the more and better jobs that will open up to you.

So what kind of pay will you find as you enter your career?  As you first get started, it could be as low as $18,000 a year. However, the good thing is that salaries move up quickly in the fitness field. You can expect that by mid-career, you’ll be making more than $60,000 or $70,000. This, of course, will vary depending on your education level, region and experience.

If you are just starting out, you may want to look at Fitness Related Job listings and see what is available in each of the different specialties that you are interested in.

The lesson:  If your dream career involves sweating and helping others sweat and stay in shape, get your education now; a good career will await you once you’re done.

AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE, or ACE. This nonprofit group was established in 1985. It’s one of the largest certification organizations on the planet, with more than 50,000 people that they’ve certified.  They actually have four certification programs, one of which is the Personal Trainer and Group Fitness program.

Receiving your certification through ACE will require that you be at least 18 and have your CPR certificate.  You can take the certification exam in either of two ways: either the old-fashioned pen and paper format or the computer based exam. The former costs $219, the latter $249.  After you receive your ACE certification, you’ll be required to renew it every two years. Renewal fee is $79.

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SPORTS MEDICINE, or NASM.  This organization has existed since 1987 and offers a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) credential.  Qualifications include that you be 18 or older and possess a CPR certificate. The cost, though, is higher, running $599 to $799, with a cost of $549 for the exam.  Price of renewal is also more expensive, costing $700, and is required every two years. We should mention that while this is an expensive certification, an NASM certificate is considered highly prestigious.

 NATIONAL STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING ASSOCIATION or NSCA Certificate. This is an educational nonprofit organization which serves about 30,000 members in 52 countries.  To receive it, you must again be at least 18 years of age and have your CPR certificate. In addition, their members are expected to have a high school diploma or equivalent.  Of the three, their certification exam is considered the hardest. For this reason, it’s recommended that you take NSCA practice tests before tackling the real thing. Once you pass the exam, you must renew your certification every three years. Cost for the first certification runs from $305 to $340, with renewal costs running between $185 and $220.

Which of the exams should you take?  Or should you take more than one? That’s a highly subjective matter. Clearly the first one is the best option if you’re really strapped for money, while the second is preferred if you can afford it and desire the prestige. The third one is a good middle ground between the first two. And of course, it only enhances your credibility if you have multiple certifications.

Make the move from employee to owner. It just makes sense, when you first enter the fitness career path, to get a stable job first. This might mean working for a gym, hospital, or school. The benefit is that you get some money coming in as soon as possible, as you do what you love doing. You don’t have to feel stuck there, however. Even if there is no room for promotion within that company, you should start planning to start your own training business. This is where the real money is for the trainer.

 As you begin launching your own business, don’t rely solely on your clients to pay you money. Bring in other revenue streams. One possibility: start your own fitness website, and begin developing fitness-related e-books. These you can post on your website and offer them for download for a small fee. Once the book is written and posted, there’s little maintenance work involved. The book, if well promoted, should keep generating additional money for you for as long as you have it available.

 Similar to the e-book idea is the concept of making videos. You’ve no doubt seen infomercials for products like P90 and INSANITY and other workout programs. Most of these are developed by fitness trainers. That should tell you something: There is a huge market for these workout videos. Just develop your own gimmick or niche audience and begin promoting that niche. These videos are quite inexpensive to make compared to how much you can sell them for.

Get more training.   If you already have a fitness certification, expand your horizons in your field by taking more training and branching into Sports Medicine with certifications such as the NASM, or ACSM.

Of course, once you’re working for yourself, the best way to expand your business is to keep getting more and more clients. This will allow you to do a couple of things: raise your rates and even employ other trainers to help with the influx of new people (for which you get a portion of the fee). Still, when you start getting bored with the old-school form of fitness training, the three ideas above will offer you the flexibility to do something different, and make money doing it.

See also – Paths to becoming a Personal Trainer and Personal Trainer Job Listings.

But how to get into the field?  There are actually two paths that are normally taken to become a fitness trainer.  Either will get you to your destination, although one has significant advantages over the other.  These two paths are:  1) getting a degree from a traditional educational institution, and 2) nontraditional study leading to certification.

Before we examine these two paths, let’s discuss why you would want to get into the field of fitness training in the first place. There are lots of good reasons, but they center around two chief benefits:  the money and the fulfillment.

Why Consider the Personal Trainer Career?

We’ve already alluded to the fact that people are living longer than ever these days.  Almost every study that’s been published on the subject predicts that healthcare jobs will increase because of this ever-aging population.  This means, yes, nurses, doctors and pharmacists.  But because more people are concerned with preventative health measures, it also means those in the fitness field.  And let’s be frank:  An increased demand means increased potential for pay for you.  There simply will be more people willing to pay a premium for a personalized approach to exercise and nutrition.

Here are some job listings for different areas, you may want to consider.  Sports Management Job Listings, Aerobics Instructor, Personal Trainer, and Group Instructor.

It’s a “perfect storm” for ensuring you a successful career.  The Baby Boomers are known for having expendable income. And these people, with money to spend, are the ones who will increasingly be looking for personal trainers.

Let’s assume now that you’ve decided that the fitness trainer is the career field for you.  How do you get there? Next, we’ll look at the two paths available to you: the degree plus certification path and the certification-only path.

The Degree + Certification Path

The obvious benefit to going the degree and fitness certification route is that it opens more doors to possible jobs for you.  This first path normally would involve you attending a local college or university to take courses such as physical education, human movement science, human kinetics, kinesiology, or other similar courses.  These typically are three or four year programs, depending on the school.  Ultimately, the program leads to a Bachelors Degree.  Following the completion of your degree program you will be required to take and ass the tests for certification (We’ll discuss these in a moment).  Because many employers require a college degree in addition to your certification, anyone who expects to be working for someone else should give serious consideration to the degreed path.

If you think you might go for your degree, be sure to check out the school’s course descriptions and speak to an academic adviser.  If possible, talk to a student who is in or has been through the program.  All of this will help you to decide if you’re still interested in the program and if it fits with your career goals.

If you’re fortunate enough to have more than one college near you, investigate them all.  Find out if the courses are heavy in theory or application.  The best approach is a program with a nice balance. After you’ve found a program that seems right, check out the cost of tuition and books and how the schedule fits in with your work schedule and family commitments.

The Certification Only Path

There is no legal requirement that a person who becomes a personal trainer must have a college degree. It is possible to go into the field by simply passing the requisite certification exams.  And there are a couple of advantages to doing it this way.  For starters, you’re not forced to wait three or four years before you start your career.  As we mentioned, most employers would prefer a degree, but a huge number of personal trainers go into business for themselves.  If this is your plan, a degree is totally unnecessary.  Plus, the money you would have put toward your tuition and books can go into start-up costs for your business.

So which path is the one for you?  If you plan to work for someone else, and can work it around your schedule and family, go the degree route.  If your sole desire is to work for yourself, then the certification-only path might be best for you.

Certification Exams

There is not one single definitive certification exam.  In fact, there are several!  A couple that you’ll run into frequently include the NCSF Exam (for “National Council on Strength and Fitness”) and the ACE Exam (for “American Council on Exercise”), although there are others, such as the Cooper, Strength and Conditioning (CSCS), NASM, NATA and NSCA.  The exact makeup of the exams will vary, depending on which one you take. Generally though, they are multiple-choice questions that feature about four or five possible answers. These are questions about anatomy, healthy lifestyle, and how to develop certain muscle groups.  Some questions include photos and ask you to select the best photo that matches the description in the question.

It will be up to you do decide which certification exams you want to take (You can always take more than one).  As you evaluate them, consider the certifying body:  their experience, education levels, etc.  Consider the curriculum:  Will it help you with the career you want to pursue and the clients you hope to serve?  And is the program recognized where you want to work?  Each exam might cost a couple hundred dollars to take, so select wisely.

But if you can afford it, invest enough to take more than one exam.  The more credentials you have, the more likely you are to be able to build the fitness career that you envision for yourself.