So you want to become a personal trainer, well where do you start, and what should you know? Luckily DoTraining Academy has you covered with an in depth look at all the things you need to know to become a personal trainer.
In today’s competitive job market, many people are choosing to start up their own business or change career with the hope of better prospects and more stable income. With the UK fitness industry having grown by 75% in the last 10 years and still showing continuous expansion, it is now an exciting prospect to become a personal trainer. However, with the expanding interest in fitness from the general public, personal training has become a competitive career, with many potential personal trainers left wondering how to start off their career and how to stand out from the crowd. The majority of personal trainers either work within a gym environment or run their own business, training people outside or in their own homes. Whatever your goals, this article aims to talk you through how to start your journey on the path to become a personal trainer, and the skills and qualifications you will need to get ahead in this industry.
Qualifications to become a personal trainer
The basic qualification needed to become a personal trainer is the REPS level 3 personal training qualification. Anyone wanting to take this qualification must already possess a REPS level 2 certification. The level 3 qualification covers all areas of personal training including theoretical knowledge of anatomy and physiology and programming and delivery of sessions for clients. Once this qualification is obtained, there is a continuous process of learning which must take place in order for you as the personal trainer to stay up to date with the latest training methods and the latest principles. With exercise prescription and physiology being a science, new and improved methods are continually being publicised. That is not to say you should change your principles with every fad that comes along, but having an understanding of science and being aware of new developments within the sports science industry will maximize the results you can achieve with your clients.
With competition within the industry being very high, many personal trainers will have qualifications over and above the basic REPS level 3 personal trainer. Many clients want trainers with qualifications in additional areas, such as an expert in kettlebell training. These additional qualifications make sure you stand out against other personal trainers, and demonstrate to clients that you are proficient and well educated in different areas. Seeing these additional qualifications give your clients confidence that they are in the hands of a professional and give them a reason to choose to work with you over other personal trainers.
Skills to become a personal trainer
In addition to the necessary qualifications, your personality and personal skills will likely be what separates you from the rest of the trainers out there. Wherever you are working, there may well be other people close by with the same qualifications as you. Your personality however, can be your biggest selling point or your biggest turn off for clients.
Whatever your personality traits, if you are going to become a personal trainer and be successful at it, you must possess the ability to inspire. Many clients will have a love/hate relationship with exercise, and many may detest it altogether! It is up to you to bring inspiration to the session, and find a way of communicating your passion and reasons for training across to them. Many clients will become easily bored with repetition, yet sometimes repetition is necessary in order to achieve results. It is up to your delivery within the session to inject some life into exercises that clients may find boring or painful.
Communication skills are vital if you want to become a personal trainer that is successful. During your career you will most likely come into contact with many different personalities; from over-confident beginners who want to lift 100kg on their first session, to people lacking confidence in any sort of training and feeling reluctant to try anything new. You must possess the ability to have an adaptable delivery within your sessions – the way you coach one client will almost certainly differ from the way you coach another. Being genuine and taking an interest in your clients will keep them coming back to you month after month. People need to know that you care and are not just seeing them as a performing robot which you inflict the latest training methods on. Take time each month to listen to their goals, and the reasons for their goals. Take time at the start of sessions to ask about their day and ensure you are listening out for any reasons why they may need a lighter session on that day (for example, they may have had a stressful day at work, or may have been up all night with the kids). Even having a small understanding about your clients as people will ensure they are getting the best results out of your sessions, and that is what will keep getting you repeat business and success once you become a personal trainer.
On a related note, consider your personal appearance. Nobody will be inspired by an out of shape personal trainer who struggles to complete demonstrations of exercises they are asking their client to perform. Be the inspiration for your clients. If you want to become a personal trainer then you must practice what you preach. Get out there and train daily until you look like someone that your clients can aspire to be like. There is no better selling point to your clients that being your own personal advert for your services.
So do you think you have what it takes to become a personal trainer? Feel free to get in touch with us at DoTraining Academy and let us help you get a boost into the industry. We offer both Level 2 and Level 3 personal training courses (REPS accredited) as well as CPD courses in both olympic weightlifting and kettlebells to further your personal training career. For more information on how to become a personal trainer or about any of our courses please contact DoTraining Academy HERE.
