new looking for some specific advice - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[amphilophus]

hello I am thinking of becoming a personal trainer and had a few questions that I didn't find on the site so I thought I would ask. what prior knowledge base is required to be a personal trainer? I work out myself and know enough to keep in good shape but not sure if I need to know more. also when working at a gym say golds gym do you work on commissions generally? any advice you could offer would be great I really want to be a personal trainer but don't want to spend the money on getting certified if I wont be able to get a job or pass the test. thanks.

[Christina]

Hi amphilophus,

When I first wanted to become a personal trainer I thought, "Hey, I workout. This stuff should be a breeze." I ordered study materials from both the ACSM and NSCA and I quickly realized how much I DIDN'T know. For example, a reputable certifying organization will dedicate several questions on their exam to physiology and anatomy. (And they will not be simple questions like, 'The heart is divided into how many chambers?') If you do not have a background in exercise science you will quickly realize that there is much more to learn about fitness than you ever realized. (At least that will be the case if you test through the ACSM or NSCA, the two organizations I am familiar with.) My degree is in psychology and only a small portion of the exam was dedicated to a field I knew anything about. Needless to say, I had a lot of learning to do but I enjoyed every minute of it.

I really encourage you to take the time and study hard and get a certification through a reputable organization. You will be amazed at all the things you will learn.

As far as Gold's Gym is concerned, I have never worked for a gym so I cannot answer your question. Hopefully somene else can.

Good luck and feel free to ask further questions.

Christina

[amphilophus]

thanks you so much for the reply. I believe I was looking at the ACSM certification. it was the one where you take a seminar and study a book then take the test. I guess I am wondering would that seminar and the book teach me what I need to know? I am currently a student majoring in psychology so I would really love to do this while going to school I guess I will just jump in and see where it goes. thanks.

[Christina]

Hi amphilophus,

Are you planning on training only while in college or are you wanting to make this your profession? If you only want to train at Gold's while in college it would probably be best to ask them what certifications they require. If you want to make personal training your profession then I would choose a rigorous certification like the ones I mentioned. I can give you a little more advice if I know for certain which direction you would like to go.

Christina

[amphilophus]

well let me first thank you for taking the time to answer my questions I really appreciate the advice.

I have been looking at the different certifications and I have picked the ACSM. I am planning on getting text books asap and attending the three day seminar. will these resources teach me what I need to know in order to pass the test and be competent to work as a personal trainer ?

I am right now planning on doing this while in college but I am not ruling out making this a career after college. I did call and ask golds gym what they require and they said they will accept all certifications and ACSM seems to be a reputable organization. thanks again.


Brandon

[Christina]

Hi Brandon,

I think it would be wise then to go with the ACSM certification if you are thinking about doing this long term. You can never go wrong in this industry with a certification from the American College of Sports Medicine.

I did not attend the 3 day workshop. I completed a fitness instruction certificate program through UCLA that required I take anatomy, exercise physiology, several nutrition courses, strength training fundamentals, exercise testing, and a few others. By the time I finished the program it was not necessary to attend the seminar. If you do not have any formal education in the areas I just mentioned I would definitely attend the 3 day workshop. Make sure you study ahead of time so that everything they teach you will make more sense. I had a friend who attended the 3 day workshop and she found it very helpful.

Here are a few additional pointers. Make sure you buy all of the recommended texts. Look online for discounted or used versions. If money is tight right now (which is probably the case since you are a student) you should check with your college or university library or county libraries to see if they have any of the texts. (I'm sure they do.) I would check one out to see if personal training/exercise science is something you are truly interested in. The exam is not easy. If you are a reader of Men's Health or Muscle and Fitness don't count on that information to help you pass the exam. What you will learn from the texts will be more complex and scientific. Don't get me wrong, the exam is not impossible, but it's just not the kind of information that the average fitness enthusiast takes the time to learn. (eg, structure and function of the muscle, cardiovascular and repiratory systems, bioenergetics, biomechanics, exercise prescription, etc.)

I purchased the practice exam for $50 (I think) and I found it very helpful. There is a free skills assessment exam that you can take here: http://www.acsmlearning.org/acsm/usermanagement.do (Click the green box on the right side.)

If you have any questions let me know. If there is anything you do not understand during your course of study post it on the forum and we'll help you.

Good luck and if you have any other questions just ask. Plan on dedicating a few months to study for the certification. Don't expect to order the books this week, attend the workshop next week, and then pass the exam. If your degree was in exercise science or kinesiology, maybe. :wink:

Also, be aware that there are 2 types of personal trainers in this unregulated industry:
1) Trainers who view themselves as muscleheads (or sex bombs) and go after easy certifications that teach them practically nothing. These types of trainers are only qualified to work at gyms that accept certifications from ANY certifying organization.
2) Trainers who view themselves as health professionals and go after rigorous certifications and college degrees in health related fields. These types of trainers work in hospitals, private studios, upscale health clubs, and corporate settings. (ie, environments that require higher standards.)

Christina