Career Description
Personal fitness trainers are skilled practitioners who work with a wide variety of person demographics in one-to-one and small group environments.
- Personal fitness trainers are familiar with multiple forms of exercise used to improve and maintain health-related components of physical fitness and performance.
- Personal fitness trainers are knowledgeable in basic assessment and development of exercise recommendations.
- Personal fitness trainers are proficient in demonstrating safe and effective methods of exercise and motivating individuals to begin and to continue with healthy behaviors.
- Personal fitness trainers consult with and refer to other appropriate allied health professionals when client conditions exceed the personal trainer’s education, training, and experience.
Employment Characteristics
As an integral part of the health and wellness team, personal fitness trainers can work with exercise science professionals and exercise physiologists in a number of different settings, such as:
- corporate
- clinical
- community, and
- commercial fitness and wellness centers
Personal fitness training involves working with the apparently healthy population, leading and demonstrating these clients in safe and effective methods of exercise.
Educational Programs
Length: Personal fitness training programs can be completed in a 1-year certificate program or in a 2-year associate’s degree level program.
Prerequisites: Applicants should have a high school diploma or equivalent and meet the specific institutional admission requirements.
Curriculum: Personal fitness training programs include a comprehensive academic curriculum and at least one culminating internship experience.
Source: American Medical Association Health Care Careers Directory
