Need info on becoming personal Trainer.

[damien0311]

Hi everyone, im about to get out of the marines and am looking for information on becoming a personal trainer. What certifications are the best, whats the average salary or hourly pay, whats job availability like? I allready have 4 years in marine infantry in which it was my job to stay fit and do physical training at least 3-4 times a week plus I worked at a fitness center for half a year and got a marine corps certified fitness certificate out of that ( was just a couple day class on all the basics). I want to know whats the best path to take on this one or if it is even worth doing at all. Any info would be appreciated.

-Damien

 

[Mike P.T.]

Hi everyone, im about to get out of the marines and am looking for information on becoming a personal trainer. What certifications are the best, whats the average salary or hourly pay, whats job availability like? I allready have 4 years in marine infantry in which it was my job to stay fit and do physical training at least 3-4 times a week plus I worked at a fitness center for half a year and got a marine corps certified fitness certificate out of that ( was just a couple day class on all the basics). I want to know whats the best path to take on this one or if it is even worth doing at all. Any info would be appreciated.

-Damien

There are so many good certifications out there. It also depends too what you want to get into more specifically. Just get a few good ones. Believe me, what you learn the most won't be from these seminars but from the real world(experience through yourself and through others) as well as all the reading you do from magazines, books, and the internet. Job availability depends on where you are from and whether or not you are going to be employed from a gym or going independant. Right now I'm based out of a gym that offers good health and dental benefits as well as the 28$ I am getting an hour now. Well I get 23$ an hour when I train people but if I hit bonus every 2 weeks I get 26 and double bonus I get 28. In 2 months I will be going up to a different level and getting 28$ flat when I train and up to 33$ if I hit double bonus. Not too bad. There are so many other options too. Master trainers for example get up to 38$ an hour but the bad thing is you also have to charge your clients alot more as well. Remember the gym gets a good cut out of it. Independant trainers can make alot more money but you have to get yourself established and it has alot more business aspects to it obviously. Hope this helped if you have any more questions ask away.

 

[Bulldog_10]

Yep...like Mike said...there are lots of certs. I just got the CSCS from NSCA. The ACE is a good basic one...most PT's have it. It really shouldn't matter which one you have, as long as you demonstrate some knowledge during your interview.

Right now I make $32 an hour when training people...And I just started at this place like 2 months ago. Gotta build my client base up. But like mike said...when you go independant, you can make a killing. I'm just getting into home training now, where the client will pay $50-100 and it's all your's.

 

[Mike P.T.]

Yep...like Mike said...there are lots of certs. I just got the CSCS from NSCA. The ACE is a good basic one...most PT's have it. It really shouldn't matter which one you have, as long as you demonstrate some knowledge during your interview.

Right now I make $32 an hour when training people...And I just started at this place like 2 months ago. Gotta build my client base up. But like mike said...when you go independant, you can make a killing. I'm just getting into home training now, where the client will pay $50-100 and it's all your's.

You know what a better basic one would be that kills ACE!!? ISSA. Good all around basic and UP TO DATE info. I feel ACE is good and basic but not up to date enough. At least for as good as it's supposed to be. You make 32 an hour? Lucky fucker. Must be based out of the city area huh. Good luck to you bro.

 

[Bulldog_10]

You know what a better basic one would be that kills ACE!!? ISSA. Good all around basic and UP TO DATE info. I feel ACE is good and basic but not up to date enough. At least for as good as it's supposed to be. You make 32 an hour? Lucky fucker. Must be based out of the city area huh. Good luck to you bro.

Actually no...About an hour outside the city. I live in the city too, which is weird. The places I interviewed at in the city paid in the high 20's, but all the gym's pretty much sucked, and the jobs were better suited for someone with a sales background rather than someone who actually knows shit about training. This place pays good, good people, more relaxed...i like it so far.

I never took the ACE, so I can't really comment on how good it is...I just know that most personal trainers in this area have it...so i figured that was the generic one that most people got. Which one do you have mike? When I started at this place I'm at now, I didn't even have a cert...they didn't even care...talk about relaxed

 

[Mike P.T.]

Actually no...About an hour outside the city. I live in the city too, which is weird. The places I interviewed at in the city paid in the high 20's, but all the gym's pretty much sucked, and the jobs were better suited for someone with a sales background rather than someone who actually knows shit about training. This place pays good, good people, more relaxed...i like it so far.

I never took the ACE, so I can't really comment on how good it is...I just know that most personal trainers in this area have it...so i figured that was the generic one that most people got. Which one do you have mike? When I started at this place I'm at now, I didn't even have a cert...they didn't even care...talk about relaxed

ISSA and AFFA. Have a seminar for my NASM in May and gonna get a few more specific ones like ones for fitness therapy and for performance nutrition. It's always good to have that piece of paper. Most likely going back to school too in the fall for Sports Management Major.

 

[Bulldog_10]

ISSA and AFFA. Have a seminar for my NASM in May and gonna get a few more specific ones like ones for fitness therapy and for performance nutrition. It's always good to have that piece of paper. Most likely going back to school too in the fall for Sports Management Major.

I'm probably goin back to school for physical therapy or strength and conditioning. Just doing the personal training thing in the meantime...but I think I'm gonna always do it on the side no matter what.

 

[bicepts101]

thats cool you guys do this stuff....this is a route that has always caught my eye.