Schooling: Check, Experience: None

[busupshot83]

Here is my situation:

I currently hold a B.A. in English, and have a stable 9-5 job. However, I am interesting in changing careers and becoming a personal trainer. Although I can simply obtain a personal training certification (CPT) and begin working, I would first like to obtain a Masters of Science (M.S.) degree in Exercise Science (note that I must retain my current job as I complete graduate school, due to its stability). Therefore, the plan is to have a M.S. degree as well as a CPT certification when I am ready to train. However, I will lack experience.

Has anyone been in this situation, where you have the "schooling," but little experience? If so, would this hurt me come hiring time? I don't mind starting off at a lower salary in the beginning, even with a M.S. degree... you have to walk before you can run. Any thoughts would be welcome... thanks.

bus

 

[Wilmywood]

to be honest, everytime you give your advice to a buddy in the weightroom, you're gaining experience. Everytime you make a workout regimen for yourself, you're getting more experience. Every exercise you learn, etc. see where I'm going here? The M.S. is nice to have. Not at all necessary, but if that's what you wanna do then that's cool. Wish I had the drive to go back and get one. Anyhoo, if you've been in the gym for any extended period of time and manage your own workouts with positive results, you have more experience than you think. Hope this helps.

 

[busupshot83]

to be honest, everytime you give your advice to a buddy in the weightroom, you're gaining experience. Everytime you make a workout regimen for yourself, you're getting more experience. Every exercise you learn, etc. see where I'm going here? The M.S. is nice to have. Not at all necessary, but if that's what you wanna do then that's cool. Wish I had the drive to go back and get one. Anyhoo, if you've been in the gym for any extended period of time and manage your own workouts with positive results, you have more experience than you think. Hope this helps.

I understand... great insight. A graduate degree is supposed to be an investment in which a payoff results. What is the payoff of a exercise-related graduate degree in the fitness industry? Higher salary? Management possibilities?

 

[Wilmywood]

Added credibility. But don't hang your laurels on just that. Several of the best trainers I know don't even have a B.A.

 

[ironwings]

I understand... great insight. A graduate degree is supposed to be an investment in which a payoff results. What is the payoff of a exercise-related graduate degree in the fitness industry? Higher salary? Management possibilities?

Currently a M.S.won't get you anything without experience in the industry. It simply looks good on your business cards. BUT, if it is a personal goal than do it for that reason and that reason only. Not to mention the knowledge you will gain on the science of how the body works (which is highly lacking in any CPT course) The fitness industry is going to continue to grow and as it does certification requirements and practicing requirements are going to become more strict. In which case a M.S. will set you above the rest.

Think outside the box, do you really want to work for another company? Use your drive and self learned knowledge to excel at your own business idea. I would imagine if you get people results and have a personality that they enjoy being around - they could care less whether you have any experience. Think outside the personal training realm too - maybe there is another fitness/wellness business opportunity that you could create in your area that would far surpass anything a CPT could possibly offer. Just food for thought!

Good luck in your endeavors - even if currently the payoff isn't great for a masters - the experience, self confidence, and dedication to a goal would be worth it.

 

[nmcqueen469]

great post ^^^^^^^ I agree 100%

While having years of experience training yourself and helping others out in the gym, I don't feel that is really what a prospective employer is looking for. Depending on the path you want to follow, the M.S. would be awesome (I have been toying with the idea myself) for possibly managment, but maybe more repsected in some sort of research facility or an academic setting, if that is something you might be interested in.

 

[kasers]

Currently a M.S.won't get you anything without experience in the industry. It simply looks good on your business cards. BUT, if it is a personal goal than do it for that reason and that reason only. Not to mention the knowledge you will gain on the science of how the body works (which is highly lacking in any CPT course) The fitness industry is going to continue to grow and as it does certification requirements and practicing requirements are going to become more strict. In which case a M.S. will set you above the rest.

Think outside the box, do you really want to work for another company? Use your drive and self learned knowledge to excel at your own business idea. I would imagine if you get people results and have a personality that they enjoy being around - they could care less whether you have any experience. Think outside the personal training realm too - maybe there is another fitness/wellness business opportunity that you could create in your area that would far surpass anything a CPT could possibly offer. Just food for thought!

Good luck in your endeavors - even if currently the payoff isn't great for a masters - the experience, self confidence, and dedication to a goal would be worth it.

Yup again great advice - I'm not just trying to cozy up because you're cute

Stop setting pre-conditions to get started in training - training is great because you can get started whoever you are and whatever level you're at right now, and grow from there -

You know what would be a good way to pay for that masters? As a Personal Trainer! Then I could picture you on the road to becoming one of the leaders in this industry.

 

[ponyfitness]

Here is my situation:

I currently hold a B.A. in English, and have a stable 9-5 job. However, I am interesting in changing careers and becoming a personal trainer. Although I can simply obtain a personal training certification (CPT) and begin working, I would first like to obtain a Masters of Science (M.S.) degree in Exercise Science (note that I must retain my current job as I complete graduate school, due to its stability). Therefore, the plan is to have a M.S. degree as well as a CPT certification when I am ready to train. However, I will lack experience.

Has anyone been in this situation, where you have the "schooling," but little experience? If so, would this hurt me come hiring time? I don't mind starting off at a lower salary in the beginning, even with a M.S. degree... you have to walk before you can run. Any thoughts would be welcome... thanks.

bus

To be blunt, don't waste your money with a Masters' degree unless you're planning on using it to move into something more advanced like medical school, physio or chiro. For a general personal trainer it is basically useless and you're spending about 40 grand to get it plus two years of your life. You would be better off spending 1/10th that money and far less time to get some high level certs like a CSCS, Chek credentials, etc.

90% of trainers have no education beyond a BA or college and do just fine - experience and proven success with clients is what will get you there. Nobody is going to pay you more when you're just starting out simply because you have an MSc and while you may know more than the average trainer, again 90% of it won't apply to the clients you are going to see because all they care about is looking good and feeling better. You can explain biomechanics to clients all day long and they just don't care about it.

I have 9 years in the training business and I can tell you straight up being successful is about relationships (to keep clients you have), networking (to get new ones) and finding ways to help people get to where they want to be (for testimonials and credibility). The most a prospective client has ever asked me is "what are your credentials" and I can rhyme off my university degree, college diploma and 6 different certs. Then I prove that I know what I'm talking about by teaching them about their body.

 

[kasers]

I have 9 years in the training business and I can tell you straight up being successful is about relationships (to keep clients you have), networking (to get new ones) and finding ways to help people get to where they want to be (for testimonials and credibility). The most a prospective client has ever asked me is "what are your credentials" and I can rhyme off my university degree, college diploma and 6 different certs. Then I prove that I know what I'm talking about by teaching them about their body.

This should be engraved on a plaque and hung up somewhere -

 

[p0ink]

i would never higher anyone as a coach/pt who did not have a CSCS certification. i know too many morons running around with bullshit certifications (ACE, NASM) thinking they know everything, when, in reality, they know very little other than the stuff they had to memorize in order to pass their exam.

hell, i recently just got back from a conference put on by the NSCA, and i would say ~90% of the personal trainers present, some with many years of experience, could not correctly perform an olympic lift correctly from the word go. yes, they are very technical lifts, and yes, you will not use them with all clients...however, if you are going to be working with any athletes, if you can't perform a/don't know how to clean, snatch, or any other explosive exercise, you have no business pretending to know what you are talking about. putting them on the same-old, run of the mill routines will not make them a better athlete, no matter how many swiss balls and balance boards you throw at them.