Driven by the nation?s obesity epidemic, employers? growing focus on wellness and rising healthcare costs, the demand for fitness trainers is skyrocketing.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment of fitness trainers and instructors is expected to rise by 24 percent between 2010 and 2020, a figure that?s higher than the average for all occupations.
Why the growth
?There?s a realization that a qualified fitness professional can help you achieve your goals in a safe and effective manner,? says Todd Galati, director of credentialing for the American Council on Exercise (ACE), a San Diego-based organization that sets certification and continuing education standards for fitness professionals.
Vincent Metzo, dean of the Advanced Personal Training Program at the Swedish Institute, College of Health Sciences in New York, adds that the need for trainers is also fueled by factors such as aging baby boomers, a reduction in physical education programs for young people and growing healthcare costs that have created a need for disease prevention.
Where to find the jobs
Metzo says that in addition to commercial or municipal gyms, trainers can find work on cruise ships, long-term care facilities and fitness facilities within corporations.
Galati says a salary survey by ACE shows that the average annual salary of certified fitness trainers is $53,000, but that varies greatly depending on geography.
Enterprising certified fitness trainers can also make a good living working independently.
?Many trainers go to clients? homes, which commands a premium while others leverage their time and income by doing small group personal training or boot camp style training in a rented space or outdoors in a park,? says Metzo.
?Depending on your region, personality and ability to get results you can make anywhere from $30 to $250 plus per hour,? adds Alycia Darby, a certified trainer and director of employee development and training at a Los Angeles fitness studio. ?Los Angeles personal trainers make roughly $80 per hour in gym settings and $250 per hour in private settings.?
What it takes to succeed
Being able to demonstrate a passion for what you do is a critical part of success in this business.
?At the minimum, you need to be energetic, an excellent?communicator, observant and?knowledgeable?about the human body and how it operates,? says Kelly Borowiec, a certified trainer and group fitness?instructor in the San Francisco area.
Unlike most other healthcare professions, there are no state laws that require trainers to be certified or licensed ? yet. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a job as a trainer without a certification.
For example, says Galati, Medical Fitness Association has a policy that requires its members to hire only fitness instructors with NCCA-affiliated certifications.
Many trainers get their certification through nationally recognized programs like ACE.
?So clearly it?s not just a demand for trainers, but a demand for highly qualified trainers that will fuel this growth in the industry,? says Metzo. ?Ultimately, a course of study that combines a foundation in anatomy and physiology, didactic courses in exercise science, hands-on courses in exercise testing and instruction, and real-life experience will create the most well-rounded adaptable and professional trainers.?
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? Health Callings, Dice Holdings Inc., 2013
About Lekan Oguntoyinbo
Lekan Oguntoyinbo is an award-winning independent journalist specializing in business, healthcare, agriculture and education. A veteran of several major dailies, including the Detroit Free Press and the Cleveland Plain Dealer, his work has appeared in Black Enterprise, Sports Illustrated, the Washington Post, Workforce magazine and Crain's Detroit Business. He holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Alabama.Source: http://career-news.healthcallings.com/2013/02/27/consider-a-career-as-a-fitness-trainer/
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