Fitness Trainer Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a fitness trainer. Feel free to use our fitness trainer job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a fitness trainer.
Who is a Fitness Trainer?
Fitness trainers help people achieve their fitness goals by leading and training them in fitness. They can advise clients on which equipment is best or recommend the best workouts. A few fitness trainers can help clients recover from injuries or reach their weight-training goals. Many fitness trainers are experts in one area of fitness. They may teach classes such as yoga, or cycling.
Fitness trainers can work with all ages and will tailor their instruction to each client’s needs.
A fitness trainer provides safe and effective exercise instruction to individuals or groups. The individual receiving the instruction may have different needs. Although a fitness trainer is often employed by a gym or fitness center, he or she can be hired privately by clients. As an added benefit, others may be able to work on cruise ships, resorts, and large corporate environments.
To find a job as a fitness trainer, you will need to be certified. Every gym has its requirements so it’s a good idea to research them before you sign up for any certification program. The certification program will usually require you to take several classes and pass exams to be certified. Some fitness trainers may choose to specialize in one area of exercise to make it easier to find work once they have passed their exams.
A fitness trainer works with clients daily to create exercise programs that are tailored to their individual needs. A fitness trainer might help someone lose weight or get in shape. Others might be looking for exercises to treat a specific health condition like diabetes or high blood pressure. Some might also want to improve their endurance and strength for a specific sport. To be able to help all of these people, a fitness trainer must be able to motivate, teach, and encourage them and show them how to exercise safely and effectively. A fitness trainer might also be able to teach techniques like heart rate monitoring, which can help determine how hard one works out during exercise.
A fitness trainer may not only work with clients individually. If they are certified to teach these classes, many fitness trainers can also teach group classes. Classes such as spinning(r), kickboxing, and dance aerobics are all very popular. A fitness trainer will find it easier to find work and find clients if they have more certifications. A trainer must build positive relationships with clients or they will find another trainer to work for them.
Fitness Trainer Job Description
Below are the fitness trainer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a fitness trainer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a fitness trainer include the following:
- Instructing clients or groups of clients how to choreograph, lead and guide them in their workout sessions
- Training individuals in proper technique and how to use exercise equipment
- Assisting clients in modifying their workouts to aid with injury recovery
- Tracking people’s progress toward their fitness goals
- Offering members nutritional and fitness resources
- Demonstrating your workout routines and techniques
- Contributing to the development and implementation of fitness programs.
- Assisting members with achieving their individual goals.
- Assisting with the achievement of organizational goals.
- Ensuring client safety during training sessions
- Performing an initial assessment of the body measurements of your clients.
- Encouraging clients who have reached a plateau with weight loss.
- Implementing Initial Exercise Programming
- Performing basic fitness testing
- Interacting with members by ‘Walking on the Floor’
- Promoting classes, services, and promotions
- Providing technique advice and other options
- Teaching Classes (Qualification Dependent)
- Opening & Closing Facilities
- Performing basic equipment maintenance
- Planning routines, selecting music, and choosing different movements for each set depending on the limitations and abilities of participants.
- Assessing the abilities and needs of participants and creating training programs that meet those requirements. Learn proper breathing techniques for physical exertion.
- Explaining and enforcing safety regulations and rules governing recreational activities and sports.
The following are other important tasks:
- Show clients how to exercise
Fitness trainers show clients how to exercise and help them use their fitness equipment properly. They use weight machines, ellipticals, and treadmills regularly. They also have access to free dumbbells and kettlebells, as well as fitness ropes.
- Help clients in making a workout plan
These professionals meet with clients to discuss their fitness goals. Then, they create customized fitness and exercise plans that help clients reach their goals within a specified time frame.
- Monitor client progress
Fitness trainers often work with clients for a long time, sometimes up to several years. They track the clients’ progress and provide metrics such as weight, muscle mass, and exercise times.
- Counsel clients on nutrition and diet
Fitness trainers often talk to clients about nutrition, lifestyle, and diet. Fitness trainers may recommend that clients make lifestyle changes or diet changes to reach their fitness goals.
- Providing first aid in an emergency
Fitness trainers can be called upon to assist clients in times of cardiac arrest or medical emergency. Fitness trainers are typically familiar with automated external defibrillator devices (AED), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Qualifications
Fitness trainer jobs require a combination of professional certifications and college education.
Education
To work as a fitness trainer, you will need a minimum of a high school diploma. A majority of fitness trainers also need an associate degree or bachelor’s degree if they are looking for higher-paying positions. Fitness trainers are most likely to have a major in:
- Exercise science
Candidates can expect to learn about human movement and rehabilitation, as well as athletic training.
- Kinesiology
Students who study this course are trained in strength training, nutrition, and sports psychology.
- Physical education
This degree is focused on motor skills, anatomy, physiology, and the psychology of exercise. It also examines the effects of exercise on well-being and health.
Training
Fitness trainers typically complete training on the job when they begin working for a new company. Before they can work independently, these fitness professionals will need to be able to teach classes or work with clients. The company will determine the length of the training program. It may take several weeks.
Certifications
Fitness trainers must be able to help in an emergency because they work with clients in physically challenging environments. These fitness professionals require the following credentials to do this:
- CPR
This credential shows that fitness trainers are qualified to provide cardiac arrest clients with emergency chest compressions or artificial ventilation.
- AED
The certification enables fitness professionals to use an AED to restart a client’s heart or help them regain their natural heartbeat. This device is usually used after performing CPR.
Fitness trainers often have a professional certification that demonstrates their skills and increases their earning potential. The following are some of the most popular certification organizations:
- American College of Sports Medicine
Candidates must have a high school diploma, CPR/AED certification, and a passing score on the certification exam to earn the ACSM Certified Personal Coach credential. This certification must be renewed every three years.
- American Council on Exercise (ACE).
Candidates must complete a study course and pass an exam to become ACE Certified Personal Trainees. Candidates must renew their certification every two years to maintain their certification.
- National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
It takes between 10 and 12 weeks to earn the NASM Certified Personal Coach credential. Candidates must hold a high school diploma, as well as CPR/AED certification. Candidates must also complete a self-study program and pass an exam. They must also renew this certification every two years by passing an exam.
- National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
This organization offers several specialized certifications such as Certified Fitness Trainer (CPT), Certified Strength and Condition Specialist (CSCS), and Certified Special Population Specialists (CSPS). Each certification requires passing a written test. To maintain their credential, candidates must pass a recertification exam every three years.
Essential Skills
Trainers in the fitness industry may need to be able to interact with clients and guide them on their fitness journeys. You might consider strengthening your skills in these areas:
- Communication
Fitness trainers must be able to explain complex principles in a way that their clients can understand. Perhaps your client is doing the wrong core exercise. If this is the case, you can explain how to correct it and why it is so effective.
Your communication skills will help you build relationships and trust with your clients. It will be easier for them to communicate their motivations during training sessions.
- Customer service
Customer service is about meeting trainees’ expectations and needs. Fitness trainers can create surveys that measure client satisfaction. This can be used to help them attract new clients. Clients can access online resources, such as calendars or websites, to make it easy to register for services and schedule appointments.
- Organization
Fitness trainers need to be organized. These skills include record-keeping and time management. Trainers might schedule multiple sessions for clients at once, so it is important to make sure that clients have enough time to exercise. It may be helpful to take notes during sessions as a fitness trainer to track your clients’ progress. It is possible to organize the information of each client in separate folders. This includes session dates and invoices.
- Research
Fitness trainers can use the internet to stay up-to-date on industry changes, such as new equipment and health regulations. Trainers need to be able to gather facts about each client before designing a personal fitness program. A trainee might have difficulty performing certain exercises, for example. You can help them train properly by learning more about their condition, and how it affects their body. This will allow you to determine which wellness techniques are most appropriate for them.
- Problem-Solving skills
They often work with clients looking for help with weight or fitness issues. Fitness trainers must be able to evaluate needs, find solutions, assess options, and recommend actions.
- Stamina
Fitness trainers need to have plenty of stamina because they are often active during their workdays. They should be able to stand, walk, run, and exercise all day.
- Strength
Fitness trainers need to be strong because they are often working with weights or exercise equipment. They must be able to demonstrate exercises to clients and assist them in using weights and machines correctly.
How to Become a Fitness Trainer
You might consider becoming a fitness trainer if you are passionate about fitness and want to help others achieve a healthier lifestyle. As more people are becoming weight conscious and want to live longer, healthier lives, fitness trainers are in high demand. Fitness trainers have many options for success in the fields of wellness and physical fitness coaching.
It is important to understand the job requirements before you decide to become a fitness trainer. Before you decide to become a fitness trainer, it is important to understand that this job requires you to be physically fit. You will be showing various fitness routines multiple times per day, and you must set an example for others with an active lifestyle.
You will find many training and certification processes that will help you become a certified fitness trainer as you look at the steps. You may need to take part in a training program in fitness to become a certified instructor or get a college degree in physical science and/or fitness instruction depending on where you live. You should choose a school that is regionally accredited to ensure that you receive the best training and employment opportunities as a trainer.
After you’ve completed your training and education as a fitness trainer, it’s time for you to begin looking for employment opportunities. You can become a fitness trainer in your local community by pursuing many different paths. There are many opportunities for seasonal instructors to teach exercise classes or lead sports teams at local fitness centers and youth programs. Schools and universities also often have opportunities for instructors who are available to work part-time or full-time throughout the year.
You can also become a fitness trainer by working at a local health club. To find out more about job opportunities, contact local health and fitness clubs and speak to the chief fitness trainer. It’s also a good idea to join industry associations in wellness and fitness to make connections with more experienced instructors and get feedback.
Where to Work
The work environment for a fitness trainer can vary depending on where they live. Most fitness trainers work in a gym, taking on personal training sessions and teaching group classes. Some work in a specialty fitness studio where they teach a particular type of class such as yoga or Pilates.
They may come to the customer’s house or work at a gym, yoga studio, or resort. A few fitness trainers might work with athletes to help them improve their performance.
Fitness Trainer Salary Scale
The average salary for a fitness trainer in the United States is $43,423 but it can vary between $31,954 to $60,723 depending on various factors.