How to Become a Personal Trainer?
Are you thinking of becoming a Personal Trainer or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Personal Trainer, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Personal Trainer job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
Steps to Become a Personal Trainer
If you're considering starting your Personal Trainer career path, it's important to note the skills, qualifications, and time it takes to become a professional Personal Trainer and how to advance your career path. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Personal Trainer career.Contents
1
Earn a Degree
To begin your Personal Trainer career path, a Bachelor's Degree in exercise science or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. A Personal Trainer internship may be required to earn your Bachelor's Degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.What type of degree should you pursue to become a Personal Trainer?
92% of people working as a Personal Trainer earned a Bachelor's Degree
What skills do you need to be a Personal Trainer?
- CPR First Aid
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- External Defibrillator
- Interpersonal and Communication
- Exercises
- Strong WORK Ethic
- Excellent Communication
- Excellent Customer Service
2
Choose a Specialty in Your Field
As an Personal Trainer, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Personal Trainer field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Personal Trainer specialty.3
Get an Entry-Level Position as a Personal Trainer
Once you've acquired a Bachelor's Degree in exercise science or a related field, you'll typically begin your career as an entry-level Personal Trainer. In general, you can become a Personal Trainer after completing your 4 year Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline. Depending on the type of Personal Trainer role you’re pursuing, you may want to explore certification in certified personal trainer.4
Advance in Your Personal Trainer Career
Following entry-level, there are several Personal Trainer career path levels to advance into. It can take 2 years as an entry-level Personal Trainer to progress to the senior personal trainer position. Each advanced Personal Trainer position requires approximately 8 years of experience at each level to advance in your Personal Trainer career path. It may be necessary to receive additional education, an advanced degree such as a Master's Degree in a related field, or special certifications in order to advance your Personal Trainer career path.5
Continued Education for Your Personal Trainer Career Path
Not all industries and companies require continued education to advance your Personal Trainer career path. However, earning this degree may help you advance to higher-earning positions more quickly. Earning a Graduate Degree in exercise science can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Graduate Degree typically make $84,660 compared to $28,541 for those without that type of degree.Personal Trainer Career Path
Personal Trainer
8+Years of Experience
$40K - $71K /yrAvg. Annual Salary
Senior Personal Trainer
2 - 4Years of Experience
$38K - $67K /yrAvg. Annual Salary
Head Personal Trainer
No Years of Experience Reports
$38K - $67K /yrAvg. Annual Salary
Salary Trajectory
Personal Trainer Career Path
Personal Trainer I
Personal Trainer
Senior Personal Trainer
Head Personal Trainer
$30K
$40K
$50K
$60K
$80K
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Related careers in the Skilled Labor & Manufacturing Industry
Interested in other Skilled Labor & Manufacturing careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Personal Trainer skills. Discover some of the most common Personal Trainer career transitions, along with skills overlap.