eeneich
Novice Bodybuilder
Posts: 74
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Post by eeneich on Aug 5, 2004 22:25:45 GMT -5
Tim and everyone else here on the site... Im 18 years of age and am seriously considering to become a personal trainer. Is anyone here one? or is everyone here one? Id like to know how much money do some make hourly. And how do I become one? I have found a couple of websites that offer the certificate. Is it better to have a certificate or a liscense? Please help...
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Post by ChrisC on Aug 6, 2004 10:17:37 GMT -5
eeneich: First of all I'm not a personal trainer, I'm a college instructor, so you can probably guess what advice I'm going to give you... Some students I teach know I lift so I tend to get asked questions very similar to the one you posed. There are a lot of organizations out there that certify personal trainers. Be careful because there are many mickey-mouse certifications. I'm sure there are plenty of members here who have experience in p.t. so they will be able to point you in the direction of the reputable certifications. If you do want to be a personal trainer, do not neglect school. Here's a couple of scenarios you might want to think about: Let's say you get certified and start straight away, a couple of years down the line you decide you don't enjoy it any more - you have nothing to fall back on. 30 years from now do you want to be doing the same thing? - You need to think about career progression. Management and other positions typically require qualifications. Because Personal training allows flexibility in schedule (at least relative to a 9 to 5 job). It is possible for you to be a p.t. and continue going to school. This way you get enough time to take a realistic shot at making it as a p.t. - you get to try it for several years, if you then decide it's not for you then you will still have a degree that will open lots of doors for you. Ok, that's enough lecturing from me  I'm sure other members will have plenty of advice to give too. chris. |
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Post by hossjob on Aug 6, 2004 10:55:30 GMT -5
Hey, I'm a personal trainer, there are times it is great and times it is MUCH LESS than great. Okay, here's the run down: Do not get a PT license/certification over a college education. GO TO COLLEG! I am an elementary PE teacher as well. Also, go through either the NSCA or the ACSM. These are the 2 most prestigious groups. I only charge $15/hour. I'm in a small market and just want to help people. However, in larger cities it's not uncommon for good trainers to charge $50-100/hour. I think that's bogus, but if it's a rich client....
I would get a certification, go to college and do it part time. PM me if you wantt some more info.
Kyle
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eeneich
Novice Bodybuilder
Posts: 74
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Post by eeneich on Aug 6, 2004 16:07:58 GMT -5
Chris, i appreciate your concern. I should have said this before, I am going to college and then transfering to USC hopefully, to become a pharmacist. I still dont know though, I want to make more than that. But in the meantime i was thinking that I am going to be going to school, and I need a job, and since I already workout and know about supplements, maybe a trainer at the YMCA or something wouldnt be a bad idea.
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eeneich
Novice Bodybuilder
Posts: 74
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Post by eeneich on Aug 6, 2004 16:09:07 GMT -5
thanks for the input Chris and Kyle, i appreciate it.
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Post by ChrisC on Aug 6, 2004 16:22:14 GMT -5
Chris, i appreciate your concern. I should have said this before, I am going to college and then transfering to USC hopefully, to become a pharmacist. I still dont know though, I want to make more than that. But in the meantime i was thinking that I am going to be going to school, and I need a job, and since I already workout and know about supplements, maybe a trainer at the YMCA or something wouldnt be a bad idea. eeneich: Sounds like you pretty much have everything figured out. I agree with you, if you need a job then doing something you enjoy like p.t. is a great idea. good luck at USC! (p.s. the Trojans suck. go Nebraska ;D ) |
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Post by diecast747 on Aug 8, 2004 15:37:58 GMT -5
how's ISSA? I am going through them
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Post by Tim Wescott on Aug 9, 2004 15:15:52 GMT -5
ISSA is supposedly one of the better ones so I`ve heard.
I`m a trainer, but I refuse to pay a gym a stipend when both my client and I have paid for a membership.
I also never got certified, and I have only been asked if I was by one person, out of the many I have trained.
Anybody will send you a certificate as long as you dish out $400.00 for it,trust me on that.
I consider myself qualified, not certified, as I know a lot more than most PT`s could ever hope to know, and most of it comes from personal experience, from trial and error over the years,not from some book.
Anybody can parrot info they read, but actually have no experience with some of the protocols they use.
My advice is read all you can, and find a company that makes you accountable, in favor of one that quickly sends you a certtificate just for the money!
The more you know,the more you can make!
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eeneich
Novice Bodybuilder
Posts: 74
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Post by eeneich on Aug 12, 2004 3:09:03 GMT -5
which one should i go for guys... ISSA NSCA or American College of Sports Medicine... which one you guys think... or are they all the same
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I'm sure other members will have plenty of advice to give too.
