What is the Difference Between a Personal Trainer and a Gym Instructor?
You may be thinking that there is no difference between a personal trainer and a gym instructor. It is true that they share many similarities, but there are a few key differences between being a gym instructor and a certified personal trainer. For example, a gym instructor is always employed by the gym whereas a personal trainer can either be employed at a gym, studio, or other fitness facility or they also have the certification and skill set to be self-employed.
A gym instructor could also lead fitness classes as a Certified Group Exercise Instructor. A Group Exercise Instructor is responsible for leading a group through various choreographed classes. They typically range from 30-90 minutes. This fitness career is perfect for an individual who is interested in guiding a group through the fundamentals of fitness. A fitness instructor is typically someone who is fit, healthy, and energetic, as they will be leading a group through a class and expected to participate physically, not just guiding them verbally.
Do personal trainers and gym instructors need to be certified?
What are types of certifications that you can get to be a personal trainer?
We can all agree personal fitness is great, and there’s no feeling comparable to that post-workout endorphin rush. The fitness industry is booming, and, with so many people passionate about health and exercise, it’s no wonder there’s a growing interest in fitness careers. Career development for personal fitness trainers and gym instructors doesn’t have to halt after obtaining your first certification. There are numerous avenues a fitness professional can take to nurture and advance their career to the next level. Use your creativity and explore one or more opportunities that can help you expand your professional reach and deepen your individual level of expertise in exercise science.
Carving out a niche is an important aspect of a thriving career. After you gain practical experience as a gym instructor or personal trainer, invest time in researching what specialty certifications you are interested in pursuing. There are specialty certifications in strength and conditioning, fitness nutrition, functional training, orthopedic exercise, fitness training for cancer patients, and behavior change. Examine your areas of interest and consider adding one or two additional certifications. Check out this list of fitness careers that let you follow your dreams:
How long does it take to become a gym instructor? How long does it take to become a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer?
Your certification process could take anywhere from a few weeks to six months–it all depends on how driven you are and your own resources, and the organization which you choose to earn your certification from. NESTA’s interactive home-study program is delivered 100% online. You’ll have access to 40-hours of NESTA’s Certified Personal Fitness Trainer education materials for a lifetime. Before jumping into your course work, there are often other prerequisites for a Personal Trainer Certification. Typically, you have to be 18 years old, have a CPR and AED certification, and have a high school diploma or GED.
How to Enroll in a NESTA Certification Course
- Go to: https://www.nestacertified.com/programs/. Select your course(s) and click on Add to Cart button
- Purchase and complete transaction
- Receive registration email and create an account
- Access online training courses through your online training portal
- Watch the introduction video
- Begin your studies and complete at your own pace
- Assistance is available by email, phone, or live chat
- When ready, take your exam
How to Become a Certified Personal Trainer
Check out what it takes to start a career in personal fitness training. NESTA is your most affordable and fastest way to become a highly qualified personal trainer.
There is always something exciting about earning a new training or coaching certification and applying that new knowledge of how you train your clients. This also helps you hit the reset button.
NESTA and Spencer Institute coaching programs are open to anyone with a desire to learn and help others. There are no prerequisites.
That’s it for now.
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