퍼스널 트레이너가 되는법 / 7 Step Guide to Becoming a Personal Trainer

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

7 Step Guide

to Becoming a

Personal Trainer

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

Table of Contents

 Introduction

1 Establish Your Goals and Objectives

2 Consider Hiring Your Own Personal Trainer

3 Find a Place to Get Certified

4 Prepare a Résumé

5 Develop Relationships

6 Find The Best Fit

7 Master the Consultation

 Why AFPA?

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

Have you been dreaming about a career in fitness but are not sure

where to start? Or are you in the market for a more fulfilling career but

you are unsure of the path you want to take? All you need is the right

resources and information to get started. If you’re passionate about the

health and fitness industry, lead a healthy life and are looking to inspire

others to adopt a similar lifestyle; consider the benefits of becoming

a personal trainer. The key to becoming successful in this competitive

industry is having passion for what you do. When you’re passionate

about health, fitness and wellness, your clients will emulate that feeling

and improve their lifestyle through training.

When in the market for a new career path, one of the most appealing

and desirable aspects of working in the fitness industry is the constant

variety: new clients, new workout routines and numerous employment

opportunities in different environments and locales.

Introduction

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

Another benefit to a personal training career is the ability to focus

each day on helping clients meet their health and fitness goals. It’s also

an opportunity to help inspire others to adopt a positive lifestyle and

encourage them to shape an overall happier and healthier outlook on

life.

Whether you’re a seasoned health and fitness enthusiast, or just

developing an interest, the ultimate goal is for you to pursue your

dream-job and inspire others in the process. We’ve put together the 10

Step Guide to Becoming a Personal Trainer to share basic tips you can

leverage during your path to success. This guide will help you to take

the proper steps needed in order to acquire a career in the health and

fitness industry.

Introduction (cont’d)

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

Before you jump into anything, it’s important to decide what you would like to

accomplish by becoming a certified professional. Maybe you’re looking to make

a difference in other peoples lives, or maybe you’re just eager to transition

your healthy lifestyle into a career.

Whatever your goal or objective,

you must have what it takes:

• Are you passionate about a

career in fitness? Successful

trainers love what they do and

inspire others to feel more

positive towards adopting a

healthy and physically active

lifestyle. Their passion is clear

1. Establish Your Goals and Objectives

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

to their clients because they follow their own advice and are constantly

improving their own lifestyle through education and challenging physical

activities. Your clients will often look up to you for guidance, so it’s important

that you lead by example. Since you’re encouraging your clients to adopt a

healthy, well-balanced lifestyle, it’s important that you are motivating them

through your own positive

lifestyle.

• Are you motivated? Now that

you have determined whether or

not you’re passionate about the

industry; is your motivation clear?

This means a couple of different

things when it comes to having a

successful career. 

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

1) Although you want to pay close attention to what your clients can and can’t

handle during a session, it’s your responsibility to motivate them and help

them to understand that this is something they can achieve.

2) Circling back to the first bullet, if you are looking to lead by example, it’s

important that you’re in your best possible physical and mental state. This will

give your clients something to envision for themselves and help them to keep

on track.

Regardless of your goal or objective, it’s essential that you’re passionate,

motivated and lead by example; in order for your clients and potential prospects

to feel confident in your training.

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

One of the best ways to

immerse yourself into the

health and fitness industry

is to experience it first-hand.

This is a perfect opportunity

for you to see what you would

personally want to get out of

a personal trainer and what

you would expect out of each

session. Is the trainer effective

or ineffective with their training

approach? This is your chance

to critique their training and

use it to improve your own techniques in the future.

Since every personal trainer has their own style of training, start thinking

about how you can develop authenticity with your training approach. While

2. Consider Hiring Your Own Personal Trainer

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

some trainers have a more authoritative approach, others have a more

compassionate, gentle approach. It’s all about finding your own training style

and approach; while ensuring that it works for your clientele. If you can master a

variety of different training techniques, you’ll have the opportunity to work with

a range of different clients; which will ultimately lead to a much larger clientelebase.

Developing a professional relationship with your trainer, as well as other

employees at the gym can be beneficial to your career. This will establish future

credibility and help you to build long-term relationships with skilled trainers and

potential prospects.

If you have connections in the industry you can contact them for a potential job

opportunity once you have acquired your certification and gained experience in

the field (which we will explore a little later in this guide).

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

When you pursue a career at a fitness center or a gym you will most likely be

required to be certified. But you may have one lingering question; how do you

get a personal trainer certification? There are a number of different ways you

can acquire your certification, but one important thing to consider is to only

look into associations that have third part accreditation. This ensures that their

certification process is recognized and respected among the fitness community.

Obtaining your professional

certification requires time and

dedication to the program. What

certification is right for you? From

post-rehabilitation training to a

sports condition specialist; there

are a number of different options

to having a career as a certified

personal trainer. As you select a

certification program it’s important to

3. Get Certified

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

have your goals and objectives in mind.

Are you looking to train athletes through sports conditioning? Maybe you’re

interested in working with children? Having well-established goals and objectives

will help you to focus more closely on courses that are aligned with your

interests and where you want to be once you become certified.

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

Once you have successfully received

your certification, it’s time to get out

there and market yourself! At this

point in the process you have put

a lot of hard work into receiving a

substantial amount of education and

your certification; so it’s important to

take the time to create a well-crafted

resume and put your name out there.

Just like any other profession, preparing

a resume that highlights your objective,

experience and education is essential to landing a well-respected job.

When developing your resume, there are several different components you

want to consider and shouldn’t miss. If you’re in the early stages and haven’t

had much experience in the industry try and think about your previous places

of employment.

4. Prepare a Résumé

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

One of the best ways to distribute

your resume while putting a face

to the name is introducing yourself

personally at local gyms. Since many

people will associate your personality

and passion for how well you will do

at their establishment, this is your

opportunity to prove that you would

be a great addition to their team.

Ultimately, a personal trainer is their own best marketer and will have a better

“selling” point once they are actually training a client. However, just like any other

profession, preparing a resume that highlights your objective, experience and

education is essential to landing a respected job.

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

When you make the effort to meet

and develop relationships with

everyone at the gym you’ll gain

many opportunities that you could

have missed if you didn’t expand

your horizons.

Always view every employee or

guest of the gym you’re attending as

a potential opportunity to get your

name out there. It’s a great way for

you to shape a positive reputation and for others to think of your name when

they meet someone who is interested in training with a certified professional.

Since employees and guests at the gym facility are interacting with people all day

long they most likely have a wide range of connections and face many different

interactions throughout the day.

5. Develop Relationships

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

With that in mind, if someone

interested in training asks a front

desk associate or someone they

meet at the gym, you’ll likely be

someone they think of. Since you’re

already passionate about personal

training, getting your name out to

others by networking will feel almost

effortless.

5. Develop Relationships

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

Personal training is a competitive market; one way that you can stand out from

the competition is to focus on your specialty and decide if it may be beneficial to

acquire multiple certifications. For example, instead of having one certification,

such as personal training, there are options to specialize in a more niche

market. Although the focus is still on personal training you can gain several

different specialized certifications; which will ultimately allow you to expand your

market and gain a wide range of different clients.

6. Find the Best Fit

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

Personal Training Certifications Include:

• Personal Trainer

• Advanced Personal Trainer

• Master Personal Trainer

• Strength Trainer

• Sports Conditioning Specialist

• Senior Fitness

• Post-Rehab

• Children’s Fitness Specialist

...Just to name a few.

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

The consultation can be just as important as the physical aspect of training.

This job responsibility is a lot like a first impression; you’ll meet your client or

someone who may still need some convincing and in order to build your client

list and keep them committed. You will need to prove that you’re dedicated to

meeting their goals.

Here are a few tips for becoming a master at the consultation:

• Confirm every consultation: Your potential client is investing time, money and

a commitment with you, so it’s important that you confirm their consultation

prior to the first meeting. This will help to give some personality to your

name, increase the likelihood that they will commit to the consultation and

get them excited about meeting you and beginning their fitness journey.

• Break the ice: The first couple interactions you have with your client can be

intimidating for them so try and think of a couple of different ways you can

ease them into training. One of the best ways to make them feel more at

7. Master the Consultation

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

ease is by sharing your own personal gains from training. Did you once lead

an unhealthy lifestyle? Were you overweight? Sharing how you overcame

these obstacles can make them feel more motivated and confident that

you’re here to help them meet their own personal goals.

• Ask the right questions: The

consultation is intended to get

an idea about their health and

exercise history, their goals and

objectives for training and their

nutritional habits. Getting this

type of information will help

you to understand what type of

workouts would help them meet

their goals and what their body

can and can’t handle.

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

• Put on your game face: Acting as if you’re already their trainer in a subtle way

can be one of your best selling points. Reassure them that you’re both in this

together, refer to them as “your client,” and let them know that you are going

to put together a personalized fitness program that will be tailored to meet

their specific goals. By doing this you will make them feel more confident in

their decision to train with you.

Taking these steps are essential if you want to “close the deal,” build a

relationship, understand their goals and gain more clientele. 

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008

If you’re new to the health and fitness industry, don’t worry about building your

presence right away. Start by focusing on one step at a time and your career will

begin to grow from there. Just like you, we share a passion for the health and

fitness industry and the benefits to inspiring others through personal training.

We offer a number of different certification programs that are aligned with your

goals and objectives; ultimately helping you gain a competitive advantage in the

industry.

At AFPA we share your passion! We bring you the most advanced, innovative

and rewarding certification programs; with a specialized focus on delivering

the education you need to be successful! Our globally recognized, accredited

programs have certified over 65,000 professionals nationally and internationally

since 1994. If you’re interested in learning more about our programs, contacts

us today!

Why APFA?

AFPAFitness.com

508.720.3442

1601 Long Beach Blvd.

P. O. Box 214

Ship Bottom NJ, 01748

Toll Free: 1.800.494.7782

Local: 1.609.978.7583

Fax: 1.609.978.7582

Email: afpa@afpafitness.com

©2014 American Fitness Professionals & Associates Inc. | This document contains proprietary information and cannot be disclosed in whole or part without express written consent of AFPA Inc. ©2014.

afpa@afpafitness.com 1.800.494.7782 1601 Long Beach Blvd., P.O. Box 214, Ship Bottom NJ, 08008