How to Become a Physical Trainer

The US Department of Labor declared personal physical trainers as the fastest growing occupation [source: BLS]. With millions of people eager to lose weight and get into shape, it's no wonder that it's the fastest growing career. What does a physical trainer do? A physical trainer's job is to teach people how to exercise. The trainer is not only an educator, but also a motivator and coach. As a trainer, you will meet your clients regularly and take them through workouts to help them reach their goals. You will also teach people how to exercise properly and help them set and achieve realistic fitness goals. Depending on your level of education you may advise clients about nutrition and dieting [source: Fab Job]. So read this article to learn how to become a trainer and join the millions who are becoming physical trainers.

Here's how to become a physical trainer:

You must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma. Although it's not mandatory, a bachelor's degree in physical education or other fitness and health-related fields is a plus.
Decide on a specialty. Different people work in different areas of personal training, and different areas require different training. Some specialized areas include senior fitness,
postnatal fitness and children's fitness.
Get certified. If you have a bachelor's degree you will be required to take an examination before becoming certified. The three largest organizations that offer physical training certification are the American Council of Exercise (ACE), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). If you don't have a degree, you will have to take special courses and attend workshops before you can take the certification examination.
Get experience by working in a local gym or community center.

There are many places where you can get a job as a physical trainer, including:

Rehabilitation clinics
Hospitals
Private health clubs
Sports centers [Sources: ICTraining, Bright Hub]