Calling All Personal Trainers

[Bulldog_10]

I have one question...These certifications and shit are great, but how do they compare to a college degree in Physical Therapy? Aside from money, what are the pros and cons of going to college for this type of thing?

 

[bigwillystyle]

200,000 plus

40,000 is the least you should make as a PT. Start high then go lower if you are struggling, take on a few to meet your needs, get some results and stay planted do not move around, if they have money they will come to you. Any cert if fine. Ace is not very good ISSA and NFPT is very good.


Also look for some certifications in sports nutrition. more credibility. but dont rely on that. For some reason people(the world) think that certifications are better than a BS in exercise Science, so give it to them. Get what you can afford and branch out into different avenues, treat it just as it is, a business. People have money you just need to convince them per say to give it to you. Have confidence , dont be shy or act surprised when they want to train with you. Confidence Confidence Confidence. Learn on the floor, dont wait until you think your ready, you will never be. Just jump out and do it. and if you get stumped, read online info, get workouts from credible online sources.

Remember there are no right answers, only variations of the truth.

 

[Consistent1]

One thing that I might add is that certain gyms may be more interested in your sales or "closing" ability than your training knowledge. Sad, but very true.

 

[DrJMW]

Excellent comments. I am certified with NFPT. Aside from ISSA, NFPT teaches you what you need to know. The cert exam is very difficult; i don't know how anyone can pass it without having the first year of Med/Dental school under your belt. Since I am a doc, it was a tremendous review of that first year of professional school. I really like the magazine and the ease with which to get CE credits. The dues are very reasonable. As far as personal training is concerned, you need the image and the salesmanship. I got a job with World Gym here in South Florida and I lasted four months. I made no money. I was told that because of my lack of a"hard body", I would have a hard time selling and I did. Personally, one is better off being independent than working for a chain like Bally's, World Gym etc. Too many rules and regulations. I was told what diet to put everybody on. I was told how to exercise them. I have over 30 years of personal fitness experience and 15 years as a doc, and I have cockers telling me what to do. That's why I started my own online fitness consulting business--it fits my personality and gives me a chance to work with fine clientele. Everyone needs to find their niche in anything they do.

 

[argent]

Are you talikng about being a "house trainer" at a gym, or an independent personal trainer?

 

[cbeaks]

24 hour fitness gives you 35%-45% of what you charge a client depending on all of your certifications/degrees and they don't let independent trainers train others at their gym. Does anyone know how Ballies pays their trainers and do they let you train at their gym if you are independent? - cbeaks

 

[Mike P.T.]

24 hour fitness gives you 35%-45% of what you charge a client depending on all of your certifications/degrees and they don't let independent trainers train others at their gym. Does anyone know how Ballies pays their trainers and do they let you train at their gym if you are independent? - cbeaks

Bally's pays under a new system now. If I remember correctly because the new system was in effect when I had left. It's 7.50 to 8.50 an hour. But the hours you train people with whom you sighned up personally you get up to 20 plus dollars an hour or so. If you train someone and they got sessions from the sales people when they first joined and not from you prospecting that you get an 13-15$ an hour. It used to be that you got paid hourly and depending on how much in sales you made a month, anywhere from 30-50% But that's irrelevant because that was before.

 

[cbeaks]

Sounds to me like independent is the way to go. The problem is that where I live pretty much all of the gyms are large chains that don't allow independent trainers. - cbeaks

 

[JaTruTheGreat]

Well...

I'm certified by the IFPA which comes out of Tampa Florida. I'm from Pa but i took a course called Personal Training and the certification test was pretty long. I had to do 100 multiple choice, 7 long essays, and hands-on shit in the gym. The IFPA is an up and comming certification that will have a nice name someday. Anyways right now the best seems to be the ACSM certificaion which stands for "The American College of Sports Medicine" as they are the leaders in this field. The next i would have to say is prolly ACE which is also very good. Later!!!!

 

[bigwillystyle]

Hey DrJMW Please email me some info about your online consultation ok?



I would like to know more about it.


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