Steps to Follow to Become an Online Certified Personal Trainer

In-person fitness training has an undeniable charm, but when convenience is the top consideration for clients, online personal training wins hands down. No wonder, online personal trainers are in hot demand, and many well-established personal trainers are also taking the online route. This short guide describes the most important steps, including getting a fitness certification, to become an online certified personal trainer.

1. Do preliminary research

Contrary to what many aspiring personal trainers get wrong, getting a personal training certification is not the first step! The first step is to do proper research on a number of things that you will base your subsequent decisions on. So, what are those things?

A. The very first thing to research on is the type of education you would like to pursue. Would you like to do a fitness certification or go to a college for a full-fledged degree? If fitness certification is your choice, would you like to do it online or in-person?

B. Next, find out the eligibility requirements for whatever kind of education you want to pursue. For some personal trainer certifications, there are no criteria at all, while for many others, the minimum eligibility requirements include:

• Being 18 years or older of age
• Having a high school diploma
• Having a valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)/ automated external defibrillator (AED) certification

C. There is a large variety of niches or specialty areas that you can specialize in. Specialization has many benefits, some of which we’ll discuss a little later. For now, suffice it to say that looking up the different specialties is an important step so you can identify your area of interest and pursue further education accordingly.

2. Earn a personal training certification

With your initial research done, you are all set to take the next step – the earning of a personal training certification. You’ve already seen some of the factors to take into account before making your decision as to which fitness certification to go for. In addition to them, consider the pricing, the curriculum, the validity period, the industry acceptance, the testimonials of previous students, and the renewal criteria and fee.

If you are hesitant to make a big investment by signing up for an expensive personal trainer certification because you are not 100% sure you want to make a career out of personal training, you can initially opt for a fitness certification that is budget-friendly while also having a good curriculum. That way, you can get to know all that personal training entails for a fraction of the cost and earn the certified status too.

When you have become relatively stable in your career, you can upgrade to a pricier fitness certification. You can do that sooner too to reap the advantage of having one of the more popular personal training certifications to your credit. Some gyms can be picky about which fitness certification a job candidate has. If you plan to have your own personal training business, this factor would not be of much import. But if you are going to seek a job, you need to be sure that the personal trainer certification you choose has wide industry acceptance.

3. Do a specialization course

Personal training has numerous specializations. The following is a very tiny representation of how vast the scope for personal trainers is.

• Strength and conditioning coach
• Senior fitness instructor
• Indoor cycling instructor
• Corrective exercise specialist
• Group exercise instructor
• Kickboxing instructor
• Bodybuilding specialist
• Stretching and flexibility coach
• Weight loss coach
• Women’s fitness instructor
• Youth fitness trainer

Specializing in a specific area of personal training has many benefits. The most obvious one is that it helps you stand out and be noticed in a field that’s very competitive. Another benefit is that the clients are often willing to pay a premium for your services because specialized services are hard to come by. Yet another benefit is that it enables you to pursue what you are truly passionate about. When you get paid for doing what you truly love, work doesn’t feel like work at all.

Add weight to your personal training certification with a specialized certification. You may not feel ready to do that right at the beginning of your career, in which case, you can wait until you have identified your area of interest. But remember, having a specialization right at the start can give your career the much-needed thrust.

4. Look for a job or start your own business

After adding a personal trainer certification and/or a specialization to your resume, all that remains for you to become an online certified personal trainer is to actually become one. You may want to work for a gym or fitness center, or you may want to have your own business. Both options are great and each has its own advantages.

If a job is what you have in mind, remember that your fitness certification will have a much more crucial role to play than if you want to start a personal training business. Employers may only recognize a select few fitness certifications, and they may want you to undergo some of their own training after you have been hired.

With the business route, you can start teaching your clients online right away. The fitness certification is still important because most clients prefer to

with certified trainers only. But which certification you have does not matter as much with clients as it matters with employers.

You can use video conferencing tools like Zoom, Skype, or Face Time to hold live sessions, or use a personal training software (better of the two options for sure) that combines several functionalities to make it easier for you to run your online business. You can also set up a YouTube channel and post videos with clear-cut instructions for self-guided workouts. Establish your presence on other social media platforms as well.

Online personal training is convenient and fun and knows no geographical boundaries! Give your online personal training a great start with this comprehensive online personal training certification that is both internationally recognized and economically priced.