How to Become a Personal Trainer in New York City
Personal training can provide a satisfying career. In New York City, which has a large market for personal trainers, they consistently earn a higher salary than the national average. In April 2010 an entry-level personal trainer in New York City could expect to earn $55,000 per year. If you want to be a successful personal trainer, you need to have great people skills. You need to be able to not only understand basic fitness principles but be able to apply them to create programs for your clients. You also need to have the communication skills to explain them to your clients.
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Instructions
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How to Become a Personal Trainer in New York City
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Obtain a nationally recognized certification, which you need before you can begin training people. This certification will allow you be hired by a gym and buy insurance. Without a certification you will be putting yourself at risk legally. Some of the most widely accepted training certifications are those provided by ACE, NASM, ACSM, NSCA, and ISSA. New York City is also home to the American Academy of Personal Training, which provides certification programs for personal trainers.
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Look for a job as a personal trainer. Finding a job as a personal trainer is relatively easy once you have a certification. Large franchise gyms, such as Gold's Gym or 24-Hour Fitness, hire personal trainers frequently. You may also be able to find work at independent gyms or personal training studios.
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Purchase liability insurance that will cover you in the case of a lawsuit. It is important to protect yourself legally in case an accident occurs. You should carry at least $250,000 in liability insurance; the American Council on Exercise recommends at least $500,000. If you are an employee at a gym, sometimes the gym's insurance will cover you, and you will not be required to purchase more insurance. Many certifying agencies provide opportunities to purchase insurance at a discounted rate.
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Continue your education. In order to maintain your certification you will need to work on continuing education credits. Adding to your knowledge about training and nutrition will allow you to increase the value of your service to your clients, especially in a city like New York where there are many trainers to choose from. This can lead in turn to increased income.
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Tips & Warnings
With new research in exercise science being published and new machines becoming available on a regular basis, you need to stay aware of current research and technology.
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