How to Become a Personal Trainer in New York

Personal training is one of the fastest-growing occupations in New York.

If you live in New York, you could translate your enthusiasm for health and fitness into a lucrative career. The New York State Department of Labor reports that fitness training is one of the fastest-growing occupations in New York, with a 30.8 percent job growth in 2009. And according to the personal training resource Start Your Own Personal Training Business, trainers in New York State are among the highest-paid trainers nationwide.

Things You'll Need

• CPR certification
• Certification as a personal trainer

Instructions

1. If you are attending or planning to attend college, pursue a major in exercise science, exercise physiology or kinesiology. In New York, job hunters have seen an increasing trend toward employers hiring personal trainers with a bachelor's degree in these or related fields.

2. Get your CPR certification. This is a requirement both for employment as a personal trainer and for registering to take a personal trainer certification exam.

3. Enroll in a personal trainer certification program. Several accredited programs offer education and testing sites in New York, including the following:

   The National Exercise and Sport Trainers Association (NESTA) has 20 testing sites in New York State and periodically offers workshops throughout the state.

   NESTA
   877-348-6692
   nestacertified.com

   The National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) has 15 testing centers throughout the state of New York and also offers workshops in the state periodically.

   NCSF
   800-772-6273
   ncsf.org

   The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) offers workshops in New York City and allows applicants to take their certifying exam online.

   ACSM
   317- 637-9200
   acsm.org

   The Academy of Applied Personal Training Education (AAPTE) offers certification and a personal trainer course through Hofstra University in Long Island, N.Y.

   AAPTE
   516-222-0001
   www.aapte.org

4. Apply for personal trainer jobs at gyms or wellness centers. Popular choices in New York include Crunch, Equinox, Bally Total Fitness and Gold's Gym. These facilities all have locations in various regions of New York.

5. Keep up to date with the latest advancements and trends in exercise science by taking continuing education workshops or courses regularly. The same organizations that offer certification exams also typically offer continuing education opportunities.

6. Apply for re-certification as necessary, usually every two to four years depending on the organization that certified you.

References

• New York Department of Labor
• Ask The Trainer: Becoming A Personal Trainer
• Starting A Personal Training Business

Resources

• NESTA
• NCSF
• ACSM
• AAPTE