How to Become a Personal Trainer for Children

A personal trainer for children can tell you if your child has "baby weight" or a real problem.

Childhood obesity rates have tripled in the past 30 years, according to 2010 data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This statistic implies that it is more important than ever for children to exercise properly. If you are thinking about a career in the fitness industry, working as a physical trainer for children may give you the opportunity to invest in future generations. The path to this job is similar to that for regular personal trainer positions.

Instructions

1. Complete your high school diploma or GED as well as, at the minimum, an associate's degree in a fitness-related area. These degrees are not an absolute requirement, but they hold weight with employers and improve your odds of finding a job.

2. Get certifications in basic life support such as cardiopulminary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Classes for these certifications are available from organizations such as your local hospital, the Red Cross and the American Heart Association.

3. Pick the organization through which you would like to become certified. Examples include the American College of Sports Medicine, Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and the National Federation of Professional Trainers. Costs for certification programs vary by organization, so do your research.

4. Register for and complete your certified personal trainer program. Expect to complete at least 500 hours of training for certification.

5. Take your personal trainer certification exam.

6. Register for and complete a specialization program through your certifying organization. Most organizations consider children's fitness training to be a subcategory of personal training, so you'll need to complete your basic certification and then get a secondary certification for working with kids. However, this will depend on the certifying agency.

7. Take your children's fitness certification exam.

8. Apply for open positions for children's fitness trainers at local gyms or other facilities. Alternately, you may set yourself up as an independent trainer and register as a business with your state's business registration agency (usually the Secretary of State). You'll be able to take on your own clients with this option.

References

• American Fitness Professionals and Associates: Children's Fitness Specialist Certification Course
• National Academy of Sports Medicine: The NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Certification
• National Personal Training Institute: Become a Personal Trainer