Personal fitness instructors are educated, skilled, and trained professionals who work with clients regarding their health and fitness needs as well as provide them with exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate and encourage clients by goal setting and offering feedback about their progress. Personal fitness instructors’ other responsibilities include measuring their client’s physical strengths and weaknesses in order to set goals; educating clients in healthy eating and exercise regiments; demonstrating various exercises; monitoring clients’ progress; adapting exercise programs to different clients based on their needs and goals; and administering first aid if ever needed.
Students who are interested in pursuing a career as a personal fitness instructor should possess certain skills and qualities essential in this field...Read More
Personal fitness instructors must be in good physical shape. They help and motivate others to be physically fit therefore they themselves must look healthy and live a healthy lifestyle. Personal fitness instructors interact with clients for a substantial amount of time therefore they must have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. Positive leadership and motivational skills are essential. Personal fitness instructors must be encouraging with their clients’ progress and inspire them to maintain their fitness regime.
Personal Fitness Degree Levels Available
Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology
The bachelor’s degree program in kinesiology offers students an in-depth knowledge of this discipline’s theories, philosophies, concepts, applications, and practices. Students enrolled in this four-year program take courses in areas such as fitness assessment, the psychology of coaching, metabolism and nutrition, issues in kinesiology, mental health and exercise, sport and nutrition, understanding biomechanics, human anatomy and physiology, human motor development, principles of fitness, and sports psychology. The knowledge gained in this undergraduate degree program provides a strong foundation in this field on which students may attain professional work as a personal fitness instructor.
Admission Requirements
To enroll in a bachelor’s degree program in kinesiology, students must have obtained a high school diploma or an academic equivalent (i.e., GED). Transcripts from high school and SAT or ACT test scores are almost always required as well. In conjunction with these documents, students must submit an application form from the institution along with the application fee. Students who have volunteer and/or work experience in the fitness field, should document this information in the application form since this would greatly benefit their acceptance into the college or university.
Tuition and Accreditation
The figure stated below is only an estimate since college and university tuition fees vary depending on the institution. This is due to numerous factors (e.g., public versus private institutions, distance education, etc.). A bachelor’s degree in kinesiology may vary from $ 15,918 to $ 32,617 in tuition fees. (Source: the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics)
Employers primarily hire applicants who have graduated from an accredited institution because this tells employers that the student attended an institution which provides high-quality education and adheres to certain academic standards. Therefore, students who aspire to obtain a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology should enroll in a college or university accredited by the ACCSC (the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges).
Average Annual Salary Range for Personal Fitness
Instructors
There are numerous factors which affect an individual’s salary such as their level of education, the extent of their experience, their field of specialization, and who they are employed by. This results in a variation of salary ranges for individuals employed in the same profession. Having stated this, the average annual salary range for personal fitness instructors is $ 26,900 to $ 46,900 (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
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