Personal Trainer Schools

Overview

There has never been a better time than this to become a personal trainer. The health and wellness industry is set to grow to an estimated $2 trillion by 2012 and this staggering figure applies just to America. Personal training is the career du jour for those healthcare professionals who want to make a difference in the lives of people who are struggling to lose or gain weight and to remain healthy.

Benefits

If you are a personal trainer, you can assist people with their workout regimens at the gym. You can even help set up a proper nutrition plan in order to maximize the desired results. Many clients are grateful to their personal trainers for helping them achieve healthy lifestyles, so there is always a great feeling of making an impact in the lives of others. During your education, you will have classes on anatomy, fitness, motivation and nutrition that will enable you to become a well-rounded personal trainer and thus, a highly desirable candidate for prospective employers. There are tons of job opportunities for personal trainers today, with average salaries of $25,000. High-end trainers even manage to make more than $100 an hour.

Costs

The tuition fee to attend these programs cost you around a few thousand dollars, but you need to have an additional income supply to make up for the living costs.

Schools

Online learning is available for those who do not have the time to attend college. Most of the coursework will be done through the school's website, with supplemental material mailed straight to your doorstep. The list of popular schools and courses for earning your certification in personal training includes the CNI Fitness Training School in Orange County, CA. This school has a 48-week program that prepares its students to become the best in the business. The National Personal Training Institute, which is located in most of the major cities across the country is yet another. PCI is a popular web-based program for personal training. It enables students to become a personal trainer from the comfort of their homes.

Testing & Preparation

If you are interested in becoming a personal trainer, you must earn a personal training certification. Although you do not have to take up any standardized tests in order to enroll in a course to earn this certificate, you must possess a high-school diploma.

Financial Aid

Financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships is available for those who are attending full-time courses. Be sure to check with the financial aid office of the schools for more information because schools like CNI Fitness Training do offer students financial aid. Additionally, you can apply for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition and living through lending organizations like Sallie Mae and Federal Student Aid.