| What are your certifications? |
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Insist on a highly trained professional in the field of exercise physiology. Today there are literally hundreds of personal training certifying agencies, most of which do not require hands on experience or a comprehensive exam and evaluation. Certifications that we recognize as acceptable are: NPTI (National Personal Training Institute), ACSM ( American College of Sports Medicine), ACE (American Council on Exercise), AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, and NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association). A personal trainer must also have experience in the field. What makes a personal trainer acceptable is their ability to handle and design programs for people of all ages, sizes, and disabilities. This not only comes from proper education, but from experience dealing with many different clients as well. |
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Are They Fully Insured Personal Trainers? |
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Statistics show that 85% of all personal trainers who operate under their own name do not carry adequate professional liability insurance. This not only shows a complete disregard for the integrity of the Personal Training Industry, it shows a lack of professionalism for the trainer or company. |
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What is the Availability of the Personal Trainer(s)? |
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One of the key elements for getting results is consistency. When hiring a personal trainer or personal training company, an important consideration is the availability and flexibility of the trainer or company. If you need to reschedule an appointment, the trainer or company should have the flexibility to either reschedule at an appropriate time, or have another trainer available to fill in your extra day. |
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| How long have you been in business? |
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When you are ready to make a commitment to begin a personal training program, it is extremely important to take into consideration a company’s or trainer’s length of time in business. The personal training industry has been ranked in the top ten of the Fastest Growing Occupations in the Country for the past couple of years. This means that there is a good chance that most trainers you will consider have little or no experience. This is a tough industry to make a great living. Most new personal trainers are given false hopes about the industry, only to realize that in order to truly succeed not only takes a lot of time and patience, but a very hard work ethic and knowledge about their occupation. I’ve personally seen many new trainers start off with a couple of clients who they train for a short period, only to realize that they can’t support themselves with their income and quit. This leaves the client (You) back to the drawing board. There is nothing more frustrating then to begin a program and see results, only to achieve setbacks that aren’t from your own doing. |
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| Can you offer Nutrition Advice or other related services? |
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This should be a key factor in your decision making process. As I’m sure you are well aware, diet and exercise is the foundation for a successful fitness program. You can only get so far with one and not the other. Personal Trainers are not legally allowed to offer specific information on your diet. It is beyond the scope of their duties as a Personal Trainer. A Licensed Nutritionist or Registered Dietician is what you need to develop a sound nutrition planning service. If you feel you need help with your diet, seek a personal trainer who is a Nutritionist or Dietician, or a company who has one on staff. |
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How Will You Measure My Progress? |
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Any Personal Trainer who wants you to see results and stick with the program will offer some type of fitness evaluation and progress checks. This is a very important element to a personal training program. Most people want to see not only visually, but on paper what they’re spending their hard-earned money on. |
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| What are your rates and terms? |
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One of the reasons that the personal trainer is not ranked up there with other professionals in their fields in terms of respect and credibility is the fact that too many sell themselves short. Back in the 70’s, health clubs offered personal training for free. Today you can find a personal trainer for anywhere between $40.00-$300.00 per session. The bottom line is that you get what you pay for. If you are seeking a lower cost personal trainer, 9 out of 10 times you will get a less experienced individual who is in jeopardy of having to switch careers. On the other side, if you come across a trainer who is charging very high rates, they should not only have many years of experience, but something else to offer besides exercise instruction only. |
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