Healthcare & Human Services

Fitness Trainer or Aerobics Instructor

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AVG. SALARY

$39,320

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EDUCATION

1-2 years post-secondary training

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What To Learn

High School

Suggested Steps to Prepare for a Fitness Trainer or Aerobics Instructor Career (Grades 6-12)

Check out the recommended classes, activities and skills below for each grade level. These recommendations are very general -- discuss your specific course plan with your school counselors and teachers.

AI-assisted and curriculum-reviewed guidance. Talk with your counselor or teacher about your specific plan.
Grades 6-8

Helpful Classes

  • Communication
  • Social Studies
  • Math
  • Technology

Things to Try

  • Help explain directions to younger students or classmates during a group activity, Create a short lesson, reading activity, or game that teaches one idea clearly, Observe how teachers check understanding, redirect behavior, and support learning, Interview a fitness trainer or aerobics instructor about planning lessons and helping students succeed

Focus Skills

  • Active listening
  • Oral expression
  • Observation
  • Organization
  • Support

Helpful Classes

  • English
  • Algebra I
  • Child Development
  • Speech
  • Computer Applications

Recommended Learning Areas

  • lesson planning basics
  • child development
  • communication
  • digital tools
  • classroom support

Things to Try

  • Volunteer with tutoring, peer mentoring, or an after-school activity, Create a mini lesson, read-aloud, or study guide for a younger student, Observe a classroom and note how routines, questions, and feedback support learning, Shadow a fitness trainer or aerobics instructor or school staff member to see how instruction is planned

Focus Skills

  • Active listening
  • Oral expression
  • Observation
  • Organization
  • Support

Helpful Classes

  • English
  • Psychology
  • Education and Training
  • Algebra II
  • Public Speaking

Recommended Learning Areas

  • learning strategies
  • youth development
  • presentation skills
  • education careers
  • behavior support

Things to Try

  • Design a learning activity and test whether your directions are clear and easy to follow, Help lead a camp, youth club, library event, or school support program, Track how different teaching methods help students stay engaged or remember information, Practice writing reflection notes about behavior, progress, or participation

Focus Skills

  • Active listening
  • Oral expression
  • Observation
  • Organization
  • Support

Helpful Classes

  • Child Development
  • Psychology
  • Education Pathways
  • Statistics
  • Writing

Recommended Learning Areas

  • instructional planning
  • assessment
  • classroom management
  • student development
  • inclusive support

Things to Try

  • Assist with tutoring, classroom support, or youth programming and document what worked, Build lesson materials, visual aids, or activity plans for a real audience, Observe how teachers adapt content for different learning needs, Interview educators about assessment, family communication, and classroom management

Focus Skills

  • Active listening
  • Oral expression
  • Observation
  • Organization
  • Support

Helpful Classes

  • Psychology
  • Education Practicum
  • English Composition
  • Human Development
  • Public Speaking

Recommended Learning Areas

  • teaching methods
  • educational psychology
  • curriculum support
  • family communication
  • student assessment

Things to Try

  • Complete a teaching or youth-support capstone with planning, instruction, and reflection notes, Build a portfolio with lesson ideas, observation notes, and communication samples, Compare pathways in teaching, counseling, training, and school support roles, Practice presenting, explaining, and checking for understanding with different learners

Focus Skills

  • Active listening
  • Oral expression
  • Observation
  • Organization
  • Support

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

One to two years post-secondary training

The education and training required for fitness trainers and instructors varies by specialty. Employers usually prefer to hire those with certification, but requirements vary by facility.

Insider Info

Additional Information

Not all personal trainers (PTs) are equal in their training. Currently, the field is largely unregulated and not all employers pay attention to accreditation. This could change, though, so it pays to do the research required to find the best education possible.

Dr. Kirstin Lane, chair of a group promoting exercise physiology, agrees. "Many clubs and studios still offer employment as a PT without the proper qualifications. But increasing consumer awareness of the need for formal education is causing an increased demand for regulation. This will make hiring unqualified PTs very difficult in the next five to 10 years."

Neal I. Pire agrees that proper certification from recognized bodies is key. He is an exercise physiologist with a master's degree in applied physiology from Columbia University, and owns his own personal training company in New Jersey.

"Personal trainers should have earned an appropriate certification from a nationally accredited organization," he says. In the U.S., these organizations include:

  • American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
  • American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Pire adds that all working trainers must be CPR-AED certified. This means that they have learned how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

When determining where you will train or certify, trusting your instinct might be best. If it sounds too good to be true (such as, "Become a personal trainer is just two weeks!") then it probably is.

It is not just that it may not be the best certification available. As a personal trainer, you will have to know how to help your client in a way that helps them improve their fitness without causing injury, and a short course may not prepare you well for that.

Extra Requirements

Most fitness trainers or instructors have certification related to the area of fitness in which they specialize. Personal trainers usually must be certified before they begin working with clients or with members of a gym or health club. Group fitness instructors may begin work without certification, but employers often encourage or require them to get their credentials. Most fitness instructors receive certification for their preferred type of training, such as yoga, kickboxing, or strength training. Many organizations offer certification. For example the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredits certifying organizations in the fitness and wellness industry, including several that offer personal trainer or general certification. In addition, some private companies offer certification in the types of classes they offer.

For additional information, visit these websites: