Becoming a Fitness Trainer in Massachusetts

A 2014 report regarding the health and physical fitness of the residents of Massachusetts conducted by the President’s Physical Activity Council found some very interesting things about the overall health of its residents. For example, if you attended a Massachusetts public school, you are more likely to be physically fit than people in any other state. A lot of that has to do with Massachusetts’ requirement that physical education is a mandatory class from K-12. Despite this, about 57% of the state’s high school students did not meet the recommended level for moderate regular exercise.

On the other hand, adults in Massachusetts can boast the fourth lowest rate of obesity in the nation. Working as one of Massachusetts many skilled personal trainers, you can help improve that ranking while helping improve the overall state of health and fitness for all of the residents of the state across all age groups and fitness levels.   

Penn Foster Career School's Online Personal Trainer Programs

Take the first step towards preparing for your career in the fields of personal fitness and nutrition through Penn Foster Career School's online programs:

Personal Trainer Career Diploma

The type of work a personal trainer performs is often quite diverse. In the morning you may be working with hockey players who need to increase their stamina, while later that day you may be helping lead a class of seniors through a water aerobics class.

Whatever path you choose, your prospects for a stable and prosperous career as a personal trainer in Massachusetts is good. In the ten year period ending in 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Workforce Development has predicted a 29.5% increase in the demand for personal trainers statewide. When you consider that prediction along with the fact that Massachusetts has the highest concentration of personal trainers in the nation, as of 2012, it is an ideal place to start or continue a career. If you need more convincing, Massachusetts ranks fifth highest in the US for average salary for personal trainers.   

Qualifying to Become a Personal Trainer in Massachusetts

In order to get started on a career as a personal trainer, you need the proper educational background. By having a degree relevant to the health and fitness industry you will find it much easier to obtain a national certification which many employers will require.

Degree Options for Personal Trainers in Massachusetts

By having either a two or four-year degree, you will open a lot of doors when looking for employment as a personal trainer in Massachusetts. Not to be overlooked, a degree is also required by a number of agencies who offer national certification. The following majors are strong choices for anyone pursuing a career as a personal trainer:

Kinesiology and Exercise Science- courses will include:

• Anatomy and physiology

• Neuro-mechanics of human motion

• Motor control

• Exercise physiology

• Introduction to biostatistics

Fitness and Health – courses will include:

• First aid/CPR

• Anatomy and physiology

• Nutrition

• Weight training

• Aerobics

Sports Management- courses will include:

• Sports marketing

• Biomechanics

• Physiology of exercise

• Nutrition and weight control

• Kinesiology

National Certification for Personal Trainers

Once you have completed your degree, you will find it much easier to obtain national certification as a personal trainer than if you had tried without one. Some organizations require a degree for consideration, no exceptions.

Some of the most common certification exams taken by personal trainers in Massachusetts include those provided by:

• National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF)

• Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)

• National Personal Training Institute (NPTI)

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

• International Sports and Fitness Trainers Association (ISFTA)

• World Instructor Training Schools (WITS)

A quick look at jobs available for personal trainers in Massachusetts indicates that the following employers prefer applicants who hold a college degree or national certification:

• Town Sports International – Canton

• Boston Sports Club- Boston

• Wellbridge Athletic Club- Cambridge

• Metrowest Health Club- Natick

• XFitness- Dracut

Working as a Personal Trainer in Massachusetts

Have you ever considered pursuing a career working with professional athletes? In Massachusetts, it is not a pipe dream. For personal trainers with the proper experience, certification and experience, there are a number of professional sports teams employing many personal trainers. The Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, and Patriots all have personal trainers helping their athletes with strength and conditioning or whatever an athlete may desire. You may work with groups or one-on-one depending on the needs of the organization.

If you would prefer to work with everyday people not in the spotlight, there are plenty of places to help the average Joe or Jane looking to improve their overall fitness level. A few of the more popular fitness clubs in Massachusetts include:

• Forever Fit Health & Fitness Center- Watertown

• Today’s Fitness Center- Woburn

• Orchard Hills Athletic Club- Lancaster

• Balanced Health & Fitness- North Falmouth

• Anytime Fitness- Agawam

Massachusetts also offers the opportunity to work as a personal trainer in conjunction with the tourist industry. Massachusetts enjoys a very healthy tourism industry with large hotels in the Boston and resorts along the coast. Many of these high end establishments have a personal trainer on staff so that visiting clients can stick to their workout schedule and have the professional guidance they are accustomed to. Examples of potential employers in Massachusetts’s resort and spa industry include:

• Canyon Ranch- Lenox

• Expale Spa at the Battery Wharf Hotel- Boston

• Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club- Lenox

• Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health – Stockbridge

• Wellness by the Water Retreat- Boston

A personal trainer in Massachusetts gets to enjoy not only living and working in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, but knowing you are helping others live their lives to the fullest.