Becoming a Personal Trainer in Missouri
If you pursue a career as a personal trainer in Missouri, you will need to have your get up and go in gear and be a serious motivator! You will find that the residents of Missouri lead active lives and your services will be in demand to help them be prepared for every physical challenge they take on.
Active as the people of Missouri may be, over 30% are classified as obese. Less than half are considered moderately physically active on a weekly basis according to the CDC. What this means is that it will be on you to help design fitness and nutrition plans to help your clients struggling with their weight slim down. You will also need to be skilled in preparing novices for an active lifestyle.
Being a personal trainer means you give your clients personal attention. You cater workouts to their abilities. You motivate them to stay on track with achieving their fitness goals. This is true whether you work as an independent trainer or in a large fitness center, you will always need to empower your clients and make them excited about getting fit.
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
Steps to Becoming a Personal Trainer in Missouri
There are number of options for pursuing an education that will prepare you for a career as a personal trainer in Missouri. You may pursue an accredited certificate program or opt for a traditional educational experience.
As you begin exploring what kind of educational experience is best for you, keep in mind what your professional goals as a personal trainer are. The more ambitious your goals are, the more education you will need. If you want to run your own fitness center, you will need a course of study that differs from one that only focuses on actual physical training.
Degree Options for Personal Trainers in Missouri
As is true with nearly any profession, the more education you have, the more attractive you will be to employers and the more employment options you have. Employers prefer job candidates that have a degree in a field related to personal training. They also show a strong preference for applicants with relevant experience, some of which can be obtained in various degree programs offered by Missouri’s colleges and universities.
If you obtain a two or four year degree in any of the majors outlined below, you will have the knowledge necessary to assess fitness levels in clients, design custom fitness programs and serve as their guide through their workout routine.
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Exercise Science
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Personal Training
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Nutrition
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Physical Therapy
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Kinesiology
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Physical Education
Personal Trainer Certifications for Missouri Residents
While having a relevant degree will make you attractive to many prospective employers, you will also find that they highly value applicants that are certified personal trainers through and accredited organization.
CPR and AED certification is required by most certification programs. Furthermore, you will need to be 18 years of age or older and some agencies may require an undergraduate degree. You can contact your local Red Cross to obtain your CPR and AED certifications.
Accredited organizations and their membership requirements include:
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
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Recertification every two years ($99 fee / $299 one time for life)
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20 CEC’s (continued education credits) every 2 years
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
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Requires high school diploma or GED
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Recertification every three years ($30 fee)
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45 CEC’s every three years
National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA):
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Requires high school diploma or GED
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Recertification every two years ($50 dollar fee)
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20 CEC’s every two years
American Council on Exercise (ACE)
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Recertification every two years ($129 fee)
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20 CEC’s
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Specialty Certifications
International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
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Requires high school diploma or GED
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Recertification every two years. ($75 fee)
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20 CEC’s
These are among the specialty certifications available through these organizations:
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Group Exercise Instructor
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Health Fitness Specialist
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Exercise is Medicine
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Physical Activity in Public Health
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Cancer Exercise Trainer
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Fitness Nutrition
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Mind-Body
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Mixed Martial Arts
What Missouri’s Fitness Centers and Health Clubs are Looking for in a Trainer
Here are a few examples of current job postings shown for illustrative purposes in order to give you an idea of what employers are looking for (2015):
24 Hour Fitness in Kansas City requires a Degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Fitness, a related field, or an approved personal trainer certification for their trainers. Personal training experience is not required, however at least one year of either sales or training experience is preferred.
Prime, a truck driving company in Springfield, is looking for a certified personal trainer to help staff their private fitness center. Alongside an approved personal trainer certification, they prefer a degree, though the major is unspecified. Computer skills are also strongly desired.
The YMCA of greater St. Louis is looking for a Health & Wellness director to coordinate programs and supervise staff. This position would involve taking on a variety of responsibilities ranging from internal staff assistance to acting as a representative to the community. They require a degree in exercise science/physiology, a related field, or equivalent experience as well as a variety of courses that can be taken at the YMCA.
Once you have completed your educational program and obtained you certification as a personal trainer, you will have numerous opportunities for employment. Each of the previous job postings demonstrates what skills employers are looking for as well as the wide diversity of jobs available to you. Keep in mind, a thorough job search will show much more variety than the sampling we have provided.
One Trainer’s Story
St. Louis Fitness Club personal trainer, Craig Miller, holds a degree in Christian Education Ministries. Prior to this, he opened his own fitness center, Miller Fitness Studios, which he sold to attend Covenant Theological Seminary. While he is pursuing his education, he continues working as a personal trainer. He is certified in Hoffacker and as a Power Plate Trainer.
While his degree is not related to physical fitness, Craig is far from the only person to have followed a similar path. He is a good example that sometimes, life experience outweighs what specific degree you may hold so long as it in some way contributes to you providing a favorable experience for your clients and helps them meet their fitness goals.