Becoming a Personal Trainer in New Jersey

The best way to see how important and valued fitness trainers are to the residents of New Jersey is to take a look at their pay scale. Aside from California and New York, personal trainers in New Jersey draw some of the biggest paychecks in the industry.

What helps drive the demand for personal trainers in New Jersey is in part, location. With the coastline comes a desire to be beach body ready. Add in a wide variety of outdoor activities and sports, and you have a large population looking for assistance looking and feeling their best.

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

You may start your career leading spin classes or working on core training, but as time passes you will find yourself helping clients do everything for preparing for marathons, hiking the Appalachians, surfing and even just helping someone trim down enough to fit back into their favorite pair of skinny jeans after a long winter. Regardless of what your clients need, it is your expertise that will help them reach their fitness goals.

Qualifying to Become a Personal Trainer in New Jersey

The key to success as a personal trainer in New Jersey is getting the proper qualifications. You will find that for most opening for trainers in new jersey, you will need both a relevant educational background and a national certification.

You will find that there are a number of opportunities to obtain the education you need through the state’s university system, online, or a combination of both.

Degree Programs in Personal Training

Aspiring personal trainers tend to complete associates and bachelor’s degrees in closely related subjects like:

• Kinesiology

• Fitness management

• Sports medicine

• Exercise science

• Exercise physiology

If being a full-time student sitting in a classroom is not a practical option for you, many schools will allow you to take some of your classes online which will provide you extra flexibility if you have limited time. Whether you pursue a two or four-year degree, you will find that the education you receive in an area related to physical fitness will prepare you for a solid career as a personal trainer.

For example, a degree in exercise science often includes coursework in the following topics:

• Foundations of health and exercise

• Anatomy and kinesiology

• Health and wellness issues

• Nutrition

• Exercise physiology

• Guidelines for allied health professionals

A part of some degree programs is an internship in which you will be able to work in the field gaining hands on experience and making connections that can help you after graduation. This helps you learn how to apply the knowledge you have gained in the classroom in a practical setting. It also helps you develop confidence and hone interpersonal skills, both of which will be key assets over the course of your career.

Professional Certification Programs in Personal Training

While having national certification as a personal trainer is not necessary for every job opening you may see, for the most part, it is highly in demand. Professional certification is tangible proof that you have the knowledge to perform the job of a personal trainer. Some certifying agencies require a relevant degree, while others will certify you have the requisite knowledge without the degree.

When choosing a certifying agency, it is often best to first ensure they are acceptable to your potential employer. In some cases, it may also be important to you to be certified in specialty areas such as Pilates or yoga, so you will want to make sure that whatever agency you choose offers that as well. Some of the largest and most recognized professional certification organizations for personal trainers include:

• Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)

• American Council on Exercise (ACE)

• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

Broadly speaking, obtaining your certification as a personal trainer will be comprised of a course of study that includes on or offsite classes and an examination of the course material. Some will also offer workshops lasting anywhere from a couple of days to a week. Conversely, some will offer self-paced studies that can be conducted at home in lieu of in person training.

You will find that certification programs are extremely varied and that with a little bit of research you will be able to locate one that fits your personal and professional needs. The one thing they will almost universally have in common is the core curriculum which will most commonly include study in these areas:

• Understanding wellness

• Muscle strength and endurance

• Health screening

• Exercise physiology

• Cardio programming

• Fitness assessment

• Nutrition and weight management

Starting your Career as a Personal Trainer in New Jersey

These recent New Jersey job postings for personal trainers will help provide you with an idea of what is commonly available as well as what kind of requirements employers have for potential employees.

• Designing innovative and cutting-edge personal fitness programs

• Modifying nutritional requirements based on clients’ individual needs

• Conducting fitness consultations and assessments

• Monitoring and educating clients during personal training sessions

• Candidates for this personal training position must possess:

• A currently nationally recognized fitness certification

• Current CPR/AED certification

• 2-4 years of college

Another personal trainer job posting for a position in Fort Lee requires candidates to possess:

• An acceptable national certification or a degree in exercise science, physical education, or kinesiology

• Excellent interpersonal and customer services skills

• Strong communication skills

A number of other job postings in areas such as Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson all require candidates to possess a fitness-related national certification. Many also prefer a degree in exercise science or a related field.

Just a sampling of some of the large fitness centers/gyms in New Jersey where you can begin your personal training career include:

• NJ Fitness Factory, Montclair

• Body & Soul Core Fitness, Cedar Grove

• Gymkata Personal Training, Robbinsville

• Kinetics Personal Training and Group Fitness, Highland Park

As a career, becoming a personal trainer in New Jersey could be the dream you have been searching for.