Becoming a Personal Trainer in Oklahoma

A rewarding career working with and helping people could be yours with just a little bit of post-secondary education. Do you love fitness and working out? Do you hate the idea of sitting at a desk all day? Do you like working with people? If the answers are yes, consider becoming a certified personal trainer in Oklahoma.

A trainer is responsible for working with fitness clients to identify and meet their goals. As a personal trainer, you will develop workouts for clients, help them use good form, assess their progress, and make adjustments to programs as needed. You may work in a gym or as an independent trainer.

Requirements to Become a Personal Trainer in Oklahoma

The state of Oklahoma does not outline any requirements for working as a personal trainer in the state. At the very least you should be 18 years old or older, have graduated from high school or hold a GED, and be trained in CPR and First Aid. It’s better if you also hold some type of post-secondary degree or certificate. This can be in personal training or a related field like fitness, exercise science or kinesiology.

Personal Training Education in Oklahoma

A degree or certificate can significantly improve your chances of being hired as a trainer by a gym or an independent client. You have several options in Oklahoma including the following:

• Rose State College, Midwest City. At Rose State, you can earn an associate’s degree in health and sports science, which takes two years to complete. You can choose between concentrations in personal training, exercise fitness management, and health, physical education and recreation. The personal training option will prepare you to begin working with clients and to pass the certification exam set by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
• Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma City. This community college has a certificate program in personal training. It’s shorter than a degree program, so you can start working sooner. The entire course costs just $549 at this time, plus the cost of a textbook.
• Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. OSU students have the opportunity to become certified personal trainers through a non-credit program. It’s a short course that currently costs $375 and culminates in certification through the American College of Sports Medicine.

Personal Trainer Certification in Oklahoma

Certification may be required by a number of gyms employing trainers. It’s a good idea to get certified by a nationally recognized organization if you want the most opportunities as a working trainer. A post-secondary program that teaches you the skills needed to work as a trainer should also prepare you to pass exams set by the American Council of Exercise (ACE), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), International Sports Science Association (ISSA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Federation of Personal Trainers (NFPT) and others.

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Salary and Outlook for a Personal Trainer in Oklahoma

Salaries are recorded for fitness trainers and instructors by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These workers made $35,840 as an annual average salary in May of 2018, but certified personal trainers can expect to earn more than this. You can especially earn more with years of experience and specialty qualifications in things like nutrition or youth fitness.

Growth in careers for personal trainers in Oklahoma is strong across all states but is especially high in Oklahoma. Jobs for trainers are expected to grow at a rate of nearly 12 percent between 2016 and 2026, adding over 600 positions each year.

Working as a Certified Personal Trainer in Oklahoma

The main type of employer of personal trainers in Oklahoma is the gym. Fitness centers in spas, hotels and community centers may also hire trainers. You may also choose to work independently, in which case you would train clients in their homes, outdoors or through rented gym space.

With such big growth in the industry and the demand for more fitness experts, you should be able to find a job anywhere in Oklahoma. You’ll find more gyms and positions, though, in bigger cities and their suburbs. Start your search in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Norman.

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