Become a Personal Trainer in Rhode Island
Those who have a passion for fitness and health and want to help others reach their goals should consider becoming certified personal trainers in Rhode Island. These professionals are trained in the science of exercise, how it affects the human body and how to train others to reach their health and fitness goals. They’re typically employed by gyms and fitness centers, which often require that personal trainers hold national certification. Generally, personal trainers assess the health and fitness of clients, instruct them in exercise and offer nutritional guidance. Certified personal trainers may direct small groups of clients or work with them one-on-one. Sometimes, personal trainers travel to the homes of clients for private training sessions.
Steps to Becoming a Personal Trainer in Rhode Island
To become a personal trainer in Rhode Island, you’ll first need to complete high school and be 18 years old. Then, it’s recommended that you enroll in a program of college study to learn the essentials of the field. After completing your education, it’s time to become certified. You’ll register to take an exam with one of many well-known exercise agencies and earn a certification that shows employers you have plenty of knowledge in the field. It’s possible to practice as a personal trainer without certification, but most employers will require it.
Fitness Educational Choices in Rhode Island
There are two-year and four-year degree options available to those who wish to become personal trainers. Generally, you should choose a program in exercise science, kinesiology or physical education. Here are a couple of options in Rhode Island:
- The University of Rhode Island. Located in Kingston, this school offers a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an Exercise Science concentration. Students who wish to become personal trainers should take the Applied Degree Track, which teaches them how to run exercise programs for healthy people and others with controlled disease. Coursework includes Human Anatomy and Physiology, Sport Psychology, a required 12-credit internship and more.
- Rhode Island College. This school, located in Providence, offers a Bachelor of Science in Wellness and Exercise Science program. The program is aligned with standards set by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). The bachelor’s program teaches the science behind exercise, how to perform health screenings and fitness assessments, community wellness, fitness advocacy and more. The program also includes an internship.
Personal Trainer Certification in Rhode Island
Make sure you put your money into a personal training certification that’s accredited by the National Commission on Certifying Agencies (NCCA), so you receive certification that will carry you into your career. While there are many certifying agencies out there, they’re not all equal in quality and prestige. Commonly chosen accredited certifying agencies include the ACSM, American Council on Exercise (ACE) and International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).
Personal Trainer Career Outlook and Salaries in Rhode Island
What does the future look like for certified personal trainers in Rhode Island? While there aren’t available statistics for personal trainers alone, the Projections Managing Partnership (PMP) offers some insight on the employment of fitness trainers and aerobics instructors, a category that includes personal trainers. For these specialists in Rhode Island, the PMP predicts a 5.2 percent increase in employment by 2026, a steady rate of growth. Fitness specialists also experience about 140 job openings per year, says the PMP. Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in 2018 that the median salary for workers in the fitness instruction field was $19.32 per hour in Rhode Island.
Finding Work as a Certified Personal Trainer in Rhode Island
Due to its condensed size, Rhode Island probably offers similar employment and salary opportunities for personal trainers across the entire state. One place that seems especially promising for personal trainers is the state capital, Providence. According to the BLS in 2018, the employment density for fitness professionals was relatively high per 1,000 jobs. Plus, the median salary for fitness trainers in the area was $21.07 per hour. That’s higher than the national median wage of $19.15 for fitness professionals that same year. The fitness field is bound to keep growing as society becomes more focused on health and fitness. Now is the perfect time to get started in the field of personal training.