My 1st paid personal training session

[stacie]

By charging before you are actually certified, could you be putting yourself in legal jeopardy? In my area, we are required to teach only within the limits of our certification and legally protected only when performing services specific to that training or that a reasonable person with that training would perform. Does the gym know you are charging members and do you have an agreement with them? Contractors are not covered by insurance but as staff you would be. Are you charging 1/2 price in a gym that charges for personal training? This is a sure way to get the trainers upset and possibly get you kicked out of the gym. I've seen this happen where I work. I don't want to sound negative but I wouldn't want you to be caught by surprise. Good luck and be safe. stacie

[logdiva32]

By charging before you are actually certified, could you be putting yourself in legal jeopardy?
A:Understand, so do my clients.
In my area, we are required to teach only within the limits of our certification and legally protected only when performing services specific to that training or that a reasonable person with that training would perform.
A: I believe that is here also.
Does the gym know you are charging members and do you have an agreement with them?
A: No. I don't "charge" My "clients are all people who fund my events. Bike rides/tris/ runs. I accept there donations well outside of the gym.
Contractors are not covered by insurance but as staff you would be. Are you charging 1/2 price in a gym that charges for personal training?
A: Yes, donation is half price, or whatever they want. There are no staff personal trainers at either of the gyms we use, they are all contracted.

This is a sure way to get the trainers upset and possibly get you kicked out of the gym. I've seen this happen where I work.
A: I don't care, about them. They don't care about my clients. If my clients don't have money they don't have to pay. I am concerned for them 1st and foremost, the reimbursement is secondary.
I don't want to sound negative but I wouldn't want you to be caught by surprise. Good luck and be safe.
A: Caught by the $80 on hour trainers, oh well, I would take my clients else where. But I am tired of the poor being ignored, here. I am going to train them, paying or not.
Also, today I found out my church may help with my insurance,CPR, and cert costs, to help the church members get in better health. stacie

thanks for the input though. I think I know the risks.
Thanks but this is on my heart, african americans, hispanics, and the low income are statistically in bad shape. Yet still, ignored, until they need high blood pressure pills, insulin injections, and bypass surgery. I will educate and assist through whatever means I have and will continue to pursue more avenues, education and certification. no offense taken or given.

[roguedog]

log..

I can't help you since I'm not a PT or anything.. but

I believe ACE seems to be pretty prevalent here in CA anyway. That's what all the ones down here seem to have certs in?.. with?

However, if I were you, I either join a PT group/club/org and gather more info about each of the certs and/or I'd call a few clubs and some self employed PTs and ask them about certs.

Or you can look thru the phone book.. do they have these anymore?, and look thru the PT section. I'm pretty cure if I had any cert I'd advertise it to differentiate myself.

[JanB]

I went through ISSA which is International Sports Sciences Association. It was an online course where you could get completely certified online. I opted for the 2 day seminar option because I had heard that the final exam was a bit easier. I had a friend who did it online and it was time consuming but she did it.

[ridebikeme]

It's alot of fun being a personal trainer, but also A LOT of work!! I would definitely take Stacies advice... it's way too easy to think that you are safe and that people wouldn't take advantage of you.. but unfortunately it's not the way of the world. Also, like any field, it definitely takes more than two days to become a trainer... although you can understand the equipment very well that is in the local gym... there are many other things to think about as well... anatomy, physiology, recovery, diet, and of course the business side of things as well. I had many years of classes in that area, and I wouldn't dream that I could have covered all of that in a two day seminar.

Good luck in the process!

[logdiva32]

I have looked at many of the online, but I am leaning towards the at home study and proctored exam.
I totally understand the energy it is taking. My problem now, is getting in my own workout.
We should always continue to learn and progress in our chosen field. As for my clients I only work with people I know. I give them my ups and downs.

[Crankin]

Give the amount of material that ACE sent me to prepare for the pt exam and the amount of knowledge required, it seems irresponsible and also it would be putting yourself and your clients in a legal quagmire, if something went wrong. You would definitely be kicked out of the gym I go to! The trainers there all have degrees in exercise physiology, or a degree in something else and a certification. That's the route I plan to go.
I worked for many years as an aerobics instructor. When I first started, the certification process was new. I was in the first group of people to be ACE certified in group fitness in 1986 . After a couple of years, no club would hire an instructor without certification. The liability is too great. While I fully agree that the populations you mention are underserved and have health issues because of it, it just isn't right to have these people pay you before you are certified. Personal training is a medically related profession. In order for trainers to be taken seriously, they need to be qualified. Perhaps you could find a gym where you could work under some type of internship arrangement while you are studying?