Becoming a Personal Trainer in Utah

A study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that almost 59% of the adults in Utah that regularly participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity on a regular basis. That is good enough to rank second in the nation. As a personal trainer in Utah, you will be working with people that take their personal fitness seriously and have one of the lowest percentages of overweight or obese adults in the US.

You will find that as a personal trainer in Utah, you will be expected to help your clients in a variety of working environments. You may be in Ogden one day helping snow boarders develop better posture and the next day leading a spin class in Salt Lake City.

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

It is estimated that through the decade ending in 2022, jobs for personal trainers will increase at a rate of 26%, which translates to about 110 new jobs every year. This rate of growth easily eclipses the growth rate for all other jobs combined during the same period of time.

In order to become a valued and respected personal trainer in Utah, you will first have to meet the criteria that employers are looking for in prospective job applicants.

Developing Yourself as a Personal Trainer in Utah

You will find that all reputable employers of personal trainers in Utah expect applicants meet both of the following criteria: A college degree in a relevant field of study and accreditation from a nationally recognized certifying agency.

Traditional College Education

Completing a degree program in a major that is related personal training is the surest way to obtain the knowledge necessary to launch a successful career. Doing this will provide you with the requisite knowledge to assist your clients in any way that they require on the way to meeting their health and fitness goals. The more education you have, the more employment options you have, the same as almost every other profession.

You will find that in most cases you will have the option to attend classes in person, take them online, or in most cases, complete your study program doing a little of each. These are just a few of the areas relevant to working as personal trainer:

Associate of Science with a concentration in Personal Training, which includes courses such as:

• Fitness assessments

• Behavior modification

• Cardiovascular and weight training fitness

• Exercise physiology

Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Community Recreation and Sports Management, including classes like:

• Socio-cultural dimensions of sport

• Legal, ethical, and economic issues in sports management

• Sports sales and marketing

• Sports and fitness leadership

Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, incorporating courses such as:

• Anatomical kinesiology

• Exercise physiology

• Exercise programs and fitness assessments

• Stress management

• Strategies to prevent and reduce obesity

Master of Science with a Concentration in Sports Nutrition, which will include classes like:

• Metabolism of micro and macro-nutrients

• Advanced cardiovascular physiology

• Food analysis, management, and development

• Biochemistry and nutrition

• Medical nutritional therapy

National Certification Options

As you begin your job search, it will become quickly evident that many employers require a nationally recognized certification as a personal trainer in addition to a relevant degree. This list represents the most reputable and well respected certifying bodies in the health and fitness industry:

• American Council of Exercise (ACE)

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

• The Cooper Institute

• Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)

• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)

• International Sports Science Association (ISSA)

• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

• National Federation of Personal Trainers (NFPT)

• International Fitness Association (IFA)

• Professional Personal Trainers Association (PROPTA)

• National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA)

• National Personal Training Institute (NPTI)

• Lifetime (LT) Academy

Working as a Personal Trainer in Utah

More than likely, your first job as a personal trainer in Utah will be working in one of its many health and fitness clubs. A good example of what you can expect if you go this route can be gleaned by taking a look at how Foothill Personal Training in Salt Lake City operates. Here, a team of 11 professionals with college degrees and the proper professional certifications use their decades of combined experience to provide clients with the type of personal training that is best suited to help them achieve their fitness goals.

Aside from going door to door asking clubs what they are looking for in employees, the best way to see what employers expect of applicants is by taking a look as job vacancy postings. Here we have collected some from across Utah from April of 2015 for illustrative purposes:  

A 24 Hour Fitness branch in Provo and another in Salt Lake City were looking for a personal trainer with a college degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, or another related major, or alternatively a certification from an approved national certification agency.

Life Time Fitness in South Jordan was seeking a personal trainer who had a bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine, Kinesiology, or a related field at minimum, plus at least one certification from a nationally recognized agency.

A Vasa Fitness branch in Salt Lake City was looking to hire a personal trainer who already had a professional certification, and anyone hired would need to become certified within four months.

Koko FitClub in Sandy was looking for a personal trainer who had prior sales and fitness experience. College education and personal trainer certification were both preferred qualifications.

Orangetheory Fitness in Salt Lake City was searching for a personal trainer with intermediate knowledge of body mechanics and physiology. Preferred qualifications included a bachelor’s degree in an exercise-related field, while having an approved certification was required.

Utah is an amazing state with amazing opportunities. Find out more about becoming a personal trainer in Utah today.