How To Become a Personal Trainer

In your studies to become a personal trainer, you will learn all the fitness fundamentals, as well as nutritional guidance, anatomy, physiology and exercise prescription. You will learn training principles and considerations for a range of groups and special populations, such as adolescents, older adults, amateur athletes and people with body composition and endurance-based goals.

Certain courses, such as AIF’s Personal Trainer course, also have a strong business focus, with units addressing how to prepare for and set up your own fitness business, and the basic sales and marketing skills necessary to acquire clients.

If you want to gain additional skills - and therefore a competitive edge - AIF’s Master Trainer Program™ assesses students on six additional criteria which, when achieved, will elevate you from being a standard trainer to an AIF Certified Master Trainer Level 1. This course primes students to become the best PT possible and is highly recognised and sought after by fitness industry employers.

Once you’re qualified as a fitness professional, it is important to get registered with an industry body such as Fitness Australia or Physical Activity Australia. This registration, which requires proof of your ongoing professional development, can reassure clients of your professionalism, help you stay up-to-date with industry best practice and guidelines, and, importantly, provide employers with confidence in your credentials and abilities as a personal trainer.

You will also need to be insured. In order to work in any Australian fitness facility, you should have public liability and professional indemnity insurance to protect you against potential legal action from clients and members. There are insurance policies available that have been designed specifically to cover the activities performed by today’s fitness professionals. You can find out more about that here.