5 Must-Have Certifications for Fitness Instructors

When you work in the fitness field, you need to be certified. Certifications allow you to show what you know about fitness while giving you a competitive edge. If you want to excel in your fitness career, you need more than a personal trainer endorsement. You also need to get certified in other specialties.
By getting these certifications, you’ll not only provide better support during client workouts, you’ll also increase your income. The following 5 certifications will give you a competitive edge and allow you to provide comprehensive training.
Obtaining a Certification as a Personal Trainer and Fitness Certifications to Broaden Your Skills
If you’re committed to becoming a fitness professional, you’ll need to focus on obtaining a certification as a personal trainer and fitness certifications to expand upon this knowledge. Learn more about how these certifications can boost your fitness career by reviewing 5 must-have endorsements.
1. A Personal Trainer Endorsement
The primary certification you’ll want to get is one of a personal trainer. This designation allows you to work one-on-one with your fitness clients.
With a personal trainer certification, you can show clients how to work out properly on exercise equipment or how to do floor exercises correctly. You’ll also have the knowledge needed to help your clients stay on an exercise program without succumbing to injury.
A personal trainer certification enables you to understand how human anatomy works so you can show clients how to perform exercises successfully.
2. Group Fitness Certification
To increase what you earn, you might consider getting certified in group fitness. Whether you lead a youth group or seniors, this type of certification gives you the information needed to teach and motivate people in group settings. You’ll know the dynamics behind group exercise so you can provide instruction that is organized and well-managed.
3. Sports Nutrition Certification
While a certification in sports nutrition is not one where you can directly give dietary advice, you can use the information to inform your clients about how carbs, fats, proteins, and nutrients work together to enhance performance. This type of certification will support you in your efforts toward improving a client’s aerobic performance or increasing their levels of endurance.
4. Core Conditioning Certification
Getting a certification in core conditioning nicely complements certifications in personal training and group instruction. That’s because there are hundreds of exercises you can learn that you can share one-on-one or with a group. Conditioning the core–or abs and back–makes it possible for clients to excel in other forms of exercise and athletic endeavors.
5. Running Coach Certification
Use your love for fitness to teach others how to get started on a running program. Getting certified as a running coach will allow you to work with people in individual and group settings. Running is an important component of aerobic fitness and contributes to a person’s conditioning in sports and other workout activities.
Create a Win-Win Situation for Both You and Your Fitness Clients
Getting certified as a personal trainer, and backing up this endorsement with other key fitness certifications will allow you to excel as a trainer. It will also allow you to provide the best possible workout experience for both groups and individuals alike.