Too young for personal training?

Accredited Personal Training Schools	Zip Code -or- Browse all Schools

Step 1:
Is Personal Training
Right for Me?

Step 2:
Get Certified

Step 3:
Get Ready to Run

Step 4:
Launch Your Business

Step 5:
Working with Clients

- Popular Pages -

Train Clients
(coming soon!)

Too young for personal training?

by Chris
(Virginia Beach)

I am a 20 year old who really wants to be a personal trainer. I have not been certified yet, but when I do it seems like the thing to do is start at a gym. I am worried at this young of an age it will be hard to get gyms to take me seriously, and if gyms did, would clients?

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Personal Trainer FAQ.

Comments for
Too young for personal training?

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Rating

Am I too young?
by: James McElwain

I would avoid trying to work at a gym, your lack of experience will work against you. It is that catch 22 of starting out in the business; you can't get clients without experience, and you can't get experience without clients. At your age your credibility might be questioned but it can be backed up with valid proof of experience. I would recommend finding a private personal training studio and asking one of their trainers to take you on as an intern or taking a college courese that would give you some hands on experience. I know the ACE headquarters in San Diego, CA has an internship program for personal trainers; find out if any of your local community colleges or universities offer programs such as these. As a trainer I am always reaching out to other more seasoned trainers for advice so don't get discouraged. Good luck.

-J

Rating

Go for it!
by: Megan

I have been teaching group fitness since I was 18 years old, and I got certified as a personal trainer at age 21. There is nothing bad about being a young trainer. In fact, adults may look at you as a "fresh" source of the most current information. I am constantly being told (by adults) how much they LOVE my classes... not to brag, but simply to point out that age is not an issue. If you take your job seriously, the gym and your clients will take YOU seriously. Good luck and study hard!

Rating

Too young?
by: Sean

Chris,

Funnily enough, I am just that: a twenty-year-old personal trainer. I've been ACE certified for nine months now, and am currently contracted by the US Navy. Prior to that, I trained as a PT at my college's gym, where I worked primarily with other students (and occasional faculty and community members).

I'll admit that it was a little difficult to get a foothold in the "real world" outside of school. However, a mature, professional attitude and thorough training knowledge are more than a match for being perceived as "too young." I agree with Megan, and have found several clients who are interested in working with a younger trainer such as myself.

Good luck! I know you can do it.

Rating

Too Young???
by: Chelsie

I feel exactly the same. I am 19 and want to become a cert. personal trainer. I have no previous experience or certs yet. I worry that I will be looked down upon because I have less knowledge. But I am eager to learn - and hey - we all have to start some where - but how?

Rating

Who is even asking your age?
by: Chelsea

Age is irrelevent; I have been a group fitness instructor since I was 18, and I became a certified personal trainer about a year ago when I was 20. As long as your certifications are current, you know your material, you can build a raport with the client, and you show that you are confident it doesn't matter how old you are and quite frankly it is no one's business to ask your age. Keep in mind that clients tend to pick trainers that they can relate to so your target group will probably be young adults. Keep an eye out as many schools, sports teams, and other organizations are constantly looking for trainers for teens and children. |In my experiance as a younger trainer, they will probably appriciate someone who was at that age no so long ago!

Rating

Go for it.
by: Chris Lutz

You should do it. I started when I was 19 and actually put myself through college doing it (George Mason Univ.- Exercise Science). Now I have 10 years under my belt.

Yes, some clients will look at you and think "He's just a kid, what does he know?" I got that a lot and still do. Be prepared for it, but if you talk in depth with your clients, it's pretty easy to see that you know what you are talking about. Study hard and don't stop. Read as much as humanly possible not only on exercise, but biology, mechanics, and maybe most importantly philosophy (I like Ayn Rand). This will help you organize your thoughts and procedures and bring them into a cohesive unit rather than being very haphazard as the rest of the industry seems to be.

Good luck. It's a lot of fun and can be lucrative. Just don't burn out.

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Too young for personal training?

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Personal Trainer FAQ

Too young for personal training?

Comments for Too young for personal training?

Comments for
Too young for personal training?