Associate's Degree in Sports Fitness

Are you intrigued by the thought of working within the world of fitness? Do you think you have what it takes to motivate people to make healthier lifestyle decisions and to transform their bodies? Do you lead a healthy lifestyle and you are eager to share this passion to others who may benefit from your knowledge and experiences? If you found yourself nodding your head in agreement through each of these questions, then you will definitely want to consider a career as a fitness instructor or trainer.

Keep in mind, while in many venues you will be able to secure employment as a fitness instructor without having completed any formal training program, you should not count on this factor as you begin pursuing your dream career path. As with many other professions, the individuals who have completed a degree program or a training program will have a much higher chance of obtaining employment over the individuals who have no significant training or experience.

Furthermore, it is unlikely that your own personal fitness experiences that have taken place within your home will be sufficient enough for your resume to stand out against other job seekers. In fact, because of healthy competition for jobs in this industry it is likely that you can expect to need a certification before you will be seriously considered for a position.

Perhaps the most important information you will want to know regarding a career as a fitness instructor is that it is a very rewarding occupation. While at times you may find yourself battling with unforeseen factors or trying to motivate someone who is lacking in that area, when your client and you begin to see results all of the hard work will be paying off!

It is most common for fitness instructors to seek employment through a health club, a fitness or recreational club, or to contract out their services to specific individuals or groups. No matter which of these specific venues that you decide to pursue employment with, online research shows that individuals in this occupation are likely to experience a growth in available positions over the next several years. Furthermore, you can expect to spend the majority of your work time within a gym type setting or an indoor facility of some type. However, it is common for fitness instructors to work an atypical schedule. After all, you will need to be available to provide services to your clients when they are not at their own place of employment.

Overall, it will be important that you can model a healthy lifestyle and that you are willing to go the extra mile to help your clients stick to their workout regimen even when they are not in the gym. In some cases, your services may be requested by individuals who are attempting to recover from an illness or an injury. In this type of situation you will need to gauge your exercises and the amount of effort that the client is putting forth to ensure they are not overdoing it.