Become a Personal Trainer in Missouri - MO

According o the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 4,730 people categorized as "personal trainers or aerobic instructors" last year. Because this category includes everything from those teaching a few spinning classes a week (at $10/hour) to those making a healthy annual salary as the personal instructor for an affluent individual, the average salary and true number of personal trainers in Missouri (and the nation) are difficult to estimate.

As personal training tends to be an occupation associated with urban environments, Missouri's relatively low population and vast rural spaces may pose a challenge for those trying to build a business. Still, there are several metropolitan areas, a growing educated class (especially those graduating from Missouri colleges and universities), and a large military presence in the state boosting the opportunities for prospective personal trainers.  In Missouri, personal trainer certification creates opportunities to work within the fitness community serving the citizens of your home state.

How to Become a Personal Trainer in Missouri

Get Licensed

Once a program has been completed, graduates must consider what certification they should obtain. How to decide? Cost may be the ultimate factor to consider. The ACE certificate, for example, is well-regarded in the industry and costs around $300 to receive. Others may be slightly more appealing to a prospective employer or provide more advanced or more specialized training, and are, as a result more costly to complete and usually require more rigourous testing to obtain.

Professional Associations

The biggest association for personal trainers is not only a support network for trainers in Missouri and nationwide but also a body that provides training and accreditation. The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America issues certificates for all types of fitness instruction from aerobics to specialized or group classes like kickboxing and yoga as well as personal training. This all-purpose organization offers certification, continuing education and recertification workshops and even provides exam applications and study materials.