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Q: Finally I've got my group certification, now what?? A: Whether you've completed a group certification or a PT certification, you must now begin the real task of your business " getting busy. People think that acquiring a piece of paper, whether it is a college degree or a top certification, guarantees them a prosperous life. Nothing could be further from the truth, The paper, even if it the best In the industry, only gets you a "ticket to the dance," it does not guarantee you a partner to dance with.  To have a career, not to be confused with a job, one must go beyond education. My motto has always been "DON'T LET SCHOOL GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR EDUCATION." A career requires an entrepreneurial spirit. If you want a job, there are many gyms and organizations ready to pay you $12/hour and throw warm bodies your way. If you are lucky you will make $20-30/hour under the same circumstances. Even then, time is limited and you will soon hit the financial ceiling time imposes. Then what?
Trainers, group or personal, are in the service industry - like it or not. The success of a trainer will be determined by their ability and willingness to help people. In order to help people one must first reach many of them - that means your career (training) must ooze out of your pores - 24-7; Training is not only what you do, it is part of who you are. The trainer must be willing and able to go out into the community and plant seeds of good faith and spread the word of wellness. Talk to whomever will listen - whether it is one person in the grocery store or an American Heart Association Meeting with 200 in attendance.  Some people call community outreach sales - it is not. If you reach out to your community for leads and more money - everyone will see it, feel it and run the other way. If you feel like a used car salesman, chances are you sound like one. Outreach is exactly what it sounds like, you reach out and help people, even if it means sending them to another gym or to another trainer. You must truly do what is best for the person you are helping, it will all come back to you ten fold in the end. BUT, the intension must be noble and honest.
At the end of the day, papers mean little in this business, heck there are hundreds now available over the internet. Desire, ability and knowledge (not necessarily technical in nature) are the three main components of a person in charge of their destiny. If you have your paper, great, now start the real test of survival, go out and produce. Get experience in a large club at $12/hour if you have to, but don't even think of settling for that. Inside of a year you should be able to design your own business model and negotiate your own terms. Q: What's the difference between an accredited certification and a certificate of completion? A: A True accredited certification will be accredited by some independent body, such as NOCA/NCCA (see http://www.noca.org/ncca/accredorg.htm). The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)-CSCS and NSCA-CPT are two examples of solid certifications accredited by NOCA/NCCA, On the other hand, a certificate of completion is simply proof of completion or attendance of a presentation, course, seminar, or workshop. Sometimes, you can get a certificate of completion even if you did not actually attend the event - as long as you pay the registration fee, you may have a friend pick it up or get it in the mail. Not very good ethical practice - but it happens. Q: With so much competition for work, how many certifications should I hold?? A: Trainers think success in personal training is associated with a certification - it is not! A certification merely indicates a trainer has basic competencies -period. Gym owners and directors are looking for trainers that produce; trainers with positive energy and personalities that attracts people and keeps them around. In our industry this translates to training session and revenues. Our business is a personality driven business not a credential driven business, I believe in education and certification, I'm still working towards my PhD and I have several of the lop certifications from the NSCA, ACSM and NASM. I have learned much from each and would recommend to anyone that they educate themselves as much as possible. However, I caution anyone against confusing credentials with success -they are not necessarily related. Certification and a successful career for the most part do not go hand in hand. Some of the most successful people in the industry have marginal credentials. Success comes from a desire to always prosper, but NEVER at the expense of another. True prosperity in the fitness industry comes from the willingness and ability to positively impact lives - not from passing a test
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