How to Become an Personal Trainer in Florida
If you want to make a promising career out of your passion for health and fitness, consider becoming a personal trainer.
Obtaining the proper education and certification is essential when it comes to qualifying for personal trainer jobs in Florida gyms and health clubs.
Those who earn additional credentials might be able to get higher-paying jobs training college and professional athletes.
Education & Training
Wondering how to become a personal trainer in Florida? Start by enrolling in an accredited health and fitness program at a Florida trade school or community college.
Coursework
What Do You Study?
There, you’ll learn the basics of the fitness and wellness industry through classes like:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Exercise Evaluation and Testing
- Kinesiology
- Communication
- Exercise Physiology
- Business and Marketing
- Workout Program Design
- Biology and Body Mechanics
Additional Classes
Some personal trainers in FL also take nutrition courses so they can make meal plan suggestions to their clients. Those who obtain an official nutritionist credential can prescribe diets as part of their client’s overall wellness plans.
Personal Trainers vs. Athletic Trainers
If you want to qualify for some of the highest-paying personal trainer jobs in Florida, consider obtaining a degree and becoming an athletics trainer. Where a personal trainer provides fitness training for gym-goers and health club members, athletics trainers generally work with physical therapists, college athletes, and professional sports teams.
Courses for Athletic Trainers
Education for these professionals includes completing one of the following bachelor’s or master’s degree programs:
- Athletics Training
- Exercise Science
- Kinesiology
- Biology
Internship Programs
Aspiring athletics trainers must also undergo hands-on training in an accredited internship program. As an intern, you’ll gain experience working with athletes and patients in private training centers, physical therapy clinics, and professional sports facilities.
Additional Certifications
Many gyms, fitness centers, and training facilities require personal trainers to have a Basic Life Support (BLS) credential. If a client sustains an injury while training, BLS-certified trainers can render aid by performing CPR, first aid, or using an AED. Personal trainers in FL can obtain this certification through:
How Long is Personal Trainer School?
Program length varies across different institutions, but most personal trainers in FL finish their courses in three to six weeks. Some specialized diploma programs take between eight and 15 weeks to complete. Meanwhile, earning an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate-level degree takes two, four, and six years, respectively.
How Much Do Personal Trainer Programs in FL Cost?
Depending on where you attend classes, a personal trainer certificate program might cost anywhere from $200 to about $800. You may need to pay upwards of $2,000 if you’re planning to specialize in a particular aspect of the fitness industry, such as:
- Strength training and conditioning
- Yoga
- Nutrition
- Runner training
- Pilates
- Triathlon, pentathlon, and decathlon training
- Youth, senior, or group fitness
Those who are enrolling in an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree program might pay $17,000 to $28,000 in tuition and fees.
Florida Personal Trainer Requirements
Currently, there are no license or certification requirements to become a personal trainer in FL. Even so, most gyms and fitness centers prefer to hire applicants who are certified personal trainers (CPT). Some schools offer certification exams at the end of their fitness trainer and instructor programs.
Licensing Options
However, you can also get licensed through organizations like:
- The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
- The National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF)
- The American Council on Exercise (ACE)
- The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
- The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Athletics Trainer Certification
While unlicensed professionals can qualify to become personal trainers in Florida, aspiring athletic trainers obtain an official license from the Florida Board of Athletic Training.
Certification Requirements
Requirements for this certification include:
- A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a professional athletics training program with state-approved accreditation OR a bachelor’s degree, plus proof of internship completion and certification from the national Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC)
- Electronic fingerprinting and a clear background screening
- Current CPR and AED certification
- A completed application form
- Payment of application, licensure, and unlicensed activity fees, totaling $205
Personal Trainer Salaries in FL
The average personal trainer salary in Florida is roughly $30,000 per year. However, your exact wages may vary depending on where you live and work. Check out this list of regional earnings to find the typical entry-level personal trainer salary in different parts of Florida:
- Fort Myers $29,836
- Gainesville $27,674
- Jacksonville $28,031
- Miami $29,065
- Naples $30,832
- Orlando $26,170
- Tampa $28,576
Athletics trainers typically earn more than personal trainers in FL, averaging about $52,670 annually. Some personal trainer jobs in Florida might pay this much or more, especially if they cater to exclusive clientele. Having a degree and certification might make it easier to find higher-paying positions, as well.
Job Description
What Do They Do?
Personal trainers in FL create and implement exercise plans based on their client’s unique needs and fitness goals. Whether they find positions in gyms, health clubs, and wellness centers, professionals working personal trainer jobs in Florida usually perform the following duties:
- Outlining each client’s fitness goals
- Taking their client’s body weight and measurements
- Creating safe, realistic, and effective exercise plans
- Encouraging clients to develop healthy habits
- Demonstrating proper use of gym equipment
- Leading group fitness classes
- Motivating clients during workouts
- Tracking each client’s progress to keep them on track
Career Outlook
Reports from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics predict a 19-percent increase in the demand for fitness trainers and instructors over the next ten years. Because of this, personal trainers in FL might have an easier time finding jobs between 2021 and 2031. Obtaining an official personal trainer certification could give you an advantage over other applicants.