Personal Trainer

Personal trainers are people dedicated to helping clients reach their individual goals and realize their potential through coaching and managing their physical training programmes.

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Personal trainers take on a range of clients, from beginners to top athletes. They supervise their clients’ physical programmes and educate, motivate and inspire them to achieve optimum fitness and to meet their individual goals.

They screen and test prospective clients, then design safe, effective and enjoyable exercise programmes for them. They instruct clients on the correct techniques to avoid injury. They draw up training logs and monitor training programmes, and record the development and achievements of their clients. They advise clients on exercise options, goal setting, nutrition and lifestyle; they answer fitness-related questions, and then refer problems to appropriate healthcare professionals.

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Personal Requirements

• fit and healthy appearance
• able to inspire confidence
• communicate well
• likeable personality
• empathy and patience
• professional
• enthusiasm and ability to motivate people

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How to Enter

Schooling & School Subjects

National Senior Certificate or Grade 10 Certificate

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What to Study

Diploma: CPUT, CUT, DUT, TUT, VUT, Boland and Northlink TVETs, Exercise Trainers Academy (ETA).

Note: since entry requirements differ from one course to another, the requirements of the courses that interest you should be checked.

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Employment

• universities and universities of technology
• health clubs
• community organisations
• trade unions
• gymnasiums
• SAP
• SANDF
• correctional services
• self-employment, personal trainers may establish their own client bases and become self- employed

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Further Information

Sports Science Institute
Boundary Road
Newlands, Cape Town, 7725
Tel: (021) 659-5600
https://www.ssisa.com/

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Getting Started

• try to obtain vacation or part-time work in a gymnasium
• arrange to speak to a personal trainer about this type of career

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