Fitness Trainer—About the Program

The Need for Fitness Trainers
As Americans have become more conscious of good and lasting health through physical fitness, the need for fitness trainers has dramatically increased. People need a trusted professional to assess their fitness level, assist with setting goals, design an appropriate fitness program, and motivate them to complete the program and achieve their goals.

What is a Fitness Trainer?
A fitness trainer provides education, motivation, and accountability for individuals and groups who seek to change their level of fitness. Many of these professionals help people who would like to tone up and slim down, while others work with athletes to enhance their performance.  Another exciting career opportunity, personal trainers work with individuals one-on-one.

Responsibilities of a Fitness Trainer
An effective trainer assesses fitness levels through testing and screens for disease risks and health concerns. They interpret results and develop, implement and evaluate individual exercise programs by educating/leading the client with proper technique.  Other duties of a trainer include maintaining and keeping an updated inventory of equipment, supervising/managing fitness facilities and developing programs, services and events for their facility.

Moraine Valley’s Fitness Trainer Program—General
Moraine Valley is considered a pioneer in the area of fitness, as one of the first colleges in Illinois to offer an academic hands-on program leading to a certificate as a fitness trainer. In the past 15 years, Moraine Valley has graduated well-prepared, confident fitness trainers who secured employment in private health fitness clubs, park district health fitness centers, gyms, and commercial or corporate firms throughout the Chicago area. Fitness employers are impressed with the program graduates’ knowledge, confidence and interpersonal skills in:

• Group fitness instruction
• Personal training

Moraine Valley’s Fitness Trainer Program—Academics
The Fitness Trainer Certificate is a 30-credit hour program designed for students who desire to integrate education of exercise science methodologies with practical training experience leading to national certification and a career in fitness. The program’s coursework emphasizes the analysis of human movement (muscular/skeletal), theoretical applications and methodologies of physical activity, fitness testing protocols and procedures, and exercise programming development for cardiorespiratory, strength and flexibility.

Employment Outlook
Overall employment of recreation and fitness workers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012, as an increasing number of people spend more time and money on recreation fitness, and leisure services, and as more businesses recognize the benefits of recreation and fitness programs and other services such as wellness programs. Median annual earnings of personal trainers and group exercise instructors in May 2004 were $25,470. The middle 50 percent earned between $17,380 and $40,030. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $14,530 while the top 10 percent earned $55,560 or more. Earnings of successful self-employed personal trainers can be much higher. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of fitness workers in May 2004 were as follows:

Amusement and other recreation industries $28,670
Other schools and instruction $22,320
Civic and social organizations $20,530

Fitness professionals certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) reported the following salary and hourly pay ranges plus factors affecting level of pay:

Level of Pay Factors
College Degree/Certification (29.1%)
Years of Experience (28.8%)
Work Availability (13.9%)

Largest Contributing Factors to Level of Pay by Job Category:

• Upper Management
  College degree/Certification (60%)
  Work Availability (20%)
• Full-time
  College degree/Certification (57.1%)
  Years with the Organization (28.6%)
• Part-time
  Years of Experience (31.3%)
  College degree/Certification (19.1%)

Benefits
80 percent of respondents did not indicate medical/dental or additional compensation.
Resources: Bureau of Labor Statistics and American Council on Exercise.

For job listings and job search assistance, contact the Job Placement Center in the Center for Contemporary Technology, T904, (708) 974-5737 or www.morainevalley.edu/jpc.