Now, how do you choose the correct trainer when you can not take his/her every word for granted? Do not take a gym's word for granted either, no matter how recognizable the gym’s name is. Standards by which most gyms, including big-name gyms, choose or educate their trainers are much lower than what is presented to potential clients. Here are few criteria that everyone who considers hiring a personal trainer should look for. At the same time every “good” or “above the average” trainer should somehow recognize himself/herself in these descriptions.

1. Education

The first thing you are going to hear when introduced to a new trainer is “I am certified personal trainer”. What does the word "certified" exactly mean? Usually they will give you a list of certifications they have and there are hundreds of fitness certificates available today. Admit it, it doesn’t mean anything to you hearing those weird titles BCI*, FCGSM**, DNVSCA*** and so on. But on the other hand it calms you down because you think well if he/she is certified than they know what they are doing. Actually, the real question is what does it take to earn a certification? You would be surprised how little it takes to be a certified personal trainer. Some certifications you can earn on internet, some are mail-order and than there is a bunch of weekend certification courses where you pay an expensive fee on a Saturday morning and the next Sunday afternoon you are a certified “killer” personal trainer! 

How much you can learn in two days or how much credibility does a certificate have where you do the examination online from your home? In less than an hour from right now you can be certified too, if you only visit one of the internet certification web sites. How funny, but it is true. Once one of my colleagues said: “Certifications are for people that are not willing to invest time and money in their education “. Strong words, but I won’t go to those extremes and focus only on negative sides of certification. One of the most recognizable certifications is ACSM or American College of Sports Medicine. To be certified with ACSM you need to have a College degree from an exercise-related field. Finally I got to the point of education. A recognizable College degree is the most that any trainer can have as a proof of his/her education. Earning a BS or MS takes years and years of hard work, focus and determination so no certification, or should I rather say all of the certifications taken together can not match a College degree. A BS degree or even better, a MS degree is the way to go.

2. Experience

If you ask a trainer what it takes to be a good trainer, every one will always put most emphasis on things that best describes him/her. For example: trainers with many years of experience would tell you that experience is most important factor to look for when you want to hire a trainer. In my opinion, if we isolate just experience as a factor, trainers with just couple of years of experience and ones with much more do not defer a lot when it comes to their expertise. For sure - anyone who managed to stay in the fitness industry for years might have shown a great capability as a business person, if nothing else. But, would added years of experience really help an individual to get so much better as a trainer? I am not totally convinced. Expertise comes from years of studying rather than the routine of everyday work.

3. Appearance

Looks sells, we all know that! Should your trainer look like one of these guys from a covers of fitness magazines? Well, if not exactly like them than close for sure. I believe that trainer has to be a role model for what he/she is promoting. The appearance of a trainer has to reflect his life-style and his beliefs. How convincing is a doctor who smokes in front of you and at the same time tells you that smoking is bad for you? Not too much, right. So, the same should apply to trainers.

However, someone can be in a great shape but that does not necessarily mean he/she can get you in your best possible shape. Someone’s great physique can be a result of being just God given, or superb genetics, or the use of illegal steroids, or even in some cases serious eating disorders. I would say, choose a trainer that looks good on photographs (at least you know he/she had chosen fitness as a lifestyle) but be aware that physique is not all you have to look in a trainer.

4. List of clients

Trainers should not be judged solely on a list of clients they train. That is one big misconception about trainers. First of all, a list of clients should be confidential and even if it were not, what would the expression “trainer to the stars” mean!? I see it only like he/she knew someone who hooked them up with someone. Indeed, to create a name for yourself takes a time and a lot of hard work, but having an impressive list of clients tells me about trainer nothing more than that he/she is well connected.

5. Personality

It is important that you and your trainer have fun during your personal training session. After all, it is all about you. One of the most important things is that your trainer motivates you. That will push you through workouts and help you stay with prescribed diets. Your fitness goals will look much easier to achieve and maintain. Learn more about your potential trainer. Is he/she a real fitness professional whose future plans and focuses are in fitness or is he/she an actor/actress who, at the moment, rather trains people than wait tables. 

Find out about trainers background. Is he/she a former athlete or still actively competes? What are trainers’ achievements as an athlete? When you have a good trainer you just know it. You have fun working out, you see a measurable progress in you physique and performance and you cannot wait to come back for more.

6. Conclusion

These were just some aspects everyone should consider when deciding to hire a trainer. Don’t just take mine or someone else’s word for granted. Scan every trainer before you hire him. For sure, there are tons of trainers out there and some of them can lead you to your goals. There is one more thing you have to be aware of: there are no two people alike, and everyone will get to their fitness goals on their own unique way. A good trainer should be able to recognize those differences among his/her clients and adopt a training program so that everyone can succeed. And for you - who are still with your trainer after years of personal training and still look the same - it is time to move on! Well, I know your trainer is a great person and you like him a lot, but give someone else a chance and you might hit a jackpot.

I hope I was of some help. Good luck in your search.

*, **, *** - these are not names of real certifications. Any similarity to real certification names is accidental. No certifications are mentioned in this text as better or worse than others. No comparison is made among certifications in order to express either quality or credentials.