Aerobics Instructor vs. Personal Trainer: HELP!

[naughtoj]

Would like to become both of these. Looks fun! I have been inspired by Wendy! (Congrats again Wendy, you rock!)

I want to take the ACE exam. For those of you that took the ACE for Personal Trainer, I have books from the late 90's. Do you think I could just study those and pass? I have both books, for aerobics and PT. I am also an RN. What are my odds of passing if that is all I do?? Read the book, maybe buy the practice test, etc.?? After nursing exams, those questions don't look so bad, LOL.

In addition, my local community college offers a training course (I think it is a package for cert through the school) for Aerobics Instructor that includes Exercise Phys and other classes like that that would be informative but also possibly a waste of $$ for me (I might already know the info). BUT....it also includes practical experience. This is why I was considering getting cert for Aerobics through CC because of the designing of routines, etc and just trying to pass ACE PT on my own. I would still be getting the basics in the Aerobics cert course. The only thing is it is a semester and will be several hundred bucks. But part of me wants to do it to get back into the fitness/exercise groove/do something positive for myself just for the heck of it. I would also be taking aerobics classes at the college and they have some cool ones!}(

THIRD option: Has anyone worked for a gym where you need NO experience. In my local paper I noticed Pure Fitness wants trainers and says they will train you. If you were just doing this for fun and not necessarily to generate income, would this route still be a nightmare???? Anyone done that and what was your experience working for a large chain fitness center? How heavy was sales?

Anyway...looking for any/all feedback from Aerobics Instructors AND Personal Trainers. Thanks!!:+

 

[cakebaker]

I would take the Personal Trainer test, and don't even bother with the aerobics instructor one. A lot of that test is duplicated from the PT test and you really learn to do classes from experience. You have to do them to learn how to do them. Does that make sense? You could get a more up to date PT book on ebay - one from the late 90's would be too out of date.

 

[RunnerGirl]

I would say that if a health club job involves sales in the description then it will be heavy into the sales part. I worked at a health club in college and that is what they wanted sell sell sell! I am sure not all clubs are like that but I would check it out first.
LD

 

[Fit_mommy]

Hey. Thanks for the kudos! You are very sweet.

I just wanted to chime in here that my SIL got her start in Personal Training by getting a job with a gym that did not require experience and said they would train. She was taught how to do "orientations" with new members where you would take their measurements, etc. and worked the front desk alot in the beginning. After several months of experience that way it was offered to her to be become a certified PT. She still had to go through the official cert process but the gym split the cost with her and she had a job waiting for her when it was over. She continued to work at the gym through the cert process and began as a PT as soon as it was completed. That being said, if you are interested, I would give the gym a call and see if you can find out a little more about this. It could be the same deal. You won't know if you don't ask.

Good luck!