How to Become a Fitness Instructor | 10 Tips

Fitness instructors help people of all fitness levels achieve their personal health goals. Here's what you need to know about this impactful health career:

• In the United States, job openings for fitness instructors are projected to grow by 12 percent from 2024 to 2034, indicating much faster than average job growth compared to all positions in the country during the same period [1].

• Fitness instructors typically teach group classes, specialize in a specific type of fitness, and possess a general fitness instructor certification from an accredited body like the American Council on Exercise (ACE) or the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

• Develop your knowledge and skills in physical health, nutrition, CPR, and AED, and obtain relevant certification to prepare for a career as a fitness instructor.

Read on to learn more about what you need to do to become a fitness instructor. Afterwards, if you want to start building the skills needed to start your career, consider enrolling in the NASM Personal Fitness Trainer Professional Certificate.

How to become a fitness instructor

Just like our bodies, fitness programs come in all shapes and sizes. That means you’ll find multiple paths toward starting or advancing your career. If you want to make a difference in people’s lives through physical fitness, here are some tips to get you started.

1. Do your research.

The first step toward a career as a fitness instructor is deciding what type of instructor you’d like to be. Would you like to be a group fitness instructor leading small group exercise classes, working one-on-one with individuals, or perhaps being a hybrid instructor? Do you see yourself working at a health club, recreation center, small studio, or from home as a virtual fitness instructor? Having a clear idea of what you want your career to look like can help you develop a clear roadmap of how to get there. 

What's the difference between a fitness instructor and a personal trainer?

Personal trainers generally work one-on-one to help clients achieve their personal health and fitness goals. Fitness instructors typically teach group classes.

2. Consider a degree.

Fitness instructors typically have at least a high school diploma, but some employers will also look for candidates with an associate or bachelor’s degree in exercise science, physical education, or kinesiology. Coursework on biology, anatomy, nutrition, and exercise techniques can help you develop the skills and knowledge you’ll use while assisting clients. 

3. Develop your people skills.

No matter what setting you choose to work in, you’ll be working with people every day as a fitness instructor. Developing these skills can empower you to be more effective at helping others:

• Motivational skills: Achieving fitness goals can be hard work. You can inspire your clients to stick with it by learning motivational techniques.

• Communication: A huge part of your role will be demonstrating exercises, explaining their benefits, or correcting issues. Effective communication can help you succeed.

• Active listening: Being an active listener will help you better understand your clients’ abilities, limitations, and fitness goals.

• Customer service: Treating your clients with respect, kindness, and care can help you win them as loyal customers.

• Problem-solving: No two clients are alike, and problem-solving skills will help you determine the appropriate fitness solutions for each person’s individual needs. 

4. Get your CPR and AED certification.

Many professional certifications in the fitness industry require that you have up-to-date cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) certifications. With these skills, you’ll be ready to give first aid assistance in the event of an emergency.

5. Choose a fitness specialization.

Look at the class schedule at a fitness center, and you’ll likely see all sorts of specialized classes—yoga, spin, pilates, HIIT, dance, kettlebell, and weight lifting, among others. Choosing to specialize may help you narrow down the types of facilities you may want to work at or give you focus when finding clients for personal training. 

• Strength training focuses on exercises designed to build muscles. It’s also known as resistance or weight training. 

• Cardio fitness instructors might lead cycling, running, step aerobics, or dance classes.

• High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a method of interval training that alternates between short bursts of intense exercise followed by periods of recovery.

• Functional fitness, which includes CrossFit, focuses on exercise that helps with activities you might perform in day-to-day life.

• Yoga combines physical poses with breathing techniques and meditation principles.

• Pilates aims to strengthen muscles while improving flexibility and postural alignment. 

• Senior fitness instructors design exercise programming around the needs of older adults. 

• Corrective exercise instructors help clients address imbalances or disorders through targeted programs.

• Sports performance instructors help competitive athletes achieve peak performance and avoid injury.

If you're interested in training and inspiring young athletes, check out The Science of Training Young Athletes from the University of Florida.

6. Get certified. 

Earning a certification helps validate your skills and abilities to both potential employers and potential clients. Most fitness professionals start off with a general certification. Gyms typically require certification for group fitness instructors.

Several organizations offer general fitness instructor certifications. Industry-recognized certifying agencies include the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). 

You can often get certified in specialized fitness methodologies as well. You’ll find certification options for yoga, pilates, indoor cycling, and Olympic weightlifting, among others. 

7. Start part-time.

It’s common for fitness instructors to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends, when those with office jobs have time to work out. This means you can get started with a part-time position, pursue your education, or continue a separate career. If you’re just starting out in fitness, working part-time is often a good way to get established, gain experience, and begin building a client list before moving into full-time work.

8. Get social.

If you’re freelancing as a fitness instructor, you may want to have a presence on social media. Posting on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter helps you get the word out about your services and showcase your expertise. 

9. Consider liability insurance.

There were 4.4 million injuries related to exercise and exercise equipment in 2024, according to the National Safety Council [2]. Before you begin teaching fitness classes or working with individual clients, be sure to research whether you’ll need liability insurance. If you’re unsure, it’s a good idea to seek the advice of a legal expert.

10. Keep learning.

As we continue to learn more about the human body, the fitness industry will continue to evolve. Commit to becoming a lifelong learner, and you’ll be able to instruct based on the latest in exercise science. Many certifications require continuing education credits (CECs) to stay current. Use this as a perfect opportunity to learn a new skill or brush up on a technique.

Build toward your fitness career goals

Fitness instructors use their knowledge of exercise, health, and nutrition to help others meet their fitness goals. Build the skills you need to start your own fitness career by subscribing to Coursera Plus today. Gain unlimited access to programs from industry leaders in fitness, nutrition, health, social media marketing, and more with a monthly or annual subscription.

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