What to Look for When Hiring a Personal Trainer

Hiring a virtual or in-home personal trainer is a big decision. And, since there’s no regulating body for this industry, it’s important to ask the right questions and choose wisely. To help you do that, here are three things we suggest you look for:

What to Look for When Hiring a Personal Trainer

1. Qualifications

It’s possible to become a personal trainer in as little as a weekend. Which is scary! So you want someone with more than a basic certification – ideally with a college diploma or university degree in a health-related subject. Also, CPR certification is a must.

2. A plan for the big picture

A plan, with mini goals plotted out along the way, is critical for long-term success. Which is why we track, measure, and goal-set on the regular over here. So ask your trainer how all that works. Will you start with a goal-setting session? How often will you be re-assessed? What does success look like?

3. A good fit

Whether it’s virtually or in-person, you’ll be spending a fair bit of time with your trainer so you want to pick someone that you like and puts you at ease.

train with the best

Perhaps unsurprisingly, these are three of our main criteria when we hire our trainers at Nielsen Fitness. If they aren’t fully certified, don’t pass our (difficult) practical exam with flying colours, can’t demonstrate strategic, big picture thinking in addition to their exercise and anatomy know-how, or aren’t someone we’d want to see at 5:30 am, they don’t make the cut.

This criteria has served us well over the course of more than sixteen years in business – and we’re confident it will for you too. If you’d rather take the guesswork out of it, we’re here for you – give us a try through a free first workout!

Updated on January 6, 2023.

September 26th, 2022