Leading an active lifestyle is almost a requirement when surrounded by the natural beauty and destination parks that Wyoming has to offer. Still, Wyoming’s cold winters can make it a challenge to stay in shape, especially for those with desk jobs – and that’s where personal trainers come in. As a personal trainer, you’ll help active people stay in shape year round so that they can enjoy the sports and outdoor activities they love.
Cross training, strength training and cardio training are all important to staying fit at any stage of life. As a personal trainer you will help develop the best exercise routines for clients based on their physical capabilities and fitness goals. This might mean leading a group step or kettle bell class, or working with individual clients one-on-one to design and implement a circuit program customized to their fitness level and goals. You’ll find that staying current on the latest fitness and nutrition trends comes naturally as you become part of Wyoming’s thriving health and wellness culture. You’ll love being in the know yourself, and nothing feels better than introducing clients to the latest, most effective methods and techniques and working with them till they’ve achieved measurable results.
The number of jobs for personal trainers in Wyoming is expected to grow at an average rate of 13% per year through 2022. A favorable job market means even more good as you take the first steps to becoming a personal trainer in Wyoming.
Becoming a Personal Trainer in Wyoming
Becoming a well qualified personal trainer able to meet the job requirements of Wyoming’s top health clubs, specialty fitness studios, gyms and even hospitals starts by earning a degree in a relevant major. Certification in CPR/AED is also a standard job requirement, and most employers will also expect you to hold national certification that demonstrates your knowledge and specialized expertise.
Formal Training and Education
Earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a major related to fitness and helath promotion will not only lay the foundation for a successful career in personal training, it could create additional opportunities for specialization in such areas as dietetics, and allow you to qualify for leadership positions. With the right educational background, your career as a personal trainer could lead to working in a college athletics program or in a physical therapy clinic as an injury rehabilitation counselor.
Additional coursework will depend on which subject area you choose to purse your degree. The five typical subject areas and examples of courses within each one include the following:
- Dietetics and Nutrition
- Principles of Food Science
- Life Cycle Nutrition
- Nutrition Counseling and Education
- Community Nutrition
- Exercise Science
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
- Care & Prevention of Athletic Injuries
- Principles of Strength & Conditioning
- Personal Training
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Athletic Training
- Nutrition
- First Aid
- Aerobics
- Kinesiology
- Introduction to Community & Public Health
- Survey of Human Nutrition
- Principles of Weight Management
- Survey of Drugs and Health
- Human Disease & Epidemiology
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Medicine Principles
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
- Therapeutic Modalities
- Injury Evaluation & Rehabilitation
Additional coursework for these majors generally includes math, biology and chemistry.
National Certification Options
National certification can be obtained in one or more specialty as well as from one or more national certifying organization. It is important to choose the certification that is closest to the area of specialty you’d like to focus your career on.
Examples of reputable certification agencies that are highly respected and typically accepted by employers include:
- International Sports Science Association (ISSA)
- International Sports & Fitness Trainers Association (ISFTA)
- National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
- National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF)
- National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
- National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA)
- American Council of Exercise (ACE)
- National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc (NCHEC)
- Commission on Dietetic Registration (RDN)
Working as a Personal Trainer in Wyoming
As a personal trainer, the more you put into your job, the more you’ll succeed. Staying on top of the latest trends, keeping your own body in top physical condition, and having the ability to successfully motivate and inspire others will allow you to rise to personal training greatness and be sought out by top fitness centers.
Top employers in Wyoming are shown here along with qualifications and job descriptions for the trainers they hire:
- Personal Trainer & General Manager, JRG Fitness – Casper. Required attributes include:
- CPR/AED certification
- Personal Training national certification
- Superior sense of customer service
- Comfortable with B2B marketing
- Recruitment, selection, training and development, coaching, goal setting and performance management skills
- Fitness Consultant, Complete Nutrition – Casper. Required attributes include:
- Personal trainer and or/health consultant experience/certification
- Associate degree preferred
- Must have good negotiation skills and must be innovative and persuasive
- Should be outgoing, friendly, energetic and confident
- Possess innovative and creative sales techniques
- Director of Nutrition Services, Ivinson Memorial Hospital – Larmie. Required attributes include:
- Registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration preferred
- Wyoming Licensure for Registered Dietitians preferred
- Registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) preferred
- Dietary Manager certification preferred
- Bachelor’s in Food Service Management, Nutrition and Dietetics or Institutional Management