What to Look for In a Qualified Trainer

Finding a qualified personal trainer or coach is tricky. Social media would have you believe every girl or guy with a nice physique and a friend with mediocre video skills can teach you to lift. The reality is, most people who appear like they'd be a great trainer probably aren’t, and the people who are great coaches don’t necessarily shine amongst an array of high-quality social media content. When looking to hire a coach or trainer online or in-person, look for education, proof of experience, high quality communication, and execution of marketing promises.

Firstly, ensure your potential trainer holds valid training or coaching certifications and/or an exercise science degree. Search their name and certification number to discover their certification status. There are many certifying bodies but some of the most respected organizations are the NSCA, ACSM, ACE, NASM, and ISSA. Further, there are many different types of training certification specialties. Trainers might have started last month, or they might have been doing this for 15 years. Don’t be shy in asking a coach/trainer what they specialize in, to find out if their skill-set and experience matches up with your particular goals.

Next, there should be obvious proof of their coaching experiences or positive client testimonial. Where have they worked? What client populations have they seen success with? A quality coach will be able to prove their previous work experiences, show you client testimonial, or otherwise demonstrate prior success. Lots of trainers market with statements like, "I have X number of years in the industry," referring only to their personal lifting. Investigate and ensure they actually have coaching experience.

Communication skills- and a coach who listens- is extremely important. Look out for someone who listens, but also whose personality meshes with your needs. Are you motivated by someone who’s tough and will coach with a high level of discipline? Or are you sensitive and nervous about the gym and need someone who communicates with empathy? No matter their style, a skilled coach will listen to you and modify their methods to you.

Look for a coach who wants you to eventually be on your own. If you get the feeling you’re being sold on a service for the rest of your life, run the other way! Great coaches teach clients in a way that leads to their eventual independence. My job is to teach clients how to properly lift and build a long-term relationship with exercise that they continue autonomously.

Another aspect to consider is delivery on marketing promises. Does the marketing content promise easy results fast, or otherwise sound too good to be true? Not receiving what you agreed upon before starting the program is a red flag. You can also use marketing information like claims of “fast results” to decipher between someone who is being honest about the outcomes of their services vs. selling you on fitness industry gimmicks that we KNOW don’t actually work.

Further, do they look the part? While I don’t think outward appearance should be the first element you analyze to consider someone’s credibility (remember: Instagram models don’t necessarily know what they’re talking about), it is true that someone credible should be experts on fitness and nutrition. Unless they have some unusual life circumstances, a person who has dedicated their career to helping others move more and eat better should lead by example.

Lastly, favor people who are willing to say, “I don’t know”. The best coaches and trainers are always learning. Sometimes our methods are found out to be wrong and need to be updated. Other times, there are client situations that we haven’t yet experienced or which may be outside of our scope of practice. In these cases, you want to have a coach who is willing to admit when they aren’t sure and who will figure out a solution- or find someone who can. Frauds or inexperienced trainers often claim to “know it all” and are unlikely to admit unknowing.

There are many clear signs of a high-quality trainer and red flags to look out for. Trust your gut if you feel someone is giving you poor advice or even if you just don’t mesh well with a potential trainer. Don't give up if you have a poor training experience; let it teach you what to look out for. Professionals with experience and answers are out here waiting to help!

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