5 Ways an Externship Can Boost Your Personal Training Career

If you're considering a career in personal training, now is a good time. Fitness instructor jobs are expected to increase 15% according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This equates to more than 57,000 new positions.

The first step toward securing one of them is to find a personal training program. This enables you to get your certification as a personal trainer. Most programs have a lot of similarities. Topics covered generally include anatomy, physiology, exercise, and nutrition.

Yet, each program is also a bit different. For example, some personal training certification courses offer a Live Training Experience with hands-on training, similar to an externship.

What Is a Personal Trainer Externship?

An externship offers a personal training student practical experience within a gym or other fitness facility. It involves working side-by-side with another personal trainer. This gives the student the opportunity to watch what they do, ask questions, and see how they interact with clients. For some, an externship is the first time they get to work with an actual client.

An externship is a lot like an internship experience, just shorter in duration. When getting a bachelor's degree in sports medicine, for instance, a student at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley must complete a 1,800-hour internship under the direct supervision of an athletic trainer.

Conversely, an externship in personal training can be as few as 20 hours. And it only lasts a couple of weeks. This helps you start your career sooner. It also requires less of your time.

5 Benefits of an Externship Program in Fitness Training

When becoming a personal trainer, you may want to dive right into training after completing a certificate program. You're excited to take what you've learned about exercise science and exercise physiology and want to use it to help clients improve their health and wellness. Maybe you can't wait to begin to develop your own exercise programs.

This level of excitement is great! In fact, it can make you a better personal trainer. Your clients will sense your passion for fitness, motivating them to develop this passion too. However, doing an externship can make the transition from student to personal trainer even easier. This is because there are many benefits of an externship in personal training.

1. You Gain Real-Life Training Experience

Learning is different than doing. You can know everything there is to know about personal training but if you don't know how to apply that knowledge, it doesn't really matter.

An externship puts you in an environment where you can see training in action. You get to see firsthand what a training session looks like. You're not just a spectator either. You may have the opportunity to implement some of your knowledge as well.

This type of real-life experience gives you a better idea of what to expect once you're out on your own. It also helps you build your skills as a personal trainer. You begin to develop your own techniques and processes. It may even help formulate ideas for a new exercise program.

2. You Learn from a Seasoned Fitness Trainer

It's often said that if you want to learn how to do something, go to someone who already does it. That's exactly what an externship in personal training offers - the ability to learn from a seasoned training professional.

A personal trainer who has years of experience knows the industry's ins and outs. They've encountered a variety of situations when training clients and know how to respond. They've also likely made a few mistakes along the way.

During the externship, they can share what they've learned along their own journeys. They can tell you what works and what doesn't. They can also help you avoid making the same mistakes they've made. In this way, an externship can reduce your learning curve.

3. You Gain Confidence in Your Ability to Design and Deliver a Training Program

The more you can practice your skills, the greater your confidence. So, if you've never worked as a personal trainer, you may not be as self-assured as you'd like.

When you obtain your certification from a program that offers an externship, you are provided the opportunity to build your confidence.

While working alongside another trainer, you also have the ability to ask questions as they arise. This can help resolve some of your self-doubts. When this trainer affirms that you know what you're doing, it can bolster your confidence even more.

4. You Get an Inside Look into the Fitness Industry

Unless you've spent a lot of time in the gym, your exposure to the fitness industry may be limited. Maybe you've never seen athletic training or exercise testing in action. Watching with your own eyes can present a whole new training experience.

Externships also expose you to other health and fitness professionals. First and foremost, this helps expand your network. It also gives you a better idea of career options that exist. You might see a corrective exercise specialist working with someone recovering from a hamstring injury, for instance. If you like what you see, you might also want to specialize in corrective exercise.

If the gym offers other services, you can meet those professionals too. Seek to understand what they do and the benefits their modality provides. Maybe the facility offers clients massages, for example. Take the time to meet the massage therapist. This gives you a better idea of when it may be beneficial to suggest that your own clients obtain massage therapy.

5. You Have Increased Exposure to Job Opportunities at the Gym Where You Do Your Externship

One of the biggest benefits of an externship is that it may even land you a job! When you apply for a personal training position at a gym you've never been to before, you're competing against all of the other applicants. To that gym, you are an unknown.

Yet, once the gym staff has worked with you and knows you're a good fit, it gives you a leg up. You've proven that you show up and give your all, making you a more desirable applicant.

What You'll Learn During Your Externship

An externship isn't just on-the-job training. It's also a great way to continue to learn. Working with another personal trainer can increase your overall fitness knowledge base.

• You learn different training techniques, providing you more tools when working with your own clients.

• You learn effective ways to build rapport with clients from all walks of life.

• You learn tips for helping clients get into proper form.

• You learn how to respond to questions or issues that may arise during the training session.

ISSA's Live Training Experience

When you obtain your personal training certification from ISSA, you gain access to our Live Training Experience. This hands-on opportunity allows students 20 hours with experienced personal trainers. This time is spread over the course of several weeks, making it easier to fit into your schedule.

Think of these personal trainers as your mentors. Ask questions. Watch how they interact with clients. Pay attention to how they structure their exercise program. Soak in as much of their training as possible. This will help you as you progress in your own fitness career.

ISSA's Live Training Experience includes 16 tasks designed to give you hands-on experience with several personal training activities. These activities include conducting thorough client assessments, designing safe training programs, learning how to effectively sell your services, and more.

ISSA's Live Training Experience gives you the opportunity to apply what you've learned in our Certified Personal Trainer program. It's also a great way to transition from online learning to real-world application, giving you the confidence and skills you need for greater levels of success.