how to become a personal trainer in nyc

PT By State Series

Post 32 of 50

Hey Everybody, and welcome to yet another PT Pioneer career guide article.

You are reading part of a big series where I look at each state and its fitness industry.

As you probably know, location is a big part when it comes to potential opportunities in most career fields, including fitness.

For that reason, I will be breaking down how viable a fitness career is in each state.

This time around, I'll be traveling to New York to understand what the fitness industry and business environment look like.

In these articles, I usually focus on three or four of the largest cities by population, but this time, I'll only be looking at how to become a personal trainer in New York City.

That's because nearly half the state's population lives and works in just this one city, so there's little point in trying to work anywhere else.

New York City is a global metropolis and one of the most influential cultural and economic hubs in America, if not the world.

I might as well just deal with this city, which includes looking at personal training certification programs and requirements for becoming a personal trainer.

With that said, let's jump right to it.

Make sure to check out the general guide on how to become a personal trainer.

How To Become A Personal Trainer in New York

Post 32 of 50 in the PT By State Series

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State Fitness Rating

The first thing I'm going to look at is the state fitness rating. This is a measure and ranking of how healthy a state's population is.

This is useful because it shows us how active the fitness industry is under how engaged the population is with services that promote health.

The data I'll be using was gathered from exercise.com, which has done a tremendous job of analyzing and rating each state based on several key metrics.

The two statistics I'll be using are the obesity prevalence and the top gyms per capita metric.

Obesity statistics are an accurate indicator of a population's health and fitness levels, and health and fitness are strong indicators of the size and activity of the wellness industry.

As an exercise specialist in this industry, your success and potential opportunities are partially influenced by obesity prevalence.

New York has an obesity prevalence of 25.5%, putting it in 7th place out of 51 states and districts.

This is a useful statistic, indicating a below-average obesity rate, translating as a good engagement with the fitness industry by the general population.

Next, let's look at top gyms, fitness facilities categorized by their mainstream appeal, affordability, and widespread accessibility.

Top gyms or fitness centers include the likes of:

Gold's Gym
24 Hour Fitness
Anytime Fitness
Crunch Fitness
LA Fitness
Orange Theory Fitness
Planet Fitness
Snap Fitness
YMCA

These gyms are a crucial indicator of the industry's state because they represent the most accessible way for the average person to get a quality workout.

New York has 615 of these top gyms. With a population of 19,745,289, that's a gym per capita ratio of 3.11 gyms per 100 thousand residents.

That makes New York the worst state when it comes to gym accessibility for the masses.

But is this bad news for you?

Well, not necessarily. From a consumer perspective, it might be more of a challenge than in any other state, but from a fitness professional perspective, your odds are still okay.

That's because 615 gyms have a lot of employment opportunities.

The fact that there is a high demand from the market just means your experience working as a NYC personal trainer will provide accelerated benefits.

Fitness Market Makeup

New York City is a very cosmopolitan population center.

Fashion, beauty, and aesthetics dominate the fitness culture of this image-driven city.

A personal training program design on weight management will be helpful for those interested in weight loss programs.

A large portion of your prospects will have aesthetic goals in mind.

As a certified health coach in New York City, you should create personal trainer programs and exercise programs that aligns with the needs of the populace.

This is where it would pay to brush up on skill sets concerning body transformation and bodybuilding.

New York also has a decent athletic heritage, so expect a significant portion of the market to be focused on performance enhancement training methodologies as part of their fitness goals.

Personal Trainer Certifications in New York

Personal trainer certification in New York City and other cities is needed to get a job as a personal trainer in New York.

With a personal training certification NYC, you have a personal trainer license to operate effectively.

I have written an article on my best personal trainer certifications. Use this as a guide on how to become a certified personal trainer in New York.

Overall here are my top 2 best personal trainer certificates in New York. Ensure you have all or any of them when you decide to become a personal trainer in New York City and other areas.

NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine)
ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association)

Having the best personal training certification NYC gives you entrance to the best places to work as a personal trainer.

Personal training schools in New York

Aside from an accredited fitness certification NYC, you can also look into obtaining a university degree in a fitness-related program.

This might be an attractive option because fitness trainers with college or university credentials tend to be on the higher end of the income bracket.

A bachelor's degree in sports science or fitness opens you up to better jobs and a better salary. It also allows you to charge a higher premium on your services as independent professional trainers.

There are more than enough options when it comes to personal training schools NYC or exercise science schools in New York.

Let's take a look at the best schools for personal training:

Adelphi University Exercise Science, Health Studies, Physical Education & Sport Management
Canisius College Department of Kinesiology
Cazenovia College Sport Management
D'Youville College Exercise and Sports Studies
Daemen College Health Promotion/Health Care Studies
Hofstra University Health and Physical Education
Houghton College Physical and Health Education
Ithaca College Exercise and Sport Science
Long Island University –Brooklyn Physical Therapy
Manhattan College Department of Kinesiology
Medaille College Sport Management
New York Institute of Technology Physical Therapy
New York University Physical Therapy
Niagara University Sport and Recreation Management
Pace University Physical Therapy
Queens College of CUFamily, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences
Russell Sage College Physical Education
Skidmore College Exercise Science
St. Bonaventure University Physical Education
St. Francis College Sports Management
St. Lawrence University Sports Studies and Exercise Science
Stony Brook University Health Sciences
SUNY at Oneonta Health and Fitness
SUNY at Oswego Health Promotion and Wellness
SUNY at Plattsburgh Sports and Wellness
SUNY at Potsdam Community Health
SUNY College at Brockport Kinesiology, Sport Studies, and Physical Education
SUNY – Cortland Kinesiology
Syracuse University Department of Exercise Science
Teachers College, Columbia University Department of Movement Science and Education/ Kinesiology
United States Military Academy Department of Physical Education
University of Buffalo Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Utica College Health Studies
York College of CUNY Health and Physical Education

You're spoiled for choice when it comes to kinesiology schools in New York.

Just remember, enrolling in a personal trainer schools NYC for degree program is a considerable investment in time and money.

There's also the matter of student loan debt, so make sure you have a clear roadmap of how you want your career to progress, and if going to college fits that plan.

Personal Trainer Jobs in New York

Personal trainer jobs in New York City come in a diverse array of opportunities.

You have your commercial gym or health clubs positions, which I recommend should be your first option.

The reason being these are stable, albeit relatively low paying opportunities.

What you'll lose in the size of your income, you'll gain in security and benefits.

You'll also be on a fast track in learning how to be an effective fitness instructor and fitness salesperson, essential skills for when you decide to strike out on your own.

As an independent fitness business owner, there are few places more exciting than New York City.

The variety of influences and cultures means you can find a niche and position yourself in a way that creates your sub-market.

You'll need a blend of sticking to the basics while being creative and thinking outside the box with the fitness programs.

Best Cities to Be a Personal Trainer in New York

New York City is the best place to work as a CPT in the state, as I've already mentioned.

The sheer size of the population eclipses that of entire states in many cases.

It would be foolish not to focus on your career aspirations here.

However, if you don't have the option of being based in NYC, Buffalo, Rochester, and Yonkers offer a similar level of opportunities to most other cities I've reviewed.

Fitness is a numbers game at the end of the day, so population size is your primary opportunity indicator.

City In New York	Population
New York City	8,323,340
Buffalo	255,244
Rochester	203,792
Yonkers	199,021
Syracuse	140,987
Albany	96,853
New Rochelle	77,912

Personal Trainer Salary in New York

The annual average income for PTs in New York is $74,466. This is a remarkably high figure and would be a comfortable salary in most professions, not just fitness.

However, I hate to burst your bubble and point out that life in New York, especially NYC, is super expensive.

The cost of rent and housing is astronomical, so $74k per month is relatively conservative.

Make sure to check out the full guide on personal trainer salary.

Quality of Life Rating

As one of the most populated states in America, New York has a lot going on that causes a tremendous fluctuation in the standard of living across all categories.

Health care, education, culture & entertainment, infrastructure, and business opportunity rank very high.

The cost of living and housing is, unfortunately, significant downsides. You'll also have high taxation chewing into your income.

Overall, I'll give New York a 6 out of 10 quality of life rating. It's a great place to live if you can afford it, and affording it is the real issue.

Methodology

The methodology I used in reviewing this article on how to become a personal trainer in New York are stated below:

The population of the state and its major cities.
The obesity figures as compared with other states.
Personal trainer certifications attainable in the state.
Availability of personal training schools & colleges.
Career prospects for personal trainers.
Earning potential for certified PTs.
Quality of Life (QoL).

Final Words on How to Become a Personal Trainer in New York

New York is an opportunity goldmine for fitness training, primarily when focusing on New York City.

The fitness industry thrives there, as one would expect from one of the world's biggest cosmopolitan cities.

This does mean the market is saturated, and success will be hard-earned.

There's also the challenge of affordability should you choose to focus on NYC.

But then, having the requirements for a personal trainer license NYC will give you an edge with potential clients.

FAQs on How to Become A Personal Trainer in New York

What qualifications do I need to be a personal trainer?

The basic qualifications for obtaining a personal trainer certification are:

– A high school diploma
– An AED/CPR certification
– A First Aid certification

An associate or bachelor's degree may be required by some personal training certifying bodies.

What certifications do I need to become a personal trainer?

The certifications needed are:

– American Council on Exercise (ACE)
– American Fitness Professional and Associates (AFPA)
– International Fitness Professionals Association (IFPA)
– National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT)
– National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
– Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)
– American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
– The Cooper Institute