Personal Trainer / Fitness Instructor course??

Any PT/Fitness Instructors here, which course did you do and would you recommend it.
Im looking to be a qualified PT, and thinking about doing a part-time course maybe next year.
Has anyone been to AUT, or NZ College of Fitness?

Diploma in Fitness training from AUT was a good basic qual... Would reccomend following it up with a couple of assessments with the NZ inst of health and fitness...

Otherwise there are plenty of short courses out there...

ugh, spelling :S

I did a BSc in Sport and Exercise science at uni which was great. Took 3 years though.

But when it comes down to it, you dont actually need to do a course. If youve got the right personalitly, you can get a job in a gym where theyll train you as you go.

Course, youll start as a lowly fitness instructor, but its a good way to learn. An if youve got a bit of knowledge cos you train in a gym, then youve got another little bit of leverage.

I've got a Diploma in Fitness Training from AUT too. Quite a bit of stuff in there that you might not deem overly relevant at the time (Core Studies, ugh) but it is really nice to actually come out with a University qualification at the end. Also, if you decide you like studying then you can cross-credit six of the papers towards the degree.

Hahaha, I'm pretty sure I somehow managed to cross credit 7... Can't quite remember how though...

Thanks guys. I actually only started going to a proper gym at the start of this year. I just want another job option when i go overseas on working holidays (which im planning to start doing in 2010). Maybe i'll decide to take that even further one day.

So im considering those AUT certificates (fitness instruction + personal training), next year...plus it would give me a year to get in tip top shape and look like a fitness instructor/PT (it would be kindov embarrassing having clients look in better shape than me).

Thats a pretty good idea just asking a gym to train me to be an intructor, but im pretty sure they wouldn't want me as of now.

There are so many things i want to learn - yoga, pilates. I think i just have to start doing these things first, let alone teach them. I've been a part time gymnastics intructor for the past 4 years, but i'm getting sick of kids.

Not so much anymore. Most gyms are part of the REPs thingamajoo, so if you work for a gym who is REPs registered, you also have to be registered. And to be registered you need fitness quals

I did the short courses at AUT which took a year all up (not every weekend), and you come out PT qualified. As snowman said, you do start out as a lowly gym instructor.

Personally I didn't really like the courses, it was all thrown in your face over a short space of time..not my style of learning. But good for a foot in the door

True, but most gyms also have in-house training programs that work under the REPS scheme, yeah?

And we must not forget that REPS is still a load of steaming horseshit.

Hahaha, well said.

as is weights for endurance sports.

Are you taking the piss?

None of the gyms I worked for had in house training, unless you mean SFRITO stuff (health and safety bla bla bla). I had to keep my qualifications up to standard on my own time, which there is fuck all of when you are busting your gut to become a PT

Agree its crap. But it's the new 'standard' right.

Yeah, but it shouldnt be. I can see how it could work, but its so poorly run in NZ that its really just a joke. Im quite suprised that the larger gyms even buy into it at all.

Do Crossfit cert.

Open Crossfit gym.

Profit.

www.crossfit.com