New Hampshire’s fitness community is as diverse as its people. While the state plays host to some of the country’s top skiing, hiking, and off-roading, many New Hampshire residents aren’t rugged outdoor goers at all, opting instead to enjoy the state’s beauty through relaxing activities like golf and walking.
New Hampshire’s wide range of fitness fanatics and everyday people looking to stay in shape presents unique opportunities for personal trainers. After all, it’s not every state where a short drive can take you from Boston – one of the world’s greatest sport cities – to scenic mountains – all in the same day.
As a personal trainer in New Hampshire, you’ll work with clients ranging from runners looking to up their VO2 Max before the famous Mount Washington Road Race, to skiers seeking better core strength on the slopes. Alternatively, you could find yourself working with busy corporate types whose work in Boston has them feeling stressed and unhealthy. New Hampshire’s proximity to Boston and rural areas alike will give you the flexibility to work with clients based on your own fitness interests.
Steps to Becoming a Personal Trainer in New Hampshire
The process of becoming a personal trainer is often an unforgettable experience. Whether you are passionate about strength training, or are constantly searching for the perfect vegan diet, your preparation through formal education and certification will make you an expert in your field.
Degree Options for Personal Trainers
Taking courses at the college level will put you in the position to learn from experts in the field of health and wellness. Attending courses in person will allow you to meet like-minded people who share your passion for fitness, creating future networking opportunities in the personal training world. Taking online courses it allows you to learn while still maintaining a busy schedule.
Degree options for aspiring personal trainers include, but are not limited to:
Associate’s Degree Programs in:
- Biomechanics
- Personal Training
- Fitness and Health
- Physical Education
- Exercise Science
- Dietetics
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in:
- Athletic Studies
- Exercise Science
- Nutrition
- Exercise Physiology
- Human Biology
- Sports Medicine
- Kinesiology
- Physical Education
- Sport Psychology
The benefits of taking college-level health and fitness courses extend well beyond a degree. The knowledge you will gain from your professors will serve as a foundation for your success in a personal training career.
Personal Trainer Certification Options
Earning a credential from a national certifying body is a must for a career in personal training. Earning certification involves undergoing a test to ensure your personal training knowledge is up to par, which will give you peace of mind going into your career. Some of the U.S.’s top certifying bodies offer certification exams throughout New Hampshire.
Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), with tests offered in
- Gilford
- Freemont
- Nashua
National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF), with tests offered in:
- Portsmouth
- Concord
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), with tests offered in:
- Nashua
- Whitefield
National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), with tests offered in:
- Nashua
- Whitefield
Personal Training Careers in New Hampshire
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, (BLS), the mean income among fitness and aerobics teachers in New Hampshire in 2014 was $36,530, nearly $5,000 more than the national average.
New Hampshire is home to both small and large health and fitness clubs that hire trainers to meet the demands of their expanding clientele. The Zone Gym in Hampstead, for example, posted an ad seeking personal trainers in April 2015. New Hampshire is also home to respected gym chains such as Planet Fitness, Gold’s Gym, and Anytime Fitness, whose large client base drives demand for talented trainers.
If you specialize in developing sport-specific fitness, you might find yourself working as a personal trainer for a team at Dartmouth College, the University of New Hampshire, Keene State University, or other sports powerhouses in the state.
You can also take advantage of the state’s outdoor activities by training clients who use New Hampshire’s terrain as their gym. Trail running can be difficult on joggers’ Achilles heels and ankles, so you may work on developing clients’ calf flexibility . Four wheeling requires enormous grip strength, so you could work with adrenaline junkies who need to hand in hanging onto their white knuckle rides.
Alternatively, much of New Hampshire’s corporate scene makes their home in Manchester where you could work with clients to give them a workout to contrast their mundane daily jobs.