Understandably, individuals in the state of Kansas with a passion for fitness and a desire to help others would be well-suited to consider a career as a personal trainer. The field enables candidates to turn their passion into a long-lasting profession, offering competitive salaries and multiple platforms for ongoing improvement over the years.
Thankfully, the state of Kansas also makes it easy to launch a personal training career through straightforward requirements. Below, we examine these requirements as comprehensively as possible.
We begin with a brief overview of the preparatory steps and educational opportunities, before moving on to explore avenues for career opportunities, salary optimization, certification, networking, and other relevant topics.
How to Become a Personal Trainer in Kansas
Below are the requirements to start a career as a personal trainer in the state of Kansas.
Basic Requirements
Before pursuing training, prospective personal trainers in Kansas typically need a high school diploma or a GED for admission to top institutions. They also need to be in good physical shape while cultivating other excellent soft skills, such as communication and interpersonal skills.
Choosing a Suitable Program
Physical education programs that cover topics such as exercise psychology and fitness instruction methods are popular avenues for starting a career as a personal trainer. Individuals can pursue an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in this field.
They can also consider kinesiology programs that cover human movement and anatomy, as well as exercise science programs that focus on conditioning, fitness, and nutrition.
The most important thing is for candidates to possess, to a degree, both theoretical and practical skills, and to continue building their credibility as they progress. Some programs are also created specifically to prepare prospective personal trainers for certification from prominent organizations, such as ACE and NASM.
We discuss this aspect further in a later section.
Practical Experience
Entering into a full-time role straight from an academic program can be challenging in any profession. Personal trainers can make this transition easier by gaining practical experience first.
Some of the most common approaches to achieve this goal include internships, assisting experienced professionals, and offering free services to family and friends.
Continuing Education
Continuing education is essential to keep personal trainers informed about advancements in the field. Candidates may attend continuing education programs or utilize professional resources offered by prominent organizations.
Explore trades with similar paths:
Licensure & Certification Requirements
Anyone can start a personal training business in Kansas, provided they have the necessary level of education. This means that they don’t need to pass a professional licensing examination or register with the state to start their careers.
As mentioned earlier, pursuing certification from prominent organizations is a common practice in the discipline. However, this is not due to any state rule, but rather to professional advantages.
Being certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), for instance, brings professional respect among peers and employers, and makes personal trainers more appealing to potential clients. Certification from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) also offers these benefits.
Top Personal Trainer Schools in Kansas
The institutions below are notable for comprehensive personal trainer programs in the state of Kansas.
Kansas City, Kansas Community College
Online, KS Online Only
Kansas City, Kansas Community College offers a completely online program for personal trainers. The program helps candidates earn the Certified Personal Trainer credential from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Tuition
$2,595 - $2,690 per ProgramContact
(855) 520-6806
Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, KS Campus Only
Johnson County Community College offers a certificate program for individuals seeking to become successful personal trainers. The program encompasses athletic nutrition, health and wellness, and administrative expertise.
Tuition
$101 - $237 per CreditContact
(913) 469-8500 Ext: 3594
jcccadmissions@jccc.edu
Highland Community College
Highland, KS Campus Only
Finally, Highland Community College’s Personal Fitness Trainer program is another top-class choice to consider. The school ensures that candidates aren't only technically sound but also earn an Associate of Applied Science degree.
Tuition
$95 - $290 per CreditContact
(785) 442-6000
admissions@highlandcc.edu
Explore personal trainer schools in Kansas by city:
Salary & Career Outlook
The annual average salary brackets for personal trainers in Kansas, as revealed by a survey, are as follows. The top 10% earn an annual average salary of $85,457, the bottom 10% earn an annual average salary of $19,701, and the median annual average salary is $41,031, according to Indeed.
The factors that influence which exact bracket a professional will fall into vary. The most prominent factors are experience, marketing/outreach, establishing employment, credentials, and location.
The best places to work as a personal trainer in Kansas, strictly in terms of average yearly income, include Topeka and Kansas City, ranking first and second, with annual average salaries of $67,229 and $58,750, respectively. Also in the top three is Shawnee, with an annual average salary of $47,170.