What Do Strength Trainers Do?

A strength trainer creates safe and effective strength training routines to help someone reach health, fitness, or sports-related goals. Strength trainers may work one-on-one with a client out of a gym or home, lead group fitness classes, or work as part of an athletic team or school’s strength and conditioning program.

What a strength trainer does may change based on the work environment and the job title. Some strength trainers are called physiotherapists, leisure managers, and sports coaches. These titles are often used interchangeably with slight variations in the duties and responsibilities of each job title.

Job description of a strength trainer 

A strength trainer works with individuals or groups on strength training techniques like proper form and creates fitness or exercise plans and programmes to help you reach specific athletic or sports goals. In essence, the role of a strength trainer is to support you in whatever your fitness and movement goals may be while avoiding injury. As an overall approach to health and fitness, strength trainers often provide workout tips and lifestyle advice to help people reach their goals. 

A few duties and responsibilities of a strength trainer can include: 

• Monitoring the progress of a client or athlete and tracking changes

• Making fitness and lifestyle suggestions to help clients reach goals

• Assisting in goal-setting

• Offering motivation when needed

• Providing nutrition and lifestyle advice

• Providing basic first aid care if needed or knowing when to call for emergency help

• Referring clients to specialists who can help with sports-related injuries 

• Creating specific workout plans that are evidence-based and effective 

• Teaching group fitness or weight training classes

• Working one on one with individuals to assist in weight training routines 

• Teaching individuals how to use specific gym/exercise equipment 

• Making suggestions to athletes to improve performance 

• Modelling workout techniques for injury prevention 

• Leading athletes in training exercises

What skills does a strength trainer need? 

Effective communication skills are essential for strength trainers since you may work closely with clients. You’ll need to be able to both listen to your clients and offer supportive and helpful responses to their needs. A few other personal skills that can be very beneficial to someone working as a strength trainer are:

• Empathy

• Motivation

• Customer service skills

• Public speaking when working with groups

• Enthusiasm

• Problem-solving

• Creativity

• Multitasking

• Ability to take initiative  

The technical skills of an effective strength trainer are equally important to help your clients prevent injury. This requires an understanding of human anatomy, how muscles grow and change, and the overall dynamics of strength training. A few technical skills you’ll need are: 

• AED/CPR training

• First aid training

• Knowledge of current trends in the fitness industry

• Knowledge of nutrients needed to build muscle

• Knowledge of exercise physiology and kinesiology 

What qualifications are needed to work as a strength trainer?

You will likely need at least a Level 1 certificate in strength training with qualifications as high as a Level 4 diploma.. You may need educational requirements like a B.Sc. in sports science, fitness, or coaching. Consider these strength training certifications:

• NCSF Strength & Conditioning Certification from FSSA Council

• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

• Strength and Conditioning Training Specialist From SPEFL (Level 6)

NCSF Strength & Conditioning Certification from FSSA Council

The National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) Strength and Conditioning Certification is available in India through the FSSA Council. The course covers the basics of exercise and teaches you how to put them into action in an effective training programme for athletes. This entire course includes the textbook, instruction videos, quizzes, and the cost of the NCSF Certified Strength Coach Exam. It usually takes 6 months to complete the course and exam. 

Requirements: NCCA/EREPS accredited personal trainer certification or a relevant bachelor’s degree 

Cost: ₹64,500.00

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from NSCA

The CSCS from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) has an international reach with testing centres from Pearson VUE across India. The exam tests your scientific knowledge to improve athletic performance. It covers training programmes, injury prevention, and proper nutrition geared towards safe and effective training. 

Requirements: bachelor’s degree or currently enrolled, CPR/AED certification 

Cost: 340 USD for NSCA members, 475 USD for non-members

Strength and Conditioning Training Specialist From SPEFL (Level 6)

The Certified Strength and Conditioning Training Specialist from SPEFL - SC Strength and Conditioning Coach (Level 6) is internationally accredited through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The course prepares you for proper training warm-ups, finding an athlete's needs, creating training plans, injury prevention and nutrition. 

Requirements: none listed

Cost: ₹12,000 for the course, additional ₹3,500/- for SPEFL - SC Level 6 Certificate

Where can a strength trainer work? 

A strength trainer can work in many different settings, from the sidelines of a football field to a private gym. It depends on factors like your specific job title, credentials, education, and the overall role the organisation or business hires you for. 

Gym 

Gyms may hire strength trainers to work more as personal trainers, working one-on-one with clients or teaching conditioning classes in a small group setting. Depending on the gym, your role as a strength trainer will vary. You may work with a team of other strength trainers, personal trainers, or conditioning coaches to create classes, workout plans, and other resources. 

Alternatively, you may create workout plans for individuals based on their goals and work with them to monitor their progress. Part of your job at a gym would also involve onboarding clients new to the gym and helping them set goals based on needs. You will likely need certification in personal training or strength and conditioning to work at a gym. Experience is a perk, but some gyms hire trainers right out of school or after gaining certification. 

Client homes

Strength trainers may train clients out of home gyms. In this work environment, strength trainers can work one-on-one with clients training them on the proper use of equipment, guiding them through workout programmes, and offering tips on form and technique. Freelance strength trainers or trainer entrepreneurs will typically provide this service. This option requires some travelling, and the equipment may limit you at a client’s home, but it’s a great way to work closely with clients or even athletes to help them meet goals. 

Group fitness facilities 

Group fitness facilities typically offer boot camp-style classes that combine cardio and strength training. Strength trainers at group fitness facilities may work more as group fitness instructors. You will likely be offering form cues and monitoring your client's progress, providing alternative exercises based on need, and training individuals on the proper use of various equipment.  

Schools or athletic organisations

Schools and athletic organisations rely on strength trainers to help athletes prevent injury, improve performance, and boost endurance. In this role, strength trainers are typically called strength and conditioning coaches. Certification is required for this position, as is a bachelor’s degree. You may work one-on-one with athletes, an entire team, or other coaches and trainers to develop workout routines and programmes.

As a trainer, you may work with a specific population, like children or the elderly. If you want to specialise in a particular population, such as young athletes, consider enrolling in an online course or specialisation. The Science of Training Young Athletes and The Science of Training Young Athletes Part 2 are courses you can take on Coursera. These courses can provide helpful tips for anyone who wants to work in schools, summer camps, or rec centres as a trainer for young children.

Freelance training 

As a strength trainer, you also have the option to work as a freelance trainer or own your training business. Social media sites like Instagram and TicTok have made it possible to gain an online following where you can provide strength training programming tips and services to gain clients or build a reputation as an effective trainer. 

Strength trainer career paths 

The average annual base salary for a strength and conditioning coach according to Glassdoor is ₹4,80,000 [1]. You may also have opportunities to move into other careers within the fitness industry if you have a degree in exercise science or certification in a related field.

Consider these possible career paths: 

• Work as a personal trainer at a gym, take on more leadership roles and gain experience, then apply for a position as a gym manager.

• Work as a personal trainer or strength trainer, either as a freelancer or in a gym, gain clients and experience, earn your certified nutrition coach certification (NASM-CNC), and work as a nutrition coach. If you want to work as a dietician, you’ll also need to earn your bachelor’s degree.

• Work as a strength and conditioning coach for a school or athletic organisation, earn your master’s degree in kinesiology and become an exercise physiologist.

Some trainers may also move industries entirely and work as professors or in the sales or marketing department for an exercise equipment company or a gym. 

Nutrition Coach

Nutrition coaches use nutrition science to create plans for their clients based on the goals of the client. They create strategies and diet plans, finding ways for their client to stick to them. They educate clients on food labels, portions, and potentially harmful fad diets. 

Personal trainer 

A personal trainer designs safe and effective workout programming for individuals and groups, typically in a fitness centre or gym setting. Some personal trainers may work out of clients' homes or their own. Personal trainers help people reach fitness goals, which may include changes in weight, body composition, or improved endurance in everyday tasks. 

Bodybuilding trainer 

Bodybuilder trainers work one-on-one with individuals who want to gain strength and cut fat, sometimes in preparation for a bodybuilding competition. Design research-based, evidence-based workout programming to gain muscle and build the physique. Provide clients with muscle-building nutrition plans, accountability, motivation, and timelines to monitor progress.

Become a strength trainer with Coursera

Strength trainers get to do what they love daily, helping people meet their goals and seeing the results of their hard work and knowledge. It can be a rewarding, physically active career with many opportunities and growth. 

Not all strength trainers need their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Some positions may only require certification or specialised training. Start by increasing your knowledge and skills by taking an online Science of Exercise course or Weight Management course on Coursera. Dream up your ideal career as a strength trainer and get started.