You’ve decided that you want to become a personal trainer—great choice! Personal training can be rewarding, not to mention great exercise and an opportunity to spend time with people. However, many people fail to prepare for the additional health, safety, legal, and insurance requirements that come with running their own business. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about health, safety, and legal insurance requirements for personal trainers.
Below are some of the requirements;
Unions
If you have a business as a trainer, it is important that you make sure your employees are provided with health and safety guidelines so that their well-being is always kept in mind. You also need to be aware of any unions that may exist for your profession, which often protect employees in the event of an accident on the job.
Health and safety regulations are generally set at a federal level. However, there is variation across different states in how they are enforced. It’s up to you as an employer to ensure your employees are adequately protected.
Many states now require commercial general liability insurance of varying amounts. Check with your state’s board of certification or authority on fitness if you need a copy of these requirements. This will make sure you can continue offering your clients quality services as you expand. It is also a requirement that all staff be covered by personal trainer insurance while they are working in an official capacity.
Certifications
A certificate from a recognized personal trainer certification school can be the most important document you will need. Not only does it show that you have attained some level of experience in the industry, but it also shows that you are dedicated enough to take time out of your life and spend the money necessary in order to learn more about personal training. Furthermore, insurance companies often require personal trainers to show that they have some degree of certification before providing them with coverage. Personal trainer insurance is a necessary expense as well.
If you are starting a personal training business, you need to invest in your own health insurance. The easiest way to do so is by opening up a small business. It will provide more protection for you as an entrepreneur than individual coverage will. If your business makes any kind of money, then it should also be registered with your state’s Department of Revenue.
The first rule of running a personal training business is that you should have your own personal trainer certification. There are many different types of certifications available to you. Some require hundreds of hours of work, while others only require you to pass an exam. Whichever one you choose, make sure it’s accredited by a nationally recognized organization like ACE or NASM.
License
The health, safety, and legal requirements vary depending on where you live in the United States. In general, though, personal trainers have a lot of responsibilities when it comes to health and safety. The following is a basic overview of the subject that covers many things you need to know about.
In general, though, you are responsible if a client gets hurt while they are exercising under your supervision. As such, most states require you to have adequate health and medical insurance coverage. This isn’t negotiable or optional—you could lose your license or get sued if someone is injured on one of your sessions. For example, in California trainers need at least $50k in medical liability insurance.
In addition to health and medical insurance coverage, you need to have a general liability policy of at least $1 million. This protects you in case your client is injured or their property is damaged while they are working with you. If someone trips over an exercise mat that you didn’t replace when it got worn out, for example, their lawyer could point out that you had adequate funding but neglected it—even if it was a one-time oversight.
Credentials
Did you know that personal trainers are some of the most common workers in the fitness industry? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were around 100,000 personal trainers as of 2016.
The first thing that you need to do is meet your local governing requirements. For example, in New York City there are laws in place protecting clients from unscrupulous trainers. There is a list of guidelines on what needs to be done before getting started with a client.
For instance, if a trainer or prospective trainer wants to work with a client with cardiovascular disease or diabetes they must have a cardiovascular clearance letter on file with their health department. They also have to register their trainees through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) or the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). And they must show proof of their liability insurance coverage with these associations as well.
READ: The Importance Of Health And Safety In The Automotive Industry
This is just a small part of what’s required of a personal trainer in New York City. With that said if you’re thinking about getting started as a trainer there are a number of things you should consider. Some common questions include: What are the health safety legal and insurance requirements for personal trainers? What credentials do I need to get certified? How much will it cost me to become certified? How can I save money on my certification fees? What certifications am I qualified for based on my current degree or career experience?
You need to get answers to these questions before you can set in.
Bonding/Insurance
Many personal trainers have never considered the health safety legal and insurance requirements needed in order to maintain their profession. The consequences of skipping this crucial step can be devastating. Whether you are just starting out or have been in the industry for years, knowing these requirements is a must before running your business.
One item that may not have crossed your mind yet is getting bonded. Bonding protects both the client and trainer from liability if something goes wrong while they are training together. Bonding can also help protect you from fines, penalties, and lawsuits that could arise as a result of an injury sustained during training with a client at home or outside of work hours.
If someone slips on ice while working out with you at their house, who will pay for any damages? Not only will your bonding company cover the costs but it is much cheaper than paying the cost out of pocket. They might even cover other necessities like purchasing equipment, hiring employees, obtaining a certificate or license required by law, complying with zoning laws and building codes when opening up a studio space- all things that require money upfront.
The health safety legal and insurance requirements for personal trainers don’t stop there though. It’s also important to know what type of insurance coverage you need. Some states have very specific requirements for what constitutes adequate coverage for personal trainers. For example, some states require $1 million worth of coverage whereas others require $500,000 worth of coverage so always check what is legally required where you live first!
Personal trainer business insurance: requirements, extras and restrictions
Just because one state requires less coverage doesn’t mean that your state does too! It’s best to stay compliant with the laws in your area rather than risk fines and penalties by doing otherwise.
General Liability Insurance
The fitness industry is a bustling field with many new entrants every year. Knowing about General Liability Insurance requirements helps protect you in the event of an injury or accident, either with one of your own clients or even just walking past someone who trips over your feet. Your general liability insurance covers medical costs and expenses if there is an injury or accident on your premises during business hours (including buildings where you teach group classes). Check with your specific provider to see what your policy will cover.
Vehicle Liability Insurance
Liability insurance is a type of auto insurance that protects against injury or property damage. Typically, coverage includes the liability of the driver’s car or other vehicles involved in an accident. In some cases, it may also provide protection against lawsuits from individuals injured in the accident.
Liability insurance is required by law in most states. If you want to start your own business as a personal trainer, check with your state or local DMV office or equivalent. It’s typically necessary to have a minimum amount of liability coverage on any vehicle used for commercial purposes (such as transporting clients) as well as any equipment used in a commercial setting.
READ: The Impact Of Law In Protecting Workers From Accident At Work
Liability insurance is typically required if you have plans to become a personal trainer. Always check with your state’s DMV or equivalent agency before starting your business. It will likely be necessary to have some sort of liability coverage on any vehicle used in commercial ways as well as any equipment that could potentially cause injury in a commercial setting. Liability insurance is also sometimes referred as comprehensive coverage because it covers situations not related to automobile accidents.
Professional Development
It’s no secret that the industry of personal training is growing rapidly. To get ahead in this competitive field, you’ll need professional development and continuing education courses. These courses will be a direct reflection of your qualifications as a trainer. The National Strength and Conditioning Association offers many levels of certification including Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), which includes an online course series with chapters that delve into topics such as exercise prescription for sports or nutritional recommendations for disease prevention.
If you want to get involved in group training classes or plan on leading a team as a group fitness instructor, your requirements may differ. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) offers certifications in over 20 specialties including Aquatics Specialist; Clinical Exercise Specialist; Corporate Fitness Consultant; Group Exercise Instructor, Cycling; Group Exercise Instructor, Weight Training; and Healthcare Fitness Specialist.
Once you’ve established yourself as a professional trainer, keeping up with new developments in your field is important. The National Strength and Conditioning Association also offers many certifications including Certified Personal Trainer (CPT); Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES); Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES); Senior Fitness Specialist; Sports Nutritionist/Dietitian; Total Body Flexibility Specialist; Young Athlete Specialist.
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