Trainer Experience Programs
Information for Fitness Industry Employers
If you are reading this page of our website you are most likely a fitness industry employer or mentor considering the supervision of an Institute friend for their Trainer Experience. At the Institute all friends completing the Master Trainer program on campus are required to engage with Industry as part of the Trainer Experience Program.
So what is the Trainer Experience Program?
The Institute’s Trainer Experience Program (TEP) is designed to link friends of the Australian Institute of Fitness® with the fitness industry. Its purpose is to help them gain essential exposure and experience in the industry whilst they are completing their studies, and to allow industry employers access to potential trainers for employment, fresh out of their Master Trainer Program with the Institute.
Each student is required to engage with industry and complete a minimum of 20 practice hours to get the feel of what life is like for a Personal Trainer in the fitness industry. These practice hours are to be supervised in a fitness business (here’s where you come in!), and involve the student observing activities, assisting and shadowing their supervisor, and then training clients under the watchful eye of the supervisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
See below for the most commonly asked questions concerning Trainer Experience.
About Supervision
- Who can be a supervisor?
A supervisor can be an owner, licensee, franchisee or employee of a reputable fitness training business. Supervisors should hold fitness qualifications, or have equivalent higher qualifications. Examples of supervisors include: Studio/Gym Owners; Health Club/Gym Fitness Managers; Personal Trainer Coordinators; Personal Trainers employed by a fitness business; Personal Trainers who have their own business.
- What is the role of a supervisor?
Their role will be to supervise the student and guide them as they practice their skills as a trainer. The supervisor is not required to deliver any training to the student, or expected to assess their performance in any way other than providing general feedback. The supervisor oversees 20 practice hours and signs off the student’s log book to confirm the number of hours completed. The Institute recommends the 20 hours of practice be allocated as follows:
- Approximately 3 hours shadowing/observing a trainer
- Approximately 3 hours assisting members/clients (customer service in the gym or at reception)
- Approximately 2 hours of maintenance and/or cleaning
- Approximately 12 hours with clients (training clients, taking health checks, delivering programs)
- How do students find supervisors?
The Institute recommends friends find supervisors in the following ways:
- Attend a FIRE night where potential supervisors will be looking for trainers
- Make a list of fitness businesses close to where they live, work or study. Call them or visit to arrange a time to chat to the person in charge of taking trainers for experience hours
- When visiting businesses take a copy of the Industry Information Flyer for their reference. Even present them with your resume and copy of your insurance documents
- Can a student have more than one supervisor?
Yes they can – they can have one, two or more supervisors. They may wish to complete some practice hours indoors in a studio or gym, and some hours outdoors training clients with a different supervisor. Each supervisor will be required to sign off on only the hours they supervise.
About the practice hours
- How many hours do they need to do?
Each student must complete a minimum of 20 hours of supervised experience and practice.
- What should the 20 hours of industry practice involve?
The Institute recommends the 20 hours of practice be allocated as follows:
- Approximately 3 hours shadowing/observing a trainer
- Approximately 3 hours assisting members/clients (customer service in the gym or at reception)
- Approximately 2 hours of maintenance and/or cleaning
- Approximately 12 hours with clients (training clients, taking health checks, delivering programs)
- When can a student start logging hours?
They can commence logging Trainer Experience hours once they have been signed off in their Master Trainer Log Book as 'Provisionally Certified'.
- When does the Institute provisionally certify a student?
Institute Provisional Certification will be awarded once a student completes the requirements of Kick Start, Fitness Essentials, First Aid, Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer.
- How will the Institute provisionally certify a student?
Once a student has completed the requirements of Kick Start, Fitness Essentials, First Aid, Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer, the Institute will officially award them Provisional Certification by entering an official Institute seal into their Master Trainer Log Book.
- How does a student record their trainer experience hours?
They record their Trainer Experience in their Master Trainer Log Book and their supervisor(s) must sign off and date the Log Book as verification of hours completed.
- What if a student completes hours before the Institute provisionally certifies them?
A student can start gaining industry experience before the Institute provisionally certifies them, but such hours cannot be logged as Trainer Experience hours in the Master Trainer Log Book. Only those hours completed after the Institute officially awards Provisional Certification will count towards Trainer Experience hours.
- How much time does a student have in which to complete their hours?
They have approximately four weeks in which to gain industry practice hours. All students are required to attend a final session on campus – The Wrap – with their practice hours completed and Master Trainer Log Book signed off by their supervisor/s.
- What if a student does not complete their hours by The Wrap?
The four-week Trainer Experience period works out to be an average of five practice hours per week, which is considered realistic. If a student is unable to achieve this, they can make a written request to the Training Team Captain for an extension to enable them to complete TEP outside of this period, subject to availability.
- Can a student complete experience hours at a club where they're a member?
A student may be able to complete TEP hours at a club they are a member of, provided the club is able to assist in supervision.
- Can a student receive payment from a club or a client for completing Trainer Experience hours?
Whilst logging TEP hours, students are considered provisionally certified by the Institute; they are not qualified as Personal Trainers and as such must not be paid for any practice hours – either by a supervisor, employee or client.
Student responsibilities
- What do they wear for Trainer Experience?
All students are required to adhere to the Uniform Policy of the Institute, unless directed otherwise by the supervisor. Presentation during Trainer Experience is a requirement for Master Trainer Certification.
- Is a student covered by insurance when doing Trainer Experience?
Yes, they are covered by the Institute's insurances (both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity) whilst studying which they should have activated at the start of their course. This cover remains in place until they complete their Master Trainer program. You can ask the student to show you a copy of their downloaded insurance coverage.
- A student under the age 18 years wants to complete TEP hours – how is this managed?
Students who are under the age of 18 years will need to present with their completed TEP Permission Slip, which will be signed by their parent/guardian granting permission for the student to complete TEP hours. This signed declaration should be provided to the supervisor/s prior to commencement of practice hours.
Other queries
- Can a student bring their own clients (BYO) to train during Trainer Experience?
The Institute has advised students that some clubs/studios may allow them to 'BYO' clients for practice hours, under supervision. For fitness businesses that allow this option, the student may be required to be a member of the club first, and the BYO client may be asked to pay for entry (a casual visit fee) and sign a waiver.
- Could students be employed from Trainer Experience hours?
Yes the industry may seek to employ trainers who impress them whilst completing practice hours. It should be remembered that such trainers would still require attainment and issuance of their nationally recognised qualifications from the Institute prior to being able to gain industry registration as a Fitness Trainer.
