Ready to hire a personal trainer and get in the best shape ever? Congrats on your decision! A skilled PT can put you on the right track and bring you closer to your goals. He will assess your physical condition, teach you good lifting form, and recommend the best workouts for your needs. With his help, you’ll get better results and make the most out of your gym time.

Beware that not all trainers are created equal. Just because someone has a PT certificate or diploma, it doesn’t mean he possesses the skills and expertise needed for this job. Nowadays, anyone can take an online course and become a PT within days. The best fitness trainers have years of experience and a track record of success.

Whether you want to get leaner, gain strength, or prepare for a race, choose the right person to guide you on this journey. Otherwise, your progress will stall. Here are some things to consider before hiring a personal trainer:

Assess Your Needs

First of all, assess your needs and goals. What are you trying to accomplish? Is it weight loss, hypertrophy, strength gain, or increased endurance? Perhaps you simply want to build an exercise habit? Or maybe you’re planning to compete?

Once you have a clear goal in mind, look for trainers with experience in this area. There are different types of fitness-related specialty certifications, such as:

• Injury rehab/orthopedics
• Mind-body fitness (yoga, Pilates, tai chi, etc.)
• Clinical disease prevention and recovery
• Weight loss and nutrition
• Athletics/Sport-specific
• Flexibility and mobility conditioning
• Pre and post natal fitness
• Children’s fitness
• Seniors’ fitness
• Group fitness

For instance, some PTs specialize in injury rehab. Athletes request their help when dealing with muscle strains, post-surgery recovery, fractures, and more. Some trainers know the ins and outs of training children. Others have experience in yoga and other mind-body techniques.

There are also trainers who teach specialized workouts like CrossFit, aerial yoga, or spinning. If you want to compete in fitness or bodybuilding at some point, choose a PT who has experience working with athletes. An exercise program designed for weight loss will be different from one for hypertrophy or injury rehab.

Steer clear of those who claim who know everything. No trainer can specialize in all these areas. A highly skilled PT will have two or three specialties.

Look for Additional Certifications

Depending on your goals, consider hiring a PT with additional certifications and degrees. For instance, a personal trainer who holds a degree in nutrition could be more valuable than one specializing in fitness alone. After all, exercise and nutrition go hand in hand. Not even the best workout plan can compensate for bad eating.

Likewise, additional certifications show that a PT is constantly working to broaden his knowledge and learn new things. The fitness landscape is changing at a fast pace. Plus, studies are revealing new findings in nutrition and exercise.

You want to hire someone who stays on top of the latest trends and knows what works and what doesn’t work.

Check References

In today’s digital era, anyone can set up a portfolio website and make claims. It’s not difficult to post a few before and after photos downloaded from the Internet, and say that it’s your work. It’s not uncommon for PTs to use these practices to attract clients.

Once you have a list of potential trainers, call or meet them so you can discuss more. Ask about their results and request references from past clients. A qualified PT won’t have any problem showing the degree of success he has had.

If possible, ask him to put you in contact with other clients. Ask them what they like most about his training style and what methods he uses. Consider how they look too. If they’re out of shape after months of training, their PT is probably not doing a great job.

Go Online

Google the name of the personal trainers you’re interested in. When a PT is really good, people talk about him on social networks and fitness forums. They’re happy to share their results and praise the expert who made these things possible.

Also, ask your friends and colleagues for references. For example, if someone you know has made a lot of progress lately, try to find out more. Ask where he’s training and whether he can recommend you a PT or a fitness coach.

Check His Credentials

The number of personal trainers in the U.S. increased by 44 percent between 2001 and 2011, and went up ever since. Yet, just a few PTs are certified by a trusted organization, such as the National Register of Personal Trainers (NRPT), the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS), ACE, NASM, or NSCA.

Those who receive a certification from these associations have the skills necessary to work in this field. They undergo rigorous training and must pass certain tests.

Ask your potential PT about his credentials. Even though a diploma doesn’t prove his skills, at least it shows that he attended classes and knows basic anatomy.

Ask the Right Questions

Before choosing a PT, send him an email or discuss in person. Ask about his training style and methods, his views on exercise and nutrition, and how he can help you. Make sure he’s to you completely and hearing your story.

If he guarantees fast results or makes claims that sound too good to be true, move on. Not even the best PT can know how your body will react and what to expect in terms of progress from one month to the next. A qualified trainer should set realistic goals.

Consider Your Options

Last, decide how much time and money you’re willing to invest in exercise. If you’re on a tight schedule, consider hiring a PT who will come at your place.

In case you have a limited budget, look for a trainer who works with small groups. This is a good choice if everyone involved has similar goals.

Another thing you can do is to hire someone for a couple of sessions until you grasp the basics. This way, you’ll learn to exercise safely and find out what it takes to create your own workouts.

Choosing a PT isn’t rocket science. However, you still need to do some research and assess your options. After all, it doesn’t make sense to spend time and money on something that fails to meet your expectations.