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Importance of Fitness Facility Employment for Physical Education Graduates

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While a balanced educational program specializing in physical therapy, fitness instruction, and overall health is capable of imparting the knowledge necessary to effectively train others, it is the prerogative of each graduating student to assess the job market and decide between working in a traditional gym and seeking self-employed status. For most aspiring fitness trainers and physical therapists, the realization of long held ambitions will be delivered in the form of a secure and steady full-time position with a major fitness franchise such as Gold's Gym, Snap Fitness, or Bally Total Fitness. With recently released statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor stating that "employment of fitness trainers and instructors is expected to grow by 24 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations," (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012), the majority of individuals with a fitness-based degree or certification are enticed by the protection offered by such a robust industry. Others are drawn to the freedom and excitement of working as a freelance personal trainer, relishing the opportunity to travel, meet new clients and develop customized fitness programs. Most personal trainers who work in a freelance capacity value the sense of independence derived from their work, as well as the ability to help other people improve their lives by achieving their fitness goals. Evaluating the distinct advantages and disadvantages of these divergent paths represents a

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