Life Coach vs. Personal Trainer: What Are the Differences?

A life coach and personal trainer are both professionals who help people improve their lives. While a life coach may help you set and achieve goals, a personal trainer focuses on helping you improve your physical fitness. If you’re interested in becoming a life coach or personal trainer, understanding the similarities and differences between these professions can help you choose the right path for you. In this article, we compare and contrast life coaching and personal training, and we provide tips for those interested in pursuing either career.

What is a Life Coach?

Life Coaches help people identify and achieve personal and professional goals. They work with clients one-on-one or in group settings to help them overcome obstacles, develop positive thinking patterns and set realistic goals. Life Coaches typically have experience in the areas of human resources, counseling, psychology or business. They use a variety of techniques, including active listening, to help clients identify areas of improvement and work toward positive change. Life Coaches may also give homework assignments or readings to help clients learn new skills or information outside of sessions.

What is a Personal Trainer?

Personal Trainers help people improve their physical fitness through customized workout plans and one-on-one coaching. They work with clients of all fitness levels to help them achieve their specific goals, whether that’s losing weight, gaining muscle, or improving their overall health. Personal Trainers typically work in gyms or fitness centers, but some may also work in private homes or offices. They assess their clients’ fitness levels and create individualized workout plans based on their goals, abilities and limitations. Personal Trainers provide instruction and support to help their clients safely and effectively perform the exercises in their workout plans. They also motivate their clients to stay on track and keep up with their fitness goals.

Life Coach vs. Personal Trainer

Here are the main differences between a life coach and a personal trainer.

Job Duties

Both personal trainers and life coaches help people improve their lives, but the ways they do so differ. Personal trainers work with clients to develop fitness goals and then devise exercise programs that help them achieve those goals. They also educate their clients about proper nutrition and advise them on other aspects of health and wellness. Life coaches perform similar functions, helping clients set and attain goals in areas such as career development, relationships and overall happiness.

The duties of a life coach go beyond providing training in a particular area. A life coach uses motivational techniques to encourage clients to pursue their goals and instill in them a belief that they can succeed. In contrast, personal trainers provide practical advice and guidance on how to approach exercise. They may offer encouragement, but it’s usually up to the client to put their advice into practice.

Job Requirements

Most life coaches have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, social work or another related field. However, some life coaches pursue certification instead of, or in addition to, a degree. The International Coach Federation (ICF) offers several different levels of certification for life coaches, each with its own set of requirements. For example, the ICF’s Associate Certified Coach credential requires at least 60 hours of coach-specific training, while the Master Certified Coach credential requires at least 125 hours.

Personal trainers typically need at least a high school diploma, although many have a bachelor’s degree in exercise science or a related field. In addition, personal trainers must earn certification from an accredited organization, such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), American Council on Exercise (ACE) or National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). These organizations offer different levels of certification, each with its own eligibility requirements. For example, the NSCA’s Certified Personal Trainer credential requires candidates to hold a current CPR/AED certification and pass a written exam, while the ACE’s Certified Personal Trainer credential requires candidates to pass a written exam and a practical skills assessment.

Work Environment

Personal trainers work in a variety of environments, depending on the client’s needs. They may work with clients at their homes or workplaces to help them achieve fitness goals. Life coaches typically work in an office setting where they can meet with clients and provide support. Some life coaches also travel to visit clients for coaching sessions.

Skills

Both life coaches and personal trainers help people improve their lives, but they do so in different ways. A life coach helps people identify areas of their life they want to change and provides guidance and support as they work to achieve their goals. A personal trainer helps people improve their physical fitness by designing workout plans and providing instruction and motivation.

Both of these roles require excellent communication skills. Life coaches need to be able to build rapport with clients and understand their needs. Personal trainers need to be able to explain exercises clearly and give concise instructions. Both also need to be able to listen well. Life coaches need to be able to hear their clients’ concerns and challenges. Personal trainers need to be able to listen to their clients’ feedback about how an exercise is going.

Other important skills for both roles include empathy, patience and the ability to motivate others. Empathy is important because it allows coaches and trainers to understand their clients’ experiences. Patience is important because change can take time. And motivation is important because it can help keep clients engaged in the process.

Salary

Life coaches can earn an average salary of $52,695 per year, while personal trainers can earn an average salary of $56,167 per year. Both of these salaries can vary depending on the location of the job, the level of experience the professional has and the type of work they’re doing.