Certification: First and foremost, make sure they are nationally certified. Some highly respected certifications are ISSA, NASM, ACSM, NSCA, AFFA, and ACE. There are others, of course, but I mention these because anyone can easily purchase a certification online for as little as $49.95. A quality certification is an investment of time and money, and can run as much as $600. Find out what agency your trainer is certified through and, if you’re unfamiliar with it, look it up. Although certification does not guarantee the trainer is excellent, it ensures that the trainer has met the minimal requirements of knowledge and professionalism.

Your trainer should hold a CPR certification as well. This is pretty easy, as most certifying bodies require the trainer to be CPR certified before they issue their certificate. I will say this: There are certified trainers who are not very good, and there are good trainers out there who are not yet certified (this sometimes happens in gyms who hire trainers under the condition that they become certified within a certain period of time); however, a trainer looking to make a career out of fitness should have or at least be seeking a certification.

Questions to ask: Through what organization are you certified? Are you CPR certified? May I see your proof of certification and CPR card?

Experience: This will be more important if you are seeking trainer who is an independent contractor (one who is not an employee of a gym). I say this because – and I say this with caution – most gyms have qualified the trainers through their own methods to reduce their liability. This does not mean a trainer who just started is bad – everyone has to start somewhere. This does not mean all trainers who work in gyms are good – some gyms are looking at the bottom line and hire anyone who calls themselves a trainer (see paragraph one). Your goal is to find out how committed this person is to fitness.

Question to ask: How long have you been a personal trainer?

Insurance: This is for independent trainers. If she works for a gym, the gym insures her. An independent contract treats this as her business, not just another job, and should have her own liability insurance.

Question to ask: May I see your liability insurance card or certificate?

Appearance: Do they look the part? They do not have to look like a fitness model or bodybuilder, as everyone has different goals, but they should look relatively fit.

Ask yourself: Am I in better shape than my trainer?

Pricing: Find out his pricing and policies. Do not choose a trainer solely based on price. This may work for gasoline, but this is your body! A trainer’s rates are not just based on what they do when they are with you, it’s for the time spent on you on his own time. Assuming your trainer does not just hand you some one-size-fits-all diet plan, some valuable time was spent figuring out your caloric intake and providing eating suggestions.

A good trainer should value their time. If they don’t, why should you? In general, the cost of a personal trainer will be anywhere from $30-$75 per hour. Of course, depending on your area, your trainer’s clientele, or your trainer’s athletic status, you can expect to pay $100 or more per hour. I’m not saying the most expensive is always the best, but if a trainer only charges $20 per hour on a pay as you go agreement, ask yourself why you’re getting such a low rate.

Questions to ask: How much do you charge? Is payment due up front? What is the cancellation policy?

Other qualities to consider:

Advice: You need someone who actually knows how to put together a program for YOU, not just the one that works for them. If they push you to use questionable supplements, be cautious.

Information: They should be able to show you correct form for maximal results and to prevent injury. A personal trainer is more than a “rep counter”.

Personality: Do you like them? Your trainer will be working very closely with you and know details of your life. Are you comfortable with them? Are they honest? They should listen to you, not just talk about themselves.

Referrals: Talk to others who have worked with this trainer. Are they well liked? Do they give sound advice? Are they professional? Are they on time? Are they firm but fair?

Specifics: Are they knowledgeable in the area you need? For example, if you are a bodybuilder, you need your trainer to have some knowledge in that area. If you’re pregnant, the same goes.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! A qualified trainer will be eager to answer your questions and show you their qualifications. Do your homework, and you are sure to find the trainer that is right for you!

If you want to save your money though, Google is your friend. Use it and love it! There's thousands of sites with exercise plans and videos all over youtube showing you how to do those exercises.

Technique isn't a huge issue for light weight squats and such, trainers are only really essential if you started learning how to do olympic weight lifting exercises or something – because bad technique on them leads to injury.