Travelling & Training Certs

[jstansfi]

Hi All,

First off I just wanted to thank everyone who has contributed to this forum. I've only been reading it for a week, but have already benefitted greatly from the knowledge of the posters.

I'm currently in the final year of a BSc in Bio Med here in Canada and have decided that I want to take a year off to travel around Europe before going on to do medicine &/or grad school. My goal is to pay as I go, or as close as possible. I'm lucky in that I have dual Canadian/Italian citizenship so that I will be able to work legally without any difficulty throughout the EU. I have a passion for health & fitness and so I have got it in my head that working as a trainer would be a good way to pay my way.

My questions are these:

1) From what I've read here and elsewhere it seems that the NSCA CSCS is the best single cert for someone with a 4 yr degree in the field here in North America. Is this certification held in equally high esteem in Europe? If not, what is the European equivalent?

2) I would be intending to stay in one region for 1-2 months, work 2-4 days a week and travel the region the rest of the time. For those who handle hiring at a Gym, would I be able to find work under these circumstances at your Gym? As a trainer?

3) How much could I reasonably expect to make an hour doing this if 2) is realistic?

4) For anyone who has knowledge of the fitness industry in non-english areas of europe (Italy, Spain, France, Germany, etc..) is there a market for englsih language fitness training or would i need to be proficient in the language to work in these areas?

Keep in mind that this is still in the exploratory phase and I'm aware that it is quite possible that it is wildly unrealistic. Otherwise all replies are appreciated!

Thanks,
Josh