If the thought of becoming a full-time student isn’t something that interests you, you’re in luck.
You don’t need to go to college to become a personal trainer.
While a university program will give you the most in-depth learning experience, including learning subjects that aren’t solely personal-training focused, it comes at a price not everyone can afford, both in time and money.
However, if you have your sights set on becoming a personal trainer and you love school or are already working towards earning a Bachelor’s or Master’s, a college degree can strengthen your expertise and build trust with future clients.
This is especially important in the beginning of your personal training career when you’re still building your client base.
As we talked about in this guide, there are five education routes you can follow to become a personal trainer:
- Certification by a US company
- Vocational college
- University programs with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
- Unaccredited online options
- Internal gym programs
Each option has its own educational program and certification procedures. By completing one of them, you’ll hold a certification from that institute to teach people as a personal trainer.
Keep in mind, only the first three options on that list are accredited.
Let’s go over the difference between an accredited and an unaccredited program so you know which sounds best for you.
An accredited program, such as Fitness Mentors, NASM or ACE, means that it has been credentialed by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE) or other top accrediting bodies. While there are other personal trainer program credentialing bodies, the NCCA is considered the gold standard.
More importantly perhaps, NCCA-certified personal training programs are generally recognized at most health facilities, meaning if you go with one of these you are almost guaranteed a job at a corporate gym.
On the other hand, unaccredited courses may not be accepted by corporate gyms and fitness studios.
Unaccredited courses are usually better for someone who already has an established network of clients through their own training methods and has no intentions of working at a corporate facility.
The majority of potential personal trainers will want to find an accredited program.
You’ll receive a more in-depth education and will be better prepared to find a job once you pass your test.
You can opt for an accredited self-study program, such as Fitness Mentors, NASM or ACE, or you can enroll in a vocational college or bachelor’s program at your local college, as mentioned earlier. Vocational schools or colleges will have relationships with accredited certification bodies so you’ll walk away with a degree and your CPT.
Some of the most popular Accredited personal trainer bodies include:
• Fitness Mentors
• NASM • ACE
• NFPT
• ACSM
• NESTA
• NSCA
• NCSF
• NCCPT
Once you select a program, grab a calendar and set your exam date.
Personal training can be a great part time job. As an independent trainer you are free to charge as much as you’d like, choose your hours, and try to generate as much supplemental income as possible.