How to Become a Personal Trainer
You’re halfway there. But, as with most things in life, wanting is only the first step of the journey.
In order to become a trainer is an exciting career path, but knowing how to become a personal trainer and nutritionist requires more than just passion; it takes planning, preparation, and commitment. You need to have the right game plan in place and follow it up with consistent action, just like your workouts. As you’ll see in this guide, there are four simple steps you’ll need to take to become a personal trainer. And we’ll be covering the best ways to tackle each one.
Click play button above to see video
Why This Guide Exists
You want to become a personal trainer and you’re probably wondering: where do I even start? After training clients for over two decades across Los Angeles and beyond, and teaching thousands of aspiring trainers through Fitness Mentors, I’ve learned exactly what separates trainers who launch thriving careers from those who stall before they begin.
The answer isn’t passion, everyone has that. It’s having the right roadmap and following it with the same consistency you’d demand from your clients.
This guide walks you through the four steps I’ve refined over 20 years to take you from ‘I want to be a trainer’ to certified, employed, and building the career you’ve imagined.
Why Personal Training Is Worth It
The fitness industry is projected to reach $434 billion globally by 2028. More people are prioritizing health, and they need qualified guides to help them get there. That demand creates real opportunity for trainers who invest in proper education and credentials.
Beyond economics, personal training offers something most careers can’t: the chance to directly change how someone feels in their own body. That’s not a small thing. It’s the reason so many trainers myself included have stayed in this industry for decades.
What personal training can offer you:
- Flexible work environments — gyms, home visits, online, corporate wellness, and more
- Scalable income — from $30K starting out to $75K+ with specializations and your own client base
- Career longevity — with continuing education, you stay current and competitive
Genuine impact your expertise directly improves the health and confidence of real peopl
Step 1: Get Your Prerequisites Completed First
Before you enroll in any certification program, you’ll need to check off three basics. Most certification bodies require these before you sit for your final exam.
18 Years
or Older
HIGHSCHOOL GED
or Diploma
CPR/AED
Certification
Most personal training certification bodies require these items before you sit down for the final exam. Additionally, many companies are requiring the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Certification along with the Emergency Cardiac Care (CPR), but these certifications can usually be packaged together by the same provider.
The American Red Cross is a popular choice for the CPR/AED certification, and you can check out their website to find classes near you.
Step 2: Research the Best Certified Personal Trainer Course For You
Fitness Mentors Vs. Other Certifications
Fitness Mentors | NASM | ACE | ISSA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NCCA accreditation option | ||||
Best industry value CPT | ||||
Highest pass rate | ||||
20 CEU requirement | ||||
Lifetime expert guidance included | ||||
Business coaching included | ||||
After-hours and weekend support | ||||
Virtual coaching education included |
Easy-to-follow curriculum
100% Online Coursework
- Student Focused Curriculum For The Best Learning Experience
- Access To The Instructor To Guide And Support You As Well As Allow You To Ask Questions
- Multiple Study Tools For All Learning Styles And Preferences
100% Online Certification Exam
- 100% Online, In-Home Certification
- 100 Test Questions, Passing Score: 70%
- CPT Lasts Two Years Before Renewal Period
- Discounted CEUs For Future Continuing Education
Options Include Two CPT Certifications
- Earn An NCCA Accredited Personal Training Certification
- NBFE Affiliate For National Recognition
- NCCA Programs Are Recognized For Employment By Most Gyms
Instructor
Eddie Lester
CEO of fitnessmentors.com – Teaching 30,000+ students how to become CPT’s
- 4.8 Star Rating
- 300+ Reviews
- 30,000+ Students
- 16 Courses
Eddie Lester is the founder and CEO of Fitness Mentors. With more that 17 years experience in the health, fitness and athletics field, he has helped tens of thousands of personal trainers transform their careers and reach their business goals. With a background in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology Eddie has assisted in research that is spearheading the exercise science field.
His in-depth knowledge of the Health, Wellness and Fitness industry has earned him a place as a regular contributor on high profile sites such as the Personal Trainer Development Center, (Dan to list top sites) online where he writes about nutrition and personal training.
His contributions to help personal trainers include a weekly blog, podcast, youtube channel and multiple books including: Business and Sales: the Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer.
Eddie’s Philosophy often times includes focusing on the bigger picture in which daily positive contributions lead to a major impact on himself, his family, his community and the world.
Eddie is commonly found at the beaches of Southern California with his wife Courtney and five kids.
Before you spend countless hours applying for jobs you may not enjoy, you should take the time to figure out what you really want and think about what gets you excited first.
You’ll save time by only applying to positions that check these boxes. Or, you may decide you don’t want to work for anybody and take a more independent route.
Click play button above to see video
So consider these questions:
- Do you prefer to work primarily in-person or online?
- Do you prefer large group training classes or one-on-one sessions?
- Would you prefer to work for yourself or somebody else?
- If you prefer to be employed, would you prefer to work in a big box gym, boutique gym, or some other setting?
If you’re looking to gain experience, it can also help to approach the staff where you currently work out to see if there are any openings.
Step 3: Choose a Course & Prepare
This course includes:
- Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Certification Exam
- Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) Certification Exam
- Digital Textbook
- Lecture Video Presentations & Bonus Videos
- Audio Book Lectures
- Two Realistic Practice Exams
- Facebook Support Group with Expert and Peer Guidance
- Exercise Library
- Flashcards
- Interactive Learning Activities
- Study Guide Answers
- Final Exam Preparation Guide
$729
Extra 25% OFF
With “Mar25” at checkout!
Other Fitness Mentors Bundles
Pro Bundle – $999
Includes THREE Certifications and 1-Year Mentorship!
Fitness Mentors CPT Certification, Certified Nutrition Specialist Certification, and Online Personal Trainer Certification
Extra 25% OFF
With “Mar25” at checkout!
Ultimate Bundle – $1599
Includes SIX Certifications and 1-Year Mentorship!
Fitness Mentors CPT Certification, Certified Nutrition Specialist Certification, Virtual Group Fitness Instructor Certification, Virtual Health Coach Certification, Pain Management, and Online Personal Trainer Certification
Extra 25% OFF
With “Mar25” at checkout!
I am 51 years old and I have been training since I was sixteen. I thought I knew everything about...
June 22
I ve used Fitness Mentors for my personal trainer s license and CEU s. I keep going back because their...
June 19
I have always believed that nutrition & physical fitness are keys to a happy & successful life. I am truly...
April 24
I enjoyed the curriculum. I appreciated how thorough it was. The program is very user friendly. As someone who has...
April 18
Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Specialist Certifications. Eddie Lester and Fitness Mentors team have been instrumental in my endeavors to...
April 14
Online Personal Trainer Certification Teaching and coaching online is a whole new ball game with obstacles and barriers. However, with...
April 11
Nutrition Specialist Thank you for this opportunity to learn about nutrition. It has been a passion of mine to learn...
April 10
Nutrition Specialist Certification: If you are looking for a comprehensive and clear instructional course, this is it. Not only is...
March 30
I would like to take this time to give thanks to the Fitness Mentors team. The courses that I took...
March 15
Completed about 20% . Easy to learn. Well explained.
...March 13
I liked that it was easier to learn if you are an audio or text learner.audio lecture were repeated. so...
February 26
“Instruction and materials were clear and presented well. The only thing I would change is to add “”Corrective Exercise”” to...
February 20
I really enjoy coming to Fitness Mentors for all my continuing education needs! Thank your for providing a great program...
December 30
Great information and able to complete it at my own pace. Easy to follow lecture with text. I ve learned...
December 4
Eddie and the gang really want trainers and health practitioners to succeed
...December 4
With great instruction guides, tutorials, and videos the health coach certification thru Fitness Mentors provides students with everything they need...
October 18
Future personal trainer, must say ,go for it
...October 13
Fantastic program…I will definitely refer!
...October 7
Easy and convenient! Program gave excellent information and was in depth. Definitely worth it!
...August 1
After checking reviews decided to give Fitness Mentors a try. The videos and extra supplements with explanations are a big...
July 11
This course has made learning online for me a lot better than I ever expected. The only reason I did...
July 2
I just passed the Fitness Mentors certified personal trainer course. The class was well worth taking. It breaks down everything...
May 27
I came to Fitness Mentors after a long search sifting through different certification providers. I like the down-to-earth approach and...
May 16
I expected a little more accuracy out of this program. After spending $199 dollars on audio lectures, a study guide,...
May 12
Despite the fact that the course sounded amazing, exactly what I needed to grow my health coaching/fitness business, I was...
May 4
Good course on program design. Quick response to any questions. Provide step by step formula to building programs and design...
April 19
Pretty basic stuff, good info but didn’t take me past my current knowledge. Which is why I got it in...
March 17
Fitness Mentors is an amazing company for people looking to get certified as a Personal Trainer. I 100% recommend Fitness...
March 17
Even with 15 years of experience teaching fitness classes and aerobics, this course far exceeded my expectations on ease of...
March 11
The concepts were easy and entertaining to follow. I love the audio lectures with the slides. I love the explanations...
February 12
This has been a truly eye-opening experience, the information provided is formatted and structured in a way that is easy...
February 9
This course was easy to understand and gave me great knowledge to start my career as a personal trainer!!
...January 26
This program broken down weekly helped me learn it properly. Hearing the audio lecture and seeing the power points each...
January 11
Thank you for the nutrition certification class. The knowledge this provides will benefit me greatly in the culinary industry.
...December 30
I highly recommend these courses. They are easy to follow and very informative. I really enjoyed the health coach certification...
December 22
Really a good concept. So much usefull info that is easily digestible. It will get you on a right path...
December 2
The material is very in depth but easy to follow. The full audio lessons really make learning more easy and...
November 16
Well designed course. Easy to follow along.
...October 29
I just past my NASM exam today on the first try!! This is all thanks to Fitness Mentors& The audio...
October 15
Thank you for donating the certified nutrition course to Habilitat. I appreciate the opportunity to learn about nutrition and its...
October 15
Step 4: Specialize
Specializing for personal trainers is relevant on so many levels. Continuing education provides personal trainers a method in which to enhance their knowledge, improve their businesses, learn more about health, fitness and safety, and ultimately to enhance the lives of the clients that they serve. Our Continuing Education Courses provide our students the best opportunity to expand their mindset and become better Personal Trainers. Remember, a personal trainer salary often increases significantly when you offer niche services.
Check out the FM specialist certifications we offer below:
General FAQs on How to Become a Personal Trainer
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.