Personal trainer insurance is vital to your career. Read why liability insurance is important, as well as four of our top options for 2021.
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Personal trainer insurance is vital to your career. Read why liability insurance is important, as well as four of our top options for 2021.
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Personal trainer insurance is vital to your career. Read why liability insurance is important, as well as four of our top options for 2021.
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So, you’re thinking of becoming a personal trainer and you’re researching the different certifications out there. Here is an in-depth ISSA review!
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Becoming a personal trainer starts with deciding which accredited certification to obtain. Here, you will learn the differences between ISSA and NASM.
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Group fitness has gained tremendous popularity in recent years, as more people recognize the benefits of working out in a supportive and energetic environment. As a group fitness instructor, you have the opportunity to lead, motivate, and transform the lives of individuals who come together to sweat, burn calories, and have fun.
However, to embark on this fulfilling journey and establish yourself as a reputable group fitness instructor, it’s essential to acquire the right knowledge and credentials. This is where group fitness certifications come into play. A certification not only validates your expertise but also equips you with the necessary skills and techniques to create safe, effective, and engaging workouts for diverse groups of individuals.
In this comprehensive blog, we will explore the world of group fitness certifications and highlight the best ones available. Whether you’re just starting your fitness career or looking to enhance your existing qualifications, this guide will provide you with valuable insights and help you make an informed decision about which certification is the best fit for you.
So, if you’re ready to take the first step towards an exhilarating career in group fitness instruction or seeking to advance your current standing, join us as we explore the best group fitness certifications and help you uncover the right path to achieving your professional goals.
We will look closer at pricing, expected study time, CEU requirements and the primary focus of education.
Here’s a quick glimpse:
| Certification | Pricing | Expected Study Time | CEU Requirements | Primary Focus of Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$285-$465 |
Self-paced, exam within 6 months |
20 hours every 2 years |
Comprehensive fitness education with an emphasis on exercise science and practical application. |
|
|
$299-$858 |
180 days, but many students take 6-8 weeks |
15 hours every 2 years |
Blending exercise science with choreography and music to deliver dynamic group fitness classes. |
|
|
$640 |
Self-paced |
20 hours every 2 years |
Holistic approach covering exercise science, program design, coaching techniques, and business skills. |
|
|
$399 |
Self-paced |
Is a CEU in itself |
Scientifically-based training methods with a focus on corrective exercise, functional movement, and injury prevention. |
As a certified personal trainer with years of experience in the fitness industry, I have dedicated myself to staying abreast of the latest trends, research, and developments in the field of group fitness.
My passion for health and wellness, combined with my commitment to continuous learning, has led me to obtain multiple certifications and immerse myself in various group fitness formats. Throughout my career, I have trained and worked alongside numerous group fitness instructors, gaining firsthand knowledge of their expertise and the certifications they hold.
By sharing my insights and recommendations on the best group fitness certifications, I aim to provide you with well-informed and trustworthy guidance that can empower you to make the right choices for your professional journey. Rest assured that my recommendations are rooted in a deep understanding of the industry, a commitment to excellence, and a genuine desire to support aspiring instructors like you in achieving success in the world of group fitness.
Bonus Tip: > Certified personal trainers are able to instruct group fitness classes but group fitness trainers are generally ineligible to train one-on-one in most corporate settings.
Here are the factors we looked at to determine the best group fitness certification course:
considers the educational foundation of the course and what students can expect to learn.
PRICE
$285-$465
Expected Study Time
3-6 months
CEU Requirement
20 hours every 2 years
Primary Focus oOf Education
Comprehensive fitness education with an emphasis on exercise science and practical application.
Pros
Cons
Writers Note
I strongly believe that the ACE Group Fitness Instructor certification is an excellent choice for fitness professionals seeking to expand their expertise in group exercise instruction. The ACE certification carries significant recognition and respect within the industry, opening doors to numerous employment opportunities and enhancing credibility with potential clients. The program’s comprehensive curriculum covers essential aspects such as anatomy, physiology, program design, and class management, equipping instructors with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver safe and effective workouts.
With an emphasis on safety and proper form, ACE ensures that instructors prioritize the well-being of participants, reducing the risk of injuries. Additionally, ACE offers a range of continuing education opportunities to keep instructors up to date with the latest trends and research, allowing for continuous growth and professional development. Overall, the ACE Group Fitness Instructor certification stands as a solid investment in one’s career, providing a strong foundation and the tools necessary for success in the dynamic and rewarding field of group exercise instruction.
PRICE
Expected Study Time
CEU Requirement
Primary Focus oOf Education
Pros
Cons
Writers Note
I wholeheartedly recommend the AFAA Group Fitness Instructor certification as an excellent choice for fitness professionals looking to excel in group exercise instruction. With its established reputation in the industry, the AFAA certification carries significant weight and recognition, making it a valuable credential for employment opportunities and client trust. The comprehensive curriculum of the program covers essential topics such as exercise science, anatomy, teaching methodologies, and program design, providing instructors with a well-rounded knowledge base.
One standout aspect of the AFAA certification is its practical focus, emphasizing hands-on application and effective teaching techniques, enabling instructors to deliver engaging and impactful group fitness classes.
Additionally, AFAA offers continuing education options, allowing instructors to expand their skill set and stay up to date with industry advancements. While there may be some limitations in terms of specialization options or specific formats, the AFAA Group Fitness Instructor certification serves as a solid foundation for any fitness professional seeking to thrive in the dynamic world of group exercise instruction.
PRICE
$640
Expected Study Time
CEU Requirement
Primary Focus oOf Education
Pros
Cons
Writers Note
I confidently recommend the ISSA Group Fitness Instructor certification as an excellent choice for fitness professionals seeking to become skilled and knowledgeable in leading group exercise classes.
One of the standout advantages of the ISSA certification is its flexible study options, allowing individuals to learn at their own pace through online coursework. The comprehensive curriculum covers all the essential aspects of group fitness instruction, from exercise science and program design to teaching methodologies and practical application.
ISSA also provides ongoing support to students, ensuring they have access to valuable resources, forums, and a dedicated student success team. While ISSA may be less recognized compared to some other certifications, its focus on delivering a well-rounded education and the flexibility it offers make it a solid foundation for aspiring group fitness instructors.
PRICE
Expected Study Time
CEU Requirement
Primary Focus oOf Education
Pros
Cons
Writers Note
The NASM Group Fitness Instructor certification as an excellent choice for fitness professionals seeking to excel in the realm of group exercise instruction. The NASM certification provides a strong foundation in exercise programming, equipping instructors with the knowledge and skills to design safe and effective workouts for various group fitness formats.
What sets NASM apart is its evidence-based approach, ensuring that instructors stay up to date with the latest research-backed information and strategies. Additionally, NASM places a significant emphasis on coaching techniques and effective communication skills, enabling instructors to motivate and engage participants during group fitness classes.
With its recognition and credibility in the fitness industry, the NASM certification opens doors to numerous job opportunities and enhances one’s professional standing.
There are many factors that can influence how much you can make as a group fitness instructor. Brand new, entry-level instructors with just a handful of classes should not expect to make as much as seasoned instructors who are teaching classes of 10+ students, two or more times per day.
However, the limits to your salary as a group fitness instructor may be entirely up to you as the online group training world allows you to monetize your business while you sleep. If you create courses on-demand, you can potentially have an unlimited amount of students compared to the instructor that is subject to how many hours there are in a day.
Accreditation for group fitness certifications is an important factor because it speaks to the professionalism and quality of a course. Accreditation is performed by reputable third-party organizations that review courses to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the public.
Group fitness certifications that wish to become accredited must submit their courses and final exams to third-party credentialing companies for review along with a hefty credentialing fee. These are the baseline in which certifications meet fitness standards and promote competency for entry-level employment.
ACE, AFAA, and ISSA all have NCCA-accreditation while NASM’s course does not. However, NASM, perhaps the biggest name in personal training certifications, offers their course as a continuing education specialization and assumes aspiring group fitness instructors to be existing certified personal trainers. Remember, certified personal trainers can already train group fitness classes with their existing cert so this specialization makes sense for their brand.
NCCA Accredited Group Fitness Certifications:No one can tell you what the best group fitness certification is. At the end of the day, the choice is subjective and depends on how you weigh the above factors. For example, if learning about 12 group fitness exercise training format sounds awesome to you, then ISSA may be an ideal choice. On the other hand, you may find that the price point of ACE and the curriculum better resonates with your wallet.
Another very important factor not mentioned above is the career path you are choosing. If you know that there is a specific gym you want to work with, you’d want to check with them to see which group fitness certifications they require for employees.
The point is you need to be honest with yourself and look at all the variables for choosing a course and weigh them to determine the best option for you.
I hope that this post has helped you make the decision to choose the best group fitness certification that much easier. If you have any questions, or would like to see anything else added to this list, please leave a comment below.
Before sitting for a group fitness instructor exam, you’ll likely need to meet the following:
From there, you’ll need to choose a certification body, schedule your exam and begin studying, pass your exam, then get a job as a group fitness trainer. Learn more about
how to become a group fitness instructor here.
Are you considering getting a nutrition certification but don’t know which program to go with?
Not sure what the differences are, the advantages of each, the pros and cons, study parameters, and other insider information?
Today you are in luck. Below, I have compiled some insider information to help aspiring Nutrition Coaches make the best choice. And that last comment there — “best choice for them” — is an important one. The best nutrition coaching certification is the one that is best for you. As you’ll see below, there are a number of factors that need to be considered before landing on a certification.
Be sure to check out our blog on the Best Personal Trainer Certification if you are interested in adding fitness and nutrition together as a service.
Note: There is a difference between a nutrition coach and a nutritionist. A nutrition coach is someone who provides guidance and support to help individuals achieve their nutrition-related goals, often focusing on behavior change and healthy habits. On the other hand, a nutritionist is a healthcare professional who has completed specific education and training in the field of nutrition and can provide personalized dietary advice, diagnose and treat nutrition-related conditions, and work alongside other healthcare providers. This blog goes over the certifications for nutrition coaching. Read more about the differences here.
We designed this quiz to help you choose the perfect certification based on your learning style and goals.
As a registered dietitian, I have extensive education and training in the field of nutrition. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from the University of Kentucky, and have an NGA Natural Bodybuilding pro card. I have also passed a national examination to earn the registered dietitian credential.
My education and training have equipped me with a deep understanding of the science of nutrition, including the metabolism of nutrients, the role of nutrition in disease prevention and management, and the principles of evidence-based nutrition practice.
As a practicing dietitian, I have experience working with individuals with a wide range of nutrition needs and preferences, from athletes looking to optimize their performance to individuals managing chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. I am able to create individualized nutrition plans and recommendations based on the latest research and evidence-based practices.
Given my background in nutrition science and my experience as a practitioner, I am well-qualified to evaluate and rank nutrition certification programs. I can assess the quality and content of each program, as well as the credentials and reputation of the issuing organization.
Additionally, I can consider how well the program aligns with the latest research and evidence-based practices, which is essential for ensuring that individuals who complete the program are prepared to provide sound nutrition advice and guidance.
Let’s get into it.
A few things we will look at in each certification is their price, expected study time, number of test questions and the pros and cons of choosing the certification.
COST
support
CURRICULUM
DIFFICULTY
OVERALL
Pros
Cons
Price: $799
Expected Study Time: Study at your own pace. 3-5 hours per week, expected to take 4 months. Must sit for an exam within 12 months of registering.
Number of Test Questions: 363
ISSA does refer to their certifications as a nutritionist, which can get a bit confusing. There is no regulation on using the term, but for this comparison, the certification is the same as a nutrition coach certification.
ISSA’s Certified Nutritionist certification trains you on the ins and outs of nutrition but also places emphasis on the psychology of eating well and making good dietary choices. These principles can help coaches understand and plan based on their clients’ needs, according to the program.
Starting at $799
As a registered dietitian, I believe that the ISSA Nutritionist certification is an excellent option for individuals seeking a comprehensive certification in nutrition.
The program covers a wide range of nutrition-related topics with an emphasis on individualization and behavior change, which are important aspects of nutrition coaching. The flexibility to complete the program at one’s own pace and lifetime access to course materials and resources make it a convenient and affordable option. Additionally, the accreditation by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) provides a level of credibility and recognition in the industry.
While the certification may not have the same level of recognition as some other certifications, it still provides a solid foundation of nutrition knowledge for individuals seeking to enhance their skills and expertise in the field.
Overall, the ISSA Nutritionist certification is a great option for individuals seeking a comprehensive and flexible nutrition certification.
COST
support
CURRICULUM
DIFFICULTY
OVERALL
Pros
Cons
Price: $899
Expected Study Time: Around 60 hours of total study time.
Number of Test Questions: 100
In addition to learning what NASM calls “cutting edge nutrition information,” this course incorporates general nutrition knowledge with program design around building muscle and losing fat.
These skills focus on mental plateaus as they relate to diet and nutrition as well as psychological principles that trainers can use to help their clients get results.
Starting at $899
In my experience in the world of nutrition, the NASM Nutrition Coach certification has received positive reviews from individuals who have completed the program. Many reviewers have praised the program’s emphasis on practical application and coaching skills, particularly for those who plan to work with clients in the fitness industry.
The accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) has also been mentioned as a notable aspect of the certification, adding credibility and recognition in the industry.
Additionally, the NASM EDGE app has received positive feedback for its accessibility and usefulness in client management.
Some reviewers have mentioned that the cost of the program is higher compared to other certifications, but the quality of education and the credibility of the certification justify the investment.
Overall, the NASM Nutrition Coach certification seems to be a great option for individuals seeking a comprehensive and practical certification in nutrition coaching within the fitness industry.
PRICE
support
CURRICULUM
DIFFICULTY
OVERALL
Pros
Cons
Price: $499
Expected Study Time: At your own pace – can be as little as 1 month.
Number of Test Questions: 60
By enrolling in the Fitness Mentors Fitness Nutrition Specialist Certification program, you can learn comprehensive knowledge about nutrition and acquire skills to establish your own online nutrition coaching business.
The program covers various aspects such as branding, recommended software, pricing strategies, and effective methods to attract new clients to expand your business and attain financial independence.
Starting at $499
As a registered dietitian, I believe that the Fitness Mentors Fitness Nutrition certification is a great option for individuals who want to enhance their knowledge and skills in nutrition coaching.
The program provides comprehensive coverage of nutrition-related topics and emphasizes the development of an online coaching business, which is a growing trend in the industry. It also offers training on branding, pricing, and client acquisition strategies, which are essential skills for building a successful coaching business.
Moreover, the program is flexible, allowing individuals to complete it at their own pace and access the course materials for a lifetime.
Overall, the Fitness Mentors Fitness Nutrition Specialist certification is an affordable and valuable investment for anyone interested in the nutrition coaching profession.
COST
support
CURRICULUM
DIFFICULTY
OVERALL
Pros
Cons
Price: $1299 – $2299
Expected Study Time: At your own pace – you have up to 6 months before expiration
Number of Test Questions: 150 (125 scored and 25 experimental questions)
ACE places its education focus on business practices and how existing personal trainers can make more money selling nutritional coaching as an additional service.
Starting at $1299
I believe that the ACE Health Coach certification is an excellent option for individuals looking to become certified health coaches. The program provides comprehensive coverage of nutrition, fitness, and behavior change, and is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which adds credibility and recognition in the industry.
The certification emphasizes the development of coaching skills and building a client-centered practice, which is essential for success in the field.
Additionally, the ACE Pro Advantage program provides a wealth of resources and tools to assist in developing coaching skills and building a successful practice.
While the cost of the certification may be higher than some other programs, the NCCA accreditation and recognition make it a valuable investment. Overall, the ACE Health Coach certification is an excellent option for individuals seeking a comprehensive and credible certification in health coaching.
COST
support
CURRICULUM
DIFFICULTY
OVERALL
Pros
Cons
Price: $799 – $949
Expected Study Time: As long as you need but you need to complete the exam within six months from enrollment.
Number of Test Questions: 250
As the AFPA course name entails, this cert is a blend of nutrition and wellness principles rolled into one. It delves into the basics of diet planning, understanding nutrients, vitamins and minerals in one’s diet, and how to use food as energy.
In addition to the understanding and planning aspect, this course also helps you build essential skills for consulting clients and developing protocols. Further, there is an educational element geared towards prevention and how food can treat or reverse disease.
Starting at $799
Based on my own experience, and reviews from individuals who have completed the AFPA Nutrition & Wellness Consultant Certification program, it is a great option for those seeking a flexible and affordable certification in nutrition and wellness.
Many reviewers have praised the program’s emphasis on whole-foods nutrition and holistic health, which sets it apart from other certification programs. The self-paced online learning format has been mentioned as a convenient and accessible feature, and the lifetime access to course materials has also been appreciated.
The accreditation by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) has been mentioned as a notable aspect, adding credibility and recognition in the industry. While some reviewers have mentioned the limited recognition and networking opportunities compared to other certifications, the program’s emphasis on holistic health and wellness is valued by those seeking to work in alternative or complementary healthcare settings.
Overall, the AFPA Nutrition & Wellness Consultant Certification is a well-received option for individuals seeking a comprehensive, flexible, and affordable certification in nutrition and wellness with an emphasis on whole-foods nutrition and holistic health.
COST
support
CURRICULUM
DIFFICULTY
OVERALL
Pros
Cons
Price: $799 – $1428
Expected Study Time: As long as you need. 3-5 hours per week, expected to take 4.5 months.
Number of Test Questions: 180
Often compared to a college level course, the Precision Nutrition certification simplifies complex diet and nutrition information so that you get a full understanding of the fundamentals and diet-planning that you can pass on to your clients.
The program also focuses on designing programs that help clients integrate dieting alongside fitness programs to help them set attainable goals.
Starting at $799
As a registered dietician, I have found that the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification has received positive reviews from individuals who have completed the program within my industry.
Many reviewers have praised the program’s comprehensive coverage of nutrition-related topics with an emphasis on behavior change, which is a valuable skill for anyone working in the health and wellness industry. The certification also places a strong emphasis on individualization and client-centered coaching, which is essential for successful nutrition coaching. The accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) has been mentioned as a notable aspect, adding credibility and recognition in the industry. Additionally, the ProCoach software has received positive feedback for its accessibility and usefulness in coaching and client management.
While the cost of the certification may be higher compared to some other programs, the quality of education and the credibility of the certification make it a valuable investment.
Overall, the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification is a highly regarded option for individuals seeking a comprehensive and credible certification in nutrition coaching with a focus on behavior change and individualization.
Before you begin your nutrition coach certification course, you’ll want to ensure you have the prerequisites needed to be eligible. Unlike the process to become a personal trainer, the prerequisites to become a certified nutrition coach vary greatly from company to company.
Most companies that offer personal training certifications along with nutrition certifications require the below before you can sit for the final exam:
However, the certifications that are not associated with major fitness bodies such Precision Nutrition or Primal Health Coach do not have prerequisites in place.
The ACE Health Coach seems to have the most stringent prerequisites in place, including the above three requirements as well as proof of a current NCCA-certification, an associate degree in a wellness related field, a completed health coach training and education program approved by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC), or two years years of documented work experience in wellness-type programs.
Bottom line: if you are serious about a specific course, check out their prerequisites to ensure they work for you.
As mentioned earlier, there is no “best nutrition coach certification,” only certifications that are the most highly recognized. Nutrition education isn’t one-size-fits all, it’s up to you to determine what the best course is for your career and weigh all your options.
Further, consider how you learn best and how the options presented fit into your learning process. Another important consideration is time; how quickly do you want to get certified? Some options may be quicker than others and that may impact your final decision.
Don’t overlook the importance of scheduling your final exam for your nutrition certification. Putting this off may result in long term procrastination. Still, you have to be realistic with your final exam date and your study timelines.
Once you knock out the exam and get certified, you are on your way to training with clients.
Now that you have a fancy certification next to your name and have learned about how to work with clients and various nutrition goals, you can master the art of helping your clients achieve their goals.
Without further ado, let’s learn about some important considerations you should be aware of as you choose the best nutrition coach certification for you!
You don’t need to be a personal trainer to get a nutrition certification. However, some nutrition
certifications, like the ACE Health Coach Certification, have a prerequisite that you have a
NCCA-accredited certification in fitness, nutrition, healthcare, wellness, human resources or a
related field. Check with the specific certification beforehand to understand the prerequisites. If
you are considering becoming a personal trainer first, check out the highly regarded FM-CPT.
According to salary.com, nutrition coaches have an average annual salary of $46,309 in the
United States.
The typical online nutrition certification can be completed in six months or less. Many of the
programs are self-paced, so it is entirely up to the student in terms of how quickly they prepare
and pass their final exam.
Yes, nutrition certifications don’t require a four year degree. While some programs can be
obtained within a college setting, many certifications are available online without a degree. Just
be sure to check the specific certifications’ prerequisites before enrolling for their respective
requirements.
There really is no “best” nutrition certification as the decision is highly subjective. The best
nutrition certification is the one that has the best course curriculum, price, and potential skill sets
for your professional goals.
A certified nutrition coach is a great career for those who love to help others meet their nutrition,
health and wellness goals. If you are passionate about people and food, this low stress, high
work-life balance job could be a great career for you.
A nutrition certification is an ideal option for those who want to help clients understand their
health and wellness through food. Whether as a standalone career or as an add-on to your
personal training or health career, the knowledge you gain can help others achieve their
personal goals.
The future for certified nutrition coaches looks bright as the industry is projected for continued
growth as more people place an emphasis on the healing and preventative powers of food. As
long as there is a trend for people wanting to improve their overall health, there should always
be a strong demand for professionals who can help them.
Chances are, if you are considering this niche you are attracted to it because there is no income ceiling. Online personal training works while you sleep, doesn’t care how many hours there are in a day, and doesn’t put you in a box that forces you to focus on time as an income limiting factor.
Simply put, online personal training as a business model is scalable.
Creating online training service offerings that help people achieve their fitness and health goals, but do not require a ton of time, allow you to gain back that ever so important personal and financial freedom.
Watch Our Video: How to Become an Online Personal Trainer in 2024
So, this sounds fantastic doesn’t it? Of course it does, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Today we will learn how to become an online personal trainer, the six different types of online personal training business models, touch on some online personal training revenue streams that you may want to consider, and learn a little about online personal trainer software.
But first, let’s define exactly what an online personal trainer is.
We designed this quiz to help you choose the perfect certification based on your learning style and goals.
An Online Personal Trainer is someone who enhances the health and fitness of others through internet-based technological mediums.
The definition of an online trainer is very broad, and to be frank, it is supposed to be. Online personal trainers can do the things that are normally associated with personal trainers — improve fitness levels, body image, health, and performance — all online.
With today’s technology, trainers can literally train anyone, from anywhere, at anytime. This gives every personal trainer an additional medium to earn money and increase their personal and financial freedom by creating an online personal training business.
But before you train clients using online mediums you first have to become an online personal trainer.
There is a logical path that exists for you to become an online personal trainer. In fact, we’ve created an entire course around it. Let’s discuss how to become an online personal trainer while also assuming you are already a personal trainer.
Before you go head first into online training, my recommendation is to transition one of your in-person clients over to what is called the “hybrid personal training model.” The hybrid model is a blend of traditional personal training (in-person) along with online personal training (more on the online personal training business models below).
This gives you some experience working with clients online and allows you to begin to develop additional revenue-generating programs in the process. For example, you can take an in-person client and create a PDF workout plan for them to follow and interact with them via online mediums. In between in-person workouts you allow your client to follow your guide and regularly check-in with them via email, text message, phone, or some other method that allows for tracking and accountability.
If you like the freedoms this hybrid method of training affords you, you will likely want to learn how to scale it.
We designed this quiz to help you choose the perfect certification based on your learning style and goals.
Let’s get something out of the way as it concerns becoming an online personal trainer. You don’t actually NEED any special certification to sell or provide personal training services online.
But, and this is a strong but, would you trust a doctor that didn’t have a proper educational background? Would you let a dentist with no dental education work on your pearly whites?
A professional with credentials is important to the consumer, as it builds credibility and trust, and therefore it should be important to you as well. Earning an online personal trainer certification provides you insight into assisting your clients online, understanding business and program creation, scaling your business, and provides you with credentials that were created to enhance the lives of your clients while protecting their safety. In short, in helps to maintain the integrity of the personal training industry as a whole with a set of principles, guidelines, and recommendations that help both you and your clients succeed using this great medium.
So, while you can skip getting an online personal training certification, I highly recommend you start here before establishing yourself as an online personal trainer.
This portion of your education will also help to transition you into a larger role as an online personal trainer while also allowing you more personal and financial freedom, the hallmarks of the online personal training industry.
If step one taught you how to gain experience using online training and the hybrid model, step three will be the part where you really scale your online business. In the Fitness Mentors Certified Online Personal Trainer certification (FM-COPT), you’ll learn the various assets you can build to help you sell personal training online.
Online personal training really weighs heavily on business structure, and understanding how to structure your business from start to finish is very helpful for new online trainers. For example, learning how to leverage online PDFs, video libraries, client management platforms, and integrate them into your website are all educational paths you can learn the hard way or the easy way. The FM-COPT will show you how to start building these assets as well as your new online business model based on the six kinds of online business models I’ll explain more below.
After you begin to build out these additional revenue streams, it’s all about getting more clients online.
At this final stage of becoming an online personal trainer you’ve now learned some of the ins and outs of online training with your experience with a hybrid model, you’ve gotten a certification that helps set some structure and shows you how to build assets out to sell more services, and now all you need to do to be more successful is to get more clients online.
Notice I did not specifically mention marketing here as that is not the only way to get online personal training clients. There is an opportunity for you to bring your existing in-person clients over to your online suite of services and that is probably an easier transition than marketing itself. While marketing will eventually become an important part of scaling your business, I recommend using existing relationships to truly kickstart some of your online training while you laser focus your online business.
If you want some insight into marketing your business, check out our blog on personal trainer marketing and specifically some of the ideas that relate to websites or online services.
Read on to learn about the types of online personal training services can you offer.
Coaching and training clients online can happen in countless unique ways but the starting point always remains the same: your goal is the focus on improving the health of your clients.
The way you set yourself up as an online personal trainer will dictate the ways you can make money online. It also will determine the amount of clients you can have.
These methods include:
Let’s take a closer look at each variation to see how they create an online personal trainer business. As you read through these think about how they fit into your style of training and your personal interests for business development.
The personalized element of personal training is retained in this type of online training, but the difference is this method is that the trainer does not work with the client in-person. Using various communication methods — phone, email, text, and especially software — the trainer provides their clients the tools and program needed to achieve a specific fitness goal. Using some of these same technological resources, the trainer is able to track client progress and ensure client success and retention.
Non-personalized PDF fitness programs are created by trainers for general or specific population types. These premade programs usually live on a website and are made available for download. This type of online training requires zero client interaction, but strong online marketing to help drive attention to the program and convince clients to make purchases.
Like the above PDF programs, these video programs also do not involve direct client interaction. Instead, trainers provide clients access to a video or a series of videos in which they can follow on their own.
The hybrid model is a mix of in-person personal training combined with online resources that allows trainers to provide hands-on services and reinforce them with online tools. These programs usually are more cost-effective for clients as they usually only see a trainer in-person a handful of times each month, and then are free to use the online resources to maintain their workouts on their own. This approach is a good starting point for trainers who are looking to transition clients from 100% in-person to a combination of in-person and online.
Live video chat or in-person online streaming is a form of training that allows a trainer and a client to see and interact with each other from their computers or mobile devices. A trainer who uses this tool can provide immediate feedback to clients on form, demonstrate exercises, and answer questions in real time.
An extension of the above, innovative personal training software company gymGO also allows trainers the option to do one-on-one live streaming sessions or train and interact with larger groups of clients, all online. For example, trainers can hold a yoga, pilates, or other group fitness class and have the option to live stream it, record themselves and make their workouts on-demand via memberships. This potentially opens up the door for much larger revenue opportunities for trainers and this online training opportunity has been proven by Peloton with much success.
If you are looking at the above and are wondering if you can combine them together, you absolutely can. Just like in traditional in-person personal training there is nothing stopping you from adding additional services to your offerings. You just have to learn how to find the appropriate channels in which to deliver your services, market your business, and leverage software to your advantage.
In case you want some other ideas for how to monetize your online personal training business, consider some of the following to set yourself apart from other personal training businesses:
If you are considering expanding your personal training business online one of the investments you’ll want to make will surely be software. Software will help manage your clients, help to deliver programs or services, automate specific tasks, house your documents or videos, and can even help with billing and payments.
Before you decide on a software you should first determine what features you need to run and operate your business. If there is one mistake I see too many trainers make it’s purchasing a software solely based on brands that they’ve heard of rather than features that they need.
Fitness Mentors’ view on online personal training software is that you should focus on finding something that saves you time. Having time allows you to scale your business and potentially make money while you sleep.
Another aspect of online personal training software to consider is how it will play into the evolution of personal training. For example, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlighted the trend in fitness for online training and on-demand and virtual, live streaming classes. Many of the existing online personal training softwares don’t allow trainers to leverage this, while newer technologies like gymGO are keeping up with the trainer of the future.
The point is, consider the services that you want to deliver, the demands from clients, the state of the personal training industry as a whole, and how software can help integrate all these aspects to help you scale your business.
Any willing person can call themselves an online personal trainer, but just because they call themselves one doesn’t mean they are qualified. A true certified online personal trainer will understand health and safety protocols, program design, and more.
There are six primary ways in which online personal trainers can make money:
While there is no magic recipe for a profitable online personal training business, yes, online personal training can be very profitable. High profits for online personal trainers are particularly associated with those who can build a successful online presence, sell products or services through automated processes, and develop a scalable business model that is not contingent on the amount of hours in a day typically reserved for in-person training.
The most logical way to start an online personal training business is to transition existing in-person clients over to online clients. Creating online workout programs and giving in-person clients access is one of many examples that can be used to start an online personal training business.
Online personal trainers should charge according to their experience, the target population they are working with, and how much value they are bringing to their clients.
Starting an online personal trainer business has its challenges. Deciding where to put your efforts for the best chance of success and developing strategies can be a bit overwhelming.
This is why the Fitness Mentors Certified Online Personal Training certification was created. This program, which is also offered as a 6 Week Mentorship, will provide you the insight into creating the business that works best for you while revealing the best strategies for transitioning to a full or part time online personal trainer.
We encourage this through 5 Major learning sections:
Choosing to take this path toward creating the career that you envision is an envious task. Your passion for success will shine through as you learn every step toward becoming a successful online personal trainer.
This passion will allow you to establish yourself as a leader in this new and fast-evolving industry.
You will be backed by and supported by the quality education provided in this certification course, with the credential to assist thousands of people in improving their health, performance and overall happiness.
Give yourself credit for taking this step and mentally prepare yourself for the commitment of completing this course and creating the life you want.
BS Kinesiology, NASM-CPT, CES, PES FNS, MMAS, WLS, FM-CPT, ACE-CPT, Master Personal Trainer
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.
With multiple certification options available, myself and the team here at Fitness Mentors wanted to clearly state the pros and cons of each certification based on their cost, customer support, curriculum, pass rate, and accreditation.
By the end of this article, you will have learned the main features and benefits of the best personal training certifications and be able to choose and learn how to get the personal training certification that fits your needs.
If you feel like you need assistance in choosing the best personal training certification for you, launch our quiz below.
We designed this quiz to help you choose the perfect certification based on your learning style and goals.
Hi, I’m Eddie Lester, the founder and CEO of Fitness Mentors. I’ve been a personal trainer for nearly 20 years and have 10 personal training certifications. In addition, I used to be a personal trainer certification teacher at a vocational college making me highly familiar with the educational materials and learning styles of each major CPT body and prospective students, respectively.
The contents of this article have also been reviewed by Alex Cartmill and Matt McLeod, both of which are experienced personal trainers holding multiple personal training certifications themselves, as well as having more than 10 years of training experience.
I am excited to share with you my analysis of the best personal trainer certifications that will specifically cover:
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Summary: I’ve weighed factors such as accreditation, price, curriculum, CEU requirements and more to provide this review of ISSA. With all of these factors considered (and more weight placed on certain factors such as cost and curriculum), ISSA is our current top pick for the best personal training certification for 2023.
Their certification provides a job placement guarantee, sets you up to train in-person and in online environments, and is the most highly rated certification as indicated by third-party reviews on this list.
ISSA Most Commonly Considered Factors:
ISSA stands for The International Sports Sciences Association. Founded in 1988 by a team of fitness experts and exercise scientists, their personal training certification is recognized worldwide.
Once a student takes and passes the ISSA exam, which covers a wide array of fitness topics, you are qualified to offer fitness and personal training services. Exam topics include Anatomy & Physiology, Kinesiology and Biomechanics, Health and Physical Fitness, Nutrition, and General Fitness.
The ISSA CPT is my top pick for a personal trainer certification program compared to other options available for a number of reasons.
First off, the ISSA’s certification program places a strong emphasis on both theoretical and practical knowledge in the personal training field. This includes an extensive curriculum that covers topics such as nutrition, program design, exercise science, and business principles.
Moreover, the ISSA CPT also provides an opportunity to get a certification by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the gold standard in certification bodies. Such an accreditation may lend additional credibility to the certification in the eyes of prospective clients or employers.
Furthermore, the ISSA provides a range of specialized certifications in areas such as corrective exercise, strength and conditioning, and fitness nutrition. This may appeal to individuals who seek to develop their skills and knowledge in a particular area of personal training.
Finally, my experience with the ISSA staff has be far better than dealing with other certification bodies. This really matters when you begin your studies and are looking for support like I was. Also, the ISSA offers ongoing resources and support to its certified personal trainers, such as access to a network of professionals in the fitness industry and opportunities for continuing education. Such assistance can enable trainers to remain current with the latest trends and research in their field and may contribute to their success as personal trainers.
The initial part of the curriculum focuses learning the sciences necessary to understand the human body. They then shift to focus on teaching you how to help your clients through exercise programming. You’ll learn all the major muscle groups and unique ways to build workout routines.
Additionally, they help you learn to guide your clients through specific exercises ensuring proper form to minimize the risk of injuries. This content helps to build a valuable foundation for aspiring personal trainers.
ISSA places less emphasis on corrective exercise specialization and screening, but some these topics are addressed in the client screening segment.
When it comes to aerobic training, ISSA equips you with fundamental tools to create training programs based on relative intensities of different client ability levels.
In terms of special populations training, ISSA accels in covering the diverse needs of different client demographics. If you’re employed in health clubs, encountering and training clients that fall into the special populations category is inevitable.
One area where I feel ISSA could improve is in addressing behavioral change, a crucial aspect when working with clients resistant new to forming health and exercise habits.
In my opinion, the ISSA curriculum provides a great spring board from which to start and build your personal training career.
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Summary: As an aspiring personal trainer, there is a good chance you’ve considered a NASM certification to add to your list of professional accolades.
There’s good reason too, NASM is considered to be a global leader in credentialing fitness professionals, and their wealth of certifications will prepare you for a promising career in personal training or one of their other areas of specializations.
NASM Most Commonly Considered Factors:
Starting at $849
NASM stands for the National Academy of Sports Medicine, a 30-year old company best-known for their Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) program. Within the last 10 years, NASM has certified and recertified more personal trainers than any other personal training company, helping nearly 200,000 obtain, or maintain, their CPTs all across the globe.
NASM is also NCCA-accredited, meaning they have the National Commission for Certifying Agencies credentials, the first standards ever developed to ensure a fitness certification body has the essential elements of a high-quality program.
I really stand behind the training model that NASM created called the Optimum Performance Training (OPT™) model. This is a comprehensive training system that is heavily versed in scientific, evidence-based research. According to NASM, the emphasis on science makes OPT ideal for program design and delivering consistent results. I currently use it to program my clients workouts and it works great and really helps me program effectively.
To dive a little deeper into why I use the OPT Model and explain what it is, the OPT Model is a comprehensive training framework designed to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of exercise programs.
It is structured into three progressive phases: Stabilization, Strength, and Power, which I love as these are the backbone of achieving fitness goals. Here is a bit more about the model:
Stabilization Phase (Phase 1): This initial stage focuses on developing stability and neuromuscular efficiency to address imbalances and improve core function. Exercises emphasize controlled, coordinated movements to enhance joint stability and postural control.
Strength Phase (Phase 2): Building upon the foundation established in the stabilization phase, the strength phase aims to increase muscle strength, endurance, and overall lean body mass. Resistance training is a key component, with an emphasis on multi-joint exercises and progressive overload.
Power Phase (Phase 3): The final phase is dedicated to maximizing power and athletic performance. It integrates the gains from the previous phases into dynamic, explosive movements to enhance speed, agility, and power output.
The above stages help me program my client’s workouts using systematic progression and ensure a safe and effective exercise session. This approach allows for individualized program design based on the client’s goals, fitness level, and any specific needs or limitations. The OPT Model serves as a versatile guide for fitness professionals to tailor programs for clients across various fitness levels and objectives.
The NASM CPT curriculum starts off by discussing the personal training profession including professional development.
It then shifts to teach the necessary skills to help your future clients adhere to exercise behaviors through coaching techniques and exercise psychology.
NASM leans heavy into the sciences of exercise which can be overwhelming for some. They focus almost two hundred pages of the textbook on the human movement system, the cardiorespiratory system, kinesiology, exercise metabolism, and nutrition.
They then dive deep into health and exercise assessments followed by teaching you how to perform exercises with proper form and technique. they finish with a strong section on program design, which I really enjoy to teach, that focuses on the OPT model I mentioned in the section above.
Overall this curriculum is one of the best out there, but can be a bit intimidating as the textbook has over 900 pages! Either way I always recommend NASM as a top option.
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Summary: Originally known as a study guide provider for NASM and ACE, Fitness Mentors decided that it was time to provide better value to the personal trainer of today. This meant creating an original curriculum and certification that catered to private trainers, online trainers and trainers who sought an entrepreneurial route with a focus building a lifelong career.
With a certification focused on mastering all the roles of a personal trainer – business owner, coach, salesman, and mentor – it is unique in that it is specifically catered towards program design and business success. As the lowest cost personal trainer certification, it is also a viable option for those looking to get started at a lower investment.
Fitness Mentors Most Commonly Considered Factors:
The Fitness Mentors CPT is the new kid on the block in terms of training certifications, giving it an edge in terms of curriculum without the brand recognition of the bigger players.
It is known for being the best value certification around, while boasting the highest exam pass rate due to the company’s background in education. What separates Fitness Mentors’ certified personal trainer certification is their excellent customer service and included lifetime expert guidance as well as business coaching.
It is Fitness Mentors’ view that to be a successful personal trainer today, they need to know program design and fitness fundamentals, but also important business growth and marketing principles. Whereas other programs tend to focus on programs and exercise physiology, Fitness Mentors provides that education and more at an unmatched price and with human support.
The Fitness Mentors CPT curriculum starts off by diving into fitness assessments as a platform for creating a safe and effective exercise program.
Next they move into the sciences behind exercise and training including anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and exercise science.
The next chapters focus on creating effective exercise programs for any fitness goal. They utilize the FORM model of training to encourage proper form and technique before adding heavier resistance.
Fitness Mentors leans heavy into business building elements of the personal training career. They focus almost one hundred pages of the textbook on how to establish your business, market and sell your services, and get paying clients. FM provides the most education on business and how to make money as a personal trainer, something very important to establishing a career in fitness.
They finish strong with a comprehensive nutrition and supplements section, focusing on helping trainers aid their clients in proper nutrition strategies for weight loss, muscle gain, and athletic performance.
This curriculum is very thorough but also significantly more to-the-point of personal training and cuts a lot of unnecessary information utilized by other certifications. The emphasis on business and entrepreneurship makes this certification a must for those looking to start their own business online or as a private personal trainer.
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Summary: The National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF) is an NCCA accredited certification from a reputable company known for its focus on exercise prescription and programming considerations. They are middle of the road in terms of cost and amongst the lowest in terms of exam pass rate.
A popular choice amongst those who don’t enjoy continuing education, their 10 hours every two years makes them a strong consideration from a time and investment perspective.
NCSF Most Commonly Considered Factors:
The National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF) CPT is a globally recognized certification that is known for its emphasis on training athletes.
With both online and in-person exam options, they boast the industries largest exam network that encompasses over 160 countries. This network is popular amongst trainers outside the United States who want to be sure their credentials are respected wherever they are in the world.
Additionally, NCSF maintains memberships with industry-leading health clubs, facilitating career opportunities for trainers who are focused on gym environments.
I feel NSCF is a great option if you are looking to train athletes as their curriculum and Strength Coach certification has curriculum that specifically focuses on this type of clientele.
The curriculum begins with an “Introduction to Personal Training,” providing a foundational understanding of the field. It then delves into “Functional Anatomy and Training Instruction,” crucial for trainers to comprehend the mechanics of the human body and how to instruct exercises effectively. “Kinetic Chain Function, Dysfunction, and Corrective Exercise” follows, focusing on identifying and addressing movement imbalances.
Moving deeper, “Human Physiology” explores the physiological mechanisms underlying exercise responses. “Evaluating Health and Physical Fitness” and “Physical Activity and Risk for Disease” emphasize the importance of assessing clients’ health status and mitigating health risks through physical activity.
“Resting and Active Fitness Assessments” provides tools for assessing fitness levels accurately. Understanding the role of “Nutrition” and “Dietary Supplements” is vital for trainers to support clients in achieving their fitness goals.
Chapters on “Body Composition” and “Weight Management” address key aspects of physique and weight control. “Exercise Program Components” and “Anaerobic Resistance Training” detail the components and methodologies of effective exercise routines.
“Cardiorespiratory Fitness” and “Flexibility” cover essential elements of overall fitness. “Introduction to Exercise Programming” provides a framework for designing tailored workout plans.
Finally, “Working with Special Populations” addresses considerations for training diverse groups, ensuring inclusivity and effectiveness in personal training practice.
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Summary: ACE is NCCA accredited, meaning the National Commission for Certifying Agencies has identified its coursework as reputable and meets the criteria for what is considered a high-quality program within the personal training industry.
This also means that this CPT gives you a high likelihood of getting you a job within a gym.
ACE Most Commonly Considered Factors:
Starting at $675
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) CPT is one of the most popular of the personal trainer certifications, with our research indicating that there are over 13,100 tests taken each year.
The cost of ACE’s study materials and test fall more in the moderate range, which in my opinion provides good value.
While slightly more expensive up front, ACE looks to be a good investment as the average income of an ACE personal trainer is amongst the best in the industry, which you’ll see in my analysis further down this page.
ACE also has modest continuing education (CEU) requirements. Trainers are required to take 20 hours of CEUs and the current cost is $129 to recertify every 2 years.
The ACE curriculum begins with an exploration of the “Role and Scope of Practice for Personal Trainers,” establishing professional standards and responsibilities. It then introduces the “ACE Integrated Fitness Training Model,” a comprehensive approach to designing fitness programs.
“Basics of Behavior Change” and “Effective Communication, Goal Setting, and Teaching Techniques” equip trainers with skills to motivate and guide clients effectively. “Preparticipation Health Screening” ensures safety by assessing clients’ health status before exercise.
Nutrition’s role in “Health and Fitness” is covered extensively, followed by “Resting Assessments and Anthropometric Measurements” to gauge baseline fitness levels accurately.
Chapters on “Cardiorespiratory Training” and “Muscular Training” delve into the physiology, assessments, and programming techniques for these fundamental aspects of fitness. Integrated exercise programming, evidence-based practice, and considerations for diverse populations, including those with obesity, chronic diseases, and musculoskeletal issues, are thoroughly addressed.
“Legal Guidelines and Business Considerations” conclude the curriculum, educating trainers on legal and business aspects of personal training practice, ensuring they operate ethically and effectively in their profession.
Watch Our Video: Best Personal Trainer Certification
Want to know which certification is right for you? Take our Quiz by clicking here.
Check out our infographic that covers the objective items mentioned above. Below the image is a list of all the items with a breakdown.
Below we summarize the data contained in the infographic, diving into highlights from each section, explaining why some companies vary so much, and giving an honest assessment of why each of the companies ranks where it does.
We also include a “Personal Trainer Takeaway,” from me, a longtime personal trainer who has worked in almost every facet of the business (big box gym, one-on-one, group fitness, business owner, etc.). This section is a bit more subjective, but will help you consider some things that a purely objective analysis might not.
In some instances, we were not able to find data for each of the certifying bodies and we made estimates. This estimated data is not presented in the infographic but we make mention of it here.
Accreditation standards are developed by several third-party credentialing organizations to maintain a level of professionalism within the fitness industry. These designations showcase that a certification body has created a high-quality program that ensures the safety and wellbeing of the public. Fitness certifications that wish to be accredited have to submit their programs and final exam to be evaluated on an individual basis. This ensures that they meet the highest standard and validates that the aspiring trainer has the competency for entry level employment.
With the exception of AFAA, every personal training certification body on this list has the option for a National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited exam, which is the gold standard for fitness certifications. This is important to trainers because most gyms will only accept personal trainer certifications that are accepted by an NCCA-accredited body. So, if you are like many trainers who want to jumpstart their career by working in a gym, you may want to avoid a cert that is not NCCA-accredited.
If you are looking for a more entrepreneurial route other than working in a gym, the FM-CPT is known for having the most business emphasis in their education. ISSA does have additional accreditation with Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE), and is accepted at most gym chains.
Personal Trainer Certifications with the option for NCCA Accreditation:
Personal Trainer Certifications with National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE) Affiliation
Personal Trainer Certification with DEAC Accreditation:
Be sure to check with your top employment options to find out which certifications they accept, as that may limit your certification choices. For example, if you have a friend that works at 24-Hour Fitness and says he can get you a job if you get certified, get a list of the certifications they honor so you know you’ll be a shoe-in.
Similarly, if you plan on working at a smaller shop with other personal trainers, inquire with them first if they will accept the personal training certification you are leaning towards. Bottom line, determine where you want to work, then see if those places have requirements on the types of PT certs they accept for employees.
Most of the personal trainer certification bodies prices start between $500 to $850 for the exam and the study materials. Many of these companies offer periodic discounts, and some offer membership pricing.
For the least expensive yet highly reputable option, the Fitness Mentors CPT at $499 is a popular option. The only other sub-$500 option is NCSF as they sometimes offer large discounts.
NASM is an expensive option, but frequently goes on sale. ACE is also on the upper end of the pricing spectrum, but they too offer frequent promotions.
A great tool I have used is to utilize a 12 month payment option as it spreads the price out over a longer period of time.
Prices listed are non-promotional, full-price, non-member prices.
You should determine what matters most to you: prestige or cost? If you want to go with a more recognized name in the industry (NASM, ACE) it will cost more. If you only need an inexpensive, accredited certification for quick employment or for the entrepreneurial route, look toward the less expensive certifications (Fitness Mentors, AFAA).
However, also consider CEU requirements, income, as well as the above accreditation factors before you pull the trigger. While price may be the most important factor to you, all the factors on this page may influence your final decision beyond your initial investment.
The cert with the best pass rate is Fitness Mentors at 92%, while ACSM, at 55%, sits on the bottom end.
Some tests are much harder than others. If we use pass rate as our main reference point, it would appear that ACSM, NSCA, and NCSF have the most difficult tests. This can mean these tests are the hardest to pass or the educational experience provided is not sufficient in preparing students for the subject matter on the test.
Or, it could mean these tests tend to focus on more difficult subjects like anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. The study experience — books, study guides, practice exams, access to instructors, etc. — from fitness organizations can vary widely. The feedback from students is that some study curriculum does not fully prepare a student for a final exam as well as it could, while others find that the preparation materials provided fully prepare them for the final exam. This is why students often use third-party educators like Fitness Mentors to provide education for multiple certification exams like NASM and ACE.
The expected study time is inferred from the time the certification bodies give you when you buy the study materials until the time you have to take the exam.
Fitness Mentors: 6 Months with 80 hours of recommended study time.
NESTA: Study as long as you need but must complete the test within 90 days of requesting the exam voucher.
ACSM: 3, 6, 12, or 24 month options.
ACE: Schedule test before 6 months of purchase ends but can take it before 9 months.
ISSA: 6 months to complete.
NASM: Must complete in under 6 months.
NCSF: Must complete in under 6 months.
NCSA: 120 days after purchasing exam.
NFPT: 12 Months after purchasing exam.
The timeline you have to complete the test matters depending on your situation. Are you currently unemployed and need a training job as soon as possible? You would then want the shortest study time and easiest test. Are you looking to become certified without the need for immediate employment? Maybe a longer study time would be needed since you are less motivated for immediate results. Also, keep in mind how much time you have to put toward your studies? If you only have two hours a week, you may not be able to complete your studies in the allotted time.
The main takeaway here is to not just look at the exam with the least amount of study time and say, ‘that’s for me!’ Instead, take an honest assessment of your current financial situation and the certification you really want and make the best decision for your future.
Below: Number of test questions / total test time / minimum passing score
Fitness Mentors: 100 questions / 120 minutes / 70% or higher is passing
NASM: 120 questions (100 count towards your score) / 120 minutes/ 70% or higher is passing. NASM now also offers a 100 question non-accredited test with a 3 hour timelimit.
ACSM: 120 questions / 120 minutes / 68.75% or higher is passing. 800 points available based on scaled questions, 550 points needed to pass
AFAA: 120 questions online exam / 120 minutes / 70% or higher is passing
NFPT: 120 questions online exam / 120 minutes / 70% or higher is passing
NESTA: 125 Questions / 120 minutes / 69% or higher is passing
NCSF: 150 questions / 180 minutes / 62% or higher is passing
ACE: 150 questions / 180 minutes / 62.5% or higher is passing. 800 points available based on scaled questions 500 points needed to pass
NSCA: 155 questions / 180 minutes / 70% or higher is passing
ISSA: 120 questions / unlimited time / 70% or better is passing
What type of test taker are you? A confident test taker will not need to worry about the length of test or number of questions. Someone whose mind goes blank because of testing anxiety may want to consider the shorter test like Fitness Mentors, NASM or ACSM. Or, if you have an extreme fear of tests consider Fitness Mentors or ISSA as the tests are open book. Just make sure your potential employer approves this certification.
The NCSF has by far the least amount of CEUs required at 10 credit hours. At the other end, NSCA trainers are required to obtain 60 CEUs. However, these numbers alone don’t tell the whole story, you should also consider the time periods in which these hours are required, as well as the costs to recertify.
Fitness Mentors: 20 hours of CEUs and $99 to recertify every 2 years
NCSF: 10 hours of CEUs and $50 to recertify every 2 years
AFAA: 15 Hours of CEUs and $99 to recertify every 2 years
NASM: 20 hours of CEUs and $99 to recertify every 2 years
ACE: 20 hours of CEUs and $129 to recertify every 2 years
ISSA: 20 hours of CEUs and $99 to recertify every 2 years
NESTA: 40 hours of CEUs and $149 to recertify every 4 years
ACSM: 45 hours of CEUs and $30 to recertify every 3 years
NFPT: 10 hours of CEUs and $50 to recertify every year
NSCA: 60 hours of CEUs and $50 to recertify every 3 years
Recertification is required by all certifying bodies. The process of recertification varies slightly, but one common ground is that they require you to continue your education and show proof of this newly obtained knowledge via CEUs or Continuing Education Units.
Also, there are typically 1,000s of courses to choose from to continue your education and we have compiled a list of our favorites here. Another consideration is that the more CEUs that are required by a provider the more money you will spend on recertifying (roughly $20 per contact hour) which makes NSCA (60 hours) and ACSM (45 hours) less appealing financially. Hopefully, this will not matter if you are successful in your personal training career. To ensure that you are successful check out this highly recommended business and sales course for personal trainers.
The popularity of a certification is based on the number of trainers with a specific cert in the field as well as the number of test takers per year. Not reported in the graph is the number of tests taken per year.
The number of tests taken per year is provided below:
NASM: 31,385 (2021 data)
ACE: 11,835 attempts per year (2022 data)
ISSA: 10,696 attempts per year
NFPT: 2,684 attempts per year
NCSF: 1,723 attempts per year
NSCA: 1,529 attempts per year
NESTA: 1,515 attempts per year
ACSM: 1,386 attempts per year (2022 data)
Fitness Mentors: 636 attempts per year
The way that we look at this statistic is mainly by determining the recognition for each certification body. It is assumed that the more people that take a certification the more well-known that certification is. Popularity can be seen as a reputation builder meaning that more people trust that company, but it also can be determined by the volume of marketing and advertising a company puts in.
To give a brief example of this, NASM advertises on TV and radio in our local area. This leads to more people in general recognizing the NASM brand and name. When trainers say they are NASM-certified, their clients typically recognize the brand name because of the abundant advertising and that makes the trainer more reputable, even though the client knows nothing about the quality of education NASM provides.
On the other hand, some progressive companies, like Fitness Mentors, have introduced a relatively new certification. For this reason, they don’t yet have the same number of tests taken as organizations that have been around for dozens of years. The benefit of some of the newer certifications, however, is that they are able to fill voids where some of the older organizations lag. Fitness Mentors is 100% online, boasts more study materials than many of the other certifications, offers personal mentorships, and provides access to instructors. ISSA is also a 100% online option, rounding out the more progressive companies that are keeping up with modern demands of trainers who capitalize on online learning and test-taking.
The question you must ask is ‘do I care if my clients recognize the name of my certification?’ If so, choose a certification with more popularity. Just keep in mind that most clients don’t know and don’t care what certification you have, but employers do so make sure your chosen employer accepts the cert.
This information was taken straight off the catalogs of the certification bodies.
Fitness Mentors: Fitness Program Design and Business Success
ISSA: Fitness Program Design
NASM: Rapport & Client Relationship Building, Exercise Technique & Instruction
ACE: Behavioral Modification for Fitness Goals
NSCA: Techniques of Exercise
ACSM: Exercise Leadership and Client Education
NESTA: Business Applications
NCSF: Exercise Prescription and Programming Considerations
NFPT: Goal-oriented Program Design in User-friendly Format
Most of the certifying bodies will be very similar in their balance of educational topics, due to the NCCA regulation that forces companies to do a Job Task Analysis. This Job Task Analysis determines the most important knowledge to have to be successful in the field and is typically the same across the board. Therefore, each company is required to have the same topics of education.
We know trainers that make $200,000 per year as well as $20,000 per year all of which have the same and/or different certifications. Your success as a business person is determined by your drive, knowledge of key business and sales techniques, location and various other things. To find out how to optimize your success we recommend this online course.
Also recently Online Personal Training has lead to a larger population of trainers making $100,000 or more. To become certified to train online and learn how to make six-figures we recommend this certification.
Should you fail the exam the first time around, most certifications bodies charge to retake it. NSCA, the provider with the most expensive retake fee ($435), charges almost eight times more than the cheapest provider Fitness Mentors ($50), while the bulk of the other providers are in the $100 to $200 range. UPDATE: ISSA does offer a free retest with their packages.
The takeaway here is to prepare for whatever test you take, and make sure you pass the first time around!
Again, choosing a personal training certification is a very subjective decision and certain factors may weigh more heavily with specific individuals. For example, if price is a factor, then NASM may not be the best option for you. However, when you look at income, ISSA and NASM personal trainers tend to make the most, showing that this is likely the best investment in your future.
If you are a terrible test taker, the Fitness Mentors CPT exam may be appealing to you as it is open book and has a nearly 80% pass rate.
The amount of CEUs required, as well as the recertification fee, are also an important consideration as this is required by all the certification bodies.
The point is you should be objective in your selection and determine what factors are most important to you. Talk to some other trainers and ask them what cert they have, if they like it, and if they’d recommend it to you. But remember, any trainer you ask advice for will likely be partial to whatever certification they have.
If you are interested in two personal training certifications for the cost of one, the NFPT and Fitness Mentors have partnered to provide the best education experience in the industry with the power of earning two CPT Certifications at once.
The Fitness Mentors CPT Certification is also recommended by Personal Trainer Pioneer, one of the best review sites for personal training certifications. Learn more about their recommended packages here.
I hope that this post has helped you make the decision to choosing the best personal training certification for you that much easier. If you have any questions, or would like to see anything else added to this list, please contact us today.
To be eligible for most certified personal trainer exams, you typically need to meet the following criteria:
These requirements may vary from certification to certification, but these are the basic guidelines for a CPT. From there, you simply register for an exam, study, pass, and begin your career.
You can figure it will cost you between $500 to $1,000 to get certified as a personal trainer for most certification bodies.We cover the specifics of how much each certification body charges for the exam and study materials in our guide.
The personal trainer certification length is good for life provided you keep up with continuing education requirements of your certification. Another way of explaining this is that you’ll have to understand that each personal trainer certification company has different requirements for their trainers to maintain their certifications. The general rule of thumb is a certification must be renewed every two years and is done so by taking continuing education courses. See our chart and description below to learn more about each certification.
The Fitness Mentors Personal Trainer Certification is the cheapest personal training certification at $499 including the digital textbook, 8 types of study materials, and the exam. This option is completely online and therefore does not have some of the unnecessary costs associated with the others.
Based on the exam pass rate of 89%, Fitness Mentors boasts the highest likelihood of a student passing. This may be due in part to an at home exam and/or a higher quality of study materials, along with direct guidance from their mentors. Join their discord here to see their mentors in action.
The personal trainer certifications with an option for NCCA accreditation are the most respected in the industry. The NCCA is the gold standard for third-party personal training certifications. Some of these certs include, NASM, ACE, Fitness Mentors, and ISSA.
The investment in a personal trainer certification is worth it no matter which way you look at it. Most CPTs are $400 to $800 and full time trainers can expect to make this money back their first month. The education you get will also ensure a healthy knowledge for personal gains as well.
Personal trainers will be expected to be fit enough to demonstrate the exercises they are recommending to clients. While there is no fitness test to become a personal trainer, being in-shape would certainly help you attract clients.
Gyms tend to accept personal trainer certifications that are NCCA Accredited (like NASM or ACE), those that are accredited by the National Board of Fitness Examiners (like Fitness Mentors or NESTA), or those with a DEAC Accreditation (like ISSA).
BS Kinesiology, NASM-CPT, CES, PES FNS, MMAS, WLS, FM-CPT, ACE-CPT, Master Personal Trainer
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.
References:
Are you considering an Exercise Science degree or asking yourself “what can you do with an exercise science degree?” to help plan for your future?
Whatever your stage in life — consideration, current Exercise Science student, or recent grad — this post is for you.
As a previous Exercise Science graduate, I can give you a little taste of the college route (as well as other education paths) and provide insight into the options for Exercise Science careers.
But first, let’s define what Exercise Science is.
Exercise Science describes the study of the body under the stress of exercise including acute and chronic adaptations like the effects on overall health parameters, pathologies, and its potential to reduce, or reverse, disease progression.
Some other areas of study within Exercise Science vertical that you might see at various educational institutes are:
You can also expect a strong educational emphasis in the areas of anatomy, physiology, chemistry, biology, and oftentimes, physics.
If there is one thing I want to emphasize about studying Exercise Science is that the majority of careers in the field require additional graduate school coursework. Yes, that is worth repeating.
Exercise Science is a common prerequisite for graduate level programs in careers such as:
The important takeaway here is that for most, the bachelor’s degree in and of itself does not get them to the career that they want. Additionally, and as I will get into more below, the career you want might not require a four year college degree in Exercise Science.
However, if you are interested in some of the above careers that require education beyond a B.S. degree, by all means continue on the path that makes the most sense for you.
I emphasize this point because I have met many people who studied Exercise Science in college only to find that they either did not realize they needed additional education to get the career they wanted, or realized there were quicker, more affordable ways to get into the career they wanted.
That said, listed below are some careers that you can get without additional education after your Bachelor’s in Exercise Science degree, including:
Provided below are the most popular career paths in Exercise Science, which may or may not include a college education, are below.
By far, the most common career path chosen by people looking to have an Exercise Science career, as well as who are currently studying Exercise Science, is personal training.
The benefits of a career in personal training are numerous and can even be aligned with that of any of the other careers on this list.
For starters, you don’t need to get a bachelor’s degree to become a personal trainer. In fact, there are five separate ways you can become a personal trainer, ranging from certification from accredited companies, to vocational college, to university programs, to online options, and internal gym programs.
If your heart is set on becoming a personal trainer it certainly would be helpful for you to understand your options for certification beforehand.
Now, I am certainly not knocking university or college-based personal training certification options — I got my B.S. at a university and was a college instructor afterward — but I do understand that it may not be an option for everyone.
But what if you want a career that requires a college degree? Would it still be beneficial to consider a personal training certification?
Let’s say you choose any of the aforementioned education routes for your career in Exercise Science: college degree or not.
Either way, you can benefit from a personal training certification no matter what route you take. If you are wanting to have a career as a personal trainer, you can get certified in as little as two to five months and start making money right away.
If you are in college and are studying Exercise Science, it is still a good idea to get a personal training certification because you can begin gaining experience within your career immediately and can even pay for your education, through your personal training income.
For example, while I was in college I used my personal training certification to my advantage. I was able to train clients around my school schedule given the flexibility of the career. This provided me industry experience, but also allowed me to pay my way through college.
I also became certified as an Online Personal Trainer and trained clients through the internet, which gave me even more freedom to complete my studies and enjoy the college experience.
So, no matter what your long-term goals are, getting a personal training certification can help in the following ways:
Below are the best certification options to choose from:
We designed this test to help you choose the perfect certification based on your learning style and goals.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a career in Physical Therapy has some very promising advantages.
For starters, the median pay approaches $90,000 per year, is expected to grow 28% by 2016 (which is much faster than average), and consistently ranks as one of the best jobs in healthcare for work-life balance.
Physical therapy jobs tend to require a doctoral degree (DPT), although some may accept a master’s degree. CostHelper.com says that doctoral physical therapy degrees can cost $35,000 (such as the doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago), or much more for out-of-state students, such as The University of Delaware’s doctoral program which costs over $75,000. That is on top of the money you spend for your bachelors degree.
Athletic trainers also rank high on this list as the profession is similar in scope to that of personal trainers, yet requires a formal bachelor’s degree in a specialized program and the passing of a state licensure exam. Athletic trainers have a median income of $46,630 per year according to the BLS, and have a rapid rate of employment at 23% when looking out to 2016.
One of the coolest things I find about athletic trainer careers is that they often work alongside athletes within educational settings such as colleges of universities.This often means these professionals are the ones who work hand-in-hand with some of the best up-and-coming athletic talent in the country.
They can also work with younger students, within hospitals, or even for professional sports teams.
With a median pay of just under $50,000 per year, and a faster than average job outlook, a career in exercise physiology is a popular choice for many looking to put their Exercise Science degree to work.
This type of career typically requires a Masters in Exercise Physiology, which on average takes 6 years of total college time as well as requires board certification through the American Society of Exercise Physiologists.
Another interesting aspect of this career is that about half of all exercise physiologists are self-employed. So if you have an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy the freedom of owning your own business, you may be able to do well in this career.
According to ZipRecruiter, PE teachers make about $42,500 per year. While this is the lowest salary on this list, you have to remember that these teachers tend to have summers off and benefit from all school holidays as well as teacher pensions.
Typical education requirements for this career include a bachelor’s degree in exercise science as well as a teaching credential or a masters in education. Often times a personal training certification will enhance the likelihood of employment as well.
We also can’t forget that PE teachers get to hang out in gym clothes all day, coach fun sports like kickball and dodgeball, and even be physical fitness role models for many of their students.
Granted there is some give and take for each of the professions on this list in terms of knocking off all the boxes of the most ideal career, but the daily life of the PE coach can be very rewarding.
As we have learned above, not all careers within Exercise Science require a full-fledged bachelor’s degree. Similarly, we’ve learned that many sought after degrees within Exercise Science require advanced degrees such as master’s or doctoral degrees.
With that in mind below is a comprehensive list of the many careers and their educational obligations. Note that some of these careers may overlap in multiple categories.
Exercise Science Careers that don’t require Degrees
Exercise Science Careers that require Bachelor’s Degrees
Exercise Science Careers that require Master’s or Doctoral Degrees
The most common way to make money with an Exercise Science career path is personal training. While personal training doesn’t require a degree, those who get certified are able to put money into their pockets quickly and build a strong foundation for further career advancement.
Exercise Science generally offers courses in Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, and Nutrition. Jobs can range from personal trainers and strength and conditioning coaches to physical therapists and physician assistants – so Exercise Science can be lucrative.
Not quite. Kinesiology is a more broad study that focuses on human movement and its effects on an individual’s health. Exercise Science is a sub-field more fine-tuned into learning and influencing human responses to exercise.
Bachelor’s degrees will open you up to mid-level jobs in the fitness industry. Examples of these degrees include Bachelor’s in Sports Management, Health Sciences, Nutrition Science, or Health and Wellness. Graduate degrees, like master’s and doctorate, qualify for higher-level positions. These programs might include a master’s in Exercise Science and Wellness or Human Performance, an MBA in Health Care Management, a Ph.D. in Education for Sports Management, or a medical degree in Sports & Athletic Management. While personal training only requires a certification, you can also get an associate’s degree in Exercise Science, giving you a solid foundation to start personal training.
You should now have a better idea of what you can do in the exciting field that is Exercise Science. For many, a bachelor’s degree at a college or university is the path that they will take to become educated in the many areas of movement and exercise. For others, the bachelor’s is just a stepping stone for a more advanced degree as in the case of physical therapy, physician’s assistant, or doctoral paths. Others may be surprised to learn there are many rewarding careers in Exercise Science that do not require a college degree, and the most popular career in this field, a certified personal trainer, demonstrates that.
When considering your education and career path, keep in mind the following:
With these considerations in mind, you should be able to paint a great picture of where you want your career to take you.
What is your experience with jobs and education in the Exercise Science niche? Is there any tip you wish you knew before you started your studies or career? Let us know in the comments.
If you are considering getting your group fitness certification here are a few statistics that backup your decision:
Although you probably don’t need any more convincing about getting a group fitness certification that will allow you to find gainful employment in an exciting industry, you probably are looking for some information on how to get your group fitness certification.
Below, we have provided info on the exact steps as well as some information on the top group fitness certifications out there. There’s even a little bonus about section group fitness certifications versus personal trainer certifications that I think you’ll find quite interesting (hint: you can become a certified personal trainer and train in a group setting (but not vice versa)).
Here are the steps to become a group fitness instructor. There may be some variation on these steps depending on the certification body you go with, but for the most part, these steps are fairly standard no matter which group fitness certification body you go with.
Before you can sit for a group fitness instructor exam, most certification bodies require the following:
By far, the most popular place to get a CPR/AED certification is through the American Red Cross. It is not the only option, but tends to be the most convenient. You can find a Red Cross CPR/AED class near you on their website.
Worth noting, is that you need not have all of the above prerequisites in place when you begin your group fitness studies, only when you sit for the exam. For example, you can start studying and obtain a CPR/AED certification along the way.
This brings us to our next step, finding a group fitness certification program that is right for you.
One of the most important steps in becoming a group fitness instructor is choosing the best certification for you. Now, there really is no such thing as the “best group fitness certification,” as this is a highly subjective decision.
There are a number of factors that may make a group fitness certification more appealing to you such as cost, length of program, CEU requirements, prestige of brand, job requirements, and convenience.
One area of group fitness certifications that is not subjective is the accreditation body. The gold standard in a group fitness certification is a program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) accreditation is also gaining some clout, and is held by ISSA.
ACE offers NCCA accredited group fitness courses ranging from $299 to $599 (at the time of this writing). The final exam takes place at an administered location and the coursework can consist of videos, podcasts and webinars, depending on the program you register for. ACE is one of the largest name’s in fitness and boasts that their trainers benefit from agreements they have made with popular gyms such as 24 Hour Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Orange Theory, Crunch Fitness, and others.
The ACSM Certified Group Exercise Instructor (ACSM-GEI) course is prided on its educational approach to intentional planning around science-based group sessions as well as motivational and leadership techniques that make training fun and effective. While ACSM claims it is the “gold standard” in group fitness certification, it is not currently an accredited certification option.
AFAA has perhaps the most outstanding reputation in the group fitness certification arena. Not only is the cert NCCA certified and been in existence for nearly four decades, but is also a partner of NASM (NASM acquired AFAA in late 2017 which is why you won’t see a standalone NASM group fitness course).
AFAA courses range from $299 for self-study, to $399 for premium self-study, to $499 for an all-inclusive package with a job guarantee. On the NASM website, however, the certification is mentioned as an add-on continuing education course and has a reduced price of $224, $299, and $374 for the options mentioned above, respectively (at the time of this writing).
The ISSA Specialist in Group Fitness certification is an online course that offers a self-paced study regime. As mentioned before, this is the only certification body that is accredited by the DEAC, which is a less prestigious name in the accreditation space, but nonetheless a national accreditation. At $799, it is by far the most expensive group fitness certification on this list.
The NCCPT Group Exercise Instructor (CGxI) credential is a self-proclaimed “entry level specialization certification” that is likely intended to be an add-on CEU for existing certified personal trainers rather than a standalone certification like many others on this list. It is also amongst the cheapest at $199 for the exam-only package, but ranges up to $299 for additional study and preparation materials.
NESTA’s Group Exercise Instructor Course is 100% online and is one of the most affordable options for group fitness certification at $275. While highly convenient and amongst the least expensive group fitness certifications, The NESTA GEI is unaccredited, so many gyms may be a bit more discerning while hiring for this certification.
NETA’s Group Fitness certification is amongst the three in the country that have earned NCCA accreditation. While the program doesn’t benefit from the brand power of ACE and AFAA (the other two accredited options), it does have a strong curriculum and multiple study options ranging from $239 to $299. The live workshop study option is popular as it allows students to attend a workshop with an experienced NETA educator.
Once you familiarize yourself with these brands and choose one that works for you, you can move on to the next step.
With most group fitness certifications you can purchase your study materials (and begin studying) before you schedule the exam. Many programs, however, require that you register for the exam within a specific time period after the purchase of the study materials.
ACE, for example, requires you to register for your exam within six months of the materials purchase date. With AFAA, you have 180 days from your enrollment date to take the certification exam.
These certification bodies require these timelines for a variety of reasons. First, they want to set that psychological goal in your head to start and finish the program in its entirety. Secondly, they make money on the study materials and the exam, so it makes sense that if you were to buy study materials, you would take the exam.
While the exams of each certification body vary in difficulty and materials covered, there are some standard study tips that can help you get through all the studying in time for the final certification exam.
As a former college professor, I recommend the following approach to studying for the group fitness exam:
And here’s a study fast track system that works really well for those who like to knock things out fast:
Once you are prepared for the exam, it is time to knock it out!
The most obvious step in getting your group fitness certification is passing your exam.
But this necessary step only happens if you put in the time to learn the materials, understand the concepts behind them, and get the certification in your hand.
After you do this, you’ll be ready to start a career as a group fitness trainer!
Do you already know where you want to work? Are you going to start your own fitness club or perhaps get a job as a contractor at several?
Related: Check out this post on personal trainer salaries to see which gyms pay the most.
Once you have your certification in hand, you can begin to peruse the web for group fitness trainer openings, check in at your local gym, or visit the websites of gyms to see if they post active positions.
Gyms aren’t the only places that hire group fitness instructors though, so don’t limit your job search to these locations. Spin, yoga, and pilates studios are some of the other well-known locations to get a group fitness job. The rare country club gig or super rare cruise line job may also open up from time-to-time.
In many cases you may have to get an additional certification (ex. Spin instructor) or go through an internal training program at your place of employment.
There are also specialist programs that you may be interested in to truly hone your craft. For example, AFAA has an indoor cycling speciality course, and ACE has a Functional Aging Group Exercise specialty course. The specialization you choose largely has to do with the demographic you enjoy working with.
In an effort to help trainers maintain their education and the health and safety of their clients, continuing education units (CEUs) are required by every reputable certification body. The amount you need depends on the certification body, but these CEUs are not just a tool to help you maintain your certification, they are also opportunities to expand your knowledge of health and fitness.
A lot of aspiring group fitness trainers will also consider a personal trainer certification and weigh the options between each. There are some important considerations that aspiring trainers from each career option should take into account.
The first, and perhaps most important consideration, is that you are able to train group fitness classes with a personal trainer certification but are generally ineligible to train individuals at most corporate settings with a group fitness certification.
This may sway some trainers towards choosing the certified personal trainer route and considering a group fitness specialization or CEU as they can train groups and individuals.
The other important consideration for aspiring trainers is the potential income from each type of training — personal training or group training. This has a lot to do with your involvement as a trainer with your clientele.
If you are a group fitness instructor, you generally have to showcase the exercises as you teach (i.e. workout with your group), making man’s/woman’s physical limitations a factor in terms of financial gain from multiple group fitness sessions per day.
On the other hand, a personal trainer can provide guidance to multiple clients each day without having to physically exert themselves. For the entrepreneurial trainer, this may make the decision to get a CPT a more decisive one.
Granted, group trainers usually make more than personal trainers on a per session basis, but personal trainers can easily conduct five or more sessions per day whereas a group fitness trainer may be limited to two due to the physical demands of teaching.
Now you have a good idea of what the steps are to become a group fitness instructor, recognize some of the top certification bodies, and even know that you can become a certified personal trainer and train in a group setting (but not vice versa).
If you are ready to advance your group fitness career, start by knocking out your prerequisites. From there, find a group fitness certification that works for you, study hard, pass your exam, and find your dream job.
There are numerous ways to make money as a personal trainer, but unquestionably the most common way is to start working at a gym.
If you are looking to get certified as a personal trainer, check out our blog on the best personal training certification.
We designed this quiz to help you choose the perfect certification based on your learning style and goals.
If the most common question I get asked about personal training is what certification to get, the second most common question has to be “how much can I make as a personal trainer?”
There are numerous ways to make money as a personal trainer, but unquestionably the most common way is to start working at a gym. I started my career as a personal trainer by working at Equinox and 24-Hour Fitness.
Also be sure to join the conversation with hundreds of fitness pro’s, six-figure personal trainers, fitness mentors and coaches on our discord here:
When people first consider becoming a trainer they begin to think about the major gyms and how much they pay. And as much as certification bodies like NASM want to tell you that their average trainers make $42k a year, the reality of a personal trainer salary ultimately lies in what the gyms will pay as this is the most common career route.
However, the gym route is not the only one and many existing or aspiring trainers want to venture into the more entrepreneurial routes of private, or online personal training, as higher income levels are more easily achieved.
So, to help trainers understand what popular gyms pay their trainers and to showcase some insider knowledge on what private and online trainers can make, I’ve put together this post that outlines personal trainer salaries as well as what trainers at the most recognizable gym brands around the country get paid, and how they set up their payment structure.
I’ll also discuss the three pay structures that are common to trainers and provide you with next steps from a seasoned personal trainer who has gone through the experience of getting a gym job first-hand as well as utilized the private and online routes.
First things first, if you want to work in personal training or at a big box gym like 24-Hour Fitness, Equinox, LA Fitness, or the like, you’ll need a personal training certification from a credentialed fitness organization.
Gyms want their trainers to get, or have, certifications, because they provide a baseline for credibility.
We have written a very comprehensive blog on the best personal trainer certifications where you can take a look at our side-by-side analysis of 10 different, popular personal training certification organizations. If you are unsure the exact steps to become a trainer and the prerequisites — education, age requirements, CPR/AED certifications — then check out this post on the topic.
Keep in mind that many gyms may hire you before you get a certification, and some will even have you go through their internal certification, so if you have a gym in mind for your place of employment it doesn’t hurt to ask what their requirements are first. Note that a true personal training certification will allow for a job at a much wider range of locations than just that one gym, something you’ll want to consider as your career evolves.
But before you enter the personal training employee marketplace, it pays to know some of the various pay structures that are common within the personal training industry so you know what to expect going in.
When you begin your search for gyms that will provide you gainful employment, you can expect the pay structures to fall into one of these three categories:
In the gym world, the gyms who make you get clients and don’t feed them to you will generally pay the most. The opposite is true too; the gyms that feed you clients will generally pay you the least.
Commercial gyms will typically pay you minimum wage to “work the floor” and try to drum up new clients. Once you are actually training clients, you’ll get a bit more per hour as you are increasing the gyms revenue by performing a training session. If you sell a large personal training package, commercial gyms will often give you a commission.
Independent pay structures, or those that pertain to the self-employed personal trainer, are much more favorable to the trainer, but the negative is that they are obviously not as exposed to as many potential clients as they would be on the floor of a major gym, and are only getting paid when they train.
When you are self-employed, or an independent personal trainer not on a gym’s payroll, you may be able to develop relationships with smaller, privately-owned gyms that will allow you to bring in your own clients.
The catch is that you have to pay the gym a fee when you use their gym to train your client. For example, I used to pay a privately-owned, non-chain gym $15 a session to bring my client in and train them.
I could ultimately charge my client whatever I wanted, and had no pressure from any boss to sell more training sessions as it was entirely up to me.
Keep in mind that with this independent structure, you are running your own business, which means you are responsible for additional tasks like accounting, taxes, marketing, advertising, sales and lead generation.
Related: How to Set a Pricing Structure for Your Personal Training Business
The 1099 model is similar to the self-employed trainer model except the gym has a relationship with the clients. A 1099 is a tax form given to an independent contractor as opposed to a W2 which is given to employees.
In this pay structure, the gym does not actually employ you as a personal trainer, but they contract with you so that they can make money on personal training and alleviate themselves from the costs of having an employee.
The 1099 model is like when you hire a plumber to come fix your broken toilet; they are getting paid for their service but they are not your employee.
In the contractor payment style, the personal trainer and the gym typically get a split, like 50/50, on whatever the gym charges. So, if the gym charges $60 for an hour long session, they’d keep $30 and you’d get paid $30. The gym collects the money from the client and then will pay you, the trainer, for the session performed.
With this type of structure the personal trainer will be responsible for claiming taxes on the money they make, as the gym does not set aside any income since the trainer is not an employee.
Now, you may be asking yourself, “how do I know what kind of payment structure the gym I want to work at has?” Excellent question, let’s address that below.
While I could have left you hanging with the above information on the three various pay structures that are common for trainers who work at/with gyms, I wanted to do a deeper dive and get some answers from real trainers who work, or have worked, at some popular gym chains.
The Fitness Mentors team reached out to several gyms chains and their current employees, as well as conducted a survey with our current and previous students on Facebook, to get currently used payment structures and insight on how various gyms pay their trainers. We have provided that information below.
If you have any experience with these gyms or would like to comment on something different, please feel free to let us know in the comments so we can update this post.
Non-training payment:
Floor hours at minimum wage – typically 20 hours a week until your client base grows.
Payment structure:
Less than 42 sessions per pay period (2 week pay period):
More than 42 sessions per pay period (2 week pay period):
The average full-time trainer at Equinox performs 25-30 training sessions per week.
Non-training payment:
Minimum wage for non-training hours.
Payment structure:
Also, a 5% bonus commission is added to total salary when 60 training sessions or more are performed in one pay period.
Non-training payment:
Minimum wage for non-training hours.
Payment structure:
$6 – $7.50 per 30 minute session
$12 – $15 per 1 hour session
$7.50 – $15 is for larger cities with higher cost of living like in Los Angeles.
$6 – $12 is for less populated, lower cost of living areas like Arizona.
Other findings:
No findable bonus structure. Trainer turnover is very high.
Every person in the Facebook group concurred that LA Fitness is a less than ideal place to work as a trainer, but a few people mentioned they pay their group exercise instructors significantly better.
Non-training payment:
Varies
Payment structure:
Varies, these are franchised gyms and each one has a different pay structure.
Answers varied on payment structure for the trainers we surveyed:
Other findings:
Collective agreement that Anytime Fitness is an enjoyable place to work. They are 3,000-5,000 sq ft gyms with only 5-10 trainers per location.
Non-training payment:
None
Payment structure:
These are franchised gyms and each location may have a different pay structure.
Here are some quotes from Crunch Fitness trainers concerning their salary. Answers varied on payment structure:
I’m only paid for hours trained and commission on sales. I’m not paid while trying to get clients.”
“I work at Crunch. Mine is a level 3 gym but because I just started I’m at level 2 for a few months. If I charge a la carte the client pays $80/hour or $50/30 minute session. Depending on my sales volume I can make between 40% and 65% of what I sell. I’m given “potential clients” but I have to sell them the personal training sessions. There’s not a sales force like at LA Fitness but the income potential is much better. I set my own hours and can work whenever I like. They encourage me to sell package deals which requires a 3 month commitment from the client. They are not allowed to cancel. Money is debited from their account either monthly or biweekly. They can also get a discount if they pay in full. For level 2, if you wanted to be trained 2x week, it would cost $504. For 3x week $697. Those are monthly rates for hour long sessions. Level 3, of course, is higher and most of the trainers at my gym are level 3. We have about 17 trainers. It’s a great place to work! Just takes time to build your clientele.”
Non-training payment:
Minimum wage is paid when not training.
Payment structure:
Basically, YMCA trainers make $15 – $28 per session/hour depending on their tier.
We were able to find some training salary data for YMCA but it is just for the Charlotte, NC area. I assume that cities with higher costs of living would be accounted for in pay (and vice versa for smaller cities), but we were unable to find any other data on that.
The information for YMCA trainers and their tiers can be found below, respectively:
Other benefits include:
Full-time minimum wage positions.
Payment structure:
Typically no higher pay for trainers, but it is an easy job that requires no sales and just training. Decent for beginners looking to gain training experience but not really career-worthy. No commissions. No bonuses.
It is a well known fact that private personal trainers have the potential to make far more than gym trainers.
Why? Because private personal trainers can set their own rates.
There is a catch for private personal trainers, however, and that is that they have to drum up enough business to write their own paycheck. But before we get into a sample private personal trainer salary let’s define exactly what a private personal trainer is.
A private personal trainer is a trainer that is self-employed, creates their own work schedule, and is free to choose the clients that they work with. For many personal trainers, this is the end goal of their personal training careers and is what sees some trainers working with celebrities and making big bucks.
Unlike gym trainers, private personal trainers don’t get help from the gym or get funneled clients from fitness organizations. They utilize their own networking, sales, and marketing skill sets to drive leads and ultimately generate new clients.
For that reason, many private personal trainers struggle to make a decent income. You can’t simply get a personal trainer certification and expect leads to come your way. (Check out this course to learn how to build your business and get clients). This is also why so many trainers start out in the gym, get experience, make relationships, begin taking on private clients on the side, and eventually leave the corporate gym environment behind.
A respectable private personal trainer can make upwards of $70,000 per year.
Compare this to the full time salary of a respectable personal trainer at 24-Hour Fitness which would likely fall in the low $40,000 range. And by respectable I mean one with a couple thousand hours of sessions under their belt and training 20-30 sessions per week. This low $40,000 range is also commensurate with what NASM says their average trainer makes.
For example, a 24-Hour Fitness trainer in their middle tier (PT3) makes $13 an hour when training. If you compare a potential salary of an entry-level trainer at 24-Hour Fitness, $22,440/year, to that of a Master Trainer at 24-Hour Fitness, $58,464, and split it down the middle (which is more or less where a PT3 would be), you’d get $40,452.
Now, let’s compare the above salary of a gym trainer to that of a private personal trainer.
The average private personal trainer in the U.S. charges around $50 session. Let’s say this trainer works a total of 30 hours per week and making $1,500 in that time. Multiple this time the weeks in a year, 52, and you have a respectable private trainer who is making $78,000 a year.
Potential Salary of Private Personal Trainer
That same trainer can charge $100 a session, work 15 hours a week, and make the same salary.
Gym trainers typically have to work a lot more hours than private personal trainers for a fraction of the salary which is why private training is often the more desirable route. But as we’ll learn, private personal training is not the only way to make money as a trainer outside the gym.
Interested in getting a CPT with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and business development? Check out the FM-CPT for more info.
Now you know what you can potentially make when you become a personal trainer at a gym. With this information, you may understand the gyms you want to work at and those you potentially want to stay away from.
One thing that should be clear with this information is that personal growth equates to more money as revealed by the tier systems many of these gyms have. The goal of continually developing yourself as a personal trainer is so you can build your book of business and generate a better income for yourself.
If you are interested in becoming an all-around better personal trainer and business-savvy individual, check out my book and online course I’ve made specifically for hungry self-starters looking to earn the income they deserve: Business and Sales: The Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer.
In addition to understanding which gym to kickstart your career, you’ll still want to have an understanding of which personal trainer certification is right for you. Amongst the three most popular certifications are Fitness Mentors, NASM and ACE, of which we cover side-by-side in this in-depth blog post.
If you liked this post or want us to try and find additional information, please let me know in the comments. If you have experience at other big brand gyms and want to share the salary information, please help us educate other personal trainers by sharing your thoughts below.
BS Kinesiology, NASM-CPT, CES, PES FNS, MMAS, WLS, FM-CPT, ACE-CPT, Master Personal Trainer
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.
The Fitness Mentors Certified Online Personal Trainer (FM-COPT) is the only company nationally recognized by the NBFE (National Board of Fitness Examiners) to offer an Online Personal Training Certification.