Personal Trainer School Options

Length of Training

Personal trainer programs typically take anywhere from three to 12 months to complete. If you pursue an undergraduate degree in a related area like exercise science, it can take 24 to 48 months to complete your education.*

Program Options

Certificate and diploma programs can allow you to gain the fundamental knowledge to take certification exams and pursue entry-level personal trainer positions.

Associate and bachelor's degree programs in disciplines like kinesiology, exercise science, or physical education provide a broader scope of training. It's becoming increasingly common for employers to require such a degree, especially if you are interested in working in a rehabilitation facility or taking on another specialized role.

Master's degree programs build on the concepts learned at the bachelor's level. They can help you qualify for leadership roles like fitness director or head athletic trainer.

An O*NET OnLine survey asked fitness trainers and aerobics instructors to indicate the required level of education. Here's how the responses broke down:

• Post-secondary certificate: 57 percent
• High school diploma or equivalent: 14 percent
• Associate degree: 10 percent

Typical Courses

Programs can cover a wide range of subjects, including:

• Anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology
• Biomechanics
• Client assessment and goal setting
• Program development
• Fitness concepts and exercise principles
• Exercise techniques and form
• Injury management and emergency medical care
• Motivation and communication
• Nutrition and lifestyle modifications
• Business and legal skills

Skills You Can Learn

You can start developing abilities related to:

• Evaluating a client's mobility, balance, strength, endurance, and flexibility
• Setting appropriate goals
• Designing safe workout programs
• Demonstrating proper exercise form and techniques
• Adapting fitness programs for different client characteristics
• Motivating clients to achieve their best
• Communicating with clients in a clear and respectful way

Licensing & Certification

Legally, personal trainers do not need to be licensed or certified. However, most gyms will not hire or admit trainers who do not possess at least one accredited certification. Plus, certification is often required in order to get liability insurance.

Look for a program that is accredited by an agency like the NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies). Such accreditation is a seal of approval given to programs that cover the necessary theoretical and practical components and require students to take comprehensive exams.

Accredited certification programs are available from many different organizations, including:

• American Council on Exercise (ACE)
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
• National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF)
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

To obtain basic certification, you will need to meet a few requirements. For most programs, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Hold current CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillator) certification
• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent

For more advanced certifications, you may need to have at least a bachelor's degree in a related field.

Education & Training FAQs

How much does certification cost?

Each certifying organization has its own fee structure. But based on the fees of eight different organizations (like those referenced above), it generally costs anywhere from $100 to $600 to take a personal trainer certification exam. Some providers offer packages that include the exam fee along with study materials such as textbooks, instructional videos, study guides, and practice tests. Package prices vary widely, from about $100 to $2,400.

Some post-secondary programs include the initial cost of certification in their tuition fees. Plus, if you already work at a health club or are a veteran, you may qualify for discounts on certification fees.

Do I have to renew my certification?

Yes. Most personal training certifications must be renewed every two or three years, depending on the organization. That typically requires completing a certain number of continuing education credits and paying a fee. The continuing education component is in place to ensure that you maintain your commitment to the field through ongoing professional development of your expertise.

Earnings

Salaried personal trainers are not the norm. Rather, many work on an hourly or commission-driven basis. Also, many are self-employed. So your income will likely be based, at least partially, on your ability to generate business.

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), the median hourly wage for fitness trainers and instructors is $19.57.* That equates to an annual salary of $40,700 for full-time work.

The top earners make $36.51 or more per hour. Full-time work at that rate would generate $75,940 or more per year.

Job Openings & Outlook

From 2021 to 2031, employment of exercise trainers and group fitness instructors is expected to grow by 19 percent, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections.*

An average of 65,500 jobs in that category should become available each year over that same time frame.

What a Personal Trainer Does

Personal trainers help clients achieve increased fitness and health. They can assist clients in reaching a number of physical fitness goals, from weight loss to cardiovascular endurance to muscle gain.

Typical tasks include:

• Assessing clients' fitness levels
• Creating realistic goals
• Developing programs that incorporate various types of exercise, such as cardio, strength, and flexibility training
• Teaching pre- and post-workout stretches to help clients avoid injury
• Supervising clients during exercises to ensure they are using proper techniques
• Monitoring clients' progress
• Providing information about nutrition or lifestyle issues
• Administering first aid if necessary
• Updating client records

Work Settings

Personal trainers can be found in settings like:

• Gyms
• Health clubs
• Recreation centers
• Corporate wellness centers
• Yoga studios
• Hotels and resorts
• Cruise ships
• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation centers
• Retirement complexes
• Clients' homes

Some trainers conduct training sessions in their own homes or even online.

About 22 percent of fitness trainers and instructors are self-employed.

Specializations

Personal trainers can pursue certifications in a huge range of niche areas. The list below, while not comprehensive, describes some of the major categories and the specific specialties offered in each.

Athletics and performance: Pursue one or more specialties that help sports competitors get better results, such as strength and conditioning, indoor group cycling, mixed martial arts conditioning, or golf fitness.

Nutrition and lifestyle: Help your clients make healthy eating and lifestyle choices by pursuing a specialty like sports or fitness nutrition, behavior change, weight management, or wellness coaching.

Disease management and recovery: Design programs for people dealing with injuries or chronic conditions. These clinical specialties include areas like orthopedic exercise, cancer exercise, and post-rehabilitation exercise.

Special populations: Customize fitness routines for the unique needs of groups like seniors, children, or pregnant or post-natal women.

Career FAQs

For what reasons do people seek out the services of a personal trainer?

Personal trainers often work with people who:

• Want to lose weight or gain muscle
• Need to learn proper form in order to avoid injury
• Are interested in working out but don't know where to start
• Have a disability or are facing an illness
• Have reached a plateau while training on their own
• Want to minimize the risks of age-related illnesses and injuries
• Are interested in pre- and post-natal fitness

Do personal trainers only work one-on-one with clients?

Trainers can work with groups as well as individual clients. By becoming a group fitness leader, you could plan and choreograph fitness classes, run intensive boot camps, and lead semi-private training sessions. Many trainers specialize in this particular area, but many also take on these tasks in addition to personal training sessions.

What kind of equipment do I need to get started?

That depends on where you plan to do your training. If you will be based in a gym or fitness facility, you probably won't need to buy very much. But if you plan to see clients in their homes or yours, you will likely need to collect basic gear like:

• Floor mats
• Free weights
• Jump ropes
• Resistance bands
• Exercise balls
• Balance boards
• Weighted belts