The best personal trainer courses to kickstart your career are not necessarily the courses you might think. See, here’s the thing, as even an aspiring personal trainer, you likely already have a good idea of what you need to do in terms of applicable courses and certifications. Although I’ll mention the top ones and some specializations, too, the real trick is learning some other skills that you may not have yet considered.
In this guide, I’m going to share the best personal trainer courses you need to kickstart your career into overdrive. Now, remember, you’ll have to work hard to get the courses done and done well, so be prepared. However, in this guide, I’m also going to share some of the hacks I used to speed up the process of starting a personal training business that is not only started but also thriving.
I’m also including a few courses that I think are gold for would-be fitness business owners. I’m not talking about the personal trainers who are content working at a gym as an team member. I’m talking about those of you who want to start your own fitness personal training business and grow it like a boss. You won’t find what you need in the typical course roundup for personal training, so I’ve made this guide to bridge the gap. Let’s jump in.
Understanding the Personal Trainer Job Market
Today’s personal trainer job market is demanding, competitive, and rewarding for those willing to do the work. Jobs are scattered around but not hard to find. These jobs typically range from $20-40/hour in Ontario, Canada (1), as compared to $15 to $60+/hour in Pennsylvania, USA (2), for example. For more information about pay rates, check out my article, Earnings Unveiled: What Top Fitness Professionals Really Make.
In terms of industry growth, health and fitness worldwide was projected to have an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.89%. That projection totals about $9.37 billion in terms of market volume by 2029. (3)
Trends in the job market show that personal training online is a genuine and growing trend that you can capitalize on. I’ve kept this in mind when listing the best personal trainer courses. Furthermore, specializations and certifications are critical to instantly boost your credibility, so I’ve included these below as well because, in my opinion, they are necessary to remain competitive.
The Best Personal Trainer Courses for 2024 and 2025 PT Certification
The following four-course sets are for getting your Personal Trainer certification – necessary for all would-be PT professionals, but to be clear, you don’t need all four. I mean, it would look kind of impressive, I suppose. But you only need one certification to be a personal trainer in most regions (check with local regulations to be sure).
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) – Certified Personal Trainer
Recommended Course: CPT program, advertised (at the time of writing) at $25 down and $79/month for 12 months. If my math is correct, that’s $973 total. (4)
Where to get it: Online at nasm.org/become-a-personal-trainer
What it teaches you: This series of 6 courses and final exam will get you NASM certified as a personal trainer. You’ll learn all the core fundamentals. You can complete this certification online, and it offers the option to take the NCCA accreditation exam route.
American Council on Exercise (ACE) – Personal Trainer Certification
Recommended Course: Certified Personal Trainer (I recommend the Plus program, which at the time of writing was advertised on their website as $614.25. This program tier will give you a few extra perks, like more information on exercise science and study support. It is a great place to network with other would-be PTs (assuming their facilitated study groups let you communicate with each other). NCCA-accredited exam for $99 extra. (5)
Where to get it: Online at https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/personal-trainer-certification/default.aspx
What it teaches you: All the basics you need, along with a certification at the end. This is a popular learning path due to the easy up-front payment options enabling you to save a couple of hundred dollars compared to the NASM certification.
International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) Personal Trainer Certification
Recommended Course: Certified Personal Trainer bundled with the free (at the time of writing) CPR/AED certification. The cost is $994.30 if you pay upfront at the time of writing. (6)
Where to get it: Online at https://www.issaonline.com/certification/personal-trainer-certification
What it teaches you: The ISSA really appeals to my inner student because it includes a ton of tools, like an online textbook, practice quizzes, audio, and video lectures, a student forum to network, and more, to help you make the most of your experience. Like the others, the end result is a certification with the added certification in CPR/AED (at the time of writing, offered as a bonus with the PT certification program).
National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certification
Recommended Exam/Certification: Take note that this is not a course but a certification. Certified Personal Trainer Exam/Certification (NSCA-CPT) – $300 for members, $435 for non-members (exam only). There are available study materials for download at additional costs. Membership opens the gates to the closed community and a multitude of resources, according to their website. (7)
Where to get it: Online at https://www.nsca.com/certification/nsca-cpt/
What it teaches you: As this is an NSCA certification, it is not a course, so it doesn’t teach you anything in the same sense. You’ll need to know what to study and put your own self-study methods to the test. This exam is more complex and requires a higher level of education in the field. Generally, this certification appeals to those wishing to work with athletes.
For more on certifications, please read my article, The Gold Standard: Picking the Best Online Trainer Certification.
Specialized Courses to Elevate Your Career
There are a number of specialized courses you can take to extend your knowledge and your resume. Suppose you decide to specialize in a particular field. In that case, you’ll want to read my complete guide, How to Choose the Perfect Personal Training Niche.
Aside from specializations, I recommend all new personal trainers who want to get their own clients and start their own business should take a course such as the following:
Business Management For Personal Trainers
Recommended Course: Business Foundations Specialization
Where to get it: University of Pennsylvania via Coursera
What it teaches you: This certificate course set gives you six courses to introduce you to some of the principles and knowledge needed to start your own business. Although it is not specific to fitness or personal training, the fundamentals for managing your own business are all introduced. Furthermore, you get a certificate, and you can complete it in 2 months at 10 hours per month, according to Coursera. (4)
What to Look for in the Best Personal Trainer Courses Online
There are three primary things I recommend you look for when selecting courses on your path to becoming a pro personal trainer: certifications, workload expectations to complete classes, and flexibility, format, and price (is it worth getting vs. do you have to get it).
Accreditation and Recognition
The number one thing I ask about a course is whether or not it gives me a certification and how much weight the certification carries in the real world. For example, a PT certificate from some dodgy online ‘school’ versus an accredited organization that is respected are two very certifications, even if they both claim to be a PT certification.
Curriculum and Specialization Options
It’s crucial to experience a comprehensive curriculum that covers anatomy, nutrition, exercise science, and other important relevant topics. Depending on your career path, starting with a university degree in Kinesiology or Exercise Science is a great foundation and will give you an edge at getting higher-paying jobs.
However, there’s a downside to having university degrees with no experience – you could wind up either having to work at a lower rate or get turned down for jobs due to being overqualified. It sounds weird, but it happens. I do not want to dissuade anyone from getting a degree. Still, I believe the more education there is, the better.
Flexibility and Learning Format and Price
Depending on the course, you could complete it online or in class, depending again on your particular career path. However, it doesn’t change the fact that when selecting a course, you may need to choose online due to your situation, or on the flip side, you might need to attend in-class sessions for specific courses such as first aid.
Your Path to a Rewarding Trainer Career Starts Here
Choosing the best personal trainer courses for you is a crucial step in laying the foundation for a successful career in the fitness industry. The classes and certifications you select will provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills but also position you as a credible and competent professional in a highly competitive market. But beyond just choosing the right course, it’s about maximizing the opportunities that come with it—networking, branding, and continuous learning.
As you embark on your journey to becoming a top-tier personal trainer, consider how you will manage and grow your client base. This is where EliteTrainr comes in. With EliteTrainr, you can seamlessly manage your clients, create customized workout and nutrition plans, and track progress—all under your own brand. It’s the perfect companion to your personal trainer certification, allowing you to focus on what you do best: transforming lives through fitness. Start your career on the right foot, and let EliteTrainr help you scale your business to new heights.
Take the next step in your journey—enroll in the course that aligns with your career goals, and try EliteTrainr to elevate your personal training business. Your rewarding career starts today.
Article Sources and Resources
- “Personal Trainer Jobs in Hamilton, on (with Salaries) | Indeed.com Canada.” 2024. Indeed.com. 2024. https://ca.indeed.com/jobs?q=personal+trainer&l=Hamilton%2C+ON&from=searchOnHP&vjk=064e41b4d4cb8ecc&advn=1698281830490033.
- “75+ Personal Trainer Jobs, Employment in Pennsylvania August 14, 2024| Indeed.com.” 2024. Indeed.com. 2024. https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Personal+trainer&l=Pennsylvania&from=searchOnDesktopSerp&vjk=3d3e2441893aff80.
- “Health & Fitness – Worldwide | Statista Market Forecast.” 2022. Statista. Statista. 2022. https://www.statista.com/outlook/amo/app/health-fitness/worldwide#:~:text=Total%20revenue%20in%20the%20Health,US%249.37bn%20by%202029..
- “Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT).” 2023. NASM. 2023. https://www.nasm.org/become-a-personal-trainer.
- “Personal Trainer Basic Study Program.” 2022. Acefitness.org. 2022. https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/personal-trainer-certification/default.aspx.
- “Certified Personal Trainer.” 2024. Issaonline.com. 2024. https://www.issaonline.com/certification/personal-trainer-certification.
- “Business Foundations.” 2024. Coursera. 2024. https://www.coursera.org/specializations/wharton-business-foundations#outcomes.
