Having one of the best personal training certifications will equip you with essential knowledge and skills for your profession. That is important if you want to achieve financial freedom through your personal training career. If you have a good personal training certification, then clubs and businesses will be more likely to hire you. “It provides the fundamentals of fitness, movement, exercise science, training, and coaching and can help people do it safely and effectively.”
AFPA’s personal certification track includes three separate courses, each offering more in-depth instruction and preparation. This includes their entry-level Personal Trainer Certification Course, their Advanced Personal Trainer Course, and their Master Personal Trainer Certification Course. As their most intensive option, the latter features specific training in sports conditioning and nutrition and wellness, in addition to broad-based education in personal training. The two standard training packages offered by ACE are the Basic Study Program and Basic Study Plus.
As for the curriculum, the NCSF Easy Learning System™ is one of the industry’s most advanced e-Learning platforms and features digital flashcards, videos, quizzes, and instructor support–which beginners love. Get information on Certified Personal Trainer programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information. Successfully completing the Health Coaching specialization course is quite demanding.

NASM personal trainer certification guarantees you a job for some selected programs. You can get a job at top gyms, get excess to fitness experts, and more. There are four organizations on this list that offer a high number of specialized certifications for aspiring personal trainers who want to fill particular niches in the field. All NFPT training packages carry a low price tag in comparison to industry standards.

Trainer Academy Certified Personal Trainer Certification

Although both NASM and ISSA CPT reviews tend to be very positive., the NASM CPT is the more respected certification than the ISSA CPT. This is because of its NCCA accreditation and high-quality CPT course content. Statistically speaking, NASM coaches are the top-grossing if using certification as the only variable. This will of course depend on your personal time management and circumstances regarding all other life commitments.

You can easily pass it within 30-days – the fastest I’ve seen someone pass this test, with our guide, is 7-days! Too many coaches finish not just personal training certifications, but also university degrees, with a head full of knowledge but no practical skills to implement it with real life human beings! Many new personal trainers feel uncomfortable with the business side of coaching, but the reality is that you need to make money if you want to continue to help your clients. Before we consider what the “best” certificate or course is, we should first ask why personal trainer certifications even exist and why there are so many to choose from? The answer is that the fitness industry is largely unregulated and lacks a unifying governing body. There is no one degree, certification or education path that is required to be a personal trainer.

Group Fitness Personal Trainer

Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering. The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Salary can also vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and years you have spent in your profession. All this is approved nutrition advice that can be offered by a professional who holds a nutrition credential. Additionally, you can offer strategies for improving nutrition and provide necessary tools to allow them to incorporate the nutrition advice into their lifestyle.

So, with PROPTA’s online certification programs, you’ll be able to study at your own pace and in your own home. Like all top personal training certifications, the AFPA also requires you to complete continuing education credits. For most courses, your initial personal training certification will be valid for approximately one or two years. You need to obtain and submit extra credits during this period to prove that you are up to date in the personal training industry.
ISSA also offers other certifications, such as Master Trainer, Elite Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Nutrition, and so much more. I think ISSA’s nutrition chapter is among the best of all the personal training programs, so for this reason, only, you may want to consider this certification strongly. With this knowledge, there’s no doubt that you’ll have a clearer understanding of nearly every client you run into and be able to provide quality personal training tips for beginners with passion as well. ISSA provided some of the first online training programs, so they know how to provide an easy path toward certification. They give you easy interfaces to use and include many additional online resources like forums for any additional questions and a way to get your CPR/AED certification from home easily.
This makes ISSA a great option if you want a convenient and all-inclusive program for a reasonable price. The organization also offers deals, coupon codes and discounts regularly – especially during holiday seasons. While the textbook contains excellent information, I feel the other materials are limited compared to competing certifications. You don’t get a cueing library or lecture videos, for example, like you do with NASM.
Employers and fitness groups around the world value and respect ISSA certificates. You must take your exam at a Prometric testing site with a registration fee of $99. The basic option does not include an NCCA-accredited exam and is therefore not recognized by major gyms. Additionally, the exam is not as research-based as other certifications we reviewed, but this is likely because it’s for the entry-level personal trainer. Reviews also state that the study materials are thorough and organized.

Overall, ISSA is among the pioneering organizations that played a role in the development and emergence of the fitness industry in the U.S. and other countries as we know it today. The NASM CPT exam is among the most difficult CPT exams in the industry. Although I was able to pass the exam on my first try, I definitely do not recommend taking it lightly.
Their online learning materials are extensive, although the organization does not offer any hands-on instruction. AFPA lets their students complete all their training and preparation online. The virtual study and learning packages they sell are among the most comprehensive available anywhere in the industry and include strong student support and helpful interactive services. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is one of the most esteemed names in personal trainer preparation and certification. They are fully accredited by the NCCA and feature a basic yet highly regarded package of educational materials.
So what are these certifications, NASM and ISSA, and what makes them so great? There aren’t any reputable reviews available online, and since it is not well-known, it may not be immediately recognized as reputable by fitness employers. The ISSA exam is open-book and completed in the comfort of your home, which is great for those who are not comfortable taking exams. If you are just starting a career in fitness, you may not have any idea who you like to work with. It’s a fine cert and people who have this certification usually know a lot about joint angles and biomechanics and stuff like that. ACE certification comes in a 3-tier package with a different fee range.

You need to recertify every two years, which can be done and paid for online. NASM allows you to pay an upfront fee of $399, and you can avoid any future renewal fees. The next step is to research your options and find your desired certification. There are various certifications available, but finding the ones accredited by the NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) is the best.
These numbers are just averages, and focusing on what you think you can make is more important. I can’t tell you how often clients have asked me about “keto” or “vegan” diets, and the ISSA nutrition chapter tells you the unbiased science regarding the pros and cons of different food choices. NASM developed the OPT Model based on scientific evidence and principles and consists of five OPT Model phases trainers use to safely, effectively, and appropriately progress clients. ISSA’s program design covers the essentials, breaking down exercises into foundational, strength, metabolic, and speed/agility/quickness with solid exercise instruction and cueing tips.
ISSA’s coverage of advanced exercise programming isn’t as thorough as other certifications like the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Getting any high quality fitness certification at $436 a piece is the best deal in the industry. Sadly, these certifications add up in price, potentially costing thousands up front.
In the end, ISSA wins the price battle but falls short of the extra materials that NASM can provide. The process from signing up to becoming a personal trainer should be no more than six months. The ISSA and NASM programs are both worth looking at if you are considering being a personal trainer as a side activity or wanting to take it as a full-time job. Not just that, but each certification has different price points and program offerings that may or may not be tailored to the particular kind of personal trainer you aim at becoming. Moreover, becoming a personal trainer is a great way to start a DIY (Do it Yourself) business and turn your passion for fitness into a profitable career. ACE is a great choice for prospective trainers who want to work with a variety of clients and ability levels.
Trainers will not be expected to program for classes, which is created and published by the Franchise. All trainers must go through an extensive onboarding program before they can take the training floor. Each candidate should showcase and uphold a strong work ethic, high level of communication and interpersonal skills. If you’re hoping to work with professional athletes, bulking them up and getting them primed for their sport, this 1978-established certification program is right for you. Established on the brink of the new millennium (1997), the NPTI certification is for visual, tactile learners, for those who learn by doing.