The 7 Best Personal Trainer Certifications + How To Choose The Right One For You

If you have a passion for wellness and motivating others to get fit, you've likely thought about becoming a personal trainer. Lucky for you, now is a better time than ever to get certified. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the job growth for personal trainers is skyrocketing, creating a higher demand for certified personal trainers (CPTs) across the country. Exercise has been linked to disease prevention, a decrease in depression symptoms1, and (of course) improvements in physical and mental strength2—and the best personal trainer certifications arm you with the tools and education you need to help individuals and groups reap these benefits. 

Becoming a certified personal trainer is, dare we say, personal. There's no single certification that's better than the rest, but there certainly are a few that stand out. We interviewed Kenny Santucci, certified personal trainer and founder of The Strength Club in New York City, to learn what various personal training certificate programs offer and how to choose the right one for you. Below, find our picks for the best personal training certification programs to help kick-start your career.

"A personal training certification gives you the required degree to coach someone in health and fitness along with the background of anatomy, physiology, exercise science, and exercise programming," Santucci explains. "It provides the fundamentals of fitness, movement, exercise science, training, and coaching and can help people do it safely and effectively." 

A personal trainer certification program prepares you for the CPT exam, typically over the course of a few months, giving you the knowledge and skills you need to earn your certification. It's worth noting that many personal trainer certifications generally need to be renewed every two years. You won't have to retake the course, but you'll need to pass the exam again. Some offer the option to recertify for life, with continuing education courses for credits.

There are plenty of personal trainer certification programs available, and they are not all created equal. Knowing how to navigate the minefield of choices is crucial to choosing a quality program. 

Santucci explains, "There are nationally recognized certifications such as NASM, ACE, ISSA, and NSCA. In recent years, there are different organizations that have developed their own courses and certifications that trainers can take, that are both general and on more specific topics in the field such as CFSC, John Rusin, and N1 Training." Most of the options we've recommended are nationally recognized, save for a few exceptions.

Something that folks tend to overlook when considering a personal training certification is the work that goes in after you've sat your exam. Almost every personal training certification has an expiration date and requires continuing education credits (or CEUs) to stay valid. The timelines vary by organization, but most give you between 2-4 years to accrue the required CEUs. The definition of a CEU also varies by org, but most will accept hours of hands on experience or additional courses to keep your certification fresh. A word of caution: if you neglect your CEUs, you may end up paying more money to re-sit your exam.

Additionally, most organizations will ask you to provide proof of a current CPR certification, which typically expires after 2 years.

Santucci says a personal trainer certification program is great for "anyone interested in training clients on their health and fitness and, honestly, anyone who wants to give advice, say on social media, regarding health and fitness." While you don't need to be certified to be a paid trainer, most health institutes and clients will ask to see your certificate—and we highly recommend confirming your own trainer's certification to make sure you are in good hands.

If you want to make personal training your career or even side hustle, it's a good idea to earn your certificate so you can ensure you're training your clients safely and effectively. 

A stamp from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (the NCCA) is like the gold standard for any trainer certification. To obtain this, you must have a high school degree or GED and hold a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification or an automated external defibrillator (AED) certification. A few highly renowned programs have even more requirements, which we've called out in our list below.

"[Personal trainer] certifications provide the basic knowledge you need to practice, but the best way to learn is by doing and getting experience under your belt," Santucci says. "You cannot just get the certification and think you are an expert. You need to have hands-on experience with clients, and you need to understand how to apply the things you learn. Getting a certification doesn't make you a coach. Hands-on experience training clients makes you a coach." In short, if you're up for the challenge—then a certification is very worth it but is only the first step in your journey as a trainer.

While there are some clear-cut standards, like being NCCA-accredited, that make some personal training programs a cut above the rest, it's also important to consider personal factors, preferences, and your long-term plan.

Santucci says the first step is to "realize your goals as a personal trainer, the population you want to work with, your financial commitment, and time commitment." For example, if you dream of being a trainer to highbrow clients at a luxury facility in a large city such as Los Angeles, New York, or Miami, you'll absolutely want to seek out programs that are NCCA-accredited and well respected at those particular facilities.

To fully narrow in on the right certification for you, Santucci advises looking beyond the program itself and asking the right questions. "Look at the people you admire and who are well respected in the field and ask: What courses did they take? What are their methodologies that led them to where they are?" 

Lastly, most personal trainers decide their own rates, and there is not one particular certification that will help you earn the most. Your best bet is to check with the gyms or facilities you'd prefer to work at and see which certificates are most likely to get you a job there.

As you'll see from our list, the cost of a personal training certification varies greatly by the company you choose to study with and the depth of the course. Our lowest-priced option starts at $99 and the highest costs over $1,600.

When considering how much you're willing to spend on a course, keep the following in mind:

Helping others work toward their mobility and fitness goals can be an extremely fulfilling line of work. Plus, working as a personal trainer is also a great way to keep yourself moving and engaged with others, which is increasingly rare in today's WFH society. Depending on whether you choose to work independently or within a gym, it's also a profession that allows for a decent amount of flexibility and ownership of your schedule, which research suggests3 can help reduce feelings of work-related stress.

If you're ready to get serious about becoming a trainer, a certification is the first place to start. Just remember that the requirements for becoming a personal trainer go well beyond a one-and-done exam. As a CPT, you'll want to continue learning—both on the gym floor and beyond—to stay up-to-date with the latest science and keep your certification valid.

With plenty of options to choose from, finding a personal training certificate that's the right fit for you can be a significant first step toward turning your passion for fitness into a career. If you're interested in enhancing your practice, check out our best health coaching programs of 2023.