Best Personal Training Certifications (2024): 9 Top Options Ranked by a Certified Trainer

Becoming a personal trainer is a rewarding educational experience that allows you to help others make impactful, positive lifestyle changes by improving their health and fitness. The job market for personal trainers is growing rapidly, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that the job market for “fitness trainers and instructors” is projected to grow 14% from 2022 to 2023, “much faster than the average for all occupations.”

If you’re ready to become a personal trainer, researching your options for training courses is a good place to start. In this guide to the best personal training certifications, I cover nine of the top personal trainer certification programs and rank them according to several factors, including: 

• Accreditation 
• Study programs and options available 
• Time commitment 
• Exam format 
• Continuing education requirements 
• Student support 

RELATED: Best Health Coaching Certifications

Best Personal Training Certifications

• Best Personal Training Certification Overall: NASM
• Best Personal Training Certification for Student Support: ISSA
• Best Personal Training Certification for Future Specialization: ACE
• Best Personal Training and Nutrition Certification: Fitness Mentors
• Best Value Personal Training Certification: NCSF
• Best Personal Training Certification to Work with Athletes: NSCA
• Best Affordable Personal Training Certification: NFPT
• Best for Working with Special Populations or in Clinical Settings: ACSM
• Best with Long Recertification Term: NESTA

What Does a Personal Trainer Do? 

A personal trainer is an exercise professional who, in simplest terms, helps people train for fitness. Personal trainers can specialize in dozens of different disciplines, from endurance training to Olympic weightlifting to CrossFit to bodybuilding. They can also choose to train individuals from specific populations, such as people who are battling cancer, people who are pre- or post-partum, people who are managing a chronic disease, or something else. 

Or, a personal trainer can choose to work with the general public and train clients from all types of backgrounds. It’s really up to the trainer and what type of clientele they feel called to train. 

Certified personal trainers (CPTs) are fitness experts, specifically in the realms of exercise programming and exercise techniques. A good personal trainer knows how to assess clients for movement patterns and limitations, implement behavior change strategies, program fitness training for different fitness goals and capabilities, and apply the principles of exercise physiology in an everyday setting. 

Many CPTs own their own training businesses, but many prefer to work in settings such as a health club or fitness center. CPTs can also work in schools, for community programs, and in clinical settings depending on their other qualifications. 

Best Personal Training Certification Overall: NASM

Good for: Anyone who wants a well-rounded education and an industry-respected credential

Best Overall

NASM Personal Training Certification Course

GGR Score: 4.14

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Various study packages offered
• New digital learning platform
• The foundation of the course is based on NASM’s Optimum Performance Training Model (OPT) which is a systematic approach to personal training for every type of clien
• Prerequisites  – CPR and high school diploma or GED
• Covers behavioral change to assist clients with personal hurdles
• Focus on client assessments to develop plans best suited for each person

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Lots of study materials available: textbook, app, videos, and podcasts
• Built-in opportunities for post-certification internships
• NASM is NCCA-certified
• Discounts often available
• Financing available
• Options for remote or in-person exam
• Other courses available for advanced learning
• Bundle CPT with nutrition and other courses for a discount

Cons

• Higher cost than some other certification programs
• Textbook not included in two most basic packages
• Textbook/online training modules alone may not prepare you well for exam
• Short time frame to take the exam, especially if you work full-time

Bottom Line

NASM’s digital CPT program is a highly reputable and in-depth certification program for anyone looking to become a personal trainer.

Even if you’re just starting to research how to become a personal trainer, you’ve likely already come across NASM, the National Academy of Sports Medicine. That’s because NASM is a highly respected leader in fitness certification and provides a well-designed, thorough online personal trainer certification program that results in an accredited credential accepted by most major employers in the industry. 

Two members of our team—Kate Meier, GGR head of content, and Anthony O’Reilly, performance editor—are NASM-certified personal trainers. 

RELATED: NASM Review: A NASM–Certified Trainer Explains the CPT Course 

The NASM personal trainer course involves a self-paced, online course with well-structured chapters and access to practice exams to ensure you’re ready to take the exam. There are three options you can purchase: 

• Self-Study, for $899, which includes full access to the online course materials and your exam fee
• Premium Self-Study, for $1,399, which also gives you access to NASM mentors, plus a job guarantee and a retest option if you don’t pass the exam on your first try
• All-Inclusive, for $1,999, which includes all of the above and also gives you a hardcopy textbook, a CPR/AED course (which you need to take anyway), and a “Gymternship”

The job guarantee promises that NASM will help you find employment within 90 days of becoming certified, or you get a full refund. I really love the Gymternship, which is a unique component of NASM CPT programs. This option gets you 80 contact hours—actual hands-on personal training—at a NASM partner facility. It’s a really fantastic way to get your career started. 

This pricing makes it one of the more expensive personal trainer certification options, but we think the level of industry respect that a NASM certification brings—and the detailed course material—sets you up for success. 

The course consists of six sections: 

• Professional Development And Responsibility
• Client Relations And Behavioral Coaching
• Basic And Applied Sciences And Nutritional Concepts
• Assessment
• Exercise Technique And Training Instruction
• Program Design

NASM uses the Optimum Performance Training (OPT) Model as the basis for their curriculum. You’ll learn about this in sections five and six. This is where you will get into the nitty gritty of fitness programming, with an emphasis on performance for the everyday person and people with contraindications to exercise. 

To sit for the NASM exam, you must meet the general requirements of any personal training certification course: Be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and hold a current and valid CPR/AED certification. 

NASM does offer an at-home exam, but it is not proctored, therefore it does not result in the CPT credential. You will earn a “certificate of completion” if you choose this option and you may be ineligible for employment at the employer’s discretion. To ensure you get the NCCA-accredited certification, take the proctored exam in a testing center.

RELATED: NASM Nutrition Coach Certification Review

Best Personal Training Certification for Student Support: ISSA

Good for: Individuals who would like more engagement and structured learning

Best for Student Support

ISSA CPT Certification

GGR Score: 4.1

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Personal training certification
• NCCPT-accredited CPT exam
• Online coursework and exams
• Monthly payment plan available 
• CPR/AED certification required

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Access to a student forum
• Open book or proctored exam options
• Template for a free professional website
• Professional support even after you pass your exam

Cons

• Unclear if open book exam is not accredited
• Expensive price point

Bottom Line

The ISSA certified personal trainer (CPT) program offers an online self-paced certificate. When you’re ready to test you’ll have the option to take an open-book exam online or a closed-book, proctored NCCA-accredited exam. The program gives you access to a five-week course with live classes and a guide to studying.

Individuals who tend to struggle with self-learning should check out the CPT course from ISSA, the International Sports Sciences Association. There is only one study package you can buy, costing about $1,000, and it includes full access to the online course materials, which include: 

• Online textbook
• Online practice quizzes
• Audio and video lectures
• Online workbook
• Online student forum
• Exam 
• Access to a website builder to start your business
• Unlimited student support 
• CPT Education Bootcamp
• Purpose Driven Training Model

The course is self-paced, but you have the option to follow ISSA’s guided 10-week program, which you can set up in the trainer education portal. This, combined with unlimited access to ISSA mentors and customer support, plus the online student forum, makes ISSA the best option for students who want more structure. 

The ISSA CPT course covers all the fundamentals of personal training across six sections:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Kinesiology and Biomechanics
• Health and Physical Fitness
• Program Development
• Nutrition
• Fitness For All

I appreciate that there are two sections dedicated to human movement—this is stuff that personal trainers really should know. Otherwise, it’s difficult or impossible to program modifications for injury, chronic disease, and other considerations. 

Where ISSA could improve is in the assessment arena. According to the course outline, assessments are given just one chapter in section four, Program Development. Although I have not seen the course material in full, I think adequate teachings on client assessment and intake need more space than this. 

Like NASM, ISSA also offers two exam options. You can take the NCCA-accredited exam in a testing center, or you can take the exam at home; the at-home option is accredited by the Distance Education Accreditation Commision (DEAC). Opting for the latter option means you will not receive an NCCA-accredited credential and you may be denied employment at an employer’s discretion. 

Best Personal Training Certification for Future Specialization: ACE

Good for: Aspiring fitness trainers who want to specialize in a specific niche

Best for Future Specialization

ACE CPT Certification

GGR Score: 4.53

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Personal trainer certification 
• 6-month timeline to complete program
• CPR/AED certification required 
• 90,000 ACE CPT professionals globally

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Live, remote proctored exams available
• Straightforward program guidelines
• Ability to sign up for a free preview
• NCCA-accredited program

Cons

• Hard copy textbook costs extra
• 2-year recertification cycle

Bottom Line

ACE certified personal trainers will learn the fundamentals and scope of practice for CPTs. You’ll need to be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, and a CPR/AED certification. From there, you can study and sit for the ACE CPT exam. The certification is NCCA-accredited and over 90,000 fitness professionals also have their ACE certification.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is the way to go if you intend to continue your education as a personal trainer and become a certified specialist in a specific niche. I say this because I believe that the ACE certification is the best when it comes to training special populations. 

RELATED: What Is ACE Certification? A Full Review

The term “special populations” in fitness refers to essentially anyone who has any contraindication to exercise. A contraindication is something, such as a health condition, that prevents a person from doing all or some types of exercise. For instance, high blood pressure is considered a contraindication to heavy lifting, and a person with high blood pressure would need exercise modifications to ensure their blood pressure doesn’t skyrocket to a dangerous level. 

I am an ACE-certified personal trainer, and I can confirm that ACE does a wonderful job of preparing personal trainers to work with clients from all backgrounds with varying contraindications to exercise. There is an entire section dedicated to this, and it covers: 

• Cardiovascular disorders: coronary artery disease, hypertension, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, dyslipidemia 
• Diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational 
• Metabolic syndrome 
• Cancer
• Asthma
• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Low back pain
• Weight management
• Seniors
• Youth
• Pre- and post-partum 

Additionally, ACE offers several specialist certifications should you want to continue your education to become more adept at training a certain population. ACE specialist certs include: 

• Medical Exercise Specialist
• Fitness Nutrition
• Senior Fitness
• Corrective Exercise
• Functional Training
• Weight Management
• Behavior Change
• Sport Performance
• Youth Fitness
• Pilates Unlimited
• Function First Pain-Free Movement
• Cancer Exercise Training Institute 
• Size Inclusive Fitness
• The BioMechanics Method Corrective Exercise

The ACE CPT course is thorough, with 17 chapters covering everything you need to know as a new personal trainer. In addition to program design, anatomy, physiology, contraindications, assessment, and progression, you will also learn about the principles of behavior modification to drive adherence among your clients. ACE also includes information on building a personal trainer business, including legal and insurance considerations. 

There are three study packages to choose from, ranging from a basic self-paced course to live webinars and study groups. You have six months to schedule your exam from the day you purchase a study package. In most cases, you can schedule your exam up to 60 days out, so this gives you a total of about eight months to study. ACE offers an at-home exam option through live remote proctoring, and it is NCCA-accredited, so you can test from home without sacrificing your credential.

RELATED: ACE vs NASM

Best Personal Training and Nutrition Certification: Fitness Mentors

Good for: Those who want nutrition expertise to complement their training knowledge

Best Personal Training and Nutrition Certification

Fitness Mentors

GGR Score: 4

Check Price

Product Highlights

* Certified personal trainer course * All online * NCAA accreditation option * 20 CEUs required to recertify * 2-hour exam

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Affordable
• NCAA-accredited option
• Online learning provides flexibility

Cons

• Some learner prefer hard copies of study materials
• Self-study may be hard for some

Bottom Line

Fitness Mentors is an affordable, NCAA-accredited, all-online CPT course. It will take three to four months to complete with just five hours of studying per week. You’ll also have the option to bundle a nutrition specialist course with the CPT course, which is a great option for those who want to also give nutritional advice to clients.

What many personal trainers realize early on is that for clients to achieve and maintain results, nutrition is as important as the work you put in at the gym. That’s why it’s not a bad idea for CPTs to also get certified as nutrition coaches to provide more of a holistic approach to wellness. We like Fitness Mentors for a combo CPT and nutrition certification. 

RELATED: Precision Nutrition Certification Review

Fitness Mentors Certified Personal Trainer course is an online-only course that looks similar to other quality CPT courses. You’ll dive into anatomy and exercise physiology, program design, working with special populations, psychology, and nutrition in a 13-chapter course that offers a digital textbook, audio lectures, assignments, and quizzes.

Fitness Mentors also offers a Fitness Nutrition Specialist course, and you can bundle the two courses together for only $729—a 5-out-of-5 price. With this bundle you’ll receive:

• FM-CPT course
• GM-CNS course 
• Exercise Library
• Bonus learning videos
• Flashcards
• Interactive learning activities 
• Study guide answers
• Final exam prep guide
• 2 practice exams
• Facebook support group 

The FM-CPT exam is online and consists of 100 multiple choice questions; you’ll have two hours to complete it. You’ll have to renew your certification every two years with 2.0 CEUs and a current CPR/AED certification. 

Best Value Personal Training Certification: NCSF

Good for: Earning an accredited credential and getting a thorough education without spending thousands of dollars

Best Value

NCSF Certification

GGR Score: 4.28

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Certified personal trainer (CPT) course
• NCCA-accredited certification
• Hands-on and self-study modules
• Final exam online or at testing center

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Qualifies CPTs to work 1:1 or small groups
• Accredited by National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)
• Complete exam prep and materials
• Payment plans available

Cons

• 2-year recertification cycle
• Course does not require CPR/AED

Bottom Line

The Certified Personal Trainer certification through the National Council on Strength and Fitness is a NCCA-accredited program recognized by many top health clubs like 24 Fitness, OrangeTheory Fitness, Planet Fitness, and Gold’s Gym. This course will qualify you to work with clients one-on-one and in small groups. The exam covers general exercise science, program design, nutrition, training instruction, and special populations to name a few.

For a solid education on a budget, look to the National Council on Strength and Fitness, or NCSF. The NCSF offers NCCA-accredited study packages for $399 or $449, as well as course bundles for $649 (CPT plus sport nutrition specialist) and $699 (CPT plus certified strength coach). 

Not only are these programs affordable, but you can take as long as you need to study for the exam, unlike with other courses that have a set timeline. According to the NCSF, “The only time restriction within the entire process is that the exam must be taken within six months of the initial test registration date.” 

So, this means you could theoretically study for six months or more, then register for your exam, and study for another six months. However, it’s unclear if this is the case when you purchase a study package, since the package includes an exam voucher. There might be an expiration date to the exam voucher, but that information isn’t disclosed as far as I can tell on the website. So if you want to study with no deadline, you should buy the study materials individually and then purchase the exam when you are ready. 

The NCSF CPT curriculum is split into six sections, covering: 

• Today’s Society and the Healthy Lifestyle
• Applied Exercise Science and Biomechanics
• Health, Fitness and Performance Assessment
• Foundational and Applied Nutritional Science
• Foundations of Advanced Program Design

Within each section, there are several chapters covering various aspects of human movement, but there is little material dedicated to aspects of training such as behavior change, adherence, habit formation, and client communication.  

The NCSF offers two NCCA-accredited exam options: at home or in a testing center near you. You can choose your option when you register for the test. To maintain your certification, you’ll need to earn 2.0 CEUs every two years (about 20 hours), including your CPR/AED renewal. For NCSF, CPR/AED renewal counts as 2 hours or 0.2 CEUs, which is nice. Not every agency includes CPR as CEUs. 

Best Personal Training Certification to Work with Athletes: NSCA

Good for: People who want to eventually earn an advanced credential related to sport performance

Best for Working with Athletes

NSCA-CPT Certification

GGR Score: 4.28

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Certified personal trainer exam
• NCCA-accredited program
• 155-question exam
• Study materials sold separately

Pros & Cons

Pros

• NCCA-accredited program
• Provides accurate scope of practice
• In-depth approach to 1:1 coaching
• Multiple-choice question exam

Cons

• Study materials are separate from exam fees
• Exam fees are higher for non-NSCA members
• In-person exam only

Bottom Line

The certified personal trainer program from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CPT) offers an in-depth approach to coaching clients for safe and effective fitness programs. You’ll need to be CPR/AED certified to sit for the exam, be 18 years of age or older, and have a high school diploma. The NSCA-CPT exam is taken in-person at a proctored Pearson VUE testing center.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association, perhaps best known for its Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCS) credential, also offers a personal training credential. True to NSCA nature, this CPT course is very science-heavy, so we recommend it to prospective trainers who are interested and invested in kinesiology, anatomy, and physiology. 

RELATED: NASM vs NSCA 

For instance, you will need to be able to understand and explain training adaptations that occur via exercise, and not just to the muscles, but also tendons, ligaments, fascia, bones, cartilage, and adipose tissue (fat). You will also need to thoroughly understand how exercise impacts body systems, including the neuromuscular, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, metabolic, endocrine, and psychological systems. 

You’ll then need to know how to apply those learnings to exercise programming and develop effective training protocols based on the client’s or athlete’s contraindications, goals, and needs. As such, we believe that the NSCA CPT certification prepares you to understand the training needs of athletes and high-performance individuals. 

As for study materials, they’re all a la carte. You can purchase the NSCA-CPT study guide, NSCA-CPT quizzes and practice test, Exercise Technique Manual, and Essentials of Personal Training textbook individually. Or, you can purchase the online study course, which includes Essentials of Personal Training and a guided study plan with year-long access from the date of purchase. 

If you buy materials individually, you have lifelong access and as long as you want to study before registering for the exam. Once you register for the exam, you have a maximum of 120 days to take it. NSCA does not currently offer an at-home proctored testing option, so plan to go to a local testing center. 

One thing you should know about the NSCA CPT is that the recertification process is different from other agencies. The NSCA runs three-year recertification cycles, and every NSCA-certified CPT must earn 6.0 CEUs (about 60 hours) by the end of the three-year cycle. Every cycle ends on December 31.

This averages out to about 2.0 CEUs or 20 hours per year, which is more than average. Upon earning your initial certification, the amount of CEUs you need is prorated for that cycle. 

Best Affordable Personal Training Certification: NFPT

Good for: Aspiring personal trainers on a budget

Most Affordable

NFPT Certified Personal Trainer Course

GGR Score: 4.42

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Affordable CPT exam
• Inexpensive study options
• Free CEU options
• Up to 1 year to prepare for exam
• NCCA-accredited credential

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Affordable exam fee and study packages
• Instant test results
• NCCA-accredited
• Free CEU options
• No CEU petition fees
• Printed textbook available
• At-home proctored test option available

Cons

• Not much opportunity for student engagement during exam prep period

Bottom Line

The NFPT personal trainer course is one of the most affordable ways to earn your CPT credential. And don't think that you're missing out on anything by choosing an inexpensive option: The NFPT exam covers all of the need-to-know essentials so you can start your training career off right and successfully guide clients toward their goals.

Education isn’t cheap, and it’s part of what makes starting a new career so difficult. Luckily, the NFPT offers affordable personal training certification courses. If you’re already well-versed in the essentials of personal training and human movement, you can purchase the exam alone for $249, which is less expensive than most other agencies’ exam fees (and some agencies don’t offer this option at all). 

If you do need study materials, you can choose from two affordable packages: Standard, for $379 or Premier, for $499. These price points make the NFPT certification the most affordable on our list—and you’re not sacrificing anything for these prices. It’s still an NCCA-accredited program and you have up to one year to take the exam (which is actually longer than average). 

The Standard package includes: 

• Exam content outline
• One exam attempt
• Digital trainer manual
• Digital workbook
• Online chapter quizzes
• Learn to be a virtual trainer course
• Essential forms for your business (assessments, screenings, waivers, consent forms)

The Premier package includes everything in the Standard package, plus a hard-copy book, two practice tests, exercise animations, client assessment videos, and NFPT expert trainers who are available for student support. 

You may also purchase study materials individually if you don’t think you need a full online course. 

To pass the NFPT exam, you’ll need to be well-versed in the following topical areas: 

• Principles of Human Anatomy
• Principles of Human Physiology
• Fitness Components
• Training Program Development, Implementation & Modification
• Professionalism and Communication Skills

Each section of the personal trainer manual corresponds with a section of the exam. There are multiple chapters within each section that dive into various aspects of human movement and fitness programming. 

To recertify with NFPT, you’ll need to earn 2.0 CEUs every two years, and your CPR/AED renewal counts toward your total. Additionally, NFPT offers a whole range of unique CEU opportunities for NFPT-certified trainers, including credits for securing liability insurance coverage and attending trade shows. There are also free CEU options, which is a nice bonus, because continuing education can get expensive. 

Best for Working with Special Populations or in Clinical Settings: ACSM

Good for: People looking for in-depth education in physiology and anatomy

Best for Working in Clinical Settings

ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Course

GGR Score: 4.14

Check Price

Product Highlights

• NCCA-accredited personal trainer certification
• No time limit for studying
• Online and physical study materials available
• No guided course options
• Extensively covers anatomy, physiology, and exercise science

Pros & Cons

Pros

• NCCA-accredited credential
• Can buy study materials individually
• Affordable exam fee and materials
• Strong focus on lifestyle medicine
• At-home remote proctored exam option

Cons

• CEU requirement is higher than average (about 15 hours per year)
• No guided study options

Bottom Line

The American College of Sport Medicine is a respected name in the fitness industry and offers an NCCA-accredited personal training course and exam, Study materials can be purchased individually, and you can take as long as you need to prepare for the exam. The ACSM CPT program is a good option for anyone who wants to work with clientele who have contraindications to exercise and those who want to advance their career into exercise physiology.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is another highly respected and well-known educational institution in the fitness industry. With ACSM, you will learn the finer details of the body’s structures, including bones, joints, muscles, and other connective tissue, as well as the body’s various organs and systems. 

Like the ACE certification course, the ACSM course expansively covers anatomy, physiology, exercise science, and special populations. This makes it a good option for people who hope to eventually specialize or pursue additional education in order to be qualified to work in clinical settings. 

Typically, you will need additional credentials to work in any clinical setting, but the ACSM certification is a good starting point. For instance, if you’re pursuing a degree in an exercise-related field, you would also qualify (upon graduating) for ACSM’s certified exercise physiologist program (CEP) which would allow you to work in many more settings than a personal trainer. 

The ACSM also has a heavy focus on exercise as a treatment protocol or as “lifestyle medicine” and the course reflects that in its emphasis on disease prevention and risk factor reduction. 

For studying, ACSM offers a course bundle, but I don’t recommend that option because there are restrictions around exam timing. If you buy the bundle, your exam voucher comes with it and expires at the end of the calendar year. So if you purchase the bundle later in the year, you may not have ample time to study. This option could work if you purchase the bundle early in the year. 

Still, I recommend buying study materials individually, because then you can study for as long as you want to and schedule the exam when you’re ready. Both exam options—in-person and at-home—are proctored and NCCA-accredited. 

ACSM’s continuing education requirements are slightly above average. You must acquire 45 hours of continuing education every three years, which works out to about 15 hours per year. 

Best with Long Recertification Term: NESTA

Good for: Individuals who would like more time to recertify than the standard two years

Long Recert Term

NESTA PFT Certification

GGR Score: 4.42

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Certified personal fitness trainer (PFT)
• NCCA-accredited program 
• 4-year recertification cycle
• CPR certification required

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Longer 4-year recertification cycle
• Internationally recognized
• 65,000 PFT professionals globally

Cons

• Exam pricing starts at $349
• Additional costs for study materials
• In-person final exam

Bottom Line

The Certified personal fitness trainer (PFT) program from NESTA (National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association) is an NCCA-accredited certification with a four-year recertification cycle. While you’ll study at your own pace, you’ll have to take the 125-question, multiple choice final exam in a proctored testing center within 90 days of requesting exam eligibility.

NESTA, the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association, offers the only NCCA-accredited personal training certification that is valid for more than two years. The NESTA CPT is valid for a whopping 4 years! So if you want to extend your time for recertification, this is the best option for you. 

Don’t get too excited, though: You still have to earn an average of 1.0 CEUs, or about 10 hours of education, every year. It’s just presented differently, the requirement being 4.0 CEUs every four years. Though it’s the same amount of education, it does end up saving you money in the long term, since you only have to pay your recertification fee every four years, not every two years. 

NESTA training is affordable, too, with pricing starting at $349 for just the exam. You can choose from two study packages: Plus, for $399 and Complete, for $697. Plus includes your exam fee and a digital textbook. Complete includes the exam fee, digital textbook, unlimited practice exams, digital and audio training, and chapter review quizzes.

You can take as long as you need to study, but once you request your exam eligibility (you must apply and show you meet the basic prerequisites), you have 90 days to take the exam. NESTA doesn’t offer an at-home exam yet, so you’ll have to go to a testing center. 

The NESTA personal trainer manual includes 14 chapters of information, including: 

1. Introduction to Personal Training
2. Exercise Physiology
3. Kinesiology and Functional Anatomy
4. Applied Biomechanics
5. Flexibility
6. Nutrition
7. Special Populations
8. Assessments
9. Program Design
10. Exercise Application
11. Safety, Injury Prevention, and Treatment
12. Exercise Psychology 
13. Business Strategies and Applications for the Certified Personal Trainer

Other Personal Training Certifications We Researched

The options above represent the best, most well-known, and most respected personal training certification programs. If you want to become a fitness professional with a wide range of knowledge that qualifies you to train clients from a variety of backgrounds and train in multiple settings, we recommend one of the above. There are a few other options available that may also be worth considering. 

National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA): NETA offers an NCCA-accredited certification and low prices compared to some popular options. It’s definitely worth looking into if you’re on a tight budget. 

Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA): This agency is owned by NASM and offers a “personal fitness instructor” credential, not a personal trainer certification. It is similar, but not NCCA-accredited. The AFAA is geared more toward group fitness instructor certification programs. 

American Sport and Fitness Association (ASFA): ASFA offers an interesting model: You only pay if you pass the exam. This sounds appealing, but the certification is not NCCA- or DEAC-accredited, so it may not be accepted by all employers. The certification is also only good for one year and there are no CEU opportunities; you have to retest each year.

National Personal Training Institute (NPTI):  The NPTI offers a more structured way to become a personal trainer. It features a mix of self-directed and supervised learning, as well as hands-on practical experience. It requires a more flexible schedule as there are attendance-mandatory virtual hours and in-person practicum hours. With the NPTI, you earn a “diploma in personal training” and it is state-licensed and valid forever; you don’t need to engage in any continuing education to maintain it. You simultaneously earn the NASM-CPT credential, which does require continuing education. 

National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT): This is an option for anyone who wants to take the NCCA-accredited personal trainer exam. It is not affiliated with an actual study program; aspiring personal trainers who have completed a degree program in exercise science, kinesiology, or similar would be a good candidate for this exam-only option. 

How We Picked and Tested the Best Personal Trainer Certifications

Several members of our GGR editorial team are certified personal trainers. We’re certified through different agencies, so we collectively have hands-on experience with multiple certification organizations. 

Additionally, I conducted thorough research for this guide, combing through the websites of each certifying agency featured here to find details about the certification process, recertification requirements, study materials and options, learning format, accreditation, job guarantees, professional resources, exam pass rates, and more. 

I rated each personal training certification against seven criteria: 

• Price/value 
• Course length
• Accreditation
• Continuing education
• Prerequisites
• Studying and learning options
• Final assessment format and options 

Each course earned a score of 1 to 5 for each of the above categories, and an average score based on those seven scores. The courses were given superlatives based on a standout feature or multiple standout features. For instance, the ISSA-CPT earned the title of “best for student support” due to its robust job placement guarantee, guided study options, and access to mentors and customer support. 

Who Should Become a Certified Personal Trainer?

You should earn your personal training certification if you want to train individuals in any capacity, whether at a gym, virtually, or in a different setting. 

Anyone who is interested in working in the fitness industry can become a personal trainer, even if your ultimate goal doesn’t involve directly training clients. While that’s a great place to start, many trainers end up doing something else after some time training “on the floor”—an expression that refers to the job of training an individual at a gym or in a similar setting.

People who can benefit from earning this fitness certification include those who want to: 

• Train individuals in any way, shape, or form in any setting, online or in-person
• Eventually take a specialist certification course, such as in corrective exercise or biomechanics 
• Later become a certified strength and conditioning coach (CSCS) to work with athletes 
• Become a fitness blogger or influencer 
• Work in any fitness-related communications capacity, such as being a fitness journalist or working for a PR firm that focuses on fitness and wellness brands 
• Become a health coach or nutrition coach, as the areas of expertise are very related and it helps to, at a minimum, understand the fundamentals of exercise physiology as a nutrition or health coach 

Buying Guide: What to Look for in a Personal Training Program

This buyer’s guide can help you decide which cert to register for. 

Cost

We rate cost according to the following methodology, which we developed based off of the average cost of CPT education: 

• 1 point = More than $3,000
• 2 points = $2,000 to $3,000 
• 3 points = $1,000 to $2,000 
• 4 points = $800 to $1,000 
• 5 points = Less than $800 

In addition to the overall price, look for payment plan opportunities. Most of the major agencies offer interest-free plans. 

Prerequisites 

In most cases, you need to be 18 years old; hold a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent; and hold a current and valid CPR/AED certification to sit for a CPT exam. Anything more than this is excessive for a basic personal trainer certification. For advanced certifications, such as the CSCS, you will need to meet additional prerequisites. 

Course Length

Most CPT courses require you to take the exam within 6 months of enrolling in the program or purchasing the study package. Some timelines are longer, allowing for up to one year; others are completely self-paced in that you just purchase the study materials and then sign up for the exam when you’re ready. The best option for you depends on your schedule and learning style. 

Course Material 

Make sure the course material covers, at a minimum, the following topics: 

• Personal trainer scope of practice
• Personal training ethics
• Human anatomy
• Exercise physiology 
• Assessments for mobility, cardiovascular fitness, strength, and balance 
• Cardiovascular training
• Strength training
• Mobility and flexibility training
• Balance and stability training 
• Program design, including progressive overload and exercise modification 
• Basics of behavior change 
• Working with special populations
• Motivational interviewing, empathetic communication, and listening skills
• Business skills and marketing 

If you learn about all of the above, you’ll be well on your way to a successful personal training career. 

Learning Format

Is it a fully online course, or is it hybrid? Entirely self-paced or guided? Is there only a digital textbook or can you get a hard-copy version? Are there online quizzes, practice tests, interactive activities, or lectures? Opportunities for peer interaction? It’s important to know your learning style and sign up for a CPT certification course that matches your needs. 

Exam Format

Check to see whether the exam is open-book or proctored. This is typically a dead giveaway regarding accreditation: At-home, unproctored exams are easier, obviously, but they don’t usually result in an accredited CPT credential. That said, some agencies offer live remote proctoring now, so you can take the exam at home and still get an accredited credential. 

Accreditation 

The gold standard in accreditation for CPT credentials is the NCCA accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Other honorable accreditations include those from the Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC) and the National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE), but an NCCA accreditation is considered the gold star. 

Recertification Requirements

Most programs require you to earn an average of 10 continuing education units (CEUs) or continuing education credits (CECs) every year or to retake the exam before your certification expires in order to maintain your credential without a lapse. This is usually presented as 2.0 units or 20 hours every two years, although there are varying time tables. No CEU requirement is not seen as a good thing—personal trainers should stay up-to-date with best practices and research in the industry. 

Best Personal Training Certifications: FAQs

Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC

Amanda is a content writer and journalist with extensive experience in the health, fitness, lifestyle, and nutrition niches. Before joining Garage Gym Reviews, she worked as an independent writer for various brands and outlets.Her work has appeared in national and global digital publications, including Health.com and Shape.com (Meredith Corporation), CNET (Red Ventures, formerly ViacomCBS), LIVESTRONG (Leaf Group), Verywell Fit and The Balance (DotDash), SlickDeals (Goldman Sachs/Hearst), Health Journal, and more.Now, Amanda brings her expertise in fitness to the GGR team by testing equipment and writing authentic, honest reviews on everything you might need to stock your home gym.

Further reading

Run Rocket Sprint Resistance Trainer In-Depth Review

by Cooper Mitchell, GGR Founder

The Run Rocket is a Sprint Resistance Trainer that allows you to add resistance to forward movement such as sprints, sled drags, broad jumps, and more. After using and testing the Run Rocket over 60 days with athletes of all levels, we can confidently say the Run Rocket is effective at increasing sprint speed, jump height, and more. We give a high recommendation. Read more

RingConn vs Oura (2024): Two Fitness Rings Go Head to Head

by Lauren Strong, CPT

Two small but mighty fitness trackers go head to head in our Ringconn vs Oura comparison. Read more

What Makes a Good Treadmill Warranty?

by Kate Meier NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1

Wondering if your treadmill warranty is up to snuff? We take a deep dive into what you should expect. Read more

Athletic Greens vs Bloom (2024): Which Social Media-Backed Greens Powder Is Best for You?

by Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD

Looking for your next favorite greens powder? Check out our comparison of Athletic Greens vs Bloom to find out which one is bes Read more