Personal Training Certifications

The median pay for a trainer is $40,700 annually (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of November 2022). However, keep in mind that pay in this field varies wildly, and there are opportunities within health and wellness to create multiple streams of revenue. Many personal trainers work their salaries up to over six figures. In this digital age, the possibilities for reaching a wide clientele and scaling a business are limitless.

• How Much Should I Charge for a Personal Training Session?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fitness trainers and instructors make an average of $19.57 per hour, but this number is much higher for 1:1 training sessions. How much you should charge for a personal training session will depend on your experience and credentials, the area you live in, and the type of clients you’re working with. Research what other exercise professionals in your area or in your niche are charging, or conduct a survey to get a good idea of what your target market is able and willing to pay for your services. Don’t be afraid to adjust your prices if they are not working out.

There are many ways personal trainers can find clients, including:

• Engaging on social media
• Building an email list
• Leveraging their personal networks
• Networking within the fitness community
• Asking for referrals

Yes—personal training can be a side job or a part-time job. Many personal trainers are not full-time personal trainers. Many personal training jobs, especially if you work for yourself, allow for flexibility and room to make your own schedule.

Most personal training certification programs require students to have a high school diploma or equivalent. You don’t need a formal background in fitness or wellness to be a personal trainer. Although experience in health and wellness is a plus, the best personal trainers come from diverse career backgrounds and life experiences.

Here are some basic steps you can take to start a career in personal training:

• Step 1: Research
  The first step to becoming a personal trainer is to do your homework and find a comprehensive training program.
  • Some considerations:
    • What kind of certification do you want or need?
    • Does the course offer online study?
    • Are all study materials and textbooks online, or are there hard-copy options too?
    • Is the test online, or do you need to go to a testing site?
    • What kind of supplemental materials does the course offer?
    • Will there be career support during and after the course?
    • Does the program offer complementary certification for specialized populations?
    • What kind of specialized population or niche do you want to work in or with?

• Step 2: Hire a Trainer
  Hiring your own personal trainer can provide valuable insight into the world of personal training. The more you understand how other trainers work with clients, the better equipped you’ll be to formulate your own training style and approach.
  • Here are some questions to consider:
    • How do they treat clients?
    • What type of approach do they take?
    • What types of workouts do they focus on?
    • What type of equipment do they use?
    • How do they reinforce the workout after a session?
    • How do they keep tabs on their clients’ progress?
    • What type of digital tools do they use?

• Step 3: Gain Experience
  Getting certified is just one part of the path toward a successful career as a personal trainer. You should consider obtaining some practical experience, whether that’s through training sessions with colleagues, friends, or family members or by shadowing another exercise professional in the workplace. These real-life experiences will help to build your confidence and skills—not to mention your résumé.
• Step 4: Get Certified
• Step 5: Secure Insurance (if you’re starting your own business)
  Whether you’re working with clients in their homes, in your home, at the park, or in a fitness center or gym, having the right personal trainer insurance is priceless. It protects you, your clients, and your business.
  • Depending on how you are operating your business, you may want to look into the following types of insurance:
    • Commercial general liability (CGL)
    • Product liability
    • Professional liability
    • Sexual misconduct liability
    • Disability

• Step 6: Get Hired
  Whether you work for yourself or decide to pursue a career as a corporate fitness instructor, getting hired in today’s fast-paced health and wellness industry is a full-time job in itself. Keep your résumé up-to-date and use health industry job boards to find the right gig for you.

• Step 7: Stay Certified
  Long after you’ve become certified and landed the perfect job helping others see how powerful a more active life can be, you must keep your certifications current, which may require completing continuing education courses. Additionally, it might be worth exploring complementary certifications in areas such as nutrition or health coaching to round out your personal training chops.

You are not legally required to have any qualifications to train clients. So technically, yes—you can practice personal training without a personal training certification or another fitness credential. However, we do not recommend this for several reasons.

Firstly, without proper training, you risk hurting a client. You don’t want to find yourself in a  situation where you’re putting the health and safety of your clients at risk, not to mention the liabilities and consequences you may face if something goes wrong.

Also, you may have a hard time finding employment without a personal trainer certification. Companies and individuals seek out fitness professionals with credentials to back them up. Getting a credential from a reputable fitness organization will ensure you qualify to pursue available opportunities. If you really want to stand out and open up your options, consider getting an additional certification within the field of health and fitness, such as a group fitness certification, sports nutrition certification, or senior fitness certification.

Certification is the best thing you can pursue to make sure you are set up to be a good personal trainer with the skills to make a positive impact and build a successful career.

While it is important to find a personal training course that is robust enough to adequately prepare you for a career in the fitness industry, these courses are generally not incredibly difficult. In fact, easy entry into the field of fitness training is one of the reasons why many people are drawn to this career path. 

You could spend years going to school to get a degree in sports medicine, exercise science, kinesiology, or physical education, or you could get a personal trainer certification and bring your enthusiasm and expertise to clients more quickly. If you don’t have the time and the tens of thousands of dollars needed to pursue a four-year degree, a personal training certification is a great way to put your passion into practice. Also, some personal trainers choose to get certified first and then pursue a university degree in one of the aforementioned fields part-time so they can gain experience and make money while pursuing further education.

At AFPA, you can become a Certified Personal Trainer in six months or fewer. Some students may choose to work at a faster pace and complete the program in four weeks, while others may choose to extend and take a year.

It may be different at other certifying organizations, but generally, online PT qualification programs allow for this type of flexibility. This makes the field of health and fitness a great option for someone looking to start a career by earning a credential at their own pace.

Personal trainers are not “licensed” practitioners. You can conduct your training business how you choose, keeping in mind the AFPA Code of Ethics.

AFPA is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in fitness, wellness and nutrition education and certification. Earning your AFPA Personal Trainer Certification is the first step in gaining the knowledge to successfully train various populations of individuals, gain professional recognition and financial rewards. You will learn all the important information necessary to get you started as a Certified Personal Trainer.

Many people with different backgrounds and education have participated in AFPA certification training programs: doctors, chiropractors, gym owners, college and high school coaches, wellness coordinators, weight loss counselors, non-certified instructors and trainers, and individuals who are currently certified by other organizations. There are no state-by-state regulations for personal training, and your certification is therefore valid in any state and country.

AFPA requires that individuals be at least 18 years of age, have the equivalent of a high school education, and have a sincere desire to help others obtain their fitness and lifestyle goals.

Completion time varies by individual and will depend on what certification program you enroll in, educational background, reading and writing skills and efficiency. Most individuals can become a competent Certified Personal Trainer within less than 6 months when studying 7-10 hours a week.

The price for AFPA Certification varies depending on the certification course chosen. Please review the individual certification courses for the prices. These prices include all courses materials and examination fee - there are no hidden costs or additional fees!

Enrollment orders can take up to 24 business hours to process. If you enroll in a digital delivery option, you will be sent your enrollment email with online digital access. If you have selected to receive printed materials, shipments take 3-5 business days.

The Personal Trainer course includes multiple textbooks/eBooks, self-assessment quizzes, online videos, course guideline and final exam. Typically, it takes 100 hours. This is a self-paced, self-study program that’s typically completed in less than 6 months. The final exam is completed on your own desktop or mobile device. For details, click here.

No. You can complete the final exam on your own desktop or mobile device.

Due to the varied nature of the positions held by AFPA professionals, liability insurance coverage is not included with your enrollment fee. Once you complete your AFPA certification, however, you may apply for professional liability insurance with several AFPA-approved insurance providers.

No. First Aid and CPR certifications are not required prior to completing your certification program.

If you don't pass the certification exam, you may retake the exam for a retest fee of $75.00.

You will have up to 2 years to complete the Master Nutrition Consultant program. The average student takes approximately 400 hours to complete all 4 courses. The hours include reading, listening, watching, note taking, self-assessment quizzes/activities, assignments and the final exam for each program.

The courses included are:

• Personal Trainer
• Nutrition & Wellness Consultant
• Advanced Personal Trainer
• Strength and Conditioning Specialist

For details, click here.