9 Online Learning Tips for CPT Certification Success

Online learning offers many benefits when compared to a traditional class. You don’t have to commute to a virtual classroom, you can schedule your class time whenever you want, and campus safety isn’t a concern. At ISSA, all of our certification courses are available online—including specializations and continuing education classes—providing all these advantages and more.

Learning how to master your online course can help set you up for success when earning your personal trainer certification (or taking any other virtual training classes). Whether you’re new to remote learning or you’ve been an online learner before and want to know how to set yourself up for success this time around, here are nine tips that can help.

#1: Familiarize Yourself with the Online Classroom

If you’re a first-time online student, virtual learning may feel somewhat foreign. Familiarizing yourself with the online classroom can help you feel more comfortable in a distance learning environment. It’s also helpful if you’ve previously taken a distance education course but are new to this specific platform.

Go into the online site and take a look around. Check out where everything is so you can access it when you need it. Click on different tabs or links to see what the online school has to offer. This also helps you identify and resolve any potential information technology issues before you start your class.

#2: Take a Look at the Entire Online Course Curriculum

Reviewing the course content gives you a better idea of what to expect when earning your personal trainer certification. It provides an overview of what you’re about to learn.

The value of this is that you can see how your learning will progress from one topic to the next. It’s like looking at a map and going over the directions from point A to point B step by step. You get a big-picture view of how everything ties together. 

For instance, unit 4 covers the kinesiology of exercise while unit 5 goes over exercise biomechanics. This provides a foundational understanding of how the body moves before transitioning into unit 6, which explains musculoskeletal deviations.  

Reviewing the curriculum also tells you what type of learning materials are available. This generally includes textbooks, audio lessons, videos, and additional resources. Having access to different mediums enables you to complete the online course in a way that matches your learning style. 

If you’re a visual learner, for instance, you might enjoy the videos most. An auditory learner may prefer the audio lectures and a reading-writing learner will likely find the textbook an enjoyable way to learn. 

#3: Schedule Your Study Time in Advance

When your course deadline is several months away, it’s easy to tell yourself that you have plenty of time to get through the necessary materials. But if you don’t create a study plan, this time can quickly slip away. Before you know it, the expiration date approaches and you’re hard-pressed to finish in time.

Decide how long you want to take to complete the certification course. Then figure out how much time this will require from your schedule each week. Set aside this time. Block out each study session on your calendar. This ensures that you will meet your desired deadline.

Don’t forget to leave room in your schedule for unforeseen circumstances. Kids get sick, last-minute meetings get scheduled at work, and other situations may suddenly demand your time. If you’ve built extra study time into your calendar, you can still complete your online classes when you planned.

#4: Download the Course Material Upfront

You might be tempted to bypass this tip if you intend to use the guided study option. This guide provides a week-by-week plan for your reading, lectures, quizzes, and other course materials. Just click on the links and the study material is there in front of you.

But what happens if your internet goes down? Or what if you want to study when you don’t have wireless internet access, such as while waiting in the car to pick your kids up from school or in the breakroom at work? Downloading the materials upfront enables you to progress through your online class even if you lack a wireless connection.

If you have a Kindle app, you can download Send to Kindle and add your textbooks directly to this reading device. This also makes it easier to go back to the exact page where you left off.

#5: Create a Distraction-Free Study Space

Online learning success requires that be able to study without distraction. This means no TV, no one bothering you, and limited outside noise. Take the time to set up this type of space so you can focus on the information being presented.

A home office makes a great study room. You could also set up a small study space in the corner of your bedroom. Put a note on the door that says “Study in Session.” This tells everyone in your house not to bother you. 

If you plan to study outside your home, find a spot that will allow you to concentrate. If it’s a nice day, the park may be an option. Just stay away from play areas, finding a place with less foot traffic instead. A quiet coffee shop or library works too. 

#6: Read the Learning Objectives Before and After Each Chapter

Each chapter of the personal trainer certification course starts with a list of objectives. This tells you what you will learn in the pages ahead. Read these objectives before you start your studies so you know what information will be covered. Read them again at the end to make sure you met those goals.

For example, unit 17 of the personal training textbook provides an overview of nutrition. One of the learning objectives is to “understand what good nutrition is, how to identify it, and how to begin teaching it to clients.” After reading the materials, ask yourself if you can do all three of these things. If not, you may want to go over the text again. 

To ensure that you’ve met the objectives, it can help to turn them into questions. In this case, the questions would be:

• What is good nutrition?

• How do you identify good nutrition?

• How do you begin teaching good nutrition to clients?

You may even want to put your answers in writing. Review your answers before taking the Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) exam to refresh the information you’ve learned.

#7: Take Notes When Watching Online Lecture Videos

Online lectures help supplement your written course materials. They’re also good for both visual and auditory learners by adding the components of sight and sound. When watching the videos, take notes—even if it’s the same information as provided in the text. Why?

One, repetition is key to learning. The more you’re exposed to a piece of information, the greater your ability to remember it. Two, it provides a ready-made study guide when you get ready to take the quiz at the end of the lesson, as well as when preparing to take the CPT exam.

#8: Check Out Additional Resources

In ISSA’s personal trainer certification course, you will find supplemental reading that you can download. You also have access to a workbook and study guide. Use these additional resources to set yourself up for success both as a student and as a fitness professional.

Think of these resources as giving you a step ahead of your competition. They are extra nuggets of information that you can use to become a stronger, more effective trainer while also learning how to set up and run your fitness business.

#9: Reach Out to Student Services If You Need Help

If you run into issues or challenges when learning online, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s no point in struggling when you have support available to you every step of the way.

When earning your certification through ISSA, you have access to support by either calling 800-892-4772 or by reaching out via email at [email protected]. Our team is here to help however we can. 

Your success as a student is important to us. So, let us know what you need and we’ll figure out how to make it happen.

How to Get the Most from These Online Learning Tips

Doing all of these things will help set you up for a successful online learning experience. They also give you a workable plan when obtaining your education outside of a traditional classroom.

To get the most from these tips, take each of the actions suggested. You might be tempted to skip one or two, telling yourself that you don’t need them. But this might impact your ability to complete the course with as much ease as possible. It could also limit your results. It does this by not utilizing all of the materials included in your online classes. Or maybe you won’t utilize them in the most efficient way.

For even more study help, get ISSA's CPT Study Expansion Pack, a study guide kit to help students succeed in the CPT certification exam. It contains crossword puzzles, flashcards, a coloring book, audio study guides, workout templates, and practice exams.

If you’re not yet signed up to earn your personal trainer certification, you can do so through ISSA. This online course provides the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role. It also gives insight into how to create a profitable fitness business.