Starting a Personal Trainer Study Program to Get Certified

The demand for certified fitness professionals is on a steady trend upward. From in-home training and gyms to group classes and virtual training, the options are many. Should you choose to take the leap into the fitness industry, you will need to get a credible certification first.

Earning a personal trainer certification requires more knowledge than just a few exercises. Certified personal trainers have in-depth knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, exercise science, and fitness programming and many have a bachelor's degree in the field (though it is not a requirement). The study materials for certification often include a textbook, quizzes, and online resources for the student to utilize.

Considerations When Becoming a Fitness Professional

A love of fitness is the bare minimum needed to become a successful certified personal trainer! There are several things to keep in mind when getting into the fitness industry:

1. You are the product: You must walk the walk as you talk the talk. Not all personal trainers have five percent body fat and fitness looks different on every BODY. However, a trainer who can do what they are asking others to do will be more successful.

2. Class is easy, preparing is the challenge: The exercise science and programming aspects of being a personal trainer are the most challenging parts. Planning an effective, engaging, and specific workout takes time and effort BEFORE a session or class. Even an online personal trainer must have a plan!

3. You'll always be learning: Getting certified is step one. Accredited programs require recertification every two years. This requires a certified personal trainer to continue to expand their knowledge with other fitness-related courses, seminars, and learning. Plus, the industry is constantly changing and new fitness gadgets and trends enter the market all the time. Fitness professionals who stay current have the highest chances of success and longevity.

4. You aren't paid to workout, you're paid to train: You don't get paid to exercise with your client, but you ARE paid to help them exercise. Your job is to program effective workouts that move them toward their goals and reduce their risk of injury.

5. You must be able to MOTIVATE: That is the key to success! Every client requires a different type of push to get and keep them going.

6. No one is perfect: Being a trainer can be a thankless gig sometimes! Clients will not always follow the plan and there will be setbacks. You must learn how to get people back on track without getting frustrated.

What Does it Mean to Do an Accredited Program?

Many employers seek certified individuals that completed an accredited program. This simply means there is an accrediting body that oversees the testing procedures for the course. They ensure candidates for personal trainer exam have met the appropriate requirements and will be prepared to adequately perform their duties when they become certified.

The NCCA, or National Commission for Certifying Agencies, is a common accrediting body for personal training, health professions, automotive specialists, and more. They aim to ensure certification programs provide high-quality content and testing standards to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

There are several widely accepted trainer certification programs that are not NCCA accredited but have proven a high standard of certification content and their certified professionals are competent and ready to perform their jobs upon completion. Students in the midst of preparing for a certification exam or selecting a program should check with potential employers to confirm their credentials will be acceptable.

The best personal trainer courses will be based on what the student wishes to do with their credential. Check out the depth of the content and knowledge courses offer and, of course, check with potential employers. In some cases, completing multiple certifications together can give fitness professionals an advantage as they have a broader knowledge and can work with different populations. For example, the ISSA Elite Trainer Certification allows students to get certified in personal training, nutrition, and one other certification of their choice. Options like senior, youth, yoga, corrective exercise, and group fitness are all great credentials!

Why Use a Personal Trainer Study Guide or Program?

Individuals who frequent the gym or have been high-level athletes themselves have a great skill set, but this does not mean they are prepared to train others effectively and safely. Certification materials for a personal training exam cover all the ins and outs that a personal trainer must know. Topics covered include:

• Muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems

• Bioenergetics

• Exercise science

• Program design

• Exercise selection

• Recovery and injury prevention

• General nutrition

Some programs have an element of sports medicine and performance enhancement for those aiming to work with athletes.

The structure provided by a personal training study program guides a candidate through everything they will need to know to successfully pass the personal trainer exam and begin to work with clients in a shorter amount of time. Those who forego this process are putting themselves and others in danger as being ill-prepared leaves room for error or injury.

Having a personal training certification also means you can market yourself to clients as a fitness professional. Most clients are looking for the security of a trainer who knows what they are doing, not just someone who looks good.

What's the Cost of a Certification Program?

A personal training certification typically ranges from $499 to $999 based on the organization, with $800 being the average. Students get up to six months to complete an accredited certification exam (regulated by the NCCA) and usually a year for non-accredited programs. The average student who uses a study program finishes in about three months versus studying on their own!

Online Resources for Personal Training Studying

Studying for the exam is as easy as logging in to a computer portal and diving in! Most current online personal trainer programs offer a physical textbook. That same textbook, or portions of it, are often found as a part of the online resources. Other online study materials may include:

• Video or audio lectures: These lectures are great for visual or auditory learners and the content typically accompanies the chapters in the book for further comprehension of the material.

• Quizzes: Candidates for the exam can test themselves on the material as they work through it. Quizzes also provide a glance into what to expect with test questions on the final exam.

• Study guides and workbooks: These resources often give more than just multiple-choice questions. Short-answer, fill in the blank, and matching questions can ensure students are fully understanding the content and can recall and apply it.

• Practice exam(s): Who wouldn't want to practice the exam before they did it? Practice exams are often longer than the quizzes and align more closely to the final exam as far as format and timing. This can help to prepare students for the experience of sitting for the final exam whether it is completed online at home, on paper, or in a proctored testing facility.

• Guided study: Many programs offer guided study or modules. These break the course content into manageable weekly chunks so the student can work through it faster—typically 10 to 12 weeks to get through the material, leaving plenty of time to review and take the practice exam(s) before the final certification exam!

There are so many ways to get started! Check out ALL of the ISSA Personal Training Certifications here and see what path suits you. Then, sign up for the CPT Bootcamp—the ultimate live guide to studying—to ensure you're fully prepared for the final exam! The sooner you get started, the sooner you will be working in the fitness industry!