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Where fitness and wellness pros get hired

Career Connect puts you in front of hiring managers across 23,000+ fitness center partner locations worldwide.

ISSA is where pros are made, and Career Connect is where the industry comes to find them. Connect directly with employers who are hiring now, build a profile that shows what you can do, and get the tools to grow your career, whatever path you choose.

Get your free Evaluation Kit Explore certifications

Career Connect comes with every ISSA certification. Answer a few quick questions to get your free Evaluation Kit and a program recommendation from an ISSA advisor.

More new trainers start with ISSA. The gyms hiring them are already here.

35,293
New certified personal trainers in 2025 · #1 globally
45,000+
ISSA-certified coaches connecting with hiring partners
23,000+
Fitness center partner locations worldwide
1M+
Students worldwide

In 2025, ISSA was #1 globally with 35,293 new certified personal trainers, up 12.8% from the 31,298 certified in 2024 (ISSA certification records). Coach count: total career pathways opt-ins (ISSA Student Portal, October 2026). Partner locations: ISSA 2026 Fitness Hiring Report.

Your next step after certification

Once you're certified, Career Connect is where your job search starts. Build your profile, follow partner Hiring Hubs, apply to open roles and meet hiring managers at live events.

ISSA does not provide job placement. Career Connect provides career support, employer visibility and hiring connections.

100% Money Back Job Guarantee

Eligible ISSA programs include the 100% Money Back Job Guarantee. Restrictions apply; see the Job Guarantee page.

Get your free Evaluation Kit How the Job Guarantee works

A members-only career community built for ISSA students and graduates

Career Connect is where your certification starts opening doors. It comes with every ISSA certification, and it's built around one job: putting you in front of the people who hire trainers.

Get in front of employers fast

Connect directly with gyms, studios and wellness brands that are hiring right now.

Show what you bring

Build a professional profile that highlights your ISSA credentials and specializations.

Walk in market ready

Resume templates, interview prep and live webinars help you show up confident.

Learn from people who've done it

Get real advice from hiring managers and successful ISSA alumni.

Built for where you're going

Whether you're new to fitness, ready for your next role or building toward a business of your own, Career Connect bridges what you've learned and where you want to go: a direct line to 23,000+ fitness center partner locations worldwide, career guidance matched to your skills and specializations, and clear paths from trainer to business owner or industry leader.

The industry is hiring ISSA pros

Thousands of employers hire through Career Connect, including some of the biggest names in fitness. Here's how some of them work with ISSA.

Life Time

Guaranteed interview screening

Eligible ISSA CPTs get a guaranteed interview screening with Life Time through Career Connect.

Equinox

Coaching Foundations Program

Equinox's Coaching Foundations Program helps aspiring coaches earn the ISSA CPT.

24 Hour Fitness

ISSA-certified general managers

24 Hour Fitness is getting its general managers ISSA certified as personal trainers.

Anytime Fitness

Education and hiring partner

Anytime Fitness is working to add about 1,300 coaches in the U.S., and ISSA is a preferred education and hiring partner.

Crunch Fitness

Education and hiring partner

ISSA is a preferred education and hiring partner, and Crunch operators hire ISSA trainers.

Snap Fitness

Co-branded training partner

ISSA provides a co-branded pathway for new Snap trainers to get ISSA certified and Snap onboarded.

Orangetheory Fitness

Education and hiring partner

ISSA is a preferred education and hiring partner, and Orangetheory operators hire ISSA trainers.

F45 Training

Veteran scholarships

ISSA is a preferred education and hiring partner, and together we help veterans become certified trainers.

VASA Fitness

Trainer in Training

VASA sponsors team members to get ISSA certified and provides hands-on coaching opportunities.

Planet Fitness franchise groups

Franchise group partners

Planet Fitness franchise groups like Excel Fitness recruit ISSA trainers.

EoS Fitness

Education and hiring partner

ISSA is a preferred education and hiring partner, and EoS locations hire ISSA trainers.

Gold's Gym

Franchise partners

Gold's operators work with ISSA to educate their teams and recruit certified trainers.

YouFit Gyms

Education and hiring partner

ISSA is a preferred education and hiring partner, and YouFit locations hire ISSA trainers.

Camp Gladiator

Education and hiring partner

ISSA educates Camp Gladiator trainers as a preferred partner.

Workout Anytime

Education and hiring partner

ISSA is a preferred education and hiring partner, and Workout Anytime operators hire ISSA trainers.

Amped Fitness

Top pick for PT education

Amped hires ISSA trainers and lists the ISSA CPT as the top pick for its network.

Logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners and are shown to describe a hiring relationship with ISSA. Partner programs vary by brand, region and location. Individual locations, including franchised locations, make their own hiring decisions.

From certified to hired in four steps

  1. 1

    Get certified

    Enroll in any ISSA certification. Career Connect is included, so you can start your profile while you study. See certifications.

  2. 2

    Join Career Connect

    Access Career Connect from your ISSA Student Portal and set up your professional profile.

  3. 3

    Access the Hiring Hub

    Locate the gyms you want to work for, explore their open roles and access unique application links.

  4. 4

    Meet hiring managers

    Connect directly, promote yourself, join live hiring events and use interview prep to show up prepared.

Meet employers face to face

Career Connect brings hiring managers to you through live and virtual hiring events throughout the year.

Monthly

Partner hiring sessions

Live sessions with hiring partners such as Life Time, VASA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Excel Fitness, Equinox and 24 Hour Fitness, open to ISSA students and graduates.

Ongoing

Job fairs and immediate openings

Discover real-time job openings and exclusive partner hiring events.

June 2026

Career Day at the ISSA Global Summit

Fourteen employers, including Life Time, Equinox, Crunch, 24 Hour Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness franchise group Excel Fitness, Camp Gladiator, F45 Training and Snap Fitness, met ISSA trainers in one day. Every participant who joined rated it valuable.

Interview pathways

Life Time offers eligible ISSA Certified Personal Trainers a guaranteed interview screening through Career Connect.

They started with a passion. Career Connect helped turn it into a career.

“Before using Career Connect my email was filling up with denial emails. I found Career Connect a very valuable resource and attribute it to my recent job acquisition at 24 Hour Fitness.”

Dennis Reeder
ISSA graduate · Hired at 24 Hour Fitness

“Thanks again for hosting the Life Time Fitness presentation. I am excited to share that I will be joining the team at the Parker, CO, location.”

Kristi Nelson
ISSA CPT · Joined Life Time, Parker, CO

“I got certified only 10 days ago and today I already had my first interview at a beautiful gym in Denver. Update: they just offered me a job at VASA.”

Doris Partel
ISSA graduate · Hired at VASA Fitness, Denver

“I just got hired as a personal trainer at Crunch Fitness in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I'm excited to be part of a team that is passionate about helping others get fit.”

Xavier Lesane
ISSA graduate · Hired at Crunch Fitness, Brooklyn, NY

“I've officially joined Anytime Fitness as the Manager & Master Trainer! Huge thanks to ISSA for the incredible education and support throughout this journey.”

Silas Hamilton III
ISSA CPT · Manager & Master Trainer, Anytime Fitness

“I did good on the interview and got the position with Amped Fitness! I got two more interviews also, with Equinox and Cowboys Fit.”

Alexander Pedigo
ISSA CPT · Hired at Amped Fitness

What our hiring partners have said about ISSA

We'd rather you hear it from them. These are our partners' own announcements and independent coverage of their work with ISSA. Each link opens the original source.

Hiring trainers? We'll help you fill the roles.

Member demand is up and trainer roles sit open, leaving revenue on the table. The hard part is finding candidates who are ready to coach and sell on day one. You need a platform that delivers certified, job-ready trainers. That's what Career Connect is for.

  • Post open roles and get in front of 45,000+ ISSA-certified coaches.
  • Create a Hiring Hub for your brand or location and host live hiring events for ISSA students and graduates.
  • Train your current team with ISSA certifications and specializations.

When ISSA pros succeed, the businesses that hire them succeed too. That's why the industry keeps coming back.

Become a hiring partner Read the 2026 Fitness Hiring Report

Career Connect FAQ

What is ISSA Career Connect?

ISSA Career Connect is ISSA's members-only career community for ISSA students and graduates. It connects certified trainers and coaches with gyms, studios and wellness brands that are hiring, with profiles, partner Hiring Hubs, live hiring events, resume and interview tools, and webinars.

Who can use Career Connect, and does it cost extra?

Career Connect comes with every ISSA certification. Current ISSA students and graduates access it through the ISSA Student Portal at no additional charge.

Which gyms hire through Career Connect?

ISSA works with 23,000+ fitness center partner locations worldwide. Partners include Life Time, Equinox, 24 Hour Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Crunch Fitness, Snap Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, F45 Training, VASA Fitness, Planet Fitness franchise groups, EoS Fitness, Gold's Gym franchise partners, YouFit Gyms, Camp Gladiator, Workout Anytime and Amped Fitness.

How many personal trainers did ISSA certify in 2025?

In 2025, ISSA was #1 globally with 35,293 new certified personal trainers, up 12.8% from the 31,298 certified in 2024.

Does Career Connect guarantee me a job?

ISSA does not provide job placement. Career Connect provides career support, employer visibility and hiring connections, and each employer makes its own hiring decisions. Eligible ISSA programs also include the 100% Money Back Job Guarantee. Restrictions apply; see the Job Guarantee page.

Does any gym guarantee ISSA graduates an interview?

Yes. Life Time offers eligible ISSA Certified Personal Trainers a guaranteed interview screening through Career Connect. Read the announcement.

How can my gym become an ISSA hiring partner?

Gyms, studios and franchise groups can partner with ISSA to recruit ISSA-certified trainers, create Hiring Hubs, host hiring events and train their teams. Become a hiring partner.

Your next opportunity is already waiting

Career Connect comes with every ISSA certification. Join over 1 million students worldwide who've turned their passion into opportunity.

Get your free Evaluation Kit Explore certifications

ISSA does not provide job placement. Career Connect provides career support, employer visibility and hiring connections. Employer participation, open roles and interview programs vary by partner and location and may change. Partner names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners.

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