Certified Personal Trainer

Get certified. Start training clients.

A male fitness coach in a black ISSA t-shirt and black pants kneels beside a woman in a purple sports bra and black leggings, holding a tablet in a bright gym setting.
0% interest payment plan Self-paced, 95% pass rate 100% job- guarantee

What do you get?

Included with your purchase
Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) $999
NCCPT accredited exam $599
Total Value $1,598
Price if purchased separately
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Total value $1,598
Your price
Total value $1,598 , total price $1,068 Payment options

Your complete path to becoming a trainer

Study your way

Where and when you want - fully online, self-paced, and flexible enough to fit around your real life.

Practice with confidence

Unlimited quiz attempts, text, video, audio, and interactive lessons – plus open book exams

Get certified and get hired

A nationally recognized and accredited certification, all backed by the ISSA Job Guarantee.

Build a career you'll love

Credibility in the gym and on the street, respect, and a path to grow personally and professionally.

Hiring partners include

23,000+ gyms, studios, and clubs

What can you do with a CPT certification?

Tap the job title to learn more

  • Get hired at one of 23,000+ partner facilities. Clients come to you, so you build a book of business without having to build a business

    AVERAGE US SALARY$47,480*

  • Train your own clients, set your own rates, keep what you earn. Most trainers make the jump once their schedule fills up.

    AVERAGE US SALARY$67,259*

  • Run sessions of four to eight instead of one. Same hour, several clients. The group is what keeps them showing up.

    AVERAGE US SALARY$51,000*

  • Coach clients anywhere, on your hours. Programming, check-ins, and accountability are delivered through an app.

    AVERAGE US SALARY$59,779*

  • Run fitness programs inside a company. Regular hours, benefits, and a client base that's already in the building.

    AVERAGE US SALARY$84,765*

  • Open your own space and hire the trainers. Most ISSA owners start solo, add a second trainer, and grow from there.

    AVERAGE US SALARY$86,197*

*Based on national industry averages. Actual income depends on location, hours worked, and individual business practices.

Start your new career

Trained. Hired. Paid back in five days

$181.36

Per 8 hr.
work day

$868

Certified
Personal Trainer
Investment

Real students. Real results.

  • “Comprehensive and fairly updated as far as recent studies are concerned. Easy to understand format and really supportive in customer service! Thanks ISSA! I already have a job at a gym AND 5 clients!”

    Charity J. Verified review

  • “ISSA coaches are professional, very knowledgeable and truly care about their students. They provide the right tools and instruction to help them become successful and the best CPTs.”

    Mike Verified review

  • "Coach Sohail, was my lifeline. His encouragement and support helped me thru this incredible task. I am 67 yrs old, I was so nervous about this, he made himself available every time I got stuck. Thank you coach."

    Theresa Y. Verified review

  • "Everything was easy to understand. It's a lot of great information. I feel confident in the knowledge I've gained from the course.”

    Shaver Verified review

It's ok to have questions

Can't find your answer? A program advisor is one call away: (800) 892-4772

  • In fitness, accreditation applies to the certification exam, not to the organization behind it — true for ISSA and every other major certifying body. Your ISSA CPT course includes two exam options: the exam in the ISSA CPT Course, which is not accredited, and the NCCPT-CPT exam, which is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The NCCPT-CPT is offered through the National Council for Certified Personal Trainers, an ISSA company. Both are included in your tuition. Learn more.

  • ISSA and NASM both prepare you for an NCCA-accredited certification exam — so the real difference is how you're trained. Your ISSA CPT course includes an NCCA-accredited exam option, and we build the program around the job you'll actually be doing. Our Purpose-Driven Training Model starts every client relationship with a 15–20 minute conversation about what they really want, with movement assessment built into their first real workout — so you learn to coach people, not just program for them. And our job guarantee is included in your tuition: six full months, with your tuition refunded in full if you don't get an offer.

  • With ISSA, you can become a certified personal trainer in as little as 3 months, although the timeline is flexible since our programs are self-paced. There is no fixed schedule, so many students complete their certification while maintaining their current jobs or other responsibilities.

  • Your first two attempts are free, but ISSA's programs are designed with support systems in place to help you succeed. Our courses support a variety of learning styles through a mix of videos and readings. Plus, we include practice quizzes, and some courses include live study groups, so you can confidently prepare for the certification exam.

  • ISSA's Job Guarantee ensures graduates who successfully complete the CPT (including passing the NCCA accredited NCCPT-CPT personal trainer exam), NBHWC-approved Pathway and Yoga 200 programs will land a job within 6 months of certification—or they get their money back. The program includes career resources and access to a network of over 23,000 gym partners actively hiring trainers. To qualify, you must be a legal US Resident and eligible to work in the United States. You need to meet the minimum requirements for gym employment, and apply and interview with at least three gyms within six months of completing your course.

  • Core Courses and Specializations can be refunded within 7 days of purchase (day of purchase counts as day 1), as long as you haven't started a final or proctored exam. Refunds go back to your original payment method, minus a 10% processing fee and any service fees. Everything else — including CEUs, CPR Certifications, and the CPT Study Expansion Pack — is final sale. See our Terms and Conditions for full details.

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Can't wait? Speak to a fitness education advisor immediately. 800-892-4772