How To Become a Certified Personal Trainer In 2023? Easy Steps 

How To Become a Certified Personal Trainer In 2023? Easy Steps 

Are you interested in becoming a certified personal trainer? In this blog post, we’ll cover the steps you need for how to become a certified personal trainer in 2023 and the qualifications you will need to meet. 

To become a certified personal trainer in 2023, you will need to complete a personal training certification program. 

Depending on where you live, there may be several organizations offering certification programs. You will need to research the options to determine which program best suits your needs. 

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What Is a Certified Personal Trainer?

A certified personal trainer is someone who has gained recognition from a highly regarded fitness organization, such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). 

These trainers have the expertise and knowledge required to assist their clients in achieving their fitness, nutrition, and general health objectives.

Many employers do not require personal trainers to be certified, but the majority do. Even if certification is not compulsory, getting certified can help to raise your profile and improve your chances of acquiring new clients.

How to Become a Personal Trainer?

Becoming a personal trainer is a great way to help people reach their fitness goals and live a healthier lifestyle. To become a personal trainer, you’ll need to complete a certification program, obtain liability insurance and obtain a certification from a recognized organization.

Here are some steps to become a personal trainer:

  • Earn a High School Diploma
  • Complete AED/CPR Certification
  • Choose a Fitness Specialty
  • Take and Pass Certification Examination
  • Apply for Jobs and Build a Portfolio
  • Prepare for Certification
  • Additional Education Options

How To Become a Certified Personal Trainer?

Take steps to become a certified personal trainer – a fitness professional with the training, experience, and knowledge to help clients meet their physical fitness goals. 

Gain the necessary training and experience, and acquire the knowledge required to be a successful personal trainer. Then, obtain a certification to validate your qualifications and become an official certified personal trainer.

Choose a Certification Program

Choosing to become a certified personal trainer requires selecting an accredited certification program. This generally can be completed within a year and cost between $200 and $2,000, depending on the program.

When deciding on a certification program, it’s essential to select one that is accredited by a recognized body, like the NCCA or the NFBE. 

Many employers usually favor those certified by NCCA, since they can be listed on the US Registry of Exercise Professionals and easily be discovered by consumers.

Meet The Certification Prerequisites

Before taking the final exam to earn your certification as a Certified Personal Trainer, you must meet certain requirements. These typically include:

Prepare For And Take The Certification Exam

Certification programs can provide training and courses to help you get ready for the final exam. Some may offer multiple personal trainer study program packages along with their certification exams. 

If you need assistance in preparing for the exam, you can inquire with the accrediting organization for free or paid resources or seek out virtual study groups online. 

You may also easily find free practice tests online that can give you an idea of what to expect on the actual exam.

When applying for a personal training certification, you will need to complete an application and pay a fee. The exam can be taken either in-person or online, with a proctor overseeing. The test typically consists of 120-150 multiple-choice questions.

Define Your Specialty And Gain Experience

When selecting a specialization within personal training, think about your interests, abilities and professional ambitions to pick the one that best suits you. This can help you stand out from other trainers. Common specializations for personal trainers include:

  • Strength training
  • Weight loss
  • Corrective exercise
  • Youth fitness
  • Senior fitness
  • Group exercise

Sharpen Your Personal Trainer Skills

As a personal trainer, being knowledgeable about fitness science, the human body and possessing the necessary personal skills to motivate clients to reach their health targets are essential. 

Here are some of the technical and personal abilities that will help you perform your job to the highest standard.

Personal Skills 

As a personal trainer, being able to communicate effectively and possess emotional intelligence are essential skills. 

It is important to comprehend and regulate your clients’ emotions in order to encourage them to stay motivated and determined. 

Since each individual has different ambitions and temperaments, it is crucial to have knowledge of what motivates them.

Technical Skills

An accomplished personal trainer should be knowledgeable and/or have experience in the following areas: technical skills.

  • Designing exercise programs
  • Operating and maintaining exercise equipment
  • Physiology and exercise physiology
  • Effective exercise methods
  • Record keeping

Apply For Jobs And Build Your Resume

When it comes to job applications, it’s important to think about the type of workplace you’d like to be in, the kind of services you’d like to offer, and whether you’d prefer to be employed by a gym or to be self-employed.

Answering these questions can influence your job search. Depending on what you prefer, you could opt for the autonomy of being a freelance personal trainer or appreciate the stability of working for a gym.

Network And Build An Online Presence

Networking is a great way to find job opportunities and boost your personal training business. Here are a few ways to do so cost-effectively:

  • Regularly working out at the same gym
  • Offering free or reduced rates for new clients
  • Starting a boot camp
  • Volunteering to lead or sub for exercise classes at your local recreation center 

Having an online presence can help you network and find more work opportunities. Utilize social media and create a website to serve as a hub for clients wanting to learn more about you and your personal training services.

Continue Your Education And Maintain Certification

Your education as a certified personal trainer should not end at passing the certification exam. The health industry is constantly growing, with new research and innovation affecting the fitness industry.

Maintaining certification often requires trainers to complete 20 – 45 hours of continuing education courses (CECs) every two to three years. 

To stay up-to-date with the latest discoveries and health trends, you can attend conferences that offer CECs, take college classes such as biology or anatomy, or enroll in CECs online.

What Does a Certified Personal Trainer Do?

A Certified Personal Trainer is an individual who has gone through rigorous training, education, and certification. They are trained to safely and effectively help clients reach their health and fitness goals by providing individualized and personalized exercise programs. 

Certified Personal Trainers help their clients improve physical fitness, reduce the risk of injury, and increase overall health, performance, and well-being. 

They also provide clients with nutritional advice and guidance, as well as advice on lifestyle changes, and motivation to help keep clients on track.

Education Needed To Become a Certified Personal Trainer

To become a certified personal trainer, a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required. 

However, most employers and certification organizations prefer or require candidates to have some post-secondary education in a related field, such as exercise science, kinesiology, or physical education.

Certification programs for personal trainers are offered by several organizations, such as the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Certified Personal Trainer Jobs

After gaining your trainer certification, you can pursue many options for your career. In-person training with clients in a gym or online via applications are both viable ways to make a living out of being a personal trainer, part-time or full-time.

As a certified personal trainer, there are many career paths to consider:

  • Group fitness instructor 
  • Gym manager 
  • One-on-one trainer

Conclusions

Becoming a certified personal trainer in 2023 is an achievable goal. With the proper dedication and resources, you can gain the necessary knowledge and skills to become a certified personal trainer and start a successful career. With hard work, discipline, and determination, you can reach your goal of becoming a certified personal trainer in 2023. Contact us for more content like this!

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Become a Certified Personal Trainer

To become a personal trainer, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, certification from a recognized organization such as NASM, ACE or NSCA, practical experience working with clients, and knowledge of fitness industry trends and research

The most respected personal trainer certificate is one that has the option for NCCA accreditation. This is considered the gold standard for third-party certifications and includes certifications such as NASM, ACE, Fitness Mentors, and ISSA.

If you are seeking a fulfilling job, personal training may be the perfect fit. It can be immensely gratifying to assist individuals in reaching their fitness objectives. Furthermore, you get to observe the positive health impacts that come with regularly exercising.

Gaining certification to become a personal trainer can be a challenge, requiring significant effort and training. It is beneficial to explore both basic and advanced accreditations. To gain the necessary expertise, it is essential to spend time honing your craft in the gym.

No, it is not possible to get a personal training job without a qualification. Most job postings for personal trainers will require a minimum of a Level 3 Personal Training certificate.


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Sara Blauvelt
By Sara Blauvelt

Hey everyone, I am Sarah, an experienced career writer with a talent for breaking down complex career concepts into easily digestible content that helps job seekers succeed. Skilled career communicator, known for producing high-quality, data-driven content that provides valuable insights and strategies for career success.