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What is a certified personal trainer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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Certified Personal Trainers are fitness professionals who have earned certification for creating and implementing health programs. They work closely with their clients to tailor their training regimen to their individual needs. Certified Personal Trainers go beyond diet and exercise plans. Many of them use a more holistic approach to health and wellness, noting their client's professional, mental, and personal goals.

Certified Personal Trainers don't necessarily need a college education. A high school diploma or GED is enough to get you through the door. What's more important is personal training certification. Many programs and institutions offer personal training certification. Be sure to look for accredited ones by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCAA).

The average Certified Personal Trainer in the United States earns a yearly salary of $32,000. That's more or less $15 an hour. However, employers like the Conway Regional Medical Center, Lifetime, Planet Fitness, and Anytime Fitness pay their Certified Personal Trainer a highly competitive salary of $36,000 or more on average.

ScoreCertified Personal TrainerUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,039

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
4.4

Growth Rate 19%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%

Asian 5.11%

Black or African American 7.05%

Hispanic or Latino 10.64%

Unknown 5.40%

White 71.31%

Gender

female 46.46%

male 53.54%

Age - 36
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36
Stress Level
4.4

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
5.5

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

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Certified Personal Trainer career paths

Key steps to become a certified personal trainer

  1. Explore certified personal trainer education requirements

    Most common certified personal trainer degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.1 %

    Associate

    16.1 %

    Master's

    7.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific certified personal trainer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CPR20.83%
    Customer Service15.07%
    Injury Prevention8.79%
    Group Training5.87%
    NASM5.82%
  3. Complete relevant certified personal trainer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New certified personal trainers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a certified personal trainer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real certified personal trainer resumes.
  4. Gain additional certified personal trainer certifications

    Certified personal trainer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific certified personal trainer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for certified personal trainers include Certified Personal Trainer and Advanced Personal Training Certification (APT).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research certified personal trainer duties and responsibilities

    • Provide market research and generate leads using social media (facebook) in order to target prospective clients.
    • Train in CPR in case of emergencies.
    • Develop circuit training and small group Pilates classes.
    • Instruct Pilates classes and create a custom Pilates class for senior clients.
  6. Prepare your certified personal trainer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your certified personal trainer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a certified personal trainer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Certified Personal Trainer Resume templates

    Build a professional Certified Personal Trainer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Certified Personal Trainer resume.
    Certified Personal Trainer Resume
    Certified Personal Trainer Resume
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    Certified Personal Trainer Resume
    Certified Personal Trainer Resume
    Certified Personal Trainer Resume
    Certified Personal Trainer Resume
    Certified Personal Trainer Resume
    Certified Personal Trainer Resume
  7. Apply for certified personal trainer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a certified personal trainer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Certified Personal Trainer Job

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Average certified personal trainer salary

The average Certified Personal Trainer salary in the United States is $32,039 per year or $15 per hour. Certified personal trainer salaries range between $21,000 and $47,000 per year.

Average Certified Personal Trainer Salary
$32,039 Yearly
$15.40 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do certified personal trainers rate their job?

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Certified Personal Trainer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Cons

Running out of time to help obtain a clean and safe environment in the gym


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021
Pros

No punching a time clock. Ability to set own hours - although you’ll make more if you are flexible with client availabilities. Rewarding helping others get healthier and seeing the positive outcomes in their fitness/health.

Cons

Early mornings and late evenings - midday naps are often needed. Typically need to work Saturdays. People think that a personal trainer’s time is worthless because they rarely call to cancel… no-shows are always happening and it really sucks for the trainer, especially since it happens so often.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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