The 9 Cheapest Personal Training Certifications

Rising interest in personal fitness amid concerns about obesity and general health trends has resulted in high demand for personal trainers. Though personal training does not require a degree, certifications provide valuable training and enhance your credibility and business.

While personal training certifications are not as expensive as a college degree, the cost of the certification is an important consideration. However, if you focus on pursuing the cheapest personal training certification, you may hurt your career in the long run.

Considerations When You Choose a CPT Program

Many high-quality personal training certification programs are accessible on a tight budget. These programs feature oversight by accredited fitness organizations, professional guidance, and assistance with internship placements.

Many of them also offer educational extras and career guidance that are well-worth any increases in pricing. Others provide much leaner academics, but the low price tag enables you to dive in quickly and begin working in the fitness industry sooner.

You should consider several factors when choosing a personal training certification program. The correlation between quality and cost mentioned above is an essential one. In the case of fitness education, the program's quality is more important than the price.

Accreditation

Two organizations accredit personal training certifications:

  • The National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA), an independent organization that identifies the essential components of a national certification program and determines if it meets standards established for the program.
  • Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), a non-profit organization that provides accreditation of distance education institutions.

DEAC accreditation has a narrower focus than NCCA, but DEAC accreditation is considered the gold standard of college and educational institution accreditation. If you want to pursue personal training certification, look for accreditation from either of these organizations to ensure you’re getting the best quality program.

Industry Recognition

Check to make sure gyms and training facilities recognize the certification you're seeking for potential employment. Industry recognition varies between specializations.

Re-certification

Re-certification ensures that your base of knowledge and training is always current and in tune with the latest developments in health, fitness, and nutrition. The industry standard for re-certification is every two years. When it comes to re-certification, look for programs that meet your goals.

If you want to achieve a position of authority in the fitness industry, choose a program with more frequent re-certification that emphasizes continuing education and enrichment. If you're going to work as a fitness trainer and build a clientele, go for a program with a more extended period of re-certification.

Exam Difficulty

The most respected certifications in the industry generally have the more challenging exams to qualify for or pass. If you want gold standard certification, choose a program with a reputation for more challenging exams.

Most of the exams are accessible online, though some are proctored and require you to take the exam at a designated testing location. In some cases, the bulk of the pricing for the certificate is the exam cost itself, so the difficulty and accessibility of the exam is an important consideration when choosing your program.

Cheapest Personal Training Certifications

1. International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)

Cost: $499

ISSA offers many self-paced distance learning courses covering various health and fitness topics.

  • Curriculum: ISSA's personal training certification focuses on scientific and philosophical aspects of fitness. The curriculum can be tailored to individual needs and features business and marketing coursework as well.
  • Prerequisites and Eligibility Requirements: A high school diploma is not required, but candidates must be a minimum of 18 years of age. CPR/AED/First Aid certification is required.
  • Testing: The ISSA exam is open-book, untimed, and can be retaken once for free if needed.
  • Continuing Education and Career Resources: Students who pass the final exam receive a free professional website. ISSA also has a wide range of continuing education courses and additional certification programs.
  • For a limited time, take 20% off ISSA certification when using promo code FT20.

Try ISSA For Free! Become a Personal Trainer

2. American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Cost: $498

ACE certifications focus on preparing personal trainers to meet clients at their fitness levels. Whether it's walking or completing a triathlon, the goal is to get people moving.

The personal training program from ACE has over 53,000 graduates and, with separate specialized certification programs such as group fitness, health coaching, and medical exercise, it offers a good return on your modest investment.

  • Curriculum: Personal training certification focuses on customized training for individual clients, concentrating on health, fitness, function, and performance.
  • Prerequisites and Eligibility Requirements: ACE training requires valid CPR/AED certification with a live skills check (no online-only certification). You also must be 18 or older.
  • Testing: The program concludes with an in-person exam.
  • Continuing Education and Career Resources: ACE offers a wide range of resources for personal certified trainers, including a career center, online courses, workshops, events, live webinars, and re-certification programs.

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3. The National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF)

Cost: $499

Certifications from NCSF are globally recognized, with testing sites in 83 countries worldwide. Personal training certifications offer specialization in strength & conditioning, sports and fitness nutrition, and more.

The programs are all available online through an easy-to-use platform. In addition, NCSF offers certification programs in cooperation with hundreds of U.S colleges and universities.

  • Curriculum: The programs reflect U.S. and international fitness standards, and individuals may use the certifications in any country with registering systems for exercise professionals. Personal training certifications use online or guided instruction to teach corrective exercise, flexibility, aerobic fitness, resistance training, nutrition, weight management, and various training methodologies.
  • Prerequisites and Eligibility Requirements: A high school diploma or its equivalent is required, as is CPR/AED certification.
  • Testing: You must be 18 or older to sit for the NCSF-CPT exam. Exams are taken online or at a testing center. All testing takes place through NCSF’s on-demand testing service
  • Continuing Education and Career Resources: NCSF offers online courses, workshops, and home studies for continuing education. There is also a career center, placement assistance, and trainer's tools.

Try NCSF and Take 50% off Certification!

4. National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)

Cost: $524

A respected organization for more than 30 years, the NASM offers training and resources for sports and fitness professionals that focus on an elite, scientific approach to personal training. With more than 190,000 personal training certifications awarded during the past decade, NASM is one of the most popular programs in the fitness industry.

  • Curriculum: Using the latest scientific research and the Optimum Performance Training™ (OPT™) model, NASM offers self-guided and guided programs exploring balance, core stabilization, endurance, flexibility, power, and strength training.
  • Prerequisites and Eligibility Requirements: You must have a high school diploma or equivalent, as well as current certification in CPR/AED.
  • Testing: To become a NASM-CPT, you must pass the Certified Professional Trainer exam.
  • Continuing Education and Career Resources: Certified trainers through the NASM have access to the Gymternship™ program and the potential for permanent placement at a fitness facility. Advanced specializations include group training, fitness nutrition, senior fitness, weight loss training, and women's fitness. Live workshops and conferences are additional benefits accessible to certified fitness professionals.

Try the #1 NASM CPT Online Study Guide

5. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

Cost: $525

ACSM focuses on the science of fitness and the promotion of fitness science research. With an impressive global membership of more than 50,000 fitness professionals, ACSM is a well-respected organization and source of education.

  • Curriculum: Combining scientific research and practical knowledge, the curriculum prepares students for personal training in various fitness settings, including gyms, universities, and private work. The training focuses on instructing students to create individualized programs for their clients, customized to their skill levels and goals.
  • Prerequisites and Eligibility Requirements: You must be 18 or older, have a high school diploma or GED, and hold adult CPR/AED certification.
  • Testing: Pearson VUE schedules all exams, with all information available online.
  • Continuing Education and Career Resources: Many opportunities are available through ACSM for continuing education, advanced learning, and professional development, including re-certification programs and specialist certifications. Access to industry conferences and special events is also available.

 

6. National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT)

Cost: $249

NFPT offers reasonable pricing on primary personal training certification and offers easy access to continuing education, including entirely free continuing education courses.

  • Curriculum: Accredited by the NCCA, the program emphasizes safe, practical training through fundamental fitness science principles. Programs focus on back-to-basics, trend-free fitness.
  • Prerequisites and Eligibility Requirements: Students must be 18 or older, have a high school diploma or GED, and have a current government-issued photo ID
  • Testing: The testing focuses on training program development and implementation, anatomy & physiology, fitness components, and communication skills. Testing sites are available worldwide, and the exam is free to take.
  • Continuing Education and Career Resources: As mentioned above, NFPT is noteworthy for its volume and accessibility to continuing education and career resources.

7. The National Council for Certified Trainers (NCCPT)

Cost: $478

NCCPT is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ISSA, and their connection to the well-respected health and fitness organization is positive.

  • Curriculum: The curriculum demonstrates a firm grasp of fitness programming principles and comprehensive personal training program design.
  • Prerequisites and Eligibility Requirements: You must have a high school diploma or equivalent, a government-issued ID, and a valid CPR/AED certification.
  • Testing: Generally viewed as easier to pass, the NCCPT test’s association with the more challenging ISSA indicates the quality of subject matter is there.
  • Continuing Education and Career Resources: NCCPT students have the advantage of access to continuing education and resources via ISSA.

8. The National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA)

Cost: $477

NESTA is ideal for self-starters since all of the study materials and content are online, as is all testing. The personal training certification includes all the basics needed, including physiology, anatomy, kinesiology, biomechanics, nutrition, injuries and safety, psychology and behavior, and client assessment.

  • Curriculum: NESTA certification is the only personal training certification that stays valid for four years, but individuals must complete continuing education courses during that time to maintain the credential. NESTA's program is also unique because of how it integrates technology, such as heart rate tracking and digital exercise logging, into the curriculum,.
  • Prerequisites and Eligibility Requirements: You must be 18 or older, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and a valid government-issued photo ID.
  • Testing: You must take NESTA exams at a PSI testing center. Exams are proctored.
  • Continuing Education and Career Resources: Continuing education credits are necessary to remain actively credentialed for the entire four years. The program also offers a post-exam business and career kit with a guide to marketing yourself as a personal trainer.

9. ACTION Personal Trainer Certification

Cost: $99

Previously known as Athletic Certification Training (ACT), the ACTION personal training certification is the least expensive certification program. The content is basic but accurate.

  • Curriculum: The ACTION program offers three certifications, covering personal training, nutrition, and group exercise. The course is lean but hits the essentials of fitness education.
  • Prerequisites and Eligibility Requirements: No prerequisites are required.
  • Testing: You have a whole year available to complete your CPT exam.
  • Continuing Education and Career Resources: Few continuing education credit options and career resources are available.

Conclusion

Every one of the personal training programs above is inexpensive and provides the information and education you need to start as a personal trainer. In the end, the choice about which of these cheapest programs is right for you comes down to the determining factors and your individual needs as a student and professional. We've also compiled a list of our top 5 personal trainer certifications if you'd like a more in-depth review about our favorite CPT options. 

Personal training certification from an accredited program is essential, but it is also necessary to review the quality and breadth of the program. While one program may provide the basics for a discount, a more thorough program that costs slightly more may be the direction you need to take.

Continuing education and re-certification are also essential considerations. Depending on your career direction, the accessibility of specialized CEs and other career resources may be more important than saving money in the short term.

Take your time and research the programs available. All the personal training organizations offer extensive resources online, including information about the content of their programs, continuing education and career resource options, exam information, and more.

Personal training and fitness careers offer the long-term potential for advancement and achievement. Whether you work in a brick-and-mortar gym, as part of a school sports program, in professional sports, or as an entrepreneur working from home or online, personal training education and certification is a guaranteed way to advance your career and your knowledge of fitness, health, and nutrition.

You can learn more about fitness industry careers, personal training certification, and the fitness organizations and training programs listed above at our blog.