If you’re passionate about exercise or are considering a career in fitness, you’ve likely heard of the most popular personal trainer certifications — like ACE (American Council on Exercise), ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association), and NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine).
These “big three” are great overall programs with National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accreditations, thorough educational content, and flexible study formats. They’re not the cheapest personal trainer courses out there, but you do have other options for getting your CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) qualification.
We reviewed a dozen programs and included our top recommendations for personal trainer certifications based on different categories and priorities.
Best Overall: NASM
Easiest: ISSA
Cheapest: NFPT
Most Respected: NASM
Best for Online Trainers: FM (Fitness Mentors)
Best Overall Personal Training Certification: NASM
| Pros | Cons |
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✅ Widely recognized globally
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❌ Pricey |
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✅ NCCA-accredited
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❌ Physical textbook not available in lower course bundles
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✅ Reported higher CPT incomes
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❌ Course material and exam must be completed 180 days (6 months) from registration
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✅ Job guarantee program |
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Key Features:
- Over 35 years in business with connections to 12,000+ gyms and health clubs
- Study program costs from $899 to $2400 (before discounts or promotions)
- Multiple interest-free payment plans available
- High 79% exam pass rate
- Recertification required every 2 years with a $99 renewal fee and 2.0 CEUs (1.9 for ongoing education, 0.1 for mandatory CPR renewal)
- Recertify for Life program
- Known for its Optimum Performance Training™ (OPT™) model — a science-based framework with three levels of five phases, designed to optimize the training, performance, and recovery for every client regardless of ability or activity background
A NASM certification comes with a very well-respected reputation and a regularly reviewed and updated curriculum. It’s consistently ranked among the top personal trainer programs available.
NASM is also one of the only organizations with a hands-on experience program for new trainers. The Gymternship program provides 80 hours of practical experience working with clients at a partnered fitness facility, though it’s only available in the higher-tier course bundle.
NASM is one of the more expensive personal trainer certification courses out there. But there are frequent significant discounts and special promotions.
Overall, NASM offers the most comprehensive and regularly improved curriculum, best name recognition, and most extensive job assistance, in addition to flexible study programs, higher reported earnings, and overwhelmingly positive reviews.
Read our full review of the NASM Personal Trainer Certification program.
Easiest Personal Training Certification: ISSA
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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✅ International recognition
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❌ Pricey |
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✅ High exam pass rate
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❌ Must complete course and exam within 6 months
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✅ Online, flexible self-study
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❌ May not be as beneficial to those with prior exercise-related training |
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✅ Job guarantee program |
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Key Features:
- Two exam options: open- or closed-book
- Open-book exam is National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE)-approved
- Proctored closed-book exam is NCCA-accredited
- Second test attempt is free ($99 for any additional attempts)
- Certification costs range from $994 to $1800
- Payment plans available
- Recertification required every 2 years with 20 CEU hours and a recertification fee
One of the widely recognized certification programs in the industry, ISSA offers flexible, online learning tools and partners with a long list of fitness chains to help new trainers find employment after certification.
Our categorization of ISSA as the easiest personal trainer certification is based on:
- The open-note test option
- The highest exam pass rate (90%) of all personal trainer certifications
- The reported readability of the textbook
- Trainer reviews
- Access to a dedicated student support team for help with exam preparation
Read our full review of the ISSA CPT program.
Cheapest Personal Training Certification: NFPT
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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✅ Low cost
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❌ Not widely recognized
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✅ NCCA accredited
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❌ Recertification due yearly
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✅ Free CECs (continuing education credits) available
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❌ Less in-depth educational material |
Key Features:
- Cheapest personal trainer certification packages (that also include the exam fee)
- Certification costs from $299 to $349
- Exam-only option for $199
- 72% exam pass rate
- Recertification required yearly with 2 CEUs and $0 fees
Overall, the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT) Personal Trainer certification is the cheapest program available due to its low initial cost, flexible and free continuing education materials, and no recertification fee.
That being said, there are some “you get what you pay for” things to consider. Its materials are less robust and in-depth than many of the larger programs, and there is more emphasis on the self part of the self-study structure. If you have prior fitness, anatomy, physiology, or similar experience, this is likely not the best certification for you.
NFPT is also unique in that it does not require a CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) certification to take the exam. But most (if not all) fitness facilities will require this (and liability insurance) in addition to a personal trainer certification before hiring you. The good news: NFPT will accept a CPR certification for continuing education credits!
Read our full NFPT CPT program review.
Best Personal Training Certification for Online Personal Trainers: Fitness Mentors
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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✅ Specific online personal trainer certification
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❌ Newer and less widely recognized
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✅ Provides study materials for other program exams (NASM and ACE)
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❌ Medium to high cost of certification
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✅ Resources for launching and running a fitness business
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❌ Accreditation status may be confusing
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Key Features:
- Certified Online Personal Trainer (COPT) program
- CPT course is NCCA-accredited
- COPT course is approved by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and recognized by the National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE)
- Program costs range from $499 to $1599 depending on the program bundle
- Payment plans available
- 88% exam pass rate
- Recertification required every 2 years with 2.0 CEUs and a $99 re-certification fee
Fitness Mentors is one of, if not the only program that offers a specific course for virtual personal trainers. The COPT course and standard CPT course both include an emphasis on what you need to know if you primarily train online.
While the COPT exam has DEAC and NBFE recognition, the lack of an NCCA accreditation may affect your ability to get hired in a physical gym if you decide you want to do that later on. It’s also still a relatively new program and may not be recognized by as many clients or fitness facilities.
Additional Top Personal Training Certifications
ACE: American Council on Exercise
- The best personal trainer certification for behavior change coaching
- Known for its Integrated Fitness Training® (IFT®) Model
- Widely recognized
- NCCA-accredited
- Consistently one of the most popular programs
- Base costs comparable to other top programs, with frequent discounts and special promotions
- Well-organized and user-friendly online interface
ACE is often recognized as the best personal trainer certification program for relationship building. The CPT course materials include an extensive behavior change section in addition to fitness fundamentals, anatomy, biomechanics, exercise programming, and the other “harder” sciences. There is also an emphasis on building positive client rapport included in all course materials.
NSCA: National Strength and Conditioning Association
- Known for its rigorous science-based programs and strength specialist cert
- Best certification for advanced strength and conditioning, sports science, and those with previous exercise-related education
- Widely recognized and respected
- Programs available in several languages
- Base costs in the middle range of certification programs, but don’t include as many study materials in the price
Read our full review of the NSCA Personal Trainer Certification.
More CPT Programs and Reviews
- Low to middle cost range
- Offers a focus on working with a variety of special needs clients
- Middle cost range
- Known for group exercise instructor programs
- Acquired by NASM, run as a separate company
- Middle cost range
- Holds an accreditation from an international accrediting body
- Course materials considered intermediate and not necessarily for beginners
- Costs unavailable
- Extensive continuing education library
- Difficult to contact
- Poorly designed website
- Middle to high cost range
- Known for extensive group exercise certificates
National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA)
- Personal Fitness Trainer certification (PFT)
- NCCA-accredited
- Lower to middle cost range
- Four-year recertification cycle instead of the traditional two
National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF)
- NCCA-accredited
- Recognized in 160+ countries
- Thorough course material in biomechanics, anatomy, and program design, with less focus on business skills
- Costs range from the lower to high-middle range of certification programs
Become a Certified + Insured Personal Trainer
When you want to be a personal trainer or fitness instructor, you need three things to start working:
- Your CPT or Group Exercise certification
- A Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification
- Personal trainer liability insurance
Most gyms, health clubs, and other fitness facilities require you to have proof of these three things before they will hire you or let you train clients in their facilities. Some gyms may have insurance policies that cover you and your clients, but you do not want to assume they do, only to find out you weren’t covered if a claim or lawsuit is filed.
Even if you plan to work solely online or independently, it’s still an industry best practice to have your CPT and CPR certifications along with fitness liability insurance.
Working independently means no one else has your back if a client experiences a medical event or an injury while working with you. Even when you do everything right, there’s still a chance a client can fall, get injured, or claim they sustained an injury based on something you told them (whether true or not!)
Set yourself up for success with the proper fitness business form of certifications and liability insurance with Insurance Canopy.
FAQs About the Best CPT Certifications
What Prerequisites Do I Need to Obtain a Personal Trainer Certification?
In most cases you need to be at least 18 years of age, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have a CPR certification by the time you take your CPT exam. Some certification programs may have slightly different requirements, so check with each organization directly.
How Do I Choose the Right Personal Trainer Certification for My Career Goals?
Review job requirements for the careers you’re interested in and choose a CPT certification that best fulfills those requirements, your professional goals, and your personal considerations, such as:
- Accreditation
- Costs
- Payment plans
- Time limits
- Study materials/class formats
- CPT program specialities
- Other personal preferences
How Much Time Is Required to Complete a Personal Trainer Certification Program?
Most personal trainer certification programs take as little as 4–6 weeks or as long as 6 months. But how much time is required also depends on the individual. If you can study every day and/or have prior experience, you’ll likely need less time. And since most are self-study, they also state that it’s up to the student how quickly they can complete the class.
What Are the Typical Costs Associated With Personal Trainer Certifications?
Personal trainer certification costs range from $300 to $2000, though many of the more expensive programs frequently offer discounts and specials. Course costs usually include the course program itself, digital and/or physical study materials, a final exam fee, optional advanced resources, and some include a CPR certification class fee.
Is It Necessary to Have a Certification to Work as a Personal Trainer?
There is no official law stating you have to have a certification to work as a personal trainer, but you are highly unlikely to get work without one. Working as a personal trainer without a certification can also open you up to more liability risks, since you may not know of proactive steps you can take to mitigate risks and avoid expensive claims.
