Jumpstart Your Career With These Affordable Personal Training Certifications

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Whether you attend an in-person fitness class or work out from home with a virtual personal training app, you’re following the guidance of a certified personal trainer (CPT). From one-on-one clients to group fitness classes to personal training apps, the demand for personal trainers has only increased in the past decade. If you’ve seen what your favorite trainer does and think this may be a career for you, you’re in the right place.

If you are interested in becoming a CPT, you’ll want to start by getting a personal training certification. Though it can be expensive, some courses are significantly more affordable than others, and will still provide you with everything you need to know to begin your personal training journey.

To help you boost your fitness career on a budget, we gathered up six of the best and most affordable personal training certification programs available today. Keep reading to learn more about each one, and find information on how to choose the right one for you.

Our Picks for the Best Affordable Personal Training Certifications:

• Best Overall: International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) Personal Training Certification
• Best Study Materials: National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Personal Training Certification (Self-Study)
• Most Flexible Program: American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Training Certification
• Best for Those with a Fitness Background: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Personal Training Certification
• Best Science-Heavy Program: National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) Personal Training Certification
• Best Budget: Action Personal Trainer Certification Personal Training Certification

Best Overall: International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) Personal Training Certification

Key features and specs:

• Price: $948 (6 interest-free payments of $158 or 12 interest-free payments of $78)
• Course Material: Motivating clients, muscle and skeletal structure, how to assess and build custom training programs, effective movements, strength building, nutrition, injury prevention
• Length of Course: 3-5 months
• Prerequisites: CPR/AED, high school diploma
• Exam Type: 200 multiple-choice questions, open-book
• Exam Pass Rate: 70 percent

The ISSA-CPT program is one of the most popular on the market. It is an accredited program with a comprehensive course load. This program is completed online and can be done at your own pace—though it takes most people around three to five months to complete.

This study program covers the fundamentals of training clients based on biomechanics and fitness science, and helps you learn to integrate nutrition, adaptable exercises and injury prevention into your training to help your clients get the most out of their sessions. You’ll also learn about topics, like client motivation techniques, that help you effectively encourage clients to reach their fitness goals.

The certification exam is conducted online, and while it is a bit lengthy at 200 multiple choice questions, it is an open-book test. If you make use of the study materials, it is manageable for most to pass on their first attempt. Your certification includes lifetime support, meaning you can reference on-staff experts even when your program is completed.

What we like:

• Open-book final exam
• Comprehensive program
• Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)
• Interest-free payment plan options

What to consider:

• A bit pricey

Best Study Materials: National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Personal Training Certification (Self-Study)

Key features and specs:

• Price: $899 (payment plan options including $25 down, 11 payments of $79)
• Course Material: Professional development, client relations, applied science and nutrition, assessment, exercise technique and training instruction, program design
• Length of course: 4 weeks to 6 months
• Prerequisites: CPR/AED, high school diploma or GED
• Exam Type: 120 multiple choice questions
• Exam Pass Rate: 74 percent

Another great option with a reputable reputation is the NASM-CPT program. NASM allows you to choose from a few different packages, ranging from the self-study exam which gets you access to the course and the exam, to more comprehensive packages that include retests at no cost, a job guarantee and a hardcover textbook. The most affordable choice is the self-study option. This certification is completed online, and you’ll have the choice to take an online, proctored exam at home or in a testing center.

It has a pretty comprehensive curriculum that focuses more than some others on client relations and psychology as well as the impacts of nutrition. It also provides ample study materials such as videos, audio chapter summaries, 3D models and practice exams, which help benefit a variety of learning styles.

Though this is not an open-book exam, you do have some options—the online exam can be taken up to three times without repurchasing, but the in-person, proctored exam can be taken only once before requiring you to purchase a retest. (This also may vary depending on the package you choose.)

What we like:

• Popular program that is respected in fitness community
• Can be done in four weeks
• Online course and exam can be done fully at home

What to consider:

• Proctored exam must be passed on the first try

Most Flexible Program: ACE Personal Training Certification- Basic

Key features and specs:

• Price: $675 (payment plans available via Affirm starting at $38 per month)
• Course Material: Role of personal trainers, client centered approach to training, assessments, programming and progressions, ACE fitness model, ACE Mover Method, modifications, professional responsibilities and legal guidelines
• Length of Course: 3–5 months
• Prerequisites: CPR/AED, high school diploma or GED, 18 years of age
• Exam Type: 150 multiple-choice questions
• Exam Pass Rate: 65 percent

The ACE Basic personal training certification is our pick for the most flexible program for your needs. It’s a true self-guided program—you will not have access to any mentors, but it does provide you with ample study materials to help you to prepare for the exam.

You have the option of e-book, hardcopy or audiobook version of the textbook which makes it accessible and easy to use no matter which way you like to learn. The exam can be taken online, lending to this program’s flexibility.

The course covers the basic personal training information and focuses on interactions with clients, plus takes you through professional and legal guidelines which are particularly useful if you plan to run your own business.

What we like:

• Pretty affordable
• Very flexible
• Covers wide range of information including legal and business practices

What to consider:

• Does not offer mentorship
• No retakes offered for exam

Best for Those with Fitness Background: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Personal Training Certification

Key features and specs:

• Price: $399 for exam, study material is $400–$1,000
• Course Material: Exercise science, behavioral change, client risk screening, aerobic training, special populations, business skills
• Length of Course: 3–9 months
• Prerequisites: CPR/AED, high school diploma or GED, 18 years of age
• Exam Type: 120 questions, online at-home or at proctored location
• Exam Pass Rate: 69 percent

At face value, this is one of the most cost-effective options for personal trainer certifications. But the $399 price tag you see only includes the cost of the exam. This is a great option if you are familiar with personal training and the fitness industry as it is possible to study for this without the designated materials—but most people will find that if you want to pass, it’s best to up the cost a bit and purchase some of the ACSM study materials offered on the website. The great thing about this is that you can still very much pick and choose, so you don’t have to shell out money for things you won’t use. The ACSM site has various books, practice tests and digital flashcards to choose from, all with varying prices.

As far as course material, this is excellent for those looking to improve their client relations, business skills, and learn how to adapt exercises to clients' individual needs. Some reviews did note that it seemed to be lacking a bit in exercise programming though, so this may be the best option for those who already have a fitness background and are looking for a certification mostly for credibility.

What we like:

• An affordable program
• Can pick and choose which study guides to purchase
• Exam is taken online

What to consider:

• Not the most comprehensive curriculum

Best Science-Heavy Curriculum: National Council on Strength and Fitness

Key features and specs:

• Price: $399 on sale (usually $799)
• Course Material: Society and healthy lifestyle, exercise science and biomechanics, assessments, nutritional science, advanced program design
• Length of Course: 3–6 months
• Prerequisites: 18 years of age
• Exam Type: 150 questions, online at home or at proctored location
• Exam Pass Rate: 75 percent

If budget is your primary concern, then the NCSF certification may be a good option for you. This program comes out to only $399 (on sale) for the basic model, which includes the exam plus a ton of study materials too including a digital textbook, instructional videos, review quizzes, instructor support and more.

This program dives pretty heavily into the biomechanics and science side of training, so you will leave with a well developed understanding of all types of personal fitness training. Where it lacks a bit is on the business/client interaction side of things—but if you are going to be working for an already established business, you won’t be missing out on too much.

The exam is on the lengthier side at 150 questions, but the study materials prepare you well, and it’s a relatively easy pass for most, as long as you take the time to study thoroughly.

What we like:

• Budget option
• In-depth, scientific focus on training approach
• Exam isn’t as difficult as some others

What to consider:

• Missing some business content in curriculum

Best Budget: Action Personal Trainer Certification

Key features and specs:

• Price: $99
• Course Material: Exercise science, program design, biomechanics, nutrition, client assessment, special populations, business and legal issues
• Length of Course: 2–4 months
• Prerequisites: None
• Exam type: 150 questions at proctored location
• Exam Pass Rate: N/A

If you are looking for something that’s a true bang for your buck, this Action Personal Trainer certification at just $99 is for you. This program by Action is simple—the cost covers a textbook and one exam. While it doesn’t have any additional study guides or interactive features, the textbook does contain everything you need to know in order to be able to pass the exam.

This program is also pretty comprehensive, covering everything from biomechanics and exercise science to business and legal issues. This makes it a great choice for those who are looking to freelance or start their own business.

The exam comes in both an NCCA accredited and non-NCCA accredited option—we recommend just going straight for the NCCA as it is the exam included in the program, and it is more respected in the fitness industry.

What we like:

• Very affordable
• Good curriculum
• Exam included in price

What to consider:

• Not the best for those without good study practices

Benefits of a Cheap Personal Training Certification

If you are interested in becoming a personal trainer, the most important first step—besides diving into the world of fitness training, is getting a reputable certification. Unfortunately a lot of certifications can get quite pricey—we’re talking upwards of thousands of dollars. But not every certification will cost you an arm and a leg, and just because a cert is more affordable doesn’t make it any less reputable or not worth your time. Many people who choose to pursue personal training as a career also have already immersed themselves in the fitness world and are pretty comfortable with training themselves and maybe even others. Because of this, while a certification program will obviously teach you more about training, the biggest boon for many is the credibility that comes with being certified, as it backs up your training and knowledge to future clients and employers.

But don’t discount the curriculum either. Even if you have worked hands-on with clients in the past, or you have spent time creating your own training plans, a personal training certification can still add a lot to your training repertoire. Not only will it dive deep into the science and biomechanics behind training, but it will teach you how to work with individual clients, how to adapt to specific client’s needs and abilities, how to help them best reach their fitness goals and how to prevent injuries. Many programs also focus on the business and legal side of things which is particularly useful for those who are looking to start their own business.

What to Consider about a Cheap Personal Training Certification

Though you may be tempted to go for the cheapest program available, not all programs will offer the same level of credibility. One of the most important things you will want to look for is an accredited program. The best accreditation is the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Programs that are accredited with the NCCA hold a higher level of credibility due to the standards that are upheld by the NCCA—this includes exam and curriculum standards that ensure that certification holders leave with an adequate education.

Though there are non-accredited programs that will offer certifications for cheaper than accredited ones, you may want to think twice before jumping for one of these. Though cheaper in the beginning, they may not help you land a job in the long run, so consider investing in a higher cost accredited program, and check out payment options if the upfront cost seems unmanageable.

How to Choose the Best Cheap Personal Training Certification for You

When looking for the best personal training certification for you, there are a couple things to consider. The first and most important is the curriculum. Choose a program that has the information that you want and need to learn. If you are looking to start your own business or freelance for clients, a program that has a wide focus on business, client relations and legal practices would be a beneficial option for you. If you are just looking to work under a larger gym or entity, you probably don’t need to spend as much time delving into the business side of things, and you may wish for a curriculum that focuses more on the science and biomechanics of training.

Cost is also something to consider—especially if you are going into choosing a program with budget at the forefront of your mind. You will want to make sure that you are choosing an accredited program, but as far as cost goes, it can range from $99 all the way up to a little under $1,000. Since the range is so wide, you do have quite a few options to choose from, but with changes in cost come changes in material.

This leads to study guides and course materials. If you are already very well versed in the fitness world and feel pretty comfortable overall with the material, you may want to look for a program that comes with just a textbook and exam. If you aren’t the best studier, or you are newer to personal training, you may wish to look into programs that offer more guided studies, have personal mentors and various types of learning techniques.

What to Avoid in a Cheap Personal Training Certification

As we mentioned before, the most important thing to avoid are non-accredited programs. But something else to consider when choosing a program—especially when trying to keep the cost down—are certifications that offer more material than you need. If you already have a science or fitness background, you may not need all the bells and whistles—meaning personal mentors, audio and visual guides, and 3D models to name a few. So you may want to opt for a more basic program and save your money especially if you don't think that you will use these various study materials.

How We Chose the Best Affordable Personal Training Certification

To choose the best affordable personal training certifications of 2024, we looked at some of the top-rated options on the market. We then looked at the details of each certification against our personal training certification methodology to see how it held up in each of the following categories; experience and authority, accreditation, required materials, pass rate, value, continuing education, customer reviews, customer service and financing. To learn more about this methodology and how we evaluated these certifications, you can read more here.

Cheapest Personal Training Certifications FAQs

What's the cheapest personal training certification?

While there are non-accredited training certifications that are probably cheaper, the Action certification is the cheapest on our list at only $99.

What's the most expensive personal training certification?

Personal training certification prices vary depending on the packages you choose and the provider, but the most expensive than any one program can get is at maximum about $2,000. The most expensive on our list is the ISSA program.

How much does it usually cost to become a personal trainer?

To become a personal trainer it can usually cost anywhere from about $300—$2,500. This includes the course as well as materials you may need—both study materials and fitness gear.

Takeaway: Is a Cheap Personal Training Certification Actually Worth It?

If you want to pursue a career as a personal trainer, a certification program is definitely the way to go. And even if you are on a budget, there are a ton of great options that can help give you the education and credibility you need without completely breaking the bank. Still not sure if any of these programs are the right fit for you? Check out some more of our top picks for personal training programs here.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.