Do you have a passion for fitness, health, and wellness? Would you be interested in working with people from all backgrounds and helping them achieve their fitness goals and live healthier lives? If the answer to these questions is yes, then working as a personal trainer would be the perfect career for you.
But to get started, you will first need to get a personal trainer certification. And you will need to invest your money to become a certified personal trainer. So, how much does it cost to become a certified personal trainer? Well, this guide has the answers.
Education
As much as you don’t need a bachelor’s degree to become a personal trainer, having one will give you an edge in the market and help you to stand out from the competition. Furthermore, a bachelor’s degree will open up more opportunities along the way, if you decide to expand on your career.
Also, having a bachelor’s degree will help you to earn better rates, compared to those without one. So, if you are looking to become a sought-after certified personal trainer, it will be highly advisable to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a relevant course.
Some of the best majors for a personal trainer include exercise science, kinesiology, nutrition, sports science and biology.
The amount of money you will spend pursuing the relevant background course will depend on the college you choose. Also, the mode of learning will determine the cost. For instance, an online course will be cheaper than the traditional one.
Personal Trainer Certifications
To work as a personal trainer, you will need to have at least one fitness certification. Most gyms, fitness centers and other potential employers won’t hire you if you don’t have a fitness certification. Also, without a fitness certification, you may struggle to get liability insurance, which is a key requirement in this industry.
There are several certification providers out there. Some of the most popular certification providers include the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT), American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), National Exercise and Sports Trainer Association (NESTA), National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NCSA).
As you may expect, the cost for the certification will vary from one provider to the next. However, the majority are within the $500 range. The most expensive certification options are ISSA, ACSM and NCSF while the cheapest ones are ACTION-CPT, NFPT and NESTA.
It’s important to mention that most states require certified personal trainers to be AED/CPR-certified. Consequently, the majority of certification programs will also require you to be AED/CPR certified before you can be admitted to the program.
On average, a CPR course will cost you around $50 to $100, if you do it separately. Some personal trainer certification programs offer the AED/CPR as part of the course, meaning you won’t have to incur additional expenses.
Extra Costs
There are other expenses to consider apart from the costs to acquire a bachelor’s degree and a personal trainer certification. Some of the additional expenses that you may incur in your quest to become a certified personal trainer include:
Gem Rental Fees
After earning your personal trainer certification, there’s a high chance you will be working out of a gym before you can set up your facility. For this arrangement, you will either be required to pay a monthly rental fee for the space or pay per session. The cost will depend on the facility you choose to be operating from.
Marketing Costs
You will also incur marketing costs. At the end of the day, getting your name out there and finding clients costs money. The amount of money you will spend on marketing will depend on the strategies that you deploy.
Tax
If you will be working as a self-employed personal trainer or independent contractor, then you will also be required to pay taxes. The amount you will pay will depend on your income, the area you are operating from, and your business type, among others. A professional tax consultant can guide you accordingly.
Business Insurance
If you intend to be running your own personal training business, then you will need to have liability insurance. Liability insurance will protect you in case a lawsuit has been filed against you by one of your clients for undelivered services, injuries arising during a workout session, injuries caused by faulty equipment, incompetence, or other instances of professional misconduct.
Personal trainer liability insurance will cost you around $150 annually. The actual cost will depend on the level of coverage that you choose. As you may expect, the higher the level of coverage you choose, the higher the cost of your premiums.
Takeaway
You can expect to spend around 2,000 or more to become a certified personal trainer. But once you’ve earned this certification, you can be assured you will get a return on your investment in no time.
