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Posted by on May 20, 2011 — Updated on September 19, 2025
Do you need a degree to become a personal trainer? Learn what it takes to start training clients and grow with Exercise.com.
To become a personal trainer, you don’t necessarily need a college degree, but you do need an accredited personal trainer certification from a recognized organization. Most fitness professionals enter the field by earning a certification that requires only a high school diploma or GED, along with CPR/AED training. However, some pursue higher education in exercise science, kinesiology, or related fields to deepen their expertise and open up advanced career opportunities.
Becoming a personal trainer isn’t just about loving fitness—it’s about turning that passion into a sustainable business model. But here’s the problem: too many aspiring trainers think the right schooling alone will set them apart. You can spend months (and thousands of dollars) getting a degree in exercise science, sports performance, or kinesiology, or choose one of the best personal trainer certifications from NASM, ACE, or ISSA. But even with the most recognized credentials, you’ll still face the same bottlenecks: inconsistent clients, limited income streams, and endless admin work that has nothing to do with training. That’s the real pain point. Education opens the door, but without a platform to monetize your skills, the door leads to burnout.
Picture this: you’ve just finished your certification or degree program, and you’re ready to hit the ground running. Instead, you’re chasing down payments through Venmo, scribbling client progress notes on paper, and trying to manage schedules across multiple apps. This is exactly why trainers fail to build sustainable careers after all the schooling—they don’t have the systems to scale. With Exercise.com, you’re not just a trainer; you’re a business owner with the software backbone to handle client management, automated billing, workout programming, and even assessments. Whether you go for a degree or one of the easiest personal training certifications, Exercise.com ensures you can instantly turn that credential into income.
The reality is clients don’t just pay for your letters—they pay for the experience you deliver. You might have studied biomechanics in school, but if your onboarding process is messy, your programs are delivered via email attachments, and your clients can’t check in through a branded app, you look less professional than your competitors. That’s why Exercise.com gives you a custom branded app where your schooling and certifications come to life. You can build and sell workout plans, track progress, and communicate seamlessly, all under your own logo. Your schooling gives you the expertise; Exercise.com gives you the infrastructure to showcase and sell it.
If you’re weighing whether to pursue a degree, a certification, or both, remember this: schooling is your foundation, but software is your multiplier. With Exercise.com, you can graduate from “just certified” to “certified and scalable.” Plus, to help you move faster, we’ve created a personal trainer business plan template and free downloadable fitness templates so you can skip the guesswork and start building a real business right away.
For gym owners, studio operators, and online fitness coaches, education is only half the battle—running a profitable business requires systems. That’s why pairing your credentials with the best personal training software from Exercise.com is essential. Whether you’re fresh out of a certification program or managing a team of trainers, Exercise.com provides the billing automation, workout delivery, and client engagement tools to transform education into a scalable business.
The most common path into personal training is through certification programs that meet NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) or DEAC (Distance Education Accrediting Commission) standards. These programs validate your knowledge and prepare you to work in gyms, studios, or online.
If you’re exploring options, our guides to the best personal trainer certifications, easiest certifications, and cheapest certifications break down your choices.
While not required, many personal trainers choose to earn a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology, or sports medicine. This level of schooling provides a deeper understanding of biomechanics, nutrition, and advanced physiology.
If you’re planning to eventually open a gym or start a fitness business, a degree can provide a stronger foundation in leadership and health sciences, but it’s not essential to build a successful operation.
Even after you become certified, continuing education is mandatory for keeping your certification active and staying relevant in a rapidly evolving industry.
This ongoing education ties directly into personal training business ideas such as online coaching, branded challenges, or niche programs. With Exercise.com, you can turn each specialization into sellable services and manage everything from one platform.
Schooling doesn’t end with a certificate or degree—real growth happens through client interaction and practical coaching. Hands-on experience in gyms, studios, or online programs helps trainers refine communication, program design, and motivation strategies.
When that transition happens, Exercise.com is the bridge. The platform empowers you to scale practical experience into structured, profitable offerings with custom branded apps, automated scheduling, and retention tools.
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Many personal trainers discover that the biggest gap in their “schooling” isn’t exercise science—it’s business management. Understanding contracts, sales, and retention strategies is what separates successful trainers from struggling ones.
Exercise.com eliminates the steep learning curve by equipping trainers and gym owners with all-in-one tools for scheduling, billing, marketing, and reporting. Instead of piecing together apps, you can focus on what your schooling prepared you for—helping clients transform their health.
So, what kind of schooling does it take to become a personal trainer? At minimum, an accredited personal trainer certification is required, with optional paths in exercise science degrees, continuing education, and business training. The truth is, your schooling lays the foundation, but your systems determine success.
That’s why the smartest trainers and gym owners invest in the best personal training software. Exercise.com helps you leverage your education into client retention, scalable services, and business growth.
Get a demo with Exercise.com today and turn your schooling into a thriving fitness career.
To become a personal trainer usually takes 3–6 months, depending on the certification program you choose and how much time you dedicate to studying. Self-paced certifications like NASM and ISSA allow faster completion, while classroom or degree-based options can take a year or more. The process is relatively quick compared to other professions, making it accessible for career changers. But real success comes after certification—Exercise.com helps trainers transition immediately into running a business with scheduling, billing, and custom apps ready to go.
To be a personal trainer, you need a recognized certification such as NASM, ACE, ISSA, ACSM, or NSCA. Most programs require you to be 18 or older, have a high school diploma, and hold CPR/AED certification. While a college degree is not required, having one can open advanced career opportunities. More important than formal qualifications is having the right business system in place. Exercise.com ensures that once you’re certified, you have the tools to attract, manage, and retain clients effectively.
A personal trainer does not need a degree, but the best degrees for advancing in fitness are exercise science, kinesiology, or sports medicine. These programs give you deeper knowledge of physiology, biomechanics, and nutrition, which is especially useful if you want to work with athletes or clinical populations. However, most clients care more about results and professionalism than degrees. Trainers who combine education with strong business systems like Exercise.com gain the biggest advantage in building profitable careers.
You can become a PT in as little as 3 months if you choose an online certification and study consistently. Some trainers take closer to 6–12 months depending on program length and personal schedules. The fastest route is an accelerated certification paired with immediate business setup. Exercise.com gives you the ability to launch right away with software that handles payments, client tracking, and digital workouts from day one.
Yes, $300 a month is within the standard range for personal training packages, especially if it includes multiple sessions per week or hybrid/online coaching. Average monthly costs run $200–$800 depending on location and trainer expertise. For many clients, $300 is a worthwhile investment if the trainer offers accountability, personalized programming, and measurable results. Trainers can deliver this value more efficiently through Exercise.com, which allows customized workout delivery, progress tracking, and client communication inside a branded app.
Personal trainers can earn good money, but it depends on whether they stay tied to hourly sessions or build scalable businesses. The average U.S. trainer earns $40,000–$50,000 annually, but top earners exceed six figures by specializing, offering online coaching, or running their own gyms. The key is moving beyond trading time for money. Exercise.com helps trainers achieve higher income by creating recurring revenue streams through memberships, digital programs, and automated billing.
The personal trainer exam difficulty varies by organization. NASM has about a 65% pass rate, making it moderately challenging, while ACE has a similar rate, and ISSA’s is easier at around 90%. The exams test anatomy, physiology, and program design, but the harder part is applying knowledge in real-world settings. Passing the exam is just the start—Exercise.com gives trainers the tools to apply their expertise at scale and turn knowledge into income.
You can technically be a personal trainer without a license, as the industry is not government regulated. However, you will struggle to get hired at gyms or attract clients without a recognized certification. Certifications provide credibility, liability protection, and insurance eligibility. For independent trainers, having certification plus a business system like best personal training software is what sets you apart and ensures long-term success.
Yes, being a personal trainer is worth it if you approach it as both a passion and a business. While the average income isn’t high for trainers tied to gym jobs, independent trainers and online coaches can earn far more and create meaningful impact. The career is fulfilling because you help clients transform their lives, but financial sustainability requires scalable systems. Exercise.com makes it worth it by giving trainers the ability to manage, market, and monetize their services in one platform.
Becoming a certified personal trainer usually costs $500–$1,500, depending on the organization and whether you choose self-study or guided packages. Additional costs may include CPR/AED certification ($50–$100) and study materials. While this is a relatively low barrier compared to other professions, the return on investment depends on how quickly you turn certification into paying clients. With Exercise.com, you can monetize your certification immediately by selling programs and building recurring monthly memberships.
To start as a personal trainer, you should first earn a recognized certification, then build a client base either through a gym or independently. The key is offering packages, not one-off sessions, and marketing yourself effectively. Most trainers fail because they lack a system for client retention and business operations. Exercise.com solves this by giving you branded apps, payment processing, workout delivery, and CRM tools, so you can launch as a professional right away.
Read More: How to Start a Fitness Business
A personal trainer needs technical skills like exercise programming, anatomy knowledge, and assessment techniques, but also business skills such as sales, communication, and client retention. Soft skills—motivation, empathy, and leadership—are what keep clients engaged. The most successful trainers combine coaching ability with business systems. Exercise.com helps fill the skill gap by providing built-in tools for marketing, scheduling, billing, and progress tracking, making it easier to deliver value and keep clients long term.
Getting qualified as a personal trainer typically takes 3–6 months for most certification programs. Some intensive courses can be completed in under 10 weeks, while degree-based programs take years. The qualification is the first step, but what really matters is how you use it. Exercise.com enables trainers to maximize their qualification by building a client base, managing operations, and scaling revenue from day one.
The quickest way to become a personal trainer is to enroll in an online, self-paced certification like ISSA or NASM, which can be completed in 3 months or less if you dedicate time daily. Combining fast certification with immediate business setup is the best strategy. Exercise.com ensures that once you pass your exam, you can start offering services immediately through a professional platform that manages payments, scheduling, and program delivery.
The best personal trainer certifications are NASM CPT, ACE CPT, ACSM CPT, NSCA CPT, and ISSA CPT. NASM leads in industry respect, ACE is widely accessible, ACSM is best for clinical applications, NSCA is ideal for strength and conditioning, and ISSA is highly flexible and international. Choosing the right certification depends on your goals, but pairing it with Exercise.com’s personal training software ensures you can monetize it effectively.
Read More: Best Personal Trainer Certifications
The best personal training software is Exercise.com because it is the only all-in-one platform built to manage every aspect of a fitness business. Unlike apps that only track workouts or process payments, Exercise.com offers custom-branded apps, scheduling, billing, CRM, assessments, progress tracking, and marketing tools. This allows trainers to run in-person, online, or hybrid businesses seamlessly. With Exercise.com, trainers turn their certification into a thriving business instead of just a job.
Read More: Best Personal Training Software
Tyler Spraul 
