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If you’re looking for a way to become a personal trainer, it can be hard to know where to start, especially if you have very specific career goals or any existing background in personal training. When I was starting out about seven years ago, I personally had to wrestle between NASM, NSCA, and ISSA. I ultimately went with ISSA because I needed a program that allowed me to study at home and move through the material at my own pace.
That said, there are so many great personal trainer certs out there. The best one for you depends on your goals, including things like the training approach you prefer or the type of client you want to work with.Â
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Best Personal Trainer Certifications
The best personal trainer certifications come from NASM, ISSA, ACE, NCSF, and NSCA. Their pricing and package options are fairly similar, but the experience can vary a lot depending on the exam format, whether you can test from home, and what you get as part of your program.Â
NASM
The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) is known for the Optimum Performance Training (OPT) model. They have different study packages you can choose as well as a digital learning platform.
To sit for the exam, you’ll need a high school diploma (or GED) and a current CPR/AED certification. CPR/AED is an extra cost, but that’s standard across most personal trainer certifications.
The curriculum focuses a lot on helping clients overcome obstacles and stay motivated to make real changes, so it’s great for someone who wants to work at a local gym as a personal trainer.
NASM offers four different study packages, but if you choose the self-study options, all of your study materials are virtual, which is something I don’t really like. If I’m paying for study materials, I want hard copies that I can reference over and over throughout my career.
Still, NASM does a lot right: every package includes practice exams, and financing is available. So if you are worried about covering the full cost up front, this is a great option.Â
Be advised that even with a self-study option, as soon as you enroll, you still have to take your test within 180 days, so “self-paced” doesn’t mean any time you choose.
- Key Feature: It offers certifications that specialize in designing training programs.
- Cost: Varies from $41/month or $492/year up to $144/month or $1728/year.
- Best for: Those who want to help clients with individual plans.
ISSA
The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) offers an fullt online learning program, so it is very well known for those who prefer online education with flexible, self-paced study. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on performance training and designing unique programs, especially for athletes that want to reach peak performance.Â
ISSA tends to be one of the more expensive certifications, but that price reflects how much is included in the program, like audio lectures, written notes, online student forums, a 10-week guided study program, and your textbook.Â
What I love most about ISSA is not just the online study format, but the fact that they offer a job guarantee within six months or you get a refund. So if you aren’t sure that your certification will help you land the career of your choosing, this is a great investment.Â
- Key Feature: It is applicable to a wide range of training groups.
- Cost: Costs $839.88 ($69.99/month for 12 months).
- Best for: Trainers who want a flexible online program and are interested in performance or athletic training.
ACE
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is a strong option for anyone who wants to work as a full-time coach, especially if they’re interested in the behavioral side of fitness. Its curriculum puts a big emphasis on psychology, motivation, and habit change so you’re better prepared to help clients make lasting changes.
The program material focuses on more holistic concepts relating to lifestyle changes, behavior modification, and healthier daily habits, all with the goal of improving a client’s overall health and well-being.
The cost of the program includes practice tests and study materials as well as the exam. For the most basic certification, though, you don’t get hard copies of your study materials. For that you have to pay for the Plus option. If you want a dedicated support team and study groups, then you have to pay for the Advantage option.Â
Still, ACE stands out for offering study groups, which not every personal trainer certification does. If you learn best in a more collaborative setting, that feature alone could make ACE the best fit for you.
If your goal is to focus on holistic well-being and encourage your clients to tackle all areas of overall fitness, including healthy habits and lifestyle changes, ACE is a great option.
- Key Feature: It emphasizes education in client motivation and behavioral motivation.
- Cost: Basic plan costs $489.
- Best for: Trainers focused on coaching and behavior change.
NCSF
The National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF) offers a personal trainer certification with a focus on exercise science. This is definitely more academic and grounded in the science of exercise and exercise physiology compared to the ACE cert, which is more heavily focused on motivation.Â
They have a lot of different options, much like you would expect from a college course, and each option has a different price tag. For example:
- One thing NCSF does especially well is flexibility. The program is set up a bit like a college course, with multiple pathways and price points depending on how much support you want.
- For example:
- • If you already have training experience, you can choose an exam-only option for $300.
- • If you want to study at home and then take the basic exam, the price starts around $479.
- • If you want to add a specialization, you can bundle options like Nutrition Specialist, Strength Coach, or Sport Nutrition Specialist, which typically add a few hundred dollars.
So, price tag aside, NCSF is a really great option for people who already have a background in personal training and just want to take an exam to get their certificate.Â
- Key Feature: Very well respected, with an approach centered on personal training.
- Cost: Ranges between $479 and $999.
- Best for: Trainers who want a science-heavy certification with flexible study and testing paths.
NSCA
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is one of the leading organizations for strength and performance credentials. However, it’s important to distinguish between different professional tiers; you can be a professional personal trainer and work at your local gym, or you can be a professional trainer who trains movie stars and pro athletes and everything in between.
The NSCA cert is more for the pro-trainer-working-with-athletes end of the spectrum.
If you are a NSCA member, you get a discount on the exam price. Once you register, though, you have to sit for your exam within 120 days, and that exam has to be done in person at a qualified testing center.
NSCA doesn’t offer financing, so you’ll need to pay up front. On the plus side, you do get hard-copy study materials. The downside is that practice tools like quizzes and practice exams often cost extra, depending on what you choose.
- Key Features: A professional cert for those who want a career with pros.
- Cost: Costs $610.
- Best for: Those who want a career in high-performance training or a career working with pro athletes.
Summing Up
What are the best personal trainer certifications? Below is a quick roundup of why I think each of these stands out:
- ISSA: The most comprehensive package, with a job guarantee that offers a refund if you don’t find work within six months.
- ACE: Options for online study groups and supplemental courses.
- NSCA: You get hard copies of your study materials.
- NCSF: You can take just the exam at a cheaper price if you already have a background in personal training or exercise physiology.
- NASM: Lots of study options and financing for those options.
I went with ISSA and I have no regrets, but choose the one that works best for your goals.