What personal trainer certificate is most respected?
Mia Smith
Published Feb 11, 2026
What personal trainer certificate is most respected?
NASM
The personal trainer certifications with an option for NCCA accreditation are the most respected in the industry. The NCCA is the gold standard for third-party personal training certifications. Some of these certs include, NASM, ACE, Fitness Mentors, and ISSA.
What certifications do personal trainers need?
Nearly every national personal training certification organization requires AED and CPR certifications. They typically cost up to $55 and take about four hours to complete. Prospective trainers should choose a specialty that matches their skill sets, personal interests, and professional goals.
How do I get NCCA certified?
To get certified, students must achieve a passing score on the NCCA-accredited NCCPT certification exam. Certifications are valid for two years. During that time, certificants must obtain continuing education units (CEUs) and pay a renewal fee in order to remain certified.
Is NASM or ISSA better?
While NASM has among the fewest test questions in the industry, ISSA offers unlimited time. So if you’re a test-taker who needs a bit of extra time to think, or has a tendency to cave under the pressure of being timed, ISSA may be the better choice for you.
Is an ACE certification worth it?
Overall, the ACE personal training certification will give you the skills needed to be a successful fitness coach using the ACE training model. I suggest that you go to the ACE website for the most current prices and information on the IFT.
Which is the easiest personal training certification?
The order of this list does not necessarily represent my top personal training certifications, just the easiest.
- ISSA CPT. And number one on our list of the easiest certifications is another unique PT program courtesy of ISSA.
- NPTI CPT.
- ACTION CPT.
- NCCPT CPT.
- NESTA CPT.
- ACE CPT.
- NASM CPT.
- NSCA CPT.
What is the annual salary of a personal trainer?
Average annual salary: $35,715 – $122,997 In setting their own hourly rate and taking on as many clients as they like, Personal Trainers have the potential to increase their annual earnings beyond the average wage.
What is NCCA certification?
NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). Since 1977, the NCCA has been accrediting certifying programs based on the highest quality standards in professional certification to ensure the programs adhere to modern standards of practice in the certification industry.
What is NCCA exam?
The NCCA is a nationally recognized third party agency that accredits certification programs which are able to meet and comply with its standards. The mission of NCCA is to help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public through the accreditation of certification programs that assess professional competence.
Do gyms accept ISSA certification?
Most gyms will accept ISSA certification for new trainers because we offer educational programs that include high-quality course offerings with experienced instructors that focus on preparing students to become well-rounded, knowledgeable, and caring trainers.
How much does ISSA certification cost?
The ISSA personal trainer certification program costs $699 and even includes options that are interest-free payments. You can also frequently find the ISSA CPT for $799 with the addition of a free nutrition certification. These are the two most common prices for the ISSA CFT. Check out the current price here.
How much does ACE certification cost?
Computer-Based Format
| Computer-Based Format (International) | PT | GFI |
|---|---|---|
| First Time | $499 | $249 |
| Retake | $249 | $199 |
| 2nd ACE Certification | $249 | $199 |
| Formerly ACE Certified Professional | $199 | $199 |