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The Daily Insight

Can you become a personal trainer for free?

Author

Daniel Martin

Updated on March 01, 2026

Fortunately, there are things that you can do to obtain a personal trainer certification for free. You may be able to receive help from your employer, take a free PT certification program, or take advantage of local education opportunities such as community college.

Just so, how can I become a personal trainer for free?

Fortunately, there are things that you can do to obtain a personal trainer certification for free. You may be able to receive help from your employer, take a free PT certification program, or take advantage of local education opportunities such as community college.

One may also ask, how much does personal training usually cost? The national average cost of personal training is $40 to $70 per hour session with most paying $55. For gyms like LA Fitness or Gold's Gym, rates are $60 per hour, and group training runs $35 per class.

Hereof, can you personal train someone without being certified?

One of the most important factors in personal training is being certified. You should be prepared to complete an educational program that results in an official certification. This is not legally required. In fact, no state has a law requiring personal trainers to be certified.

Is paying for a personal trainer worth it?

Hiring a personal fitness trainer might seem like a luxury if you are on a tight budget, but if you really want to get the most out of your workouts, a trainer is a great investment. The improvement in your health and fitness levels can have long-term payment in quality of life, and even decreased health care costs.

Related Question Answers

Do personal trainers get a base salary?

Our research indicates that personal trainers make anywhere from minimum wage up to $75 an hour, at more prestigious gyms. Private personal trainers can make even more per hour, charging up top $100 an hour.

How much money do personal trainers make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for personal trainers in 2017 was $39,210, which means half earned more than that amount and half earned less. The low 10 percent of those personal trainers earned less than $19,640 while the top 10 percent earned more than $74,520.

How do I start my own gym?

Start a gym by following these 9 steps:
  1. STEP 1: Plan your business.
  2. STEP 2: Form a legal entity.
  3. STEP 3: Register for taxes.
  4. STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card.
  5. STEP 5: Set up business accounting.
  6. STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses.
  7. STEP 7: Get business insurance.
  8. STEP 8: Define your brand.

What do I need to learn to become a PT?

To become a personal trainer you would normally be an experienced fitness instructor with a recognised qualification, such as:
  1. Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing – Gym.
  2. Level 2 Diploma in Health, Fitness, and Exercise Instruction.
  3. Level 2 Diploma in Instructing Exercise and Fitness.

How long does it take to become a certified personal trainer?

If you are working toward your certificate, the program you pick will determine how long it takes you to complete. Some certificate programs take as little as three months to complete, and some can take up to two years.

What personal trainer certificate is most respected?

NCCA

What do personal trainers do?

A personal trainer will work with clients, either in a small group setting or one-on-one, on their fitness goals, which includes improving a client's muscular endurance, strengthening a client's cardiovascular capabilities, and increasing a client's physical flexibility.

Is NASM certification worth?

While NASM may have the highest cost of entry, they have relaxed CEU requirements, the best average pay, and are one of the most highly respected certifications bodies out there.

Can you sell workout plans without being certified?

Do I need a certificate or license of any kind to sell training and/or nutrition plans to people of the general public? No, you don't.

How much is insurance for a personal trainer?

Personal Trainer Insurance Costs Details

Trainers who only need general liability typically pay between $400 to $2,100 per year. Those who need additional personal trainer liability insurance often pay another $150 to $500 annually.

How do I know if my personal trainer is certified?

How do I know if my personal trainer is certified?
  1. You can verify a personal trainer's certification by checking their licensing organization's website.
  2. The gym you're working with should know if a trainer has a certification.
  3. Each certification program is unique.

Can you be an online fitness coach without certification?

You don't actually NEED any special certification to sell or provide personal training services online. So, while you can skip getting an online personal training certification, I highly recommend you start here before establishing yourself as an online personal trainer.

Why are personal trainers so expensive?

The Two Big Reasons Personal Fitness Trainers Are So Expensive. When you hire a one-on-one personal trainer, you're reserving a specific block of their time. Because they wouldn't be able to work with anyone else during that time, they have to keep prices at a premium. It's called small-group personal training.

How often should you see a personal trainer?

2 times a week

Do you really need a personal trainer?

One of the most common reasons that people hire a personal trainer is that they haven't had a great exercise history. If you've had a lot of injuries in the past from exercise, haven't been able to meet exercise goals or consistently hit an exercise plateau, consider hiring a personal trainer.

Is a personal trainer a good career?

Not bad, but also not great. Fitness is a passion driven field like music or art. People who become trainers and stay personal trainers for long careers do NOT do it for money; they do it for passion. To be clear, it's entirely possible to make better than “ok” money as a trainer.

How long are personal training sessions?

Sixty minutes remains the most popular duration for a personal training session, according to Idea. But some experts say a full hour isn't necessary. O'Donnell cut his training sessions down to 30 minutes for most clients.

How much should I charge for a workout plan?

Normally, a session like this will cost from anywhere between $20-40 per session if it's a live training. If you're simply receiving exercise programs in a group setting, you can expect costs to be around $30-100 per month.

Why I dont need a personal trainer?

Cardio is an excellent form of exercise that reduces stress, boosts cardiovascular health, and promotes weight loss. Exercises such as running, walking, and other fun activities don't require a personal trainer and can be done indoors or outdoors.

Do personal trainers come to your house?

If you don't want to head to the gym, you can actually have a personal trainer come to your home. The cost on this could be all over the place, but a rough average would be about $65 for an hour session.