California is home to many of the top personal training schools. Our directory will help you find a great program that is convenient for you.
If you are considering becoming a personal trainer you know that you need to get trained and certified. Fortunately, there are many great schools offering personal trainer certification in California. Many programs take just a few months of part-time study and they don't cost a lot.
This makes personal training a very easy career transition. You don't have to go back to school and earn a University degree. These California personal training schools offer diploma, certificate, and Associates Degree programs to suit many people. It doesn't matter if you want to get working as a personal trainer as soon as possible or you want a comprehensive program...you can get both levels of personal trainer certification in California.
San Diego Area
There are limited to one choice for local San Diego personal trainer certification schools. But fortunately, its a good program. You can also choose on of the online programs listed at the bottom of the page.
School:
Program:
Personal Trainer Diploma + Personal Trainer Certification + Nutrition Certification
Locations:
San Diego, CA
Description:
Very popular comprehensive program combining classroom and hands on training. See our full review for details. (Get Free Info Pack)
This one year program emphasizes hands on learning. Work with real clients while being supervised by instructors. Integrated Massage Therapy programs are also available. (Get Free Info Pack)
Orange County Area
There is a good choice of Orange County personal trainer certification programs. Both CNI and NPTI are well known in the area.
The CNI College Fitness Trainer Program trains students to become personal trainers for entry-level positions or higher in the booming fitness industry, Graduates are qualified to be fitness instructors, exercise testing technicians, aerobic instructors, weight training coaches and personal fitness counselors. The course is designed to prepare students who may have been away from an academic environment for an extended amount of time, or those without a formal education in exercise science/physiology, strength and conditioning, physical therapy, or athletic training to take the NSCA-CPT certification exam. (Get Free Info Pack)
School:
Program:
Personal Trainer Diploma + Personal Trainer Certification + Nutrition Certification
Locations:
Newport Beach , CA
Description:
Very popular comprehensive program combining classroom and hands on training. See our full review for details. (Get Free Info Pack)
Inland Empire / Riverside
Lots of choices for San Bernardino and Riverside personal trainer certification schools. The Sports Medicine Technologist program will qualify you as a personal trainer but also allow you to get into rehabilitation and physical therapy work (which pays considerably more). And NPTI is a good choice.
School:
Program:
Personal Trainer Diploma + Personal Trainer Certification + Nutrition Certification
Locations:
Riverside , CA
Description:
Very popular comprehensive program combining classroom and hands on training. See our full review for details. (Get Free Info Pack)
Los Angeles Area
School:
American Fitness & Nutrition Academy
Program:
Personal Trainer, Weight Management Specialist
Locations:
Pasadena, California
Santa Barbara, California
Description:
This 500 hour program combines classroom learning with hands on instruction and provides extra emphasis on Nutrition. Day and night classes are available and usually take 6 months to complete, however an accelerated 14 week option is available. (Get Free Info Pack)
School:
Program:
Personal Trainer Diploma + Personal Trainer Certification + Nutrition Certification
Locations:
Santa Monica , CA
Description:
Very popular comprehensive program combining classroom and hands on training. See our full review for details. (Get Free Info Pack)
Central California / Santa Barbara
This is a large area covering from Bakersfield to Santa Maria. If there is not a campus near you, you can consider one of the online programs listed below.
School:
American Fitness & Nutrition Academy
Program:
Personal Trainer, Weight Management Specialist
Locations:
Pasadena, California
Santa Barbara, California
Description:
This 500 hour program combines classroom learning with hands on instruction and provides extra emphasis on Nutrition. Day and night classes are available and usually take 6 months to complete, however an accelerated 14 week option is available. (Get Free Info Pack)
San Francisco Bay Area / Sacramento
Unfortunately there are no personal training schools in the East Bay area, but BART makes the commute to San Francisco easy. An online certificate program listed at the bottom of the page may also be a good option.
School:
Program:
Personal Trainer Diploma + Personal Trainer Certification + Nutrition Certification
Locations:
Santa Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento CA
Description:
Very popular comprehensive program combining classroom and hands on training. See our full review for details. (Get Free Info Pack)
Online Personal Trainer Certification Courses
School:
Program:
Certified Personal Trainer
Locations:
Online Course
Description:
ACTION Certification is making a bold statement by offering FREE Personal Trainer Certification. You can download their 300 page textbook, study and take the exam, all without paying them a cent. But most people will benefit from their package of extras they offer for $65 which includes unlimited online training classes, practice exams, instructor email support and more. (Read our ACTION Certification Review)(ACTION Web Site)
Another online personal training course that allows you to self study at your own pace. All exams are taken online and the curriculum uses a mixture of audio and video programs to compliment the textbook. The overall program including materials and exams is available for around $900 making it an economical choice and a quick way to get started in the industry. (Receive More Information)
