| Personal Training Certification School |
ACE |
ACTION |
NPTI |
NASM |
ACSM |
NSCA |
NCSF |
NFPT |
NESTA |
IFPA |
ISSA |
AFAA |
| Certification |
Personal Trainer |
Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) |
Diploma in Personal Training,
CPR/AED Certification |
Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) |
Certified Personal Trainer (cPT) |
NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT) |
Certified Personal Trainer (cPT)
|
CPT - Certified Personal Trainer |
Personal Fitness Trainer (PFT) |
CPT - Certified Personal Trainer |
Certified Fitness Trainer (CFT) |
Personal Trainer |
| Established |
1985 |
2010 |
2000 |
1987 |
1954 |
1993 |
|
1988 |
|
1994 |
1988 |
1983 |
|
|
| Workshop length |
Online Classes (about 90 hours) |
Online Classes (about 20 hours) |
500 hours |
2 days |
3 days |
2 days |
2 days or extended school option |
2 days |
2 days |
2 days |
2 days |
3 days |
| Workshop
Availability |
Online |
Online |
Locations in 30 U.S. cities |
Select US cities |
US major cities |
Limited cities |
US major cities |
Major U.S. Cities |
very limited |
Major U.S. Cities |
US major cities |
|
| Program Cost |
$499-$699 |
$45 or Free Option |
$5900 - $6300 |
$629-$799 |
$375 |
N/A |
$309 |
$425 |
$489 or $389 without Polar watch |
$399-$459 |
$754 |
$469 |
| Materials cost |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included |
$125 |
up to $468 |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included |
Included |
$59 |
| Industry recognition |
High |
Med-High |
Med-High |
High |
High |
High |
High |
Med - High |
Med |
Med - High |
Med-High |
Med |
| Accreditations |
NCCA |
NCCA |
State Certified Training |
NCCA |
NCCA |
NCCA |
NCCA |
NCCA |
lost their NCCA Accred |
NCCA, ACET |
DETC |
DETC |
| Prerequisites |
18 years old, Adult CPR/AED Certificate |
None |
18 years old, U.S. Citizen or Green Card (not required for online program), High School diploma or equivalent |
18 years old, Adult CPR/AED Certificate |
High School Diploma, Adult CPR Certificate |
18 years old, Adult CPR and AED Certificate, high school diploma or equivalent |
None |
High School Diploma, 18 years old, 2+ years fitness experience |
18 years old, high school diploma or equivalent |
High School Diploma, 18 years old, CPR |
High School Diploma, 18 years old, Adult CPR/AED Certificate |
Unavailable |
|
| Exam Questions |
150 |
150 |
|
120 |
125-150 |
140 |
150 |
120 |
100 |
100 |
168 |
|
| Exam Time |
3 hours |
3 hours |
|
2 hours |
2.5 hours |
3 hours |
3 hours |
2 hours |
2 hours |
2.5 hours |
|
|
| Exam Cost |
$399 |
$60 |
Included |
Included |
$279 |
$235-270 (members)/ $355-390 (non-members) (Pencil/paper exam) $285(members) /$405(non-members) (Computer-based exam) |
$199 |
$44 |
$199 |
included |
Included |
Included or $199 (without program) |
| Retest Cost |
$319 |
$60 |
|
$199 |
$150 |
$185-220 (members) $305-340 (non-members) (Pencil/paper exam) $235 (members) $355 (non-members) (Computer-based exam) |
$135 |
$60 |
$95 |
$79 |
one free online, $149 at seminar, ($50 charge for each additional attempt) |
|
| Exam deadline |
|
|
|
180 days |
|
1 year |
|
1 year |
90 days |
6 months |
2 years |
|
| Exam locations |
Major cities worldwide |
Online, U.S. and Canada |
Major U.S. Cities |
Major U.S. Cities |
Major cities worldwide |
Major cities worldwide (pencil/paper) United States only (computer-based) |
400 testing locations in North America |
300 testing centers worldwide |
Major US Cities |
Major Cities worldwide |
Online plus Major U.S. cities |
| Time to Complete (Approx.) |
3-6 months |
2-3 months |
6 months (4 month and 12 month options available) |
|
4-9 months |
4-9 months |
4-6 months |
2 to 6 months |
4-6 weeks |
2 to 6 months |
13-16 weeks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Recertification |
every 2 years |
every 2 years |
N/A |
every 2 years |
every 3 years |
every 3 years |
every 2 years |
every year |
every 4 years |
every 2 years |
every 2 years |
yes |
| Recertification Cost including CEU (Approx.) |
$400 |
$150 |
N/A |
$500 |
$800 |
$500 |
$400-800 |
$85 |
$600 |
$20 + $319 CEU costs |
$600 (20 CEU and $75 fee) |
$600 |
