How to Become a Personal Trainer in Colorado in 2024

To become a personal trainer in Colorado, you have to:

1. At the minimum, be 18 years old
2. Have a GED or the equivalent
3. Hold a current adult CPR/AED Certification
4. Get certified through a recognized personal training organization

Personal Trainer Certification Colorado

Here are the best personal training certification options in Colorado: 

1. International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA-CPT)
2. National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT)
3. National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF-CPT)
4. American Council on Exercise (ACE-CPT)

To find out which certification makes the most sense for your specific Colorado personal trainer career goals, I highly recommend that you take the quiz.

Personal Trainer Certification Colorado Cost

The certification that you choose will largely determine your cost of becoming a personal trainer in Colorado but typically varies from $445 to $995.

Do you need a license to be a personal trainer in Colorado?

There are no stringent licensing requirements for personal trainers in Colorado. However, a majority of employers will require a GDE or high school diploma, as well as a personal trainer certification, while any other skills like CPR and first aid are fundamental.

Personal Trainer Schools Colorado

Having the necessary credentials will optimize your chances of becoming a personal trainer. There are a number of personal trainer schools in Colorado that you can choose from to choose from. The top exercise science schools you should consider in Colorado are:

• Adams State University Human Performance and Physical Education
• Colorado Mesa University Kinesiology
• Colorado State University Department of Health and Exercise Science 
• Colorado State University-Pueblo Exercise Science, Health Promotion and Recreation
• Fort Lewis College Exercise Science
• Regis University Physical Therapy
• University of Colorado at Boulder Integrative Physiology (formerly kinesiology)
• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Health Sciences
• University of Colorado at Denver Physical Therapy
• University of Denver Sports and Performance Psychology
• University of Northern Colorado Sport and Exercise Science
• Western State Colorado University Exercise and Sport Science

If you haven’t yet, be sure to take the quiz to find out the best personal trainer certification for your career.

How Much Do Personal Trainers Make in Colorado?

On average, a personal trainer in Colorado will make approximately $67,251 per year, but this can vary from $48,514 to $82,616 depending on various factors like the specific city, the level of education and professional credentials, the level of experience as well as any other skills that may add value to the facility. You can view this report on salary.com.

Make sure to check out the general guide on how to become a personal trainer.

State Fitness Rating

I first want to explore the state fitness rating, which ranks against all other states.

Two key metrics determine the ranking: the obesity ranking and the top gyms ranking.

The obesity ranking is how well a state places concerning the prevalence of obesity amongst its population.

Colorado has the healthiest population based on obesity stats, with a prevalence of only 22%, well below the national average.

The top gym measures how many of the mainstream commercial gyms the general public in a state has access to.

Top gyms are used, and not all gyms are because many private or specialist gyms are either beyond the normal price point or cater to a specialist market.

Commercial gyms are the most accessible in terms of price and fitness level for the general population.

These gyms include:

• Gold’s Gym
• 24 Hour Fitness
• Anytime Fitness
• YMCA
• Crunch Fitness
• LA Fitness
• Orange Theory Fitness
• Planet Fitness
• Snap Fitness

Other more specialist, trendy options include:

• Denver Gym & Fitness
• LoHi Athletic Club
• Pearl Street Fitness
• FIT36-LODO

Here we see Colorado again take the top spot, making it the fittest state in America unequivocally!

Fitness Market Makeup

Being the fittest state in the country undeniably means a well-established and well-engaged fitness industry exists.

This is both good news and challenging reality for you as a prospective CPT looking at Personal trainer jobs in Colorado Springs and other urban areas.

The good news is that there is a prominent demand and agreeability to business in the fitness sector.

Challenging in that with such a healthy population and an established industry, your rise to prominence will require serious dedication and hard work to stand out.

A discerning customer is hard to please, and in the case of Colorado residents, you’ll have to be good at what you do to persuade the sale.

The numbers would also suggest that many people have a good idea of keeping fit and healthy without extensive external assistance.

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They generally do not need a weight loss program.

Personal trainers in Colorado must prepare tailored group fitness and personal training sessions for the populace.

With this in mind, a good long-term plan would be to eventually establish a gym with specialized training programs or even a line of fitness commodities and target the market from that angle.

Colorado is well known for its outdoor fitness culture. The natural environment provides ample opportunity for high altitude and rigorous exercise due to the mountainous profile.

Personal Trainer Certifications in Colorado

Personal trainer certification in Denver and other cities is all that is needed to get a job as a personal trainer in Colorado.

A personal training certification with the right accreditation is also the personal trainer’s license you need in Colorado.

I have written an article on my best personal trainer certifications. Use this as a guide to becoming a certified personal trainer in Colorado.

Overall here are my top 2 best personal training certifications in Colorado. Make sure to check all or any of them when you decide to become a personal trainer in Denver.

• NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine)
• ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association)

Personal trainer certification in Aurora, personal trainer certification in Denver, and personal trainer certification in Colorado Springs or any other city are the same as anywhere else in the country.

Another notable one is Colorado’s National Personal Training Institute (NPTI).

Personal training schools in Colorado

To really optimize your chances as a personal trainer, one thing you could do is upgrade your credentials with accredited certification programs.

Gaining a degree is equivalent to getting a personal trainer license in Colorado.

This has been the case in my experience since obtaining a master’s in kinesiology.

If you don’t have the time to search for “personal training schools near me” or “personal training near me”, note that Colorado has no shortage of opportunities to further your education.

Let’s take a look at some of the options for personal trainer schools:

• Adams State University Human Performance and Physical Education
• Colorado Mesa University Kinesiology
• Colorado State University Department of Health and Exercise Science 
• Colorado State University-Pueblo Exercise Science, Health Promotion and Recreation
• Fort Lewis College Exercise Science
• Regis University Physical Therapy
• University of Colorado at Boulder Integrative Physiology (formerly kinesiology)
• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Health Sciences
• University of Colorado at Denver Physical Therapy
• University of Denver Sports and Performance Psychology
• University of Northern Colorado Sport and Exercise Science
• Western State Colorado University Exercise and Sport Science

At these exercise science schools in Colorado, you will have access to many undergrad and post-grad programs.

Personal Trainer Jobs in Colorado

Colorado, for its population size, has a ton of fitness centers, and they are put to good use.

This means there is always something for a fitness-minded professional to do.

If you are qualified and experienced, you will have access to many opportunities.

As I already indicated, Colorado’s fitness culture is very much driven by outdoor and adventure-esque activities.

As a fitness trainer in the state, it would help you familiarise yourself with some of the typical activities.

You can apply these activities as concepts to your services as a personal trainer CO.

You can provide training specifically catering to the performance enhancement of said outdoor and adventure activities.

These include:

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• Mountain climbing
• Hiking
• Trail running
• Kayaking
• Cycling
• Triathlon
• Calisthenics
• Parkour

Being experienced or knowledgeable in any or several of these adventure activities is a big bonus for earning your place as a Colorado fitness pro.

Check for “personal trainer jobs Denver,” “personal trainer jobs Colorado Springs,” and “personal trainer jobs Colorado” on Google for more information.

Personal training jobs in Colorado are worth it for you if you possess the right personal trainer certification programs.

If you haven’t yet, be sure to take the quiz to find out the best personal trainer certification for your career.

Best Cities to Be a Personal Trainer in Colorado

Although we consider the whole state, your best odds are focusing on just the top few cities in the state and aiming for work there.

Colorado is on the moderate end of the scale regarding population size, with only 5, 540,545 residents in total.

Let’s take a look at Colorado’s urban population hot spots.

As you can see, Colorado’s urban settlements are relatively sparsely populated, with Denver being the only city to clock over 500k inhabitants.

That means your best odds are if you become a personal trainer in Denver.

One important city to consider is Boulder. While it’s only the 12th largest city in terms of population size, it is also one of the country’s most iconic fitness hubs.

According to a Gallup survey, almost 70% of the residents of Boulder, Colorado, work out at least three times a week.

Those are awe-inspiring statistics.

A highly engaged attitude towards fitness could be a good or bad thing for you as a trainer.

Right in that, there is a thriving market, bad in that most of your potential clients may be entirely self-sufficient regarding health, wellness, and fitness, with no need for a qualified expert.

This is a toss-up and will ultimately boil down to your experience, reputation, and ability to market yourself.

If you become a personal trainer in Aurora or practice personal training in Colorado Springs, you’ll still have an excellent opportunity to make a decent living.

Personal Trainer Salary in Colorado

As a fitness professional in Colorado, you can expect to earn an average annual salary of $61,816 per year.

This is pretty much the national average when it comes to personal training.

You may have expected it to be higher since Colorado has such a big fitness culture to take advantage of.

But that may be what’s stopping other trainers from cashing in on the salary of a personal trainer as high as places like Colorado.

As I pointed out, a healthy population means well-educated on matters concerning health and fitness.

Colorado residents may be so clued up and discerning that they have become more self-reliant.

This would lead to a less urgent need for extensive involvement by a fitness expert, limiting your potential to become a personal trainer in Colorado Springs, Denver, or Aurora.

Thus limiting the personal trainer salary in Colorado from becoming higher than the national average.

Make sure to check out the full guide on personal trainer salary.

Quality of Life Rating

According to teleport.org, Colorado has one of the best living standards in the United States.

In particular, Denver has a good business environment. He is an excellent place to live based on the natural geography, climate, urban infrastructure, and access to essential services.

This makes personal trainer jobs in Denver the more attractive option.

The cost of living isn’t the best; however, it’s easy to rank up your income once you’ve established yourself.

Colorado has some of the best access to natural environments and outdoor immersion of any modern, advanced state.

It is also reasonably safe from natural hazards like freak weather and earthquakes.

Methodology

The methodology adopted in reviewing how to become a Personal Trainer in Colorado is as follows:

• The population of the state and its major cities.  
• The obesity figures as compared with other states.  
• Personal trainer certifications are attainable in the state.  
• Availability of personal training schools & colleges.  
• Career prospects for personal trainers.  
• Earning potential for certified PTs.  
• Quality of Life (QoL).  

Final Words on How to Become A Personal Trainer in Colorado

Colorado is the fittest state in America, a title it has held for over a decade, according to exercise.com.

Personal trainer jobs in Aurora, Denver, and Springs cater to one of the world’s fittest markets.

With a population with such a predilection towards healthy lifestyle habits, you may find yourself stumped as a trainer unless you upscale your value.

Good marketing and upgrading of your credentials at one of the many kinesiology schools in Colorado might boost your odds.

FAQs on How to Become A Personal Trainer in Colorado

References

https://www.Colorado-demographics.com

https://www.exercise.com/learn/ten-fittest-states-in-the-us/

https://www.salary.com

https://www.americankinesiology.org/SubPages/Pages/Kinesiology%20Institution%20Database

https://www.teleport.org