Have a question? Becoming a personal trainer in Minnesota will require the following:
- Be 18 years old at the minimum
- Have a GED or the equivalent
- Hold a current adult CPR/AED Certification
- Get certified through a recognized personal training organization
Personal Trainer Certification Minnesota
Here are the best personal training certification options in Minnesota:
- International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA-CPT)
- National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT)
- National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF-CPT)
- National Personal Training Institute (NPTI)
I recommend that you take the quiz to find out which certification makes the most sense for your specific Minnesota personal trainer career goals.
Personal Trainer Certification Minnesota Cost
To become a personal trainer in Minnesota, you can expect to spend from $449 to $999 depending on the certification of choice.
Do you need a license to be a personal trainer in Minnesota?
While you do not need a license to work as a personal trainer in Minnesota, having the relevant personal trainer certification is necessary since most employers prefer trainers with certifications from nationally accredited organizations.
Personal Trainer Schools in Minnesota
Getting an exercise science certification is one of the surest ways to secure employment in Minnesota. Here are some of the best kinesiology schools that you might want to consider.
- Bemidji State University Human Performance, Sport & Health
- Bethel University Health and Physical Education
- College of Saint Benedict/St John’s University Exercise Science and Sport Studies
- College of St. Scholastica Exercise Physiology
- Concordia College Moorehead Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science
- Concordia University Kinesiology and Health Sciences
- Hamline University Biology
- Minnesota State University Mankato Human Performance
- Minnesota State University Moorhead Health and Physical Education
- Southwest Minnesota State University Wellness and Human Performance
- St. Catherine University Exercise and Sport Science
- St. Cloud State University Kinesiology, Health/ Physical Education
- St. Olaf College Exercise Science
- University of Minnesota School of Kinesiology
- University of Minnesota- Crookston Sport and Recreation Management
- University of Minnesota- Duluth Applied Human Sciences
- University of Minnesota –Morris Sport Management
- University of St. Thomas Health and Human Performance
- Winona State University Physical Education and Sport Sciences
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 Minnesota?
A personal trainer in Minnesota can make approximately $68,216 annually, and this can vary from $49,210 to $83,802 depending on various factors such as the city, education, professional qualifications, years of experience, and other skills that the gym or health club might deem profitable. Check out the salary report.
Make sure to check out the general guide on how to become a personal trainer.
State Fitness Rating
The very first thing to consider is how engaged the local fitness market is.
To really get a handle on the situation, we need to know the state fitness rating based on how it ranks up amongst the other states.
There are two critical pieces of data I’m going to address to understand the rating.
I gathered this data from exercise.com, which has done a great job of putting things together.
The data we will use is the obesity prevalence rate and the top gyms per capita availability.
Obesity prevalence is a reliable indicator of the general health of a population.
That’s because obesity typically occurs due to poor nutrition and a lack of engagement with exercise programs.
Therefore, a high obesity prevalence indicates a low engagement with the health and fitness industry, while a low obesity prevalence suggests the opposite.
As far as Minnesota is concerned, the obesity prevalence is 27.8. This puts Minnesota in the 18th position out of all states in the US.
This is a good figure for public health and the fitness industry you are a part of.
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This is a good primary indicator of employment and business opportunity.
Next up, we have the top gyms per capita rating.
This is a significant statistic because it shows how primed and accommodating the local fitness industry is to its potential market.
It also shows the amount of employment and business opportunities: the more gyms, the more career options.
Top gyms are categorized as popular, mainstream commercial gyms.
These are used as significant statistics simply because they are the most accessible and affordable commercial fitness facilities.
They include businesses such as:
- Orange Theory Fitness
- Planet Fitness
- Snap Fitness
- YMCA
- LA Fitness
- Gold’s Gym
- Crunch Fitness
- Anytime Fitness
- 24 Hour Fitness
Minnesota has a total of 571 gyms as of writing. For a population of 5,519,952, that means every 100 thousand locals can choose from 10.34 gyms.
That is an incredible ratio; Minnesota has the highest gyms to population ratio in America.
With a relatively low obesity rate and the best gym access in the country, Minnesota is the 5th fittest state in the US, making it one of the best locations to establish a PT career.
Fitness Market Makeup
Minnesota has the highest gyms to population ratio, so the market you will primarily target is in these fitness centers.
Another important aspect of life, and therefore the people in Minnesota, is that they are regularly subject to adverse cold weather.
That means many of your client prospects want to keep moving to beat the cold.
This could indicate a good opening for group-based fitness services like group classes and small group exercise classes.
A fit population will not need a weight loss program but a bit of athletic training.
Minnesota also has something of a sporting and outdoor adventure culture which you could align yourself with as a fitness educator.
Personal Trainer Certifications in Minnesota
Personal trainer certification in St. Paul and other cities is needed to get a job as a personal trainer in Minnesota.
Personal trainer certification MN is the personal training licensure you need to work in a gym or set up an independent practice.
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Overall here are my top 2 best personal trainer certificates in Minnesota. Ensure you have any or all of them when you decide to become a personal trainer in St. Pauls and other areas.
Having a personal training certification in MN that is widely acceptable will help you when searching for personal trainer jobs in MN.
Personal Trainer Jobs in Minnesota
With the numerous top gyms, which don’t include other fitness facilities, there are many job opportunities to become a personal trainer in Rochester and other cities.
Starting off as a gym employee is great, albeit not quite as glamorous as the internet celebrity trainers you see on YouTube, but you’ll get there.
The good thing about starting in a gym is that you develop the fundamental skills and training experience in terms of sales, communication, and fitness instruction necessary to manage your own operation.
It’s also a good place to start because you will have the safety net of a fixed income and employment benefits while you build yourself into the entrepreneur you want to be with your own training programs.
Once you branch off on your own, you will have more freedom and responsibility.
You will be free to price your services according to the value you offer, but the management of expenses, admin, and resources will be in your hands.
Make sure also to include an online fitness component in your business.
This will count in your favor since online fitness is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the industry.
Obtaining a certification from top personal training schools will help you get the best personal training jobs in MN.
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 Minnesota
Minnesota seems like a great state to work as a personal trainer, but it’s a good idea to hone in on specific locations that may offer more opportunities.
That’s why we’ve not only been looking at Minnesota as a whole but also looking at its biggest cities.
Your best odds are to become a personal trainer in Minneapolis since it is the most populated member of Minnesota state, followed closely by St. Paul and Rochester.
These three areas should present ample opportunity for business and career growth in the fitness training industry.
Of course, you should aim for the best possible odds, which would be personal trainer jobs in Minneapolis or St.Paul, although Personal trainer jobs in Rochester are abundant.
| City In Minnesota | Population |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 429,606 |
| St. Paul | 308,096 |
| Rochester | 118,935 |
| Duluth | 85,618 |
| Bloomington | 84,943 |
| Brooklyn Park | 80,389 |
| Plymouth | 79,768 |
A Minneapolis personal trainer certainly has a large population to work with.
Personal Trainer Salary in Minnesota
Aside from getting your personal trainer certification in Minneapolis, another essential consideration is the expected personal trainer salary in MN.
According to salary.com, Minnesota based fitness instructors can expect an annual average income of $65,949. That’s considerably more than the national average of $61,802.
This, along with the abundance of opportunity, all looks promising, but there’s one final thing to look at the quality of life.
Make sure to check out the full guide on personal trainer salary.
Quality of Life Rating
Minnesota regularly scores high on many quality of life indicators.
We can tell by the fitness ranking that society must be well adjusted there.
Business freedom and health care lead the charge, with low pollution levels and great entertainment close behind.
The cost of living isn’t too high, but it’s nothing to write home about.
The only real downsides are taxation and travel connectivity, according to teleport.org.
I give Minnesota an 8.5 out of 10 quality of life rating.
Methodology
The methodology used to review this writeup critically was based on the following points:
- The population of the state and its major cities.
- The obesity figures as compared with other states.
- Personal trainer certifications that are available in Minnesota
- 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 Minnesota
Minnesota is an amazing opportunity if you’re heading into the personal fitness industry.
It has a population that consciously engages with fitness services and products and has many employment opportunities due to the numerous gyms.
You’ll also enjoy an excellent quality of life if you don’t mind braving some frequent cold weather.
FAQs on How to Become a Personal Trainer in Minnesota
How to become a nutritionist and fitness trainer?
They can help clients get better results using exercise and diet.
Your best bet will be the ISSA Certified Nutrition Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer programs.
Do personal trainers need to be certified?
Some of these certifications that can be obtained on a part-time or full-time basis are:
– American Council on Exercise (ACE)
– American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Do personal trainers need certification?
Personal trainers should have the following certifications to show they know what they are doing.
– A high school diploma
– A CPR/AED certification
– First Aid Certification
– A nationally recognized personal trainer certification
-An associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in an exercise-related field
References
https://www.exercise.com/learn/ten-fittest-states-in-the-us/
https://www.americankinesiology.org/SubPages/Pages/Kinesiology%20Institution%20Database
Tyler Read
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