In order to become a personal trainer in Oklahoma, you must meet the following requirements:
- You should be at least 18 years old
- Have a GED or the equivalent
- Hold a current adult CPR/AED Certification
- Get certified through a recognized personal training organization
Personal Trainer Certification Oklahoma
Here are the best personal training certification options in Oklahoma:
- 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 you take the quiz to find out which certification will be most helpful for your specific Oklahoma personal trainer career goals.
Personal Trainer Certification Oklahoma Cost
Becoming a personal trainer in Oklahoma will cost you approximately $449 to $999, and this will mainly depend on the certification that you choose. The price can fluctuate further with the availability of discounts and coupon codes.
Do you need a license to be a personal trainer in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma, there is no licensure mandate for personal trainers, but a majority of employers, gyms, and health clubs will be inclined toward those with a nationally accredited certification.
Personal Trainer Schools in Oklahoma
Getting a personal trainer certification in Oklahoma will uncover bigger and better opportunities for your career. Here are some of the best kinesiology schools that you might want to consider.
- Cameron University Health and Physical Education
- East Central University Kinesiology
- Northeastern State University Health and Kinesiology
- Northwestern Oklahoma State University Health and Sports Science Education
- Oklahoma Christian University Sport, Wellness, and Recreation Management
- Oklahoma City University Exercise and Sport Science
- Oklahoma Panhandle State University Health and Physical Education
- Oklahoma State University School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology
- Oklahoma University Health and Exercise Science
- Oklahoma Wesleyan University Physical Education; Exercise Science
- Oral Roberts University Health, Leisure and Sport Sciences
- South Georgia College Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Physical Education Associates
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
- Southern Nazarene University Kinesiology
- Southwestern Oklahoma State University Kinesiology
- University of Central Oklahoma Kinesiology and Health Studies
- University of Oklahoma Department of Health and Exercise Science
- University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Science and Physical Education
- University of Tulsa Kinesiology and Rehabilitative 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 Oklahoma?
A personal trainer career in Oklahoma can be rewarding, with an expected salary of $61,547, and a wider range of $44,399 and $75,609 depending on your academic and professional credentials, the city, other skills like CPR and first aid, and years of experience.
Make sure to check out the general guide on how to become a personal trainer.
State Fitness Rating
Before we look at personal trainer certification in Norman and other cities, weโre going to begin with the state fitness rating.
This ranking is based on several key metrics that give us an idea of how healthy a stateโs population is.
A populationโs health correlates reliably with how active and engaged the population is with the fitness industry.
That means the healthier the residents of a state are, the more business opportunities youโll have as a personal fitness trainer.
For this, we will be looking at two categories. Those are:
- Obesity prevalence
- Top gyms per capita
The obesity prevalence shows us how conscious and active the population is regarding healthy lifestyle choices.
Chief amongst these choices is the decision to exercise and maintain their wellness, which is where an OKC personal trainer comes in.
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Oklahoma has an obesity prevalence of 32.8%. This high rate of obesity gives Oklahoma 43rd place out of all states.
Such a low ranking indicates a low market interest in fitness as compared to most other states.
Now, let me show you the top gyms per capita category.
This statistic shows us how much access the general public has to commercial gyms.
Top gyms or commercial gyms include the following:
- Goldโs Gym
- 24 Hour Fitness
- Anytime Fitness
- Crunch Fitness
- LA Fitness
- Orange Theory Fitness
- Planet Fitness
- Snap Fitness
- YMCA
These are used as reliable references because they signify the most affordable and accessible exercise facilities for most people.
Oklahoma has 179 top gyms, so with a population of 3,923,516, the state has a gyms per capita ratio of 4.56, putting it in 43rd place.
This low ranking not only means locals have limited access to fitness facilities; it also means Oklahoma city personal trainers will have limited access to potential job opportunities.
Oklahoma is 47th in terms of state fitness rating, making it one of Americaโs most unfit states.
Personal trainers in OKC have to put in more effort to convince the populace of the importance of weight loss training programs.
Fitness Market Makeup
With a high obesity prevalence and limited access to gyms, the Oklahoma fitness market is small to begin with.
And within such a small market, you can expect clients within the sedentary and overweight categories.
These types of clients require assistance with the fundamentals of health and fitness so you wonโt find much work in other specialist categories.
Often Iโve found that clients in this category also prefer group training options.
Youโll also sharpen your nutritional and group fitness knowledge well since this will count towards better results.
Personal Trainer Certifications in Oklahoma
Personal trainer certification in Norman and other cities is needed to get a job as a personal trainer in Oklahoma.
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Gold Standard Cert | Most Popular Cert | Best Study Materials |
A Good Option | A Good Option | Best CPT for you? |
Overall here are my top 2 best personal trainer certificates in Oklahoma. Ensure you have all or any of them when you decide to become a personal trainer in Norman and other areas.
Personal Trainer Jobs in Oklahoma
With only 179 top gyms in the state, this isnโt the most opportune place for personal trainer jobs in OK.
However, if you do become a personal trainer in Tulsa or any other city, working in a gym certainly has its perks.
For instance, you will be exposed to a large influx of fitness consumers with whom you can build your status in preparation for the launch of your independent business.
There will also be that initial fixed income and benefits safety net, which is great initially for Tulsa personal trainers.
Having said that, real success in fitness comes from carving out your own niche in the industry.
One of the best ways to do this is to develop an online fitness business model.
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 Oklahoma
When thinking of personal trainer jobs in Tulsa, or anywhere else for that matter, remember to consider access to client prospects.
What I mean by that is targeting the most significant population centers.
As a general rule of thumb, populations of 100k residents or higher are your best bet.
City In Oklahoma | Population |
---|---|
Oklahoma City | 643,692 |
Tulsa | 402,324 |
Norman | 122,837 |
Broken Arrow | 108,496 |
Lawton | 94,017 |
Edmond | 92,009 |
Moore | 60,943 |
Oklahoma City should be your first choice; barring that, Tulsa also has excellent odds.
Personal trainers in Tulsa Ok are definitely at the top of their game.
Personal trainer jobs in Norman and Broken Arrow also fare well if you have limited options.
Personal Trainer Salary in Oklahoma
Before becoming a personal trainer in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, or Norman, an important thing to consider is how much you can expect to earn.
According to salary.com, the average annual income for trainers in Oklahoma is $56,546 per year. This is significantly lower than the national average of $61,802.
With that in mind, we need to look at affordability and the cost of living in the state to truly determine the value of the average income.
Make sure to check out the full guide on personal trainer salary.
Quality of Life Rating
Oklahoma often finds itself at the bottom of state rankings regarding the quality of life. The state battles with crime, inadequate health care, education, and infrastructure.
Despite this, Oklahoma does have a favorable cost of living, which sits well below the national average.
This makes the below-average income somewhat reasonable.
With all that said, I give Oklahoma a 5 out of 10 quality of life rating.
Methodology
After in-depth research, I was able to come up with this detailed review 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 Oklahoma
- 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 Oklahoma
Oklahoma is not the best option for maximizing your career potential as a PT based on your location.
I would suggest situating yourself in a different state. However, if you donโt have that option, your best bet is to become a personal trainer in Oklahoma City.
Also, you won’t regret being a “personal trainer in Norman, Ok” or “personal trainer in Tulsa, OK”.
You can still forge a good career with the right timing and strategy in place, which is exactly what PT Pioneer is here to help you with.
Information gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the US Census shows that there is a huge demand for “personal trainers in Tulsa”, “personal trainers in OKC”, and “personal trainers in Norman, OK”.
FAQs on How to Become a Personal Trainer in Oklahoma
How to be a personal trainer without certification?
Personal training involves dealing with people and comes with many risks.
Having a personal trainer certification ensures you help people achieve their fitness goals correctly.
Get certified to create a successful career for yourself.
What degree do you need to be a physical trainer?
Do ensure it is in an exercise or health-related field to increase your ratings among your peers.
What is the best personal trainer certification?
โ Lifetime (LT) Academy
โ American Council of Exercise (ACE)
โ National Federation of Personal Trainers (NFPT)
โ American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
โ Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)
โ National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
โ National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA)
โ National Personal Training Institute (NPTI)
What is the best personal trainer certification to get in Oklahoma?
Most can be acquired via online training on a part-time or full-time basis.
As a fitness instructor, youโll learn how to conduct fitness assessments or fitness levels one-on-one or during personal training sessions.
How to get certified as a personal trainer?
โ A high school diploma
โ A CPR/AED certification
โ A First Aid certification
You can either enroll with a certified personal training certification body or undertake an exercise degree course in a reputable college or university.
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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