Become a Personal Trainer in Oklahoma – the 2023 Guide

Hello everyone, and welcome to PT Pioneer. 

Today we will be looking at yet another state in my state-by-state series.

This series provides insight into how each state fares for opportunities in the fitness industry.

I’ve used a blend of raw data, anecdotal accounts, and my own expertise to bring you this knowledge.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to form your own decisions and strategies on where to work as a CPT while helping people achieve their fitness goals.

To simplify things, I’ll only look at the top three cities in each state by population size.

In this article, I will look at how to become a personal trainer in Oklahoma. That means I’ll look at personal trainer jobs in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Norman.

I will also give you a low-down on personal trainer certification in Oklahoma City and other areas.

With that said, let’s jump right into it.

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, we’re 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 state’s population is.

A population’s 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 you’ll 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.

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.

Exclusive PTP CPT Offers
Gold Standard Cert	Most Popular Cert	Best Study Materials
A Good Option	A Good Option	Best CPT for you?

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:

• Gold’s 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 America’s 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 won’t find much work in other specialist categories.

Often I’ve found that clients in this category also prefer group training options.

You’ll 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.

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

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.

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

Personal training schools in Oklahoma

Besides getting a personal trainer certification in Tulsa and other areas, obtaining a higher qualification can tremendously boost your career prospects.

Acquiring a college or university degree has been shown to put trainers in line for bigger and better opportunities.

Firstly, you’re viewed as having more authority and useful knowledge when carrying an associate or bachelor’s degree. This gives you a better preference when applying for fitness jobs OKC.

It also opens you up to positions and opportunities that regular certified personal trainers in Oklahoma city wouldn’t have access to.

Lastly, you can leverage your degree for higher rates and salaries due to the value proposition it offers.

Exclusive PTP CPT Offers
Gold Standard Cert	Most Popular Cert	Best Study Materials
A Good Option	A Good Option	Best CPT for you?

There are quite a few exercise science schools in Oklahoma you can choose from. Let’s have a look:

• 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

With all these options for Oklahoma kinesiology schools, you will find something for yourself.

Having said that, weighing the pros and cons when considering a degree for personal trainers OKC is very important.

Enrolling in a degree program is a huge financial investment and takes a lot of time. Be sure it’s the right choice for you and your aspirations.

Personal Trainer Jobs in Oklahoma

With only 179 top gyms in the state, this isn’t 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.

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.

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 don’t 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

References

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