Have a question? For you to become a personal trainer in Washington, you will need to fulfill:
- At the minimum, be 18 years old
- Have a GED or its equivalent
- Have a current adult CPR/AED Credential
- Get certified through a recognized personal training institution
Personal Trainer Certification Washington
Here are the best personal training certification options in Washington:Â
- International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA-CPT)
- National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT)
- National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF-CPT)
- American Council on Exercise (ACE-CPT)
I highly suggest you take the quiz and find out which certification makes the most sense for your specific Washington personal trainer career goals.
Personal Trainer Certification Washington Cost
Becoming a personal trainer in Washington will cost approximately $448 to $998 which can vary depending don’t the certification that you choose.
Do you need a license to be a personal trainer in Washington?
Although a license is not mandatory in Washington, a majority of employers will require personal trainers to have a certification in addition to their academic qualifications.
Personal Trainer Schools in Washington
Having a certification from a nationally accredited institution is one of the best ways to launch your personal trainer career. Here are some of the best kinesiology schools in Washington that I came across in my research.
- American University Health Promotion
- Eastern Washington University Physical Education, Health and Recreation
- Eastern Washington University Physical Therapy
- Gallaudet University Physical Education and Recreation
- George Washington University Exercise Science
- Gonzaga University Human Physiology
- Howard University Health, Human Performance, and Leisure Studies
- Northwest University Exercise Science Associates
- Pacific Lutheran University Kinesiology
- Seattle Pacific University Health and Human Performance
- University of Puget Sound Physical Education
- University of Puget Sound Exercise Science
- University of Puget Sound Physical Therapy
- University of Washington Physical Therapy
- Walla Walla University Health and Physical Education
- Washington State University Spokane
- Western Washington University Kinesiology and Physical Education
- Whitworth University Kinesiology and Athletics
If you haven’t yet, please take the quiz to find out the best personal trainer certification for your career.
How Much Do Personal Trainers Make in Washington?
A personal trainer in Washington makes approximately $71,418 annually which can range from $51,519 and $87,735 depending on various things like the city, academic and professional qualifications, other supporting skills, and years of experience. You can view the salary report here.
Make sure to check out the general guide on how to become a personal trainer.
State Fitness Rating
Before you become a personal trainer in Washington, you need to figure out the industry, and to figure out the industry; you need to figure out the market.
That’s why I’ve used the state fitness ranking as provided by exercise.com.
This ranking or rating is based on two main data pieces.
The first is the obesity prevalence rate, and the second is the top gyms per capita.
Let’s start with obesity, as this indicates a population’s responsiveness to health and fitness levels.
That’s because it shows how conscious residents are when it comes to matters of wellness, and that level of consciousness is what translates to consumer spending in the fitness industry.
Washington’s obesity prevalence is 28.6%, making it the 20th least obese state.
This means you’ll have decent engagement with the local fitness market, although it could be better.
Next, let’s look at the top gyms’ per capita rating.
Top gyms are considered fitness facilities with a mainstream appeal based on their popularity and widespread presence.
Exclusive PTP CPT Offers |
||
|---|---|---|
Gold Standard Cert | Most Popular Cert | Best Study Materials |
A Good Option | A Good Option | Best CPT for you?  |
These gyms are also more affordable and easy to use, making their availability a reliable indicator of local residents’ health status.
Gyms in this category include:
- Gold’s Gym
- 24 Hour Fitness
- Anytime Fitness
- Crunch Fitness
- LA Fitness
- Orange Theory Fitness
- Planet Fitness
- Snap Fitness
- YMCA
Washington state has 467 top gyms to a population of 7,288,000.
This means that for every 100k members of the public, there are 6.41 top gyms available, giving Washington a rank of 13 for top gyms per capita.
The top gyms per capita ranking is great news for Washington’s residents, but your main concern is really just the number of gyms.
The number of gyms indicates the number of potential job openings, and when it comes to Washington, 467 gyms aren’t terrible odds.
Overall, Washington ranks at 11, tied with Utah.
Fitness Market Makeup
Before looking at personal trainer certification in Spokane and other cities, it’s vital to understand the market.
Washington has a decent fitness ranking, which means your prospective clients will lean more toward fitter individuals looking to maintain a proper lifestyle approach.
You will, of course, still deal with sedentary, inexperienced individuals.
You should have different training programs or fitness programs to help them achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Focusing on exercise physiology and strength training will also help clients achieve their fitness goals at a fitness center.
The majority of these types of clients will be looking at healthy weight loss and some motivation to move.
Personal Trainer Certifications in Washington
Personal trainer certification in Tacoma and other cities is needed to get a personal trainer job in Washington.
I have written an article on my best personal trainer certifications. Use this as a guide on becoming a certified personal trainer in Washington.
Overall here are my top 2 best personal trainer certificates in Washington. Ensure all of them when you decide to become a personal trainer in Tacoma and other areas.
The best personal trainers in Seattle are certified with the National Council for Certified Personal Trainers or have other highly recognized personal trainer certifications in Washington state.
n to success, so make sure you have a clear idea of what you want and what you need to do to get it.
Personal Trainer Jobs in Washington
To become a personal trainer in Spokane, you must survey the number of prospects.
With at least 467 potential employment opportunities, gym employment is your best entry into the Washington fitness industry.
The advantage of starting your career in this way is that you get to start your career with somewhat of a safety net in the form of fixed income and employment benefits.
Exclusive PTP CPT Offers |
||
|---|---|---|
| Gold Standard Cert | Most Popular Cert | Best Study Materials |
| A Good Option | A Good Option | Best CPT for you? |
When you’re just starting, this is crucial for initial stability while you find your feet.
You’ll also gain experience in sales and marketing, vital skills once you become a solo act.
Once you are ready to take that next step, the world is your oyster, but with that freedom comes much hard work, trial and error, and some risk-taking.
Having an online component to your business model is also crucial in this day and age.
If you haven’t yet, please to take the quiz to find out the best personal trainer certification for your career.
Best Cities to Be a Personal Trainer in Washington
As you learn how to become a personal trainer in Seattle and other cities, you’ll soon find that your best opportunities lie where there are more potential clients.
This means you should go to where most people are.
In Washington, Seattle is the best option, with a population larger than the next two most prominent cities combined.
You will find out that personal training in Seattle is a far better option because there is a high search for ” personal training jobs Seattle” and “kinesiology jobs Seattle” alongside “personal trainer salary Seattle”.
Having said that, Spokane and Tacoma may be much smaller than Seattle, but with over 200k residents each, still, present good odds.
| City In Washington | Population |
|---|---|
| Seattle | 724,305 |
| Spokane | 217,353 |
| Tacoma | 212,869 |
| Vancouver | 180,556 |
| Bellevue | 144,403 |
| Kent | 131,118 |
| Everett | 109,766 |
With a nationally recognized personal training certification from schools for personal trainers, you will get your fitness license and begin to earn the average personal trainer salary in Washington state.
With the right personal trainer program, you will be a success at personal training in Tacoma WA, personal training Vancouver WA and personal training Olympia WA
Personal Trainer Salary in Washington
Understanding income potential is vital when looking at personal trainer jobs in Spokane and other cities in Washington.
The annual average salary for fitness instructors in the state is $66,725 per year.
This is well above the national average of $61,802 per year.
Having a high-income potential, however, isn’t an automatic win.
Since you’ll be working in Washington, you’ll most likely live there, and the cost of living ultimately sets the value on your income.
Let’s look at affordability and other quality of life measures.
Make sure to check out the full guide on personal trainer salary.
Quality of Life Rating
Personal trainer jobs in Tacoma and other cities mean you will be subject to Washington’s quality of life.
Luckily, it is considered a state with a high quality of life.
Personal trainers in Spokane, WA, personal trainers in Olympia, WA, and personal trainers in Tacoma, WA, will certainly get value for their salary.
It ranks highly regarding health care, education, infrastructure, and the local economy.
Most other indicators of quality of life are, at the very least, above average.
The cost of living in Washington is slightly higher than the national average, but it’s barely a compromise compared to what you stand to earn.
I give Washington an 8.5 out of 10 QoL rating for personal trainers.
Methodology
After a thorough review using different methodologies, I was able to come up with this complete review based on the following parameters:
- The population of the state and its major cities.
- The obesity figures as compared with other states.
- Personal trainer certifications available in Washington
- Availability of personal training schools & colleges.
- Career prospects for personal trainers.
- Earning potential for certified PTs.
- Quality of Life (QoL).
Final Words
If you choose to become a personal trainer in Tacoma, Seattle, or Spokane, your work will be cut out for you.
This fitness market is slightly more difficult to read than most but tends to be more favorable in terms of opportunity.
Just remember to brush up on your qualifications, and you’re good to go as a personal trainer in Spokane, WA, personal trainer in Tacoma, WA, personal trainer in Bellevue, WA, personal trainer in Everett, WA,
FAQs on How to Become a Personal Trainer in Washington
How to become a personal trainer in Washington state?
Becoming a personal trainer in Washington involves being CPR/AED certified, possessing a degree in a fitness-related field, or a nationally recognized personal training certification from these bodies:
– National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
– National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
– The Cooper Institute
– American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
How long does it take to become a fitness trainer?
The time frame for becoming a personal trainer depends on your certification option.
An associate degree takes two years, while a bachelor’s degree takes 4 years.
If you want a certification program through certifying bodies, you might spend 3 months to 2 years studying for the certification exam.
How to get a personal trainer certification online?
You can register with the following bodies online to help you become a Washington personal trainer without stress.
– American Council on Exercise (ACE)
– National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
– International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
– American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
– National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
How much do personal trainers make in Washington state?
A Personal Trainer in Washington is $66,725 as of May 27, 2021, although it ranges between $48,145 and $81,975.
This difference is a cumulative effect of factors such as education, certifications, skills, and years of experience.
How to get a personal trainer certification?
Enroll with any certification bodies below or obtain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in an exercise-related field.
– American Council on Exercise (ACE)
– National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
– International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
– American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
– National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
References
https://www.exercise.com/learn/ten-fittest-states-in-the-us/
https://www.americankinesiology.org/SubPages/Pages/Kinesiology%20Institution%20Database
![What Is a CPT Certification? + Other CPT Questions [year] 1](https://www.ptpioneer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/what-is-a-cpt-certification.jpg "What Is a CPT Certification? + Other CPT Questions [year] 5")
Tyler Read
PTPioneer Editorial Integrity
All content published on PTPioneer is checked and reviewed extensively by our staff of experienced personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and other Fitness Experts. This is to make sure that the content you are reading is fact-checked for accuracy, contains up-to-date information, and is relevant. We only add trustworthy citations that you can find at the bottom of each article. You can read more about our editorial integrity here.