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This NPTI CPT review is based on my experience taking the National Personal Training Institute certification course and passing the NPTI personal trainer exam. I have been a personal trainer for over 10+ years and have multiple CPT certifications, so I have a solid insight into how these certifications stack up against the the other personal training certifications in the fitness industry.

My team at PT Pioneer also includes fitness professionals from many niches across the fitness industry, so we have a deep level of knowledge regarding the best personal trainer certifications in the industry.

Within this article, I will be going over the following:

  • The Essential Personal Training Information Coverage of the NPTI CPT cert
  • The Certification Exam Information
  • Comparisons With Other Top Organizations

After reading this NPTI review, you will know if this is the perfect PT training certification to suit your career needs.

If you want to see if this is the right certification for you, make sure to take the quiz to find out which is best for your future career!

What type of Certification are you looking to get?

Let’s dive into this certification!

What is NPTI CPT?

The NPTI CPT is a rather new personal training program in the fitness industry, and it sets itself apart from the competition in what it offers. 

The acronym stands for National Personal Trainer Institute, and it is a newer organization for personal training schools.

This is different from the personal training certifications that most organizations offer.

For a more comprehensive breakdown of the top CPT organizations, take a look at my article on the best personal training certifications.

The objective of NPTI is to provide more hands-on experience to ensure that personal trainers can do the job to the best of their ability and make sure they are optimally prepared with experience from actual professionals teaching new trainers. 

This can be an excellent way to look into career options for personal training as a new learner.

The outlook of personal training careers is constantly growing, and there is a place for all types of certifications in the industry.

While they do offer a more hands-on approach to learning, they also offer online personal training, which would be a more standard offer for certification and becoming a virtual fitness coach.

NPTI General Information

NPTI General Information

 

  • Study program cost: $2,999 – $5,299 (location and program dependent)
  • Prerequisites: High School Diploma, CPR/AED certification, 18 years of age
  • Exam passing score: 70%
  • Average completion time: 6 months

NPTI Credibility and Reputation

The National Personal Training Institute is heavily focused on providing the ultimate online educational platform. The courses offered by NPTI seem more like college courses than certifications for personal training. It changes the normal way we think of becoming a personal trainer.

The educatoinal platforms of the NPTI are top-notch, but it does lack the name recognition of the ISSA CPT or NASM CPT programs (although NPTI has recently teamed up with NASM, but we’ll discuss that later).

These programs also offer a more standard and followed answer to the question: how long does it take to become a personal trainer? The answer is anywhere from 3 to 6 months if you have no outside experience in exercise science.

This is especially true for their personal training NPTI diploma, which will have the pricing of a college course. The personal training salary promises will align with the typical views of certifications.

But, I will mainly focus on the CPT certification they offer while touching on some of the other programs. 

Remember that NPTI is partnered with another top brand in the fitness industry, NASM. NASM is a highly regarded force within the industry, and that partnership carries some weight with employers. 

A key feature of all of the programs with NPTI is that a fitness professional will always accompany your learning experience. That can be very valuable, as some other programs cannot give future trainers hands-on experience. 

Experience sets personal trainer salaries apart, which means it can be quite a beneficial addition to the standard program to have hands-on experience from a well-versed trainer.

On top of these certifications and programs that NPTI offers, they are also a great force in the continuing education realm.

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Many people use their classes to recertify in other organizations, so it is something to keep in mind there, too. There will be many options for them regarding continuing education classes.

Some of the CEU courses from the national personal training institute will be very similar to specializations in other organizations.

Overall, the NPTI is worth it if you are looking for an excellent online learning platform and you want as much hands-on experience as possible.

Is the NPTI Worth It?

So, is NPTI worth it?

As I mentioned, this is a certification with specific types of people in mind.

It will be for someone who wishes to do a more thorough college-like course with the diploma program or for a trainer who would like to prioritize using hands-on experience. 

For those two styles of trainer and learner, this should be their top fitness certification.

If you just want to study a textbook for a few months and take a test to get your personal training credential, this is not the program for you.

Pros
  • Certification and Diploma programs offered
  • Use of hands-on programs tops other online certifications
  • Partnered with NASM
  • More similar to a college course instead of a certification program
Cons
  • Confusing online layout
  • Pricey when compared to other certifications
  • Actual information about the certifications is hard to find without contacting them and actually buying the certification

NPTI CPT vs Other Top Personal Training Certifications

The biggest competitors in the fitness industry are the main online-only training certifications: like the ISSA personal training certification and NASM CPT certification.

Who is the NPTI Certification Meant For?

The NPTI CPT is best for trainers who want a highly challenging certification with a comprehensive education platform.

Great for
  • Those who want hands-on experience in the coursework
Not great for
  • People who want to become certified as quickly as possible

NPTI CPT Certification Cost and Packages

Here I will be breaking down the three main packages that are offered through NPTI.

The NPTI Certified Personal Trainer certification comes in at $795, which is pretty high for a CPT certification without the brand recognition of the top companies. 

The course is expected to take 100 hours, which is pretty hefty sounding but rather normal for any certification course when all things are considered.

Let’s explain why this is and where the value is in this course. 

Included in your purchase of $795 will be a hands-on course that involves the application of real-world scenarios, a CPT certification exam, free final retake on the exam, business tips and education, and live instructors for pretty much all activities.

They also offer various audio guides and many supported languages, which is very helpful for the diverse groups of people who wish to become trainers. 

The breakdown of the online study materials has over ten sections comprising 61 lessons and 19 quizzes spread throughout to guarantee you continuously understand the new information.

The CPT certification is done online, although they hardly mention it on their website, so it is good to know that going in.

They emphasize their hands-on experience but never really nail down talking about their certifications in detail.

This layout is a little more unusual than other certs, as they are generally in a textbook layout, even in the online portals. So, this certification does feel like a fully online college course instead of certification programs in the fitness industry. 

So, if someone were looking for a personal training certification online with some hands-on experience and working with experienced trainers, this would be the ideal setup for them.

NPTI Level II Integration

This Level 2 certification prides itself on expanding on the CPT certification while giving you the same hands-on level of experience offered by its master training program.

The program here will come in at a high price of $1918.

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Again, this is another 100-hour course offered through NPTI. The difference here is the amount of hands-on training experience you get when participating. 

Outside of the hands-on experience, 11 lessons and four quizzes take around seven weeks to complete. The lessons are more advanced than what is within the lowest-priced CPT certifications. 

So, the price for this PT certification may be at an absolute premium level. Still, it is because you are getting invaluable experience from trained professionals in a gym setting. You can’t enter a job any more prepared than that. 

This certification would be a great addition after you have completed the first CPT program and for anyone needing more hands-on experience. But, it is a very pricey offering. 

It’s hard to value hands-on experience, as this depends on the trainer you are paired with, but it is good for making a successful fitness trainer.

NPTI Master Training Diploma Program

This last program is one of the most expensive ones in the fitness industry, and it basically is a college program you are signing up for. 

This program is a 500-hour program packed full of lessons and hands-on experience. 

It would be best to look for the pricing options for your specific NPTI branch near you. But, to give an idea of the price, you should take Nashville, for example. 

In the Nashville NPTI branch, it is going to cost you $6,900 for the master training program. 

This is undoubtedly far and above what other certifications charge for their programs, but this is because it is a college course you are taking. 

There are 500 – 600 hours of knowledge and experience to get while you are in this program, and it is truly only meant for future professionals who have quite a bit of money to spend or someone who wants the most hands-on experience possible. 

Again, this is hard to assess the value, as it entirely depends on the person you do your hands-on experience with. 

I have heard from trainers who found it well worth their while and from some who were a little let down with the teaching. This is what happens when these NPTI courses rely more on hands-on experience and outside teachers.

When you complete the 500-hour master training program, you will receive a diploma of completion, which is possibly better than a certification.

That wraps up the information regarding the three programs offered by NPTI. Going further, I will discuss the online study portal/e-learning course materials.

NPTI Personal Trainer Cert Review: Is It Worth It? 3
NPTI Personal Trainer Cert Review: Is It Worth It? 4

NPTI CPT Review – Personal Trainer Content Coverage

The content is not the best in the business, and that is because so much of the focus is on providing internships for future trainers to experience and learn from other trainers. 

They are targeting a specific type of learner with their certifications due to this emphasis. You must remember how well programming and other concepts are taught when hands-on.

Regardless, let’s dive in and see what they have provided with these certification programs from NPTI. 

Let’s look at the breakdown of the sections in the online study system:

  • Section 1: Introduction
  • Section 2: Avoiding Comfortably Uncomfortable
  • Section 3: Culture Is King
  • Section 4: Establish Control and Understand Your Money
  • Section 5: Section Conclusion
  • Section 6: Health and Wellness Introduction
  • Section 7: Foundation – Introduction
  • Section 8: The Human Movement System
  • Section 9: Kinesiology
  • Section 10: Biomechanics
  • Section 11: Program Design
  • Section 12: Foundations Conclusion
  • Section 13: Sleep/Recovery and Stress Coping
  • Section 14: Nutrition/Diet and Activity
  • Section 15: Detoxification and Communication
  • Section 16: The Rubric
  • Section 17: Business Integration
  • Section 18: CPT Conclusion

The entire certification begins with a few weeks worth of business and client relations discussion, which is unusual for a certification program, but perhaps because the hands-on experience will come into play later. 

There are many lessons in behavioral coaching and client screening, whether health or movement screening. 

So when it comes to an NPTI trained employee and anything in the domains of screening and teaching business fundamentals, I can guarantee the information is there and taught well early on in the program. 

It is not until nearly halfway through the text that the trainer begins entering into exercise science with the human movement system information. 

Each lesson is devoted to a particular aspect of its section, and the quizzes at the end will allow you to see if you are fully grasping the materials. 

The foundations of exercise science and the basics for the essential program design fundamentals are all throughout this halfway point of the online platform. 

The hands-on experience will come into play starting here, and this is where it would become challenging for us to give a solid score. The hands-on experience will depend on the person you have and are training under. 

But, as far as the information provided, there are many basic sciences from any certification program you find out there. 

The online learning portal then wraps up the study materials with some sections on the creation of exercise programs and how to bring all of that information into your personal training business

I believe that this program gives all of the required materials to become a good personal trainer. Still, the hands-on experience on which the NPTI primarily relies will vary depending on where you to your internship and hours. 

None of the categories that I rate study materials on will stand out as the best in the industry with this NPTI CPT certification, but they do not miss out on any of them.

NPTI Nutrition Coverage

NPTI has much nutrition information, specifically coaching for behavior change and nutrition.

Their online program does nutrition fundamentals well, even if they aren’t one of the bigger names in fitness.

This nutrition focus comes within the basic sciences sections. It is basic but covers all the foundational aspects that would be expanded on in a nutrition specialization.

As some other CPT certs thoroughly establish, there isn’t a huge focus on the personal trainer’s scope of practice.

NPTI CPT exam prep and study materials

The NPTI certification involves hundreds of hours of in-person training at one of their facilities, which are located across the United States, as well as the coursework and textbook. As such, the “study materials” are included within the in-person training, and there are not traditional study materials the way there are for mainstream personal and online personal trainer certifications.

NPTI Certification Requirements

Before applying for admission, you must be at least 18 years of age and have a CPR/AED card. You must have a high school diploma. If you have all the above, you can apply for a fee of $75.

NPTI CPT Salary

It’s hard to peg a specific NPTI CPT salary. However, personal trainers make anywhere from $36,000 per year to $76,000 per year, so somewhere in that ballpark is a safe bet.

Taking the NPTI Certification Exams

The NPTI CPT certification differs from other programs, as I have touched on a bit. 

The exams for this cert are going to have multiple stages. You will have some mid-term tests, final exams, and practical exams to go through. 

The exams are done within facilities nationwide, and some are found outside of the US in select places. 

The final exam, where most of the examination focus should be, will come in at 150 total questions, and this should be completed in 3 hours.

NPTI Continuing Education and Recertification

There is no CEU requirement to maintain your NPTI certification. However, NPTI offers tons of CEC courses that you can apply towards other certifications or use for your own career progression.

NPTI CPT Overall Rating

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is NPTI

NPTI stands for National Personal Training Institute; it is an educational body established in 2000. When you graduate from this institute, you get a diploma in personal training. There is no need to recertify.

How much does NPTI certification cost?

The certification program costs about $795 but varies on your location. The other programs are around $2,000 and $7,000 for more experience and a diploma.

How hard is the NPTI exam?

The tests are challenging but with adequate preparation, you will pass.

Does NPTI provide study materials and other resources?

Yes, NPTI provides study materials in multiple languages.
They have ebooks, demonstration videos, power points presentations, worksheets, and quizzes.

What is NPTI contact information?

NPTI has locations in every major city in the United States. NPTI corporate office is located at; 2727 Philmont Avenue, Suite 109, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
Toll-Free phone number: 1-800-960-6294
Email: [email protected]

Is the National Personal Training Institute accredited?

The NCCA does not accredit NPTI. NCCA certifications are considered to be the gold standard in the fitness industry. The certification is referred to as a diploma in personal training. It is a school where you are not required to recertify.

Does NPTI offer Continuing Education Unit courses?

Yes, NPTI offers online continuing education Unit courses for those that want to remain grounded in the health and fitness industry. Some of these online courses are:
Sling training
Foundation movement and Biomechanics
Business savvy
The minimum price for the CEUs is $99, and the maximum of $299

Is NPTI a well-recognized personal trainer credential in the health and fitness industry?

NPTI is not, however now that NPTI has partnered with NASM, you get the worldwide recognition of one of the top certifications.

How many subjects does NPTI offer?

NPTI School of personal training offers 18 subjects. When you are done with that, you will be ready to face the Final Review u0026amp; Test (Theory) and the Final Review u0026amp; Test (Practical) and lastly, you will have the practical testing with a partner.

Do I need certification in CPR/AED before registering with the NPTI?

Not for the exam, but you will need your CPR/AED and first aid certification to work as a trainer.

Conclusion

NPTI may not have the best certification on the market to suit everyone’s needs. However, it still strongly focuses on learning from doing the tasks and working with NPTI graduates and other fitness professionals.

I would not recommend this certification before the bigger names like NASM or ACE, but it is still solid, with some room to stand independently.

I rate this certification as a 6/10. It will teach you everything you need to know but not go past the basics. I can’t fully grade how hands-on experience will go, as this will differ from person to person. Make sure to keep that in mind.

I hope you enjoyed our NPTI certification review. Check PTPioneer for more reviews like this, and take the quiz to find the perfect personal trainer education experience for yourself. I also offer study guides on PTPioneer to utilize for free.

Tyler Read - Certified Personal Trainer with PTPioneer

Tyler Read


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12 thoughts on “NPTI Personal Trainer Cert Review: Is It Worth It?”

  1. I am an instructor as well as a former student at the New Jersey location. NPTI runs a little different, depending on the school district as well as the owner. We in particular have partnership with NASM and our students get the NASM curriculum and text book. We also provide outside tuition cost, NASM certified KB classes and strap classes to NPTI students and outside professionals. We have have partnerships with local gyms, corporate or private owned. UFC gym, lifetime, equinox, la fitness, quest fitness, blink fitness etc, all request our graduates. We’ve developed a network to supply gyms with our trainers, some being bumped up to hire tiers upon being hired. Many of our students also open gyms within a year of graduating as well. Many of our students also find jobs prior to graduation.

    Reply
  2. Hi my name is Reubina Carty and I did not have a good experience at my school in Pittsburgh PA. The hands on was great when I was attending school. But they did not help me find a job and I did not receive any of my final grades. I spoke with the President of the school and his response was we are not charity this is business. And the director never responded to my emails.

    Reply
    • Hey Reubina,
      I’m sorry to hear that you have had such a bad experience with NPTI. That seem super strange that you were not able to get your final grades from their institution. It seems like bad business practice in general and overall I have heard some bad stories about personal trainers going through their program besides you.

      Reply
    • Hi Reubina,
      I am very sorry to read your comments. If you are still looking for assistance with your grades and job placement assistance, can you please e-mail [email protected] or call 1-800-960-6294? There was a transition in 2019 with Pittsburgh and the CEO has since taken over that location and I will personally see that your concerns are taken care of.
      Yours in Fitness,
      Liz

      Reply
  3. My name is D.Jack an my time at NPTI was worth it, at the time I had just buried my grandfather the very next week I was attending NPTI, now I’m a graduate, and currently preparing for training camp overseas playing basketball. MR. Dave and Ms. Jocelyn alongside other colleagues are the best staff ever, their knowledge and experience gave me the initiative to finish school. They’re the best trainers/professors I’ve had, very courageous and motivating.

    Reply
    • Hey Donovan,
      I’m glad to hear that you had such a positive experience with NPTI. They have great curriculum and are very hands-on overall which I love. I’m glad to hear that you are now a graduate and that super cool that you are playing basketball overseas. I’m sure that you will become a very competent and successful personal trainer Good luck and best wishes!

      Reply
  4. I have been into fitness since I was in little league, however, I got serious about all aspects of health and fitness after power lifting and leading up to my first natural bodybuilding competition. I am no stranger to the gym and NPTI has already given me more knowledge than anything I have ever done. This school is the real deal and it has only been two weeks. NPTI gives you what you need to succeed, but it’s up to the person to succeed like everything else in life.

    Reply
  5. Went with my son yesterday to NTPI in Philadelphia.The price is $6599.Try to figure out if it’s worth it. Yes you get 500 hours.Saw another course at University of Dr for $1800 for 120 hrs.I also a few that have all online courses. I feel it’s a better training if you do work hands on as opposed to strickley online. Any opinions?

    Reply
    • Hey Tony,
      Hands-on experience is definitely an important part of being a personal trainer. In terms of the overall material that you will learn, a lot of them are very similar. There are a lot of freeways to get hands-on training for example working with friends and family while practicing the book knowledge that you have learned is a great way to do this. I know that iit is a fantastic program but the price point is incredibly steep in my opinion.

      Reply
  6. I did not have a very good experience with NPTI (Portland). The hands-on portion was not very hands on. It consisted of 6 training sessions during the first half and another 7 training sessions during the second half, and one group training session. So you could put an exercise session together, but not really progress anybody or have any qualitative evidence that you could help someone lose weight, gain muscle, etc.

    Reply

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