Best online personal trainer certification guide (Updated)

What is the NASM CPT certificate?

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM-CPT) is an online personal trainer certification that is NCCA-accredited and widely respected across the fitness industry.

The groundbreaking NASM OPT model revolutionized the concept of program design by giving trainers a straightforward way to design effective, long-term periodized programs for general fitness clients.

One of my favorite aspects of the NASM program is that it incorporates a wide variety of modalities within a framework that allows you to include them within a workout to drive clients toward their fitness goals.

Many certifications cover different modalities but do not give a great framework for incorporating them into a program involving long-term adaptations.

NASM credibility and reputation

Fitness authorities widely consider NASM to be among the best fitness education online providers. NASM offers multiple NCCA-accredited certifications as well as a lot of CEU courses covering a range of topics. NASM’s biggest offerings alongside the CPT include the NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist, NASM Senior Fitness Specialist, and NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist. NASM is committed to improving the lives of others through effective training programs.

I usually recommend the NASM organization for personal trainers who will work with beginner-level deconditioned clients who may have one or more movement dysfunctions.

NASM is great at giving you the assessment and programming tools to help clients who lack a full range of motion or may have other issues preventing proper form technique on major exercises. NASM also has partners in the fitness training business, including AFAA.

NASM certified trainers typically have a passion for creating a positive environment to cater to the needs of many client types. Becoming a gym instructor is just one of many career paths you can take with the NASM fitness academy courses.

In the world of personal training, only a handful of certifying agencies give the same level of familiarity and reputability as NASM.

NASM CPT study materials and costs

NASM offers a range of online personal training study material packages at various price points. The first NASM tier is the NASM Self-Study, which includes the following materials:

• 100% Online Certified Personal Trainer Course
• NCCA Accredited Exam
• State-of-the-Art, Digital Learning Platform
• High-End Learning Videos
• Audio Chapter Summaries
• Exercise Demonstration Library
• Biodigital 3D Models
• Handouts and Resources Library
• Practice Exam, Quizzes, and Knowledge Checks
• Virtual coaching Specialization: Train Clients in the Gym and Online!

The Self-Study Program costs $899.

The next tier of the NASM CPT study materials is the NASM Premium Self-Study, which includes:

• Everything in Self-Study program
• Job Guarantee**
• One-year NASM EDGE Trainer Plus
• Certification Exam Retest

The price for the Premium Self-Study is $1,399.

Then NASM offers two bundles: the CPT Essentials Bundle and The Lucky Fit Exclusive Bundle. 

The NASM CPT Essentials Bundle is the third tier of the NASM personal trainer certification online study options and includes the following:

• Everything in Premium Self-Study
• Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC)
• CPR/AED Certification
• Metabolic Makeover (0.3 CEUs)

The price for the CPT Essentials Bundle is $2,397. 

The final NASM CPT study tier is the NASM Lucky Fit Exclusive Bundle, which includes the following:

• Everything in Essentials Bundle plus…
• Corrective Exercise Specialization (CES)

This package has a hefty price tag of $3,295.

Truthfully, if you plan to spend more than $649.00 for the Self-Study program, I strongly encourage you to check out the NASM certification bundles.

I personally think the NASM Self-Study comes with more than enough to pass the exam. However, getting a specialization or two on top of your CPT certification is a great move for your career. 

For NASM specifically, you can get a great bundle of the NASM CPT and Nutrition Coaching certifications.

At the full retail price, you would be paying $1400-$1500.

The NASM Nutrition Coach online course counts towards your first NASM recertification, which you will need to complete via coursework one way or another.

If you do want additional study materials at a great discount, I recommend checking out third-party study guides.

In particular, the Trainer Academy NASM CPT MVP Study Guide is among the best I have found in the industry, although they are not the only option.

The study package includes a full study guide and over 800 practice questions.

I used the Trainer Academy NASM guide to pass the exam in much less time than it would have taken studying only through NASM.

NASM personal trainer content coverage

The NASM curriculum spans 23 chapters across six different sections. The breakdown is as follows:

Section 1 – Professional Development and Responsibility

1. The Modern State of Health and Fitness
2. The Personal Training Profession

Section 2 – Client Relations and Behavioral Coaching

3. Psychology of Exercise
4. Behavioral Coaching

Section 3 – Basic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts

5. The Nervous, Skeletal, and Muscular Systems
6. The Cardiorespiratory, Endocrine, and Digestive Systems
7. Human Movement Science
8. Exercise Metabolism and Bioenergetics
9. Nutrition
10. Supplementation

Section 4 – Assessment

11. Health, Wellness, and Fitness Assessments
12. Posture, Movement, and Performance Assessments

Section 5 – Exercise Technique and Training Instruction

13. Integrated Training and the OPT Model
14. Flexibility Training Concepts
15. Cardiorespiratory Training Concepts
16. Core Training Concepts
17. Balance Training Concepts
18. Plyometric (Reactive) Training Concepts
19. Speed, Agility, and Quickness Training Concepts
20. Resistance Training Concepts

Section 6 – Program Design

21. The Optimum Performance Training Model
22. Introduction to Exercise Modalities
23. Chronic Health Conditions and Special Populations

NASM will always be my go-to certification when it comes to training de-conditioned general fitness clients who need a variety of exercise progressions before they can do a standard, traditional weight training program. The exercise techniques, training programs, and diet and nutrition content allow you to deliver success, from senior fitness to coaching athletes. NASM also teaches you the best ways to provide feedback, becoming a partner in your client’s fitness journey.

On a related note, NASM has excellent behavioral change coaching methods coverage. In fact, NASM’s behavioral changes section is among the best in terms of online personal trainer certifications.

Overall, NASM is probably the best online trainer certification in the game for coaching clients who are resistant to behavior change and need movement corrections to safely transition to full personal training via the OPT model progression. Including balance training ranging from double-leg exercises to standing on one foot also boosts the skill set of fitness trainers certified through NASM.

Additionally, the programming guidelines in the NASM OPT model ensure you know exactly what weights, equipment, and reps your clients need to get their desired results.

Taking the NASM certification exam

The NASM exam is among the most difficult in the industry. It consists of 120 multiple-choice questions, which you have two hours to complete. You must get at least 70 percent on the exam to earn the NASM CPT certification.

You have two options to take the NASM exam. If you would rather stay at home, you can take the NASM exam online with a live, remote proctor observing. You can also schedule your exam at an in-person testing location, which is how I chose to take the exam.

According to 2020 data, the NASM CPT exam has a roughly 78 percent pass rate, so you do really need to be well-prepared to pass the exam.

NASM CPT continuing education, salary, and career prospects

The NASM CPT requires 2.0 CEC/CEU credits per year. This equates to 20 hours of coursework, although many CEU courses give full credit but take less time.

You will also have to renew your CPR certification. The NASM certification online options typically give 1.9 CEUs, with the final 0.1 coming from the CPR certification.

According to ZipRecruiter, NASM salaries range from $35,661 annually to $55,246 annually. I typically take any personal trainer salary range with a grain of salt, as there are way too many factors beyond your CPT choice that affect your ultimate personal trainer salary.

Speaking frankly, NASM is a good choice for just about any fitness career track. You can check for any stacked deals on the NASM CPT program directly on the NASM website.

Other NASM Certifications for Online Training

NASM also offers some online training focused certifications you can take as CEU courses or simply as supplemental knowledge. These certifications are great for enhancing your ability to coach clients online. The three I want to highlight here are the NASM Virtual Coaching Specialization (NASM-VCS), the NASM Home Gym Design (NASM-HGD), and NASM Social Media Fitness influencer (NASM-SMI).

Virtual Coaching Certification (NASM-VCS)

The NSM virtual coaching specialization is designed to help you transfer your skills from your nasm CPT course into virtual coaching sessions. This is a great way to ensure you are on the right side of trends in digital fitness. Although the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns are for the most part over, virtual fitness coaching is here to stay.

As a virtual fitness coach, you can expand your fitness business to a nationwide and even global audience, create more scalable systems, and reduce your dependence on traditional gym employment.

The NASM virtual coaching specialization covers these skills and more while also providing 1.5 NASM Continuing Education Credits.

If becoming an online fitness trainer is your goal, then the NASM VCS should definitely be top of your list. Plus, you’ll knock out almost an entire cycle of continuing education units.

The certification costs $349 when purchased individually, but NASM offers interest-free payment plans for $29/month over 11 months with just $25 down.

Home Gym Design Specialization (NASM-HGD)

The NASM home gym design specialization is a great way to help your clients design a space needed in their own homes to facilitate your virtual coaching sessions.

While virtual coaches can certainly make do if clients have a small area to work out and a few pieces of equipment, ultimately to deliver the full spectrum of the optimum performance training model, clients will need a more comprehensive setup.

The Home Gym Design will help you guide your clients through the preparation, planning, and installation of their very own home gym. Become an expert home gym designer with this certification while also earning 0.7 NASM CEU’s.

This is a great one to stack with the Virtual Coaching Specialization given the complementary nature of the skill sets.

At $224 paid-in-full or $18/month over 11 months, this is a very affordable way to ensure you have a comprehensive offering for clients looking for virtual coaching from the comfort of their own homes.

Social Media Fitness Influencer (NASM-SMI)

Social media has become an increasingly important area if you are pursuing an online personal training career. 

NASM’s latest offering of their Social Media Influencer Certification helps you hone in on the skills you need to develop a solid social media following that you can leverage to get virtual coaching clients, develop your personal brand, and build other income sources as a result of your reach on various platforms.

This is another great one to combine with the virtual fitness coaching certification to give yourself a comprehensive understanding of the online personal training market.

You also earn 0.7 NASM CEU credits. This certification has the same price as the NASM HGD at $224 paid in full or $18/month with $25 down and 11 monthly payments.