Personal Training FAQs

Answers to Your Personal Training Certification Questions

1. Do I need to take the entire personal trainer certification course?

Yes. Our new certification course is designed to deliver a great deal of critical, need-to-know information over four (4) full class days. The classes are currently scheduled for two (2) consecutive weekends.

2. What exactly do I gain from attending this two-week course?

Upon course completion, you will have the skills and knowledge to immediately begin training with clients. You will receive the Hondros College Personal Training Certification (PFiT) awarded from the Center for International Certification Programs, Inc. (CICPI). Hondros College developed the course so that with completion, students are considered certified personal trainers.

3. With my Hondros College certification, can I to expect to find immediate employment? Or will I need to continue on to get further credentials?

Our research has shown that health-related organizations and facilities look for these qualities first, when hiring:

• A passion for healthy living
• The ability to manage, motivate and communicate with clients
• A solid knowledge of personal training techniques and fundamentals

Beyond those key characteristics, requirements vary from employer to employer. Many organizations encourage or require their employees to become further certified over time. These same employers frequently direct employees to gain certification from a specific organization. The Hondros College Personal Fitness Training Certification course also prepares you to tackle such other personal trainer certification exams available in the industry, if necessary or desired.

There is no regulated, mandatory training program for personal fitness training certification. Candidates may prepare however they prefer. There are many industry organizations that offer further certification. Certification is generally available from these organizations by passing their exam. Candidates are not required to purchase materials or complete specific training courses to take the exam with most of these organizations.

4. With the Hondros College personal trainer certification, where can I expect to find employment opportunities?

We are confident that Hondros College Personal Trainers will be attractive to hiring employers (health clubs, fitness centers, physical rehabilitation facilities, gyms, recreation centers, hospitals, etc.) Firstly, Hondros College trainers will be able to demonstrate that they are skilled in communicating, motivating, assessing, implementing an effective plan with clients. Secondly, Hondros College has a longstanding reputation throughout the country and Ohio, for producing high-quality, well-prepared individuals serving several industries, including nursing, real estate, insurance, financial services, mortgage loan origination, home inspection, appraisal and more.

The average starting salary for a personal trainer is approximately $36,000. This amount varies per employer and can be much higher for successful self-employed personal trainers.

5. Is this course recognized nationally?

Hondros College is an institution of higher learning approved in the state of Ohio. With completion of the Hondros College Personal Fitness Training course, certification as a personal fitness trainer is awarded via the Center for International Certification Program, Inc. (CICPI). There is currently no mandatory state or national certification requirement for personal trainers.

6. Are additional materials required for the course? Or is $599 the final cost for the entire course?

$599 includes the required course textbook. Additional materials may be recommended by your instructors, but such items would be strictly optional and not required to complete the course.

7. Given today’s economy, how do I know there will be jobs for personal fitness trainers?

We have great confidence in the job outlook for personal trainers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, jobs for fitness workers are expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations, around 29% through 2018.

Several factors are driving this growth:

• Aging baby boomers are concerned about staying healthy and physically fit
• Parents are hiring personal trainers for their children as Physical Education programs in schools have been reduced
• Health clubs strive to provide more personalized service to keep member motivated
• Health club memberships among young adults are growing steadily

We have designed our program to give you a thorough, comprehensive understanding of what it takes to be the effective personal trainer that is in demand. We have intentionally not aligned with other organizations offering further CPT certifications because:

1. You will be ready and able to start training clients with completion of our course. Many personal trainers continue to work independently
2. If you should pursue employment that requires a specific certification at some time, you will not have spent valuable time and money on an additional certification that may not meet the employer’s requirement.
3. The organizations that offer further CPT certifications offer a wide variety of benefits with their certifications exams. We want you to choose the resource that works best for your needs.