Personal Training Certification in Houston

Anyone interested in becoming a personal trainer must obtain personal training certification from the National Academy of Sports (NASM), American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA) or the International Sports Sciences Associations (ISSA). Personal fitness schools prepare students to take the national certification exam. Houston, Texas, is home to several colleges, technical schools and trade schools that offer courses for personal training certification.

  1. Significance

    • Personal trainers provide fitness assessments and create customized programs for clients who want to improve their fitness level. Certified personal trainers typically work in gyms, health centers and private fitness studios, or they offer their services on a consulting basis. Prospective personal trainers who live in or want to work in Houston, Texas, can enroll in a personal training certification program to gain work experience in their local area and gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their career.

    Programs

    • Prospective personal trainers can enroll in a comprehensive program offered by the National Personal Training Institute located in Sugarland (Houston), Texas, or the Personal Fitness Trainer program offered by the Academy of Health Care Professionals. Both programs offer a complete curriculum that meets national standards for personal trainers and allows students to gain valuable knowledge and experience to work as personal trainers for a gym or health club or to set up their own personal trainer business.

    National Personal Training Institute

    • The National Personal Training Institute (NPTI) in Houston is one of the most comprehensive personal trainer diploma and certification programs available in Texas. It offers courses that combine classroom instruction with hands-on training. The NPTI program is a 6-month certification program that covers the main areas of personal training program design, anatomy and physiology, and principles of nutrition. This educational foundation allows graduates to enter the field of personal training and fitness with a wide range of skills and in-depth knowledge about creating customized programs for prospective clients.

    Requirements

    • Personal training certification programs in Houston allow students to meet the minimum classroom requirements and take part in simulated personal training sessions. The NPTI program consists of 500 training hours; students are encouraged to complete challenging workouts and take part in simulations where they can demonstrate their skills.
      Personal training programs that are offered in an online format may require the completion of an externship and boot camp at a designated location. The externship involves working on site at a health club or fitness center and accumulating work experience hours. Boot camp allows trainers to take part in challenging workouts and work one on one with certified personal trainers for hands-on experience.

    Additional Certifications

    • The National Academy of Sports requires all candidates to obtain a valid Emergency Cardiac Care (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification before completing the personal training certification exam.

    Online Programs

    • Houston-based fitness professionals who cannot find a campus near their area may also complete personal training certification online. Personal training certification courses are available through the Pinnacle Career Institute and Penn Foster Career School; both of these online schools offer accredited programs and award students with a diploma or school certificate upon completion of the curriculum.