Personal Training Proficiency Certificate

Learn about the human body and help people reach their fitness goals. 

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  • Program Duration: Short-term
  • Degree Type: Academic Certificate
  • Total Credit Hours: 27
Personal fitness trainer helping client complete exercise with an ab wheel.

About This Certificate
 

Certified Personal Trainers (CPT) are professionals qualified to assess physical fitness and to design and implement exercise training programs. Based on client interviews, risk stratification and baseline fitness assessments, a CPT can construct a training program to enhance the muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, and body composition of healthy individuals or for those that have been medically cleared to exercise. CPTs may be self-employed or may work in health clubs, corporate fitness centers, recreation centers, gyms, or residential care facilities. This certificate is designed to provide students with the scientific knowledge and practical experience necessary to sit for the Personal Trainer Certification exam offered by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), or comparable certifying organizations. All credits earned towards the Personal Training Proficiency Certificate can be applied to earning a degree in Health Care Studies.

Join Us for an Information Session

Join us for an information session on Thursday, April 17 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the West Building, Room W4-27, to see if the Personal Training certificate is the right fit for you. You'll have the opportunity to meet program faculty, ask questions and learn more about this IN-DEMAND CAREER with a GREAT SALARY.

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Quick Information

 

Course Sequence:

 

Course Number and NamePrerequisitesCredits
Course Number and Name PEH 105 - Principles of Fitness and WellnessPrerequisites  Credits 3 credits
Course Number and Name NUTR 106 - Nutrition for a Healthy LifestylePrerequisites  Credits 3 credits
Course Number and Name BIOL 108 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and PhysiologyPrerequisites  Credits 4 credits
Course Number and Name PEH 120 - Introduction to Weight TrainingPrerequisites  Credits 2 credits
Course Number and Name PEH 220 - Functional TrainingPrerequisites PEH 120 with a grade of "C" or betterCredits 2 credits
Course Number and Name PEH 230 - Structural KinesiologyPrerequisites BIOL 108 or BIOL 109 and BIOL 110 with a grade of "C" or betterCredits 3 credits
Course Number and Name PEH 240 - Exercise PhysiologyPrerequisites BIOL 108 or BIOL 109 and BIOL 110 with a grade of "C" or betterCredits 4 credits
Course Number and Name PEH 250 - Exercise TestingPrerequisites PEH 240 with a grade of "C" or betterCredits 4 credits
Course Number and Name PEH 260 - Business of Personal TrainingPrerequisites PEH 240 with a grade of "C" or betterCredits 2 credits


 

Personal trainer helping client do sit ups

Launch Your Career as a Personal Trainer

  • Fitness and Wellness Coordinators - est. salary $36,794
  • Adapted Physical Education Specialists - est. salary $89,272
  • Exercise Physiologists - est salary $60,525
**EMSI Data, 2022; The greater Philadelphia region; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher. 

Career Outlook

$52,804

Median Salary of Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

31,563

Number of Jobs in the Region 

+11.3%

10-year Job Outlook in the Region for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

Featured Career

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

Instruct or coach groups or individuals in exercise activities for the primary purpose of personal fitness. Demonstrate proper techniques and form to ensure safety and maximize effectiveness. Design and lead exercise routines tailored to participants' fitness levels and goals. May also advise on general health, nutrition, and wellness to support a comprehensive fitness program.

Starting Pay: $28,176

Trainer helping client do a squat with a big barbell

Typical Tasks

  • Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.
  • Offer alternatives during classes to accommodate different levels of fitness.

     
  • Evaluate individuals' abilities, needs, and physical conditions, and develop suitable training programs to meet any special requirements.
  • Monitor participants' progress and adapt programs as needed.

     
  • Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations governing sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment.
  • Teach proper breathing techniques used during physical exertion.