Fitness. Passion. Purpose.
Transform lives—one session at a time.
Success in this field goes far beyond understanding equipment—it’s about inspiring transformation. The best trainers naturally motivate clients to push past their limits while maintaining safety, celebrating every milestone along the way. Whether you have a sports background or simply an unwavering passion for fitness, this program will equip you to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives.
Small Classes. Expert Guidance.
Our instructors are experts who take pride in your success. Combined with our small class sizes, you’ll get one-on-one mentorship and precise technical feedback tailored to your goals.
Award Type
Certificate
Department
Department of Exercise Science
Required Credit Hours
20
An Inside Look
2
Semesters—prep for NSCA Certified Personal Trainer exam
98
Hours of on/off campus directed practice, lab & community-based training
$60K
Potential annual salary in Ohio
Flex Your Future
Kickstart your career in fitness with Owens’ Exercise Science Certified Personal Trainer Certificate. In your first semester, you’ll build the foundation to help others reach their goals—weight training, health and wellness, and fitness assessment.
In the second semester, you’ll take your skills to the next level with athletic strength and conditioning, personalized exercise programming and hands-on experience through a practicum. You’ll finish with a real-world capstone that prepares you to confidently step into the fitness industry as a personal trainer, designing and implementing safe and effective fitness programs.
Jump straight into your career or seamlessly transfer your credits to Owens’ Exercise Science Concentration, AS degree.
Career Outcomes
With this certificate, you’ll be fully prepared for certification exams from top organizations, including the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American Council on Exercise (ACE), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT).
This positions you to become a certified personal trainer who helps clients transform their health and achieve their wellness goals. Work one-on-one with clients in their homes as an independent contractor, or gain employment with corporate wellness facilities, for-profit fitness facilities, or non-profit organizations such as the YMCA.
Explore the employment data below to understand local trends.
In Their Words
“People discredit community colleges a lot. They want to go to the big state colleges with the sports, and that was fun, but I wasn’t getting the education I needed. The teachers didn’t have time for everybody. I needed to come to Owens.”
Alexis Jackson, School of Nursing and Health Technologies grad, ’25
Getting Started at Owens
Begin your high-quality education at an affordable price today!
Enrollment is easy—just fill out an online admissions application to get started. We’ll ask you to submit your transcripts for course placement and college credit.
Upon acceptance, apply to the SNHP and schedule a meeting with your admissions advisor to register for classes. Next, attend an on-campus orientation and meet with your student financial services advisor to discuss ways to pay for college.