Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach
HF 3000

Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach

Online Certification Training

This comprehensive dual certification program prepares you for entry into the growing and rewarding fields of fitness and nutrition. Watch our program sneak peek below!

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18  Weeks
Program Length
CPT, CNC
Certifications
$38,000
Avg. Starting Salary*
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Issuing Authority

This program is NOT available to residents of the following states: AR, LA, ND, NV, OK, PA, RI, WI

Watch our Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach Program Sneak Peek!

MedCerts programs are developed with collaboration from our in-house production team, industry-recognized subject matter experts and our education technology design team. From interactive simulations, interviews with real world experts, game based learning and more, our Instructional Design education model is created to meet the needs of every type of learner.

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Is Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach Training Right For You? Take The MedCerts Online Career Training Readiness Quiz

This fun, online quiz takes just 3 minutes to complete and provides you with a personalized report to find out if short-term online career training is right for you. The report identifies your strengths and social style, plus the training and positions you’re best suited for.

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Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach Training Online

MedCerts Tuition Advantage

We believe everyone should have access to higher education. With the option to pay in full, break down payments or utilize government grant funding, we help expand that access.

Monthly Payment Options as low as $346 Payment Plans for Every Student

Talk with an Education Consultant to pick the perfect payment plan, from paying in full to installments with interest rates from 0-12%.

Total Tuition $4,000 Pay in Full

The total tuition can be paid immediately or through a number of grant-funded or monthly payment plan options.

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No Credit Check

Discover your eligibility without a credit check.

MyCAA, Department of Defense Credentialing Assistance/COOL and Workforce Grants

MedCerts offers financial aid options through these government grant-funded programs – MyCAA, Workforce Funding (including WIOA), and Department of Defense Credentialing Assistance or COOL funding for the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. Those eligible include Military Spouses; active duty Army, Reserves, and National Guard members; active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air Force National Guard, and US Space Force; active duty Coast Guard and SELRES members (enlisted and officers); or workforce-funded qualifying job seekers. Speak to an Education Consultant to see if you qualify.

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What does a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach do?

Personal Trainers work with individual clients or small groups – typically in a gym, fitness center, or in clients’ homes. They evaluate their clients’ current fitness levels, personal goals, and skills, develop personalized training programs and monitor clients' progress. Nutrition Coaches work with the general population to facilitate the inclusion of healthy eating behaviors and empower their clients to take responsibility for their own health.

To be a successful Nutrition Coach, individuals must possess knowledge of both nutritional science and behavior change strategies. It’s this knowledge of behavior change that makes Personal Trainers great candidates for Nutrition Coach roles.

With a nutrition coaching certification, fitness professionals can take their expertise to the next level. The combination of these roles offers Increased earning potential, the ability to offer a more holistic fitness and health skillset, and the knowledge to fully address clients' fitness and nutritional needs – to name just a few.

70,992
Entry Level Jobs in the US
Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coaches will see available jobs grow 12.6% over the next ten years.
All available job and salary information is from Burning Glass Labor Insights and is updated annually to reflect industry changes.

What You’ll Learn
HF 3000
Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach

MedCerts NASM Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach program teaches the knowledge and skills to earn two certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) – Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC).

Students must have the physical strength and experience to model proper form when completing exercises, should possess basic experience in operating gym equipment, and be comfortable giving instructions on how to use it. Personal Trainers should also be comfortable writing fitness and health reports for clients, providing positive reinforcement and strategizing their methods to meet and exceed their clients’ health goals.

NASM’s Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certification is the gold standard in the industry and is the preferred certification by most employers. It is NCCA-accredited, which is vitally important as many gyms and fitness centers only accept accredited certifications. The combination of the Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC) certifications set MedCerts trained candidates apart from other trainers and opens more career opportunities. Trainers with both certifications can reach a wider group of potential clients which leads to higher earning potential.

Because graduates will be working in a healthcare facility, it is imperative that they be able to speak and understand the language of medicine and have a fundamental understanding of basic human anatomy and physiology. As such, HI-1014: Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology is included to lay this important foundation.

Today’s top job candidates not only need to be prepared to pass a certification exam but also must be equipped with soft skills and knowledge that allow for success on the job in any environment. This program contains training in professionalism designed with input from employers and professionals in the field of allied health. PS-1011: Professionalism in Allied Health equips students with essential soft skills that are in demand and expected by employers in a competitive job market.

Candidates will be required to provide evidence of current Adult CPR and AED certification prior to attempting the CPT certification examination. NASM provides a list of approved training providers. The responsibility for obtaining these certifications is solely on the candidate, as MedCerts does not provide this training.

The NASM Certified Personal Trainer certification must be recertified every two years to ensure that NASM-CPTs stay up to date with current best-practice guidelines and skills. To recertify, you will be required to earn 2.0 NASM-approved CEUs (20 contact hours) every two-year certification period. This includes 0.1 CEUs from the mandatory CPR/AED certification. Renewal of the Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC) is required every two years through completion of the CNC Renewal Exam. The CNC Renewal Exam will offer three exam attempts and will have an enrollment duration of 365 days. The CNC Renewal Exam will recertify the credential for another two years from the new completion date.

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  1. Gain knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes, anatomy, and physiology
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the soft skill expectations of an allied healthcare professional
  3. Master health and fitness topics, including nutrition, program design, human movement science, and fitness assessments
  4. Learn and practice teaching, customer service, and first aid skills
  5. Develop organizational and communication skills
Nasm personal trainer and nutrition coach HERO

Enrollment Requirements

  1. Suitable vision and hearing (normal or corrected)
  2. Suitable psychomotor skills
  3. Hand-eye coordination, and finger agility
  4. Ability to stand for an extended period
  5. Current Emergency Cardiopulmonary Resuscitated (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Certification prior to sitting for the exam.

MedCerts-Covered Materials*

  1. Expert-led video based training
  2. Competency assessments
  3. National Certification exam fee

Student Services

  1. Dedicated Student Success Advisors
  2. Tailored support based on performance & behavior
  3. Exam preparation process
  4. 1 yr. post-program access to Career Center & Career Coaches

*The cost of all materials needed for this program are covered by MedCerts. They are not included in the tuition costs and the student is not liable for any costs or fees related to the above materials.

Required Courses
PS 1011

Professionalism in Allied Health

32 hours
Length
2 Weeks
Duration

This course will benefit anyone considering a career in allied health, as well as those already working in the field. Allied Health Professionals must be committed to the key attributes of professionalism and strive to reflect this within the delivery of patient-centered safe and effective care. “Professionalism” is a broad term that reflects many different skills and abilities. For an individual to exhibit professionalism, he/she must be armed with specific skills and abilities that do not always show up within certification requirements, or even within a career training curriculum. Soft skills are hard to measure and are typically less well-defined than hard skills. However, soft skills are what set many job candidates apart. Professionalism is not just what one knows, it is how one does their job, how one behaves and how one comes across as they interact with others.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with soft skills training that will provide the tools needed to demonstrate a higher level of professionalism on the job. Key components of the course focus on patient interaction, proper office behavior, medical ethics, diversity and cultural bias, emotional strength, professional appearance and communication. The course maintains a focus on the key attributes that are true markers of professionalism.

This course was created with input from healthcare professionals working in the field, healthcare employers that hire our graduates, professional educators and even former MedCerts students. The end result is a collection of modules that touch on the soft skills that are TRULY important in the real world of allied healthcare. In this course, students are engaged through scenario-based learning that allows for real interaction with virtual co-workers and patients. Additionally, game-based activities keep students engaged and entertained throughout their learning journey.

    • Gain an understanding of the expectations of an allied healthcare professional in the workplace
    • Develop and exercise emotional intelligence, self-management and interpersonal skills
    • Build and improve internal and external communication skills with all exchanges
    • Enhance the patient care experience with successful interactions and patient satisfaction
    • Maintain solution-oriented conversations, manage conflict and build self-confidence
HI 1014

Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology

96 hours
Length
6 Weeks
Duration

This course is designed to familiarize the student with the language of medicine, through the study of prefixes, suffixes, root words, abbreviation, and pronunciation of words. The curriculum also includes an anatomy and physiology app that enables students to explore, visualize, interact, and experience the anatomy of the human body in 3D and augmented reality (AR). Students will examine the organization of the integumentary, musculoskeletal, hematic, lymphatic and immune, and cardiovascular systems in the human body. They will become familiar with the medical terms that relate to the respiratory, digestive, nervous, endocrine, reproductive, and excretory systems. Students will also examine terms related to the sensory organs, with a concentration on the organs for hearing, sight, and smell. This immersive experience will trigger thought processes and enhance learning outcomes in their Anatomy and Physiology program. The app has about 50 simulations across different topics.

    • Recognize the structure and function of the 11 body systems and their organs
    • Understand the medical language that is used to describe those systems
    • Analyze and understand medical terms by breaking down their word components
    • Appreciate the major diseases and conditions related to the human body
    • Apply your knowledge within the healthcare setting
HF-3011

NASM’s Essentials of Personal Fitness Training

96 hours
Length
6 Weeks
Duration

NASM’s Essentials of Personal Fitness Training course is based on an evidence-based training model, which prepares students for real-life situations. In addition to learning and understanding complex scientific principles, students will use NASM’s proprietary Optimum Performance Training™ (OPT) model – a system that helps students train in areas including flexibility, cardiorespiratory, core, balance, power, and strength. This course prepares students to work with a wide range of clients – athletes, seniors, obese individuals, those with special needs, and more.

The OPT™ Model provides future trainers with a systematic approach to developing personalized and unique training plans that allow for predictable outcomes in every client. The course also focuses heavily on the art of Behavior Change, and the Psychology of Exercise. Students will learn key strategies to help people alter behaviors that prevent them from becoming the ultimate version of themselves. Through the OPT Model, future Personal Trainers will gain a comprehensive understanding of concepts related to exercise technique and training instruction. This focuses on Flexibility, Cardiorespiratory, Core, Balance, Plyometric (Reactive), Speed, and Resistance training concepts.

Lastly, students will learn to design exercise programs for clients using the OPT Model.  Creating and modifying exercise programs for clients can be a complicated process because there are many variables to consider, including the client’s goals, their tolerance for exercise, and their unique physical abilities and medical history. The OPT Model makes it simple.

    • Recognize and apply exercise psychology and behavioral coaching techniques for a wide variety of clients. 
    • Identify concepts and structures of anatomy and physiology, human movement science, exercise metabolism, nutrition, and supplementation.
    • Select, perform, and interpret results from a client fitness assessment. 
    • Provide instruction and demonstrate proper exercise techniques for clients.
    • Design client-specific exercise programs based on assessment results and client abilities. 
HF-3012

NASM’s Essentials of Nutrition Coaching

64 hours
Length
4 Weeks
Duration

Living healthy isn’t just about physical activity.  It’s also about what we put in our bodies to fuel them. The Essentials of Nutrition Coaching course includes the latest and most up-to-date information on nutrition science, behavior change strategies, and nutrition coaching strategies. As a certified nutrition specialist, graduates will be able to guide their clients seeking to improve their body composition, athletic performance, and health through carefully crafted nutrition coaching that takes age, culture, socioeconomic status, and more into account. 

The course applies to all diets including vegan and vegetarian. The course content does not emphasize a “nutrition camp” or a “one-size fits all” approach to eating. Instead, it openly discusses many ways to consume a healthy diet. The end result is that Nutrition Coaches will be able to consider their client’s unique food preferences, religion, family and work obligations, and cultural differences when providing nutritional guidance.

    • Identify how culture, age, geographic region, and socioeconomic status influence dietary eating patterns.
    • Explain foundational principles of nutrition science, including metabolism, macronutrients, micronutrients, hydration, alcohol, and nutrient timing.
    • Describe healthy dietary patterns and explain the efficacy and appropriate, safe practices for the recommendation and use of supplements.
    • Empathize with clients and provide a nurturing environment to maximize client adherence to a nutrition coaching program.
    • Explain the mechanisms and science behind trending diets.
    • Develop customized, evidence-based nutrition programs for clientele.
Code Course Duration
PS 1011 2 Weeks
HI 1014 6 Weeks
HF-3011 6 Weeks
HF-3012 4 Weeks
Total Program Duration 18 Weeks

Eligible Certifications

CPT Online Certified Personal Trainer Course

CNC Online Certified Nutrition Coach Course

Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach

Job Opportunities

Certified Personal Trainer

$46,354 – $78,936*
Estimated Salary

Fitness Trainer

$37,959 – $47,612*
Estimated Salary

Health and Nutrition Coach

$47,424 – $61,460*
Estimated Salary
  1. This program is NOT available to residents of the following states: Arkansas, Louisiana, North Dakota, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin
  2. While MedCerts training and related target certifications may be accepted and/or approved by your state of residency, employers reserve the right to dictate prerequisite education, experience, or certification/licensure requirements for their positions. We strongly advise students to research target job posts from area employers and relevant state requirements, barriers, or restrictions prior to enrollment to ensure eligibility upon graduation.

NASM Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach