CFES Personal Trainer Certification Course

Elevate Your Fitness Career with CFES Personal Trainer Certification

Are you ready to take your fitness career to new heights? Enroll in the comprehensive CFES Personal Trainer Course and become a certified fitness professional. Our CFES Personal Trainer Course is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to excel in the industry. You can choose from our face-to-face or hybrid online format, allowing you to learn in the way that best suits your needs

Throughout this program you will learn the essential evidence based elements of effective fitness training. This includes understanding health screening and fitness assessment, training principles, program development for disease prevention and health promotion, as well as insights into business strategies, marketing techniques, and effective communication to inspire and guide clients.

Prerequisite: CFES Weight Training Instructor certification or equivalency

Our experienced course conductors will guide you step by step, ensuring you are thoroughly prepared and confident as you embark on your journey to become a certified CFES Personal Trainer.

The Personal Trainer certification program will give you the opportunity to learn advanced exercise physiology and client program planning and apply it hands-on in the weight room. It will equip you with the skills to guide clients towards positive lifestyle changes by assessing their health-related fitness levels and providing evidence-based advice on physical activities and healthy eating habits.

CFES certification delivers academically credible knowledge aligned with the core competencies to work within the CFES Personal Trainer Scope of Practice and learning objectives. It’s more than just theory; it’s highly practical and delivered with utmost care and enthusiasm by our dedicated Educators, passionate about imparting their knowledge and on-the-floor experience.

Our mission is to present education in a relatable and enjoyable manner, whether in a classroom or online setting, connecting with you through language and experiences that resonate. For many, this personal trainer course marks the beginning of an exciting new career. Acquire technical knowledge and refine your program and marketing skills essential for the rapidly growing Personal Trainer profession. Step into this journey with confidence, preparedness, and a fervent drive for excellence in fitness leadership.

Ready to take the next step? Explore course locations, dates, and times on our Course Calendar. To secure your spot in classroom courses, simply reach out to the location nearest you. Your fitness journey begins here!

To download sample pages from the manual click here

CFES Personal Trainer Course Resources

To download sample pages from the manual click here

* GST & shipping extra

CFES National Personal Trainer (PT) Certification Requirements

Each candidate is to successfully complete the following program steps or present an equivalent*:

1. Prerequisite: CFES Weight Training Instructor Certification*;
2. Personal Trainer (PT) Classroom Course (40+ hours)*;
3. PT Practicum or Mentorship Program (20 hours)*;
4. PT Exam (80%+, 75 minute, closed book, supervised, fee)*;
5. PT Skills Assessment (one on one, video or zoom; fee)*;
6. Maintain current CPR-A minimum and Emergency or Standard First Aid Certifications;
7. Maintain annual liability insurance;
8. Submit to CFES: Certification or Cross-transfer Application Form, collateral documents and certification fee;
9. Receive CFES Personal Trainer Certification (electronic).

For course locations, dates and times click our Course Calendar. To register for classroom courses contact the location near you.

Personal Trainer certification fees:
Pass CFES instructor or personal trainer course, practicum program, closed book certification exam, and instructor/personal trainer skills assessment requirements and submit Certification Application Form and collateral documents

PT certification exam fee for existing CFES Weight Training Instructors: $70.00 + $3.50 (GST) = $73.50
* additional skills assessment fees paid to Educator/Skills Assessment Evaluator
+ Prices subject to changes.

Note: Practicum Program Alternative Choices for  Personal Trainers: Students unable to attend a practicum program are required to work with a CFES Certified Leadership Mentor (LM) in their community at a facility offering this service. When there is no CFES Certified LM in your community, discuss and agree with your educator how you will meet CFES certification standard for this practicum experience.

When your skills and confidence to be employable are apparent it is time to book your CFES Instructor or Personal Trainer Skills Assessment with a CFES Educator or SA Evaluator in your region.

CFES National Personal Trainer Recertification Requirements

Each candidate is to successfully complete the following program steps or present an equivalent*:

1. Attend eight (8) hours CFES recognized workshops, seminars or conferences (class or online)*;
2. Submit twelve (12) Personal Trainer client verification hours*;
3. Maintain CPR; First Aid and annual liability insurance;
4. Submit to CFES: Recertification application form and collateral documents and recertification fee.
5. Receive CFES Personal Trainer recertification (electronically). 

Annual CFES Personal Trainer recertification fee
$70.00 (recertification fee) + $3.50 (GST) = $73.50
+ Prices subject to changes.

For career advancement as a CFES national Skills Assessment Evaluator, Leadership Mentor or Educator click here to visit the Educators web page.

Find a Personal Trainer Course Near You
For course locations, dates and times click our Course Calendar. To register for classroom courses contact the location near you.

Provincial and National Recognition

CFES Fitness Leadership Program Modules: A Path to Certification in Aquafit, Group Fitness, Weight Training, and Personal Training
The CFES Fitness Leadership Program features comprehensive modules designed to guide candidates through the steps in Aquafit, Group Fitness and Weight Training Instructor, and Personal Trainer certification.

The Prerequisite: CFES Fitness Knowledge Course
The initial step in pursuing certification as a fitness instructor or personal trainer is completing the CFES Fitness Knowledge Course. This 24+ hour course covers anatomy, physiology, the skeletal and muscular systems, human movement principles, training principles and program planning, cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, active living, nutrition, body weight management, and exercise safety.

Choose Your Learning Path: Home Study or Classroom-Based
The Fitness Knowledge Course is flexible and caters to various learning preferences, offering both home study and classroom-based options. The home study version combines the traditional materials with online e-learning, allowing students to learn at their own pace. It includes a comprehensive resource manual, student program work booklet/study guide, online supplemental courseware, toll-free phone and email tutor support, and marking of the end-of-course open book exam.

Students typically spend 30 to 50 hours completing this module, and there’s no need to write an additional fitness theory exam unless registering with a provincial body.

Becoming a certified CFES Fitness Instructor
To become a full-fledged CFES fitness instructor, candidates must complete a 24+ hour classroom theory and on-the-floor/in-the-water practical training certification course. This is followed by an end-of-course open book completion exam, an 8-20 hour practicum, a 75-minute closed book proctored certification exam, and a 90-minute instructor practical skills assessment. Passing grade is 80%. Instructors are required to maintain CPR and First Aid certifications and obtain liability insurance if necessary.

Path to Personal Trainer Certification
Candidates seeking Personal Trainer certification first need to successfully complete the Weight Training Instructor certification (or equivalency) and then progress to the Personal Trainer course. The PT course consists of 40+ hours of classroom and practical teaching, along with a course completion open book exam, a 12-20-hour practicum, a closed book proctored certification exam, and a practical skills assessment. Passing grade is 80%. Like instructors, PTs must maintain CPR and First Aid certification and obtain liability insurance.

CFES: Recognized and Accredited
CFES is a recognized national certification body and an IDEA Fitness Connect Certification Verification Partner. Additionally, CFES resources are recognized by various specialized fitness leadership agencies, including CALA, CPTN, Canfitpro, and FLC, among others. The CFES Fitness Knowledge Course is also approved by the Massage Therapist Associations of Saskatchewan for Continuing Education/Professional Development credits.

Integration in Educational Programs
CFES certification courses are offered on a semester-by-semester basis through a variety of private fitness education training companies, civic recreation departments and independent Educators. Our programs are also integrated within college continued education and health and fitness diploma programs, and as an addendum to university health and exercise sciences curriculum for job-ready graduation credentialing. CFES resources are also recognized by the BC Ministry of Education and Alberta Education and utilized in individual Ontario Board Authorized high school physical education credit courses grades 9 to 12 students. The CFES Fitness Knowledge Course is listed in both the BC Min. of  Ed’s Integrated Resource Package and highlighted in their Grade Collection for meeting the most learning outcomes for PE 10/12 students and on Education Alberta’s Learning Centre.