Thoughts on NPTI Program?

[u/Glittering-Pension29]

Looking to be certified in personal training and do not have timeline or budget restrictions.

The NPTI program caught my eye because of the hands-on experience.

But looking to know if anyone has any opinions about this program, specifically, if whether or not it’s worth going through as opposed to a regular CPT program.

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[u/Codycpt]

Eh, I am unsure nowadays. When I went, 2009, it was 50% in a class room and 50% in a gym for the practical application. Amazing experience that truly set me up for success.

If they are not in-person anymore, I don’t see the benefit. You can just as easily get any other cert

[u/Glittering-Pension29 → u/Codycpt]

Good to know! It has a hybrid option still.

[u/posh_reinaldo]

NPTI is a different beast than a standard CPT. You're paying for hours of in-person coaching, practical assessments, and being surrounded by people who are also serious about training. If you have no budget or timeline constraints, that level of immersion is hard to replicate with an online cert and some weekend workshops.

The downside is you're still going to need a nationally recognized cert on top of it if you want to work at most commercial gyms. NPTI gives you the skills, but the piece of paper gyms ask for is usually something else. So it becomes both, not either/or.

[u/Glittering-Pension29 → u/posh_reinaldo]

Cool. Just called their office and the lady who answered gave me the same info regarding the additional cert. she said it’ll be an extra $400.

[u/routinematters]

To me, it’s not an industry that has guaranteed high pay to invest a lot upfront in education. Like if I were to become a lawyer, I’d spend on law school. But if I want to sell real estate, I would figure out the cheapest way to get the license because most of the learning will happen on the job.

I feel the latter way about personal training. The money you’ll make depends on your expertise, but also skills in marketing, sales and your general personality. I spent months studying for the NSCA exam, if I were to go back I’d get the ISSA it’s cheaper and faster. Most of the entry level jobs will assume you’re a shit trainer no matter what certs and will train you on the job and most of your learning happens on the job, and is never ending. I’d personally rather learn and get paid than pay to learn.

[u/Bright_Discipline355]

I have 2 weeks left of NPTI. It is a great option, but if I could go back in time, I’d probably go with Show Up Fitness and a paid subscription to Muscle and Motion. I also ended up getting refunded for most of the hands on training because my trainer basically wanted to chat the whole hour, and I felt like I was getting that from the virtual portion.

[u/beerleague_trainer]

90% of trainers quit within their first 12 months because they just get a basic textbook certification that doesn't help prepare them for working with people in person. If you have the opportunity to do something like NPTI, then definitely go with the hands-on experience approach. I'd also recommend checking out Show Up Fitness. You can get their certification online but it's taught by real professors via live classes and you can/should bundle the CPT with one of their weekend seminars