Training to Become a Personal Trainer

Turn your passion for fitness into an exciting career by becoming a personal trainer. Help people reach their health and fitness goals and make healthy life choices to build stronger and healthier communities.

Our new virtual program allows you to complete your training from the comfort of your home with a live instructor, other students and educational materials on a digital platform.

Become a Personal Trainer

Choose your training path

STEP 1: Basic Theory (30 hours of virtual classes)

This introductory YMCA Basic Theory Fitness course serves as the first step in the YMCA Fitness Instructor Training program. The goal of the Basic Theory course is to prepare the student to enter the workforce with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop a successful career in fitness.

Participants will learn about the following topics:

Introduction to Concepts in Health and Fitness
Leadership and Communication
Anatomy and Physiology
Movement Mechanics
Principles of Training
Introduction to Program Design
Nutrition
Legal Issues

STEP 2: Personal Trainer Certification Course (34 hours of virtual classes)

The Personal Training Certification Course teaches the necessary knowledge and skills needed to assess participants and create safe, effective and appropriate programs. Students in this course will learn the principles and correct application of strength and cardiovascular conditioning, a wide variety of specific exercises and fundamental assessment skills, the fundamentals of coaching and basic business practices for fitness professionals.

There are written and practical components in this course.

STEP 3: Critical Analysis

Students must write a critical analysis of the short online training session. They must analyze at least 8 elements of the training session.

STEP 4: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification

Participants should have a minimum of CPR/AED Level A to obtain certification. Courses available at our YMCA centers.

We strongly recommend that participants obtain their CPR certification before their practical exam.

More information about CPR training

STEP 5: Practical Exam

Participants must pass an online practical exam (by appointment with a YMCA FIT Trainer).

Additional Option: Functional Training for Aging Adults (provincial certification - Québec)

The objective of this course is to prepare instructors to work with aging adults within their area of expertise.

Become a Functional Training Instructor for Aging Adults

This information applies to the 2026 session.

Description	Members¹	Non-members
Basic Theory² (30 hours)	$ 282	$ 334
Certification d'entraîneur privé (34 heures)	$ 440	$ 506

¹ YMCA Members get a 15 % discount on regular price.
² The Basic Theory course is mandatory for the Personal Trainer Certification course. The Basic Theory course may be taken simultaneously with the Personal Trainer Certification course, if the courses calendar permits it.

Courses - WINTER 2026

This introductory YMCA Basic Theory Fitness course (30 hours) serves as the first step in the YMCA Fitness Instructor Training program. The goal of the Basic Theory course is to prepare the student to enter the workforce with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop a successful career in fitness.