Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Personal Trainer, Career Pathway certificate

• Do you want to promote the health and wellness of others?
• Are you experienced in working as a fitness professional, and want to enhance your skills and abilities?
• Do you want to make a difference by helping others achieve their fitness goals?
• Opportunity awaits!

As a personal trainer, you will be part of the preventive health care team working in health and fitness clubs, wellness centers, public and private recreation facilities, hospitals, and/or corporate fitness centers. The EXS Personal Trainer Certificate encompasses all the coursework in the first year of the AAS degree in Exercise Science.

This Career Pathway certificate may be obtained as a stand-alone certificate or in addition to the AAS degree. This first year will prepare you to meet qualifications for employment as a personal trainer in the fitness and wellness industry where you will develop, demonstrate, and implement appropriate fitness assessments and programs for healthy populations. Minimum 41 credits. Students must meet all certificate requirements.

Award information

Degrees and certificates by number of terms to complete

Award	Length (attending full-time)	Financial aid eligible	Currently accepting students?
Career Pathway Certificate: Personal Trainer	Less than 1 year		Limited entry, see how to get into this program

Learn more about Exercise Science and all 5 awards available »

Courses

Course listing for the 2024-2025 catalog year.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
FT 100	Emergency Response for Fitness Professionals	1
FT 101	Exploring Exercise Science Careers	3
FT 103	Nutrition for Exercise	3
FT 104	Fitness Assessment	3
FT 105	Exercise Prescription	3
FT 106	Analysis of Movement	3
FT 107	Exercise Physiology	3
FT 110	Injury Prevention & Management	2
FT 131	Structure & Function of the Human Body	4
FT 180	Exercise Science Internship Preparation	1
FT 280	Exercise Science Internship I	4
or FT 280C	Exercise Science Professional Project II
HE 295 & PE 295	Health and Fitness for Life and Health and Fitness for Life Lab	3
HUS 102	Mental Health First Aid: Adult	1
or HUS 106	Mental Health First Aid: Youth
or HUS 107	Mental Health First Aid: Older Adult
PE 181A	Weight Training I	1
or PE 181B	Weight Training II
or PE 181C	Weight Training III
PE 281	Professional Activities: Resistance Training	2
Choose 2 of the following Professional Activities courses		4
PE 250	Professional Activities: Outdoor Leadership
PE 282A	Professional Activities: Group Fitness
PE 282B	Professional Activities: Older Adult Fitness
PE 283	Professional Activities: Mind-Body Disciplines
PE 287	Professional Activities: Aquatics
PE 288	Professional Activities: Team Sports Training
Total Credits		41

Jobs

The average full-time wage is $45,000 to $65,000 per year, with typical entry-level wages of $20 to $40 per hour.

Finish your degree

The Personal Trainer Career Pathway Certificate leads to additional certificates and degrees. Continue your education to give yourself more job opportunities and career advancement.

Is it for me?

• Who: High school graduates (and high school equivalency). Completion of IRW 115 or (WR 115 and RD 115) and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Note: First-year winter term courses for the AAS degree and the Personal Trainer Career Pathway Certificate require MTH 65 or higher and WR 121 with a “C” or “P” or better as prerequisites. If you do not meet all the placement recommendations, contact us for other options.
• Where: PCC Sylvania Campus
• When: Three terms

Program cost

Use the cost calculator to see the estimated costs. For more detailed cost sheets contact 971-722-4210.

Career exploration