: Gratis Online Courses for PT certifications? I'm interested in getting a PT cert so that I can work part time as a trainer/help my friends. I know there's plenty of options as far as which certification to get...but I'm hoping

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Preface: I've been a personal trainer for 10 years, but haven't looked in-depth at certifications for a long time. Only quick looks here and there over the years. I don't believe much as changed, but can't say for sure.

If you're looking to get hired at a gym, one of the big four is the direction you likely want to go:

ACE
ACSM
NSCA
NASM

Most gyms, if you have one of those, you'll be covered cert. wise. (And CPR / AED.)

In terms of your preference, that can vary. Roughly, I listed the above certs in order from most generalized to specialized. Here's how I group them in my mind:

ACE: class instructor / basic cardiovascular
ACSM: similar to ACE, but more in-depth, particularly physiology wise (again though, primarily cardiovascular)
NSCA: much more sports and lifting oriented. Strength coaches for college sports teams will always have this.
NASM: bit of everything above, but also corrective exercise

Note each certification also has certifications within it. For instance, you could be NSCA personal trainer certified, or strength and conditioning specialist certified, or both (probably not worth the money to do that, but possible).

In general, the NSCA strength and conditioning cert. is probably considered the hardest, or at least most serious, but that's because it's so widely known. In my experience, corrective exercise, because it's so anatomy based, is even harder for people to grasp, but it's not as common of a cert. to have.

In terms of getting hired at an everyday gym, working with everyday people, it's very unlikely to matter. In terms of being prepped to train people, I'm not sure anything does an adequate job. The everyday person is nearly 40 years old, has two kids, 9-5 job, various injury history, and is on some kind of medication. The only thing that remotely prepped me to handle that was a physical therapy textbook (Shirley Sahrmann).