The Personal Trainer Academy

Hands-on personal trainer certification in Minnesota. Train in a real gym at our Plymouth location serving Minneapolis, St. Paul and the Twin Cities.

become A CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER

Prepare for your national certification exam while developing the practical skills needed to work with real clients.
You’ll learn exercise technique, assessments, program design and coaching in a hands-on classroom environment.
Learn it. Practice it. Be ready to train.

HANDS-ON PERSONAL TRAINING Certification

Online programs can teach you the material. PTA gives you the opportunity to practice it.
You’ll train in a real gym, use real equipment and learn by coaching and being coached.

Real instructors. Real equipment. Real experience.

We Guarantee it!

Our graduates boast a 90% pass rate! If you don’t pass the exam on your first attempt, you can continue attending classes at no additional tuition to review material, get more hands-on practice, and prepare to retake your exam.

Once a Student, Always A Student

The Personal Trainer Academy Story

The Personal Trainer Academy has been preparing personal trainers since 2007. Since then, we’ve helped more than 1,000 students prepare for their national certification exam and begin careers in the fitness industry.

Our approach is simple: personal training is best learned by doing. Students train in a real gym, work with real equipment, and develop practical coaching skills through hands-on instruction.

Today, our Plymouth location serves aspiring personal trainers throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul and the Twin Cities with the same hands-on approach we’ve used for nearly 20 years

JOIN OUR PERSONAL TRAINING PROGRAM

OUR PERSONAL TRAINING COURSE INCLUDES

One-on-One Training

Group Training

Sports Nutrition

Corrective Exercise

VISIT US

PERSONAL TRAINER CERTIFICATION MINNESOTA LOCATION

Plymouth, MN
Impact Athlete

Next Class : October 17 Enroll by Oct. 14 to receive an additional $200 off Tuition!

Our Trainers Believe US

HERE IS WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

  • Attending PTA Personal Training course was the start of a brand new journey for me. The education and guidance I received from Mark was the best! I have now been able to help others on their own health and fitness journeys. So glad I chose to go hands on over an online certification. I now own my own gym!
    Roger Moreno
    PTA Personal Trainer
  • I am The Strength and Conditioning Director for Denton ISD. I was pleasantly surprised that I learned as much as I did going to PTA considering I had a four year degree in the field.The instruction is awesome . I use the tools I learned on a daily basis! Don’t waste your time online! Hands on training at PTA is the best rout to get your Personal Training Certification.
    Jerod McCloud
    PTA Personal Trainer
  • It’s a great program! I have been passionate about fitness my whole life, who would have thought that I could make a career of what I love! I am now able to help others find their passion in fitness. Really happy I made the investment in myself and with PTA, I can’t believe how easy the instructors made it to learn!
    Thomas Mizner
    PTA Personal Trainer
PRICING

OUR CURRENT MINNESOTA PROMOTIONS

Payment Plan

$1599

  • $399 Down + 6 Monthly Payments of $199
  • PTA Personal Trainer Certification
  • PTA Sports Nutrition Certification
  • PTA Corrective Exercise Certification
  • NCSF National Exam Fee Included
  • CPR/AED Certification Available — $79
Promotion Ends Oct 14

FULL PAYMENT-Best Value

6 Monthly payments for $199

$1199

$1599
  • Everything in the Payment Plan, PLUS
  • Save $400 When Paying in Full
  • BONUS CPR/AED Certification ($79 value)

JOIN OUR PERSONAL TRAINING PROGRAM

YOU’RE NOT ALONE.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SUPPORT

  • Personal training students during hands-on gym class
  • Hands-on personal trainer certification class
  • Student practicing personal training techniques
  • Personal trainer academy students in gym training
  • Hands-on fitness certification students training
  • Personal trainer certification students learning in the gym
OUR EXPERT TRAINERS

MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS

Our experienced personal training instructors bring real-world gym and coaching experience into the classroom. You’ll learn directly from trainers who understand what it takes to work with clients, build confidence, and succeed as a personal trainer.

Mark Jackson

Plymouth, MN Instructor
(612) 444-5792

Chelsey Clough

Sugar Land, TX Instructor
(469) 569-9295

Mark Edwards

Spring, TX Instructor
(281) 784-0460

PROGRAM FAQ

Love the gym? Enjoy helping others? Want the freedom to set your own hours and earn $20–$75 per hour? Our hands‑on personal trainer certification program in Minnesota gives you everything you need to start a successful fitness career. With expert instructors, real gym training, and certifications in personal training, sports nutrition, and corrective exercise, you’ll be fully prepared to work with clients. Call us at 612-444-5792 to get started.

 PTA is your one‑stop shop to start a successful career as a certified personal trainer. We currently have hands‑on personal training schools in Austin, Dallas, Spring, Sugar Land, San Antonio, and Minneapolis, with more locations coming soon. Gyms throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul are in desperate need of qualified trainers, and our Plymouth, Minnesota location will help you get fully prepared. Whether you’re pursuing NASM, ACE, ISSA, or our own Personal Trainer Certification, we’ll have you ready for your exam. Our students enjoy a 90% pass rate — compared to only 40% for people who try the online route alone. Call us at 612-444-5792 to get started.

Our 6-8 week Personal Training Course includes The Personal Trainer Academy Certified Personal Training Certification, Sports Nutrition Certification, Corrective Exercise Certification, and CPR/AED Certification and your National Certification through NCSF National Council on Strength and Fitness, accepted in over 83 countries. PTA is your one‑stop shop to start your new career as a certified personal trainer. If you’re in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, give us a call at 612-444-5792.

Not at all. Our students range widely in age, with many joining us in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond. Some are starting a new career, while others are turning a lifelong interest in health and fitness into a profession.
In fact, maturity and life experience can be an advantage. Clients often feel most comfortable working with a trainer they can relate to. A client in their 60s or 70s may appreciate working with a more mature trainer who understands their goals, concerns and stage of life. There is no “right age” to become a personal trainer—great trainers come from all different backgrounds and ages.

You don’t need to be in perfect shape to start our program. Our students come from many different fitness backgrounds, and you don’t need to look like a fitness model or be an advanced athlete to become a great personal trainer.
Your own fitness journey can actually become one of your strengths as a trainer. Clients often connect with someone who understands what it’s like to struggle, make changes and work toward their own transformation. That real-world experience can help you relate to clients in a way that goes far beyond simply knowing exercises.
And there’s another benefit: during our 8-week hands-on program, you’ll be learning, practicing and working out alongside your instructors and classmates. In many ways, it’s like having a personal trainer helping you for eight weeks while you’re learning how to become one yourself. You may be surprised how much you improve your own fitness while learning how to help others improve theirs.

Turn Your Passion Into Your New Career!

CONTACT OUR MINNESOTA PERSONAL TRAINER SCHOOL

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

CALL US: (612) 444-5792

Our hands-on Personal Trainer Certification program serves students throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul and the Twin Cities. Classes are held at our Plymouth, Minnesota training location, where students get real-world gym experience and practical coaching instruction.

CLASS LOCATION:
11540 Bass Lake Road
Plymouth, MN 55442

EMAIL US:

thepersonaltraineracademy@gmail.com