A certification proves someone passed a test. It doesn’t prove they’ll get you results.
The fitness industry makes it easy to become a personal trainer and hard to tell who’s actually good at it. Some trainers with impressive credentials phone it in. Some without fancy letters after their name will change your life. The difference isn’t on paper — it’s in how they work.
This guide gives you the insider criteria for finding a trainer worth your money. Not the generic checklist you’ve seen everywhere. The specific questions to ask, the answers to look for, and the red flags that should make you walk away.
How to Find a Good Personal Trainer
Finding a good trainer comes down to evaluating a few key areas:
- Credentials — Do they have a legitimate certification from a recognized organization?
- Experience — Have they worked with people like you (your goals, your limitations)?
- Communication — Do they ask questions and listen, or just talk at you?
- Assessment approach — Do they evaluate you before programming, or jump straight into workouts?
- Adaptability — Do they adjust when something isn’t working?
- Track record — Can they point to client results, testimonials, or referrals?
Checking boxes matters less than how a trainer makes you feel in conversation and in your first session. The best trainers ask more than they tell. They’re curious about you, not just eager to sell you.
Why Certifications Matter (But Aren’t Everything)
Certifications establish a baseline. A trainer certified through NSCA, ACE, NASM, or similar organizations has studied anatomy, exercise programming, and safety protocols. They’ve passed an exam that proves minimum competency.
That matters. You don’t want someone guessing about how joints work or programming exercises that put you at risk.
But here’s the reality: certification is the floor, not the ceiling.
A weekend certification course can technically make someone a “certified personal trainer.” The depth varies enormously between programs. NSCA’s CSCS requires a bachelor’s degree and is considered the gold standard for strength and conditioning. ACE and NASM CPT certifications are solid and widely respected. Others are barely worth the paper they’re printed on.
What certification can’t measure:
- How well someone communicates
- Whether they actually care about your progress
- How they respond when you’re struggling
- Whether they’ll adapt or stubbornly stick to a plan that isn’t working
Experience working with real clients — especially clients like you — matters as much as credentials. A trainer with five years of hands-on work and a basic certification often outperforms someone with advanced credentials but limited practical experience.
Ask about certifications. Verify them if you want. But don’t stop there.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Before committing, have a conversation. Most trainers offer free consultations. Use that time to evaluate them — not just to be evaluated.
“What’s your experience with clients who have my goals?”
You want specifics, not generalities. If your goal is weight loss, how many clients have they helped lose weight? What was the approach? If you’re recovering from an injury, have they worked with that injury before? “I work with all types of clients” is a non-answer.
“How do you structure a program for someone like me?”
Listen for process, not promises. A good answer describes assessment first, then goal-setting, then programming that progresses over time. A bad answer jumps straight to workout descriptions without mentioning how they’d evaluate your starting point.
“What happens if I’m not seeing results after a few months?”
This reveals adaptability. A good trainer talks about reassessing, adjusting programming, looking at nutrition or recovery factors. A bad trainer gets defensive or blames the client.
“How do you track progress?”
You want to hear about logging workouts, tracking weights and reps, periodic assessments, and measurable benchmarks. “I can tell by watching you” isn’t a system — it’s guessing.
“What does communication look like between sessions?”
Some trainers check in via text. Some provide workout notes. Some disappear until the next appointment. Know what you’re getting. If accountability matters to you, make sure it’s built into the relationship.
“Can I talk to a current or former client?”
A trainer confident in their work will happily connect you with someone who can vouch for them. Hesitation here is a yellow flag.
What to Look for in Your First Session
The consultation tells you how they talk. The first session tells you how they work.
They should assess before they program. A trainer who jumps straight into a workout without asking about injuries, watching you move, or understanding your history is winging it. Assessment comes first — always.
They should explain the “why.” You shouldn’t do exercises without understanding their purpose. “This strengthens your posterior chain, which helps with the back pain you mentioned” is what coaching sounds like. “Just do three sets of ten” is what order-taking sounds like.
They should adjust in real-time. If something hurts or your form breaks down, a good trainer modifies immediately. A bad trainer pushes you through it because that’s what the plan says.
They should check in on how you’re feeling. Not just physically — mentally. Are you overwhelmed? Confused? Bored? Good trainers read the room and adapt the session accordingly.
The intensity should be appropriate. First sessions aren’t about crushing you. They’re about establishing baseline, teaching movement, and building confidence. If you can barely walk the next day, that’s a red flag about their judgment.
For a detailed breakdown of what happens in a first session, see our guide on what to expect in your first personal training session.
Red Flags That Mean You Should Walk Away
Some warning signs are obvious in hindsight but easy to miss when you’re new to training.
They skip the assessment entirely. If a trainer starts programming workouts without understanding your body, your history, or your goals, they’re guessing. That’s dangerous and ineffective.
They talk more than they listen. Your first conversation should be mostly questions about you. If it’s mostly them talking about themselves, their methods, or their accomplishments, the relationship will be one-sided.
They use the same program for everyone. Cookie-cutter training isn’t personal training. If you notice other clients doing identical workouts, you’re paying for a template, not customization.
They can’t explain why you’re doing something. “Because it’s good for you” isn’t an answer. A trainer should be able to connect every exercise to your specific goals or needs.
They push through pain. Discomfort during hard effort is normal. Sharp pain, joint pain, or pain that gets worse is not. A trainer who dismisses your pain or tells you to push through it is putting their ego above your safety.
They don’t track anything. If your trainer can’t tell you what you lifted two weeks ago or how your performance has changed over time, they’re not actually managing your progress.
They make you feel judged. Good trainers meet you where you are. If you feel shamed, rushed, or compared to other clients, find someone else.
They’re always on their phone. During your session, their attention should be on you. Scrolling, texting, or taking calls while you’re training is disrespectful and dangerous.
Where to Look for Trainers in Your Area
Once you know what to look for, you need to know where to look.
Local gyms. Most commercial gyms have personal trainers on staff. Quality varies widely — some are excellent, some are just filling a role. Use the questions above to evaluate them like anyone else.
Private training studios. Smaller facilities often attract trainers who care more about coaching than sales quotas. The environment tends to be less crowded and more personalized.
Referrals. Ask friends, family, or coworkers who’ve had good experiences. Personal recommendations filter out a lot of noise.
Online directories. ACE, NASM, and NSCA all have trainer locators on their websites. This at least confirms certification status.
Social media. Many trainers post content showing how they work. You can get a sense of their style, their communication, and their values before ever reaching out.
Cost varies by setting. Big-box gyms often charge $50-80 per session. Private studios and independent trainers range from $60-150+. Some facilities — like Apex — offer monthly packages that include both training and gym access, which often works out more affordable than per-session pricing.
For a full breakdown, see our guide on how much personal training costs.
The Real Test: Do They Listen?
You can verify credentials online. You can ask smart questions in a consultation. You can watch for red flags in your first session.
But the single best predictor of a good trainer is simpler: do they listen?
A trainer who listens will hear when you’re frustrated and adjust. They’ll remember that your knee bothers you on lunges. They’ll notice when your energy is off and ask what’s going on. They’ll build a program around your life, not around their preferences.
A trainer who doesn’t listen will push their agenda regardless of your feedback. They’ll forget things you’ve told them. They’ll treat you like a number instead of a person.
Training is a relationship. The quality of that relationship determines your results. Find someone who treats it that way.
If you’re still exploring whether training is right for you, start with our guide on what a personal trainer actually does — it explains the full scope of the job beyond what most people expect.
The Bottom Line
How do you find a good personal trainer? Look beyond credentials. Ask specific questions. Watch how they work in your first session. Trust your gut when something feels off.
The right trainer makes you feel heard, challenged, and supported. The wrong one wastes your time and money while potentially putting you at risk.
At Apex, every trainer is vetted for more than certifications — they’re evaluated on how they communicate, how they coach, and how they treat the people they work with. 24/7 private gym access and no contracts means you can experience the difference without pressure.
Ready to find out what real coaching feels like? Book a free consultation.