Personal Trainer Certificate Program

Become a certified personal fitness trainer with MaKami’s flexible 10-month program.

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$17 – $24

 

Appr. hourly wage for Personal Fitness Trainers in Alberta

Why Our Personal Trainer Program?

Do you have excellent communication and coaching skills, have an interest in health and wellness and want to help others reach their fitness goals? Take your passion to the next level with a career as a personal trainer! 

Whether it is at a gym or in a client’s home, in a group or one-on-one, personal trainers assess client needs, help them correctly and safely exercise, create achievable training plans and advocate healthy lifetime habits. 

This growing occupation gives you the opportunity to work as a business owner or staff member in many settings and with flexible hours. 

MaKami College’s 10 month (900 hour) Personal Trainer certificate program is offered in a blended format. Our delivery method combines the convenience of online courses with the benefits of classes and workshops on campus.  

About the Personal Trainer Program

With over 20 years of experience in health and wellness education, MaKami’s Personal Trainer certificate program provides a balanced curriculum of body sciences with program design, client relations and career prep. 

Students will learn about anatomy, physiology and movement, exercise and training principles, communication and motivational skills, nutrition basics and client assessment. They apply these skills to create workouts and design personalized programs for people of all abilities.  

Many personal trainers are entrepreneurs, so a business component is included. Your training includes a 135-hour practicum, giving you real-life experience to kick start your career. 

Each student receives an iPad with all their courses pre-loaded, first aid certification, and an American Council on Exercise (ACE) book, the leading handbook for professional personal trainers in the field. 

Contact us for more information or find out if you can get pre-approved now! 

Personal Trainer Program

MaKami’s 10-month Personal Trainer program is offered in a blended format. Our delivery method combines the convenience of online courses with the benefits of classes and workshops on campus.

Eligibility and Admissions

MaKami College is committed to providing accessible and flexible admission pathways for learners from diverse educational, professional, and cultural backgrounds. Applicants may qualify through standard, mature, transfer or PLAR admission, subject to institutional review.

Certain programs may require elevated academic qualifications, higher levels of English language proficiency, or additional program-specific prerequisites; applicants are expected to consult the relevant program descriptions for complete admission requirements.

Applicants may be considered for standard admission if they meet all of the following criteria:
  1. Minimum 17 years of age at the time of program start
  2. Admission interview with the institution
  3. Completion of one of the following: 
    • Alberta High School Diploma
    • A recognized equivalent

Applicants may be considered for admission and/or advanced standing through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).

PLAR recognizes knowledge and skills gained outside of formal education, including but not limited to:

  • Work experience
  • Professional certifications or licenses
  • Military training
  • Volunteer experience
  • Non-credit training or workshops

PLAR assessment methods may include:

  • Portfolio review
  • Skills demonstration
  • Challenge exams
  • Interviews or competency validation

PLAR decisions are made in accordance with institutional policy and may result in:

  • Admission eligibility
  • Course exemptions
  • Advanced standing

If the credentials are from outside Canada, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) may be accepted to determine equivalencies. 

Applicants who do not meet the standard admission requirements, including homeschool applicants, may be considered through a mature admission pathway.
Eligibility:
  • Minimum 18 years of age, and
  • Demonstrated readiness for post-secondary study through meeting one or more of the following:
    • Admission interview with the institution
    • Relevant work or volunteer experience
    • Successful completion of a MaKami College approved entrance equivalency exam
    • Completion of post-secondary studies or continuing education, including certificates, diplomas, or degrees.
    • If the credentials are from outside Canada, the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) may be accepted to determine equivalencies.

Additional Considerations:

  • Each application is reviewed holistically, recognizing formal education, experiential learning, and demonstrated competencies.
  • Mature Admission decisions are based on academic readiness, professional experience, and learner potential, not solely on traditional credentials.

All applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Acceptable evidence includes one of the following (subject to institutional approval):

  • IELTS Academic: Overall 5.5 (no individual band below 5.0)
  • TOEFL iBT: Overall score 59 or 3.5
  • PTE Academic: Overall score 45–52
  • CAEL: Overall score 50
  • CLB: Level 6 overall
  • CELPIP: Overall score 6
  • Duolingo English Test (DET): Score 95
  • ELL 6 of higher
  • Completion of post-secondary or continuing education, including certificates, diplomas, or degrees, completed in the English Language

Additional Considerations:

  • MaKami College supports multiple entry points and may recommend upgrading, preparatory studies, or conditional admission where appropriate.
  • Official test results must be submitted directly to the institution.
  • English language test results must be valid within two (2) years of the date of testing.

The English language proficiency requirements for the Personal Training program described herein came into effect for applications submitted on or after January 2026.

Applicants may be eligible for admission and/or advanced standing through a transfer pathway based on prior post-secondary education.

Transfer pathways may include:

  1. Internal Program Transfers
    • Graduates or students from MaKami College programs may transfer into another program or cohort subject to:
      • Program relevance
      • Academic standing
      • Credit transfer eligibility
      • Institutional approval
  2. External Transfer Agreements
  • Applicants who have completed coursework at recognized post-secondary institutions may be considered for admission and/or advanced standing through:
    • Formal articulation or transfer agreements, where applicable.

3. Transfer Alberta

  • Where applicable, transfer credit may be granted in accordance with Transfer Alberta guidelines.
  • Transfer decisions are subject to:
    • Transfer Alberta equivalency listings
    • Institutional policies
    • Program-specific learning outcomes

Transfer credit does not guarantee admission and is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants still are required to meet the program admission standards.

Additional Helpful Program Information

Where is this Program Offered?

MaKami College offers our Personal Training program at the following campuses in Calgary and Edmonton.

MaKami College Edmonton campus in Bonnie Doon Mall

MaKami College Edmonton

Located in Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre

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MaKami College Calgary NE campus in Marlborough Mall

MaKami College Calgary NE

MaKami’s newest campus is located on the city’s northeast inside Marlborough Mall

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Reide, MaKami College Massage Therapy program graduate

It’s the culture of MaKami that sold me, you don’t just leave with the excellent education – you leave with relationships that are going to help support you throughout your career.

Reide / Massage Therapy Graduate
Freddy, MaKami College Massage Therapy program graduate

Doesn’t matter what campus you’re on, it’s the community that we make here at MaKami – with the staff and with the students – that makes it what it is. You’re a part of the community and so if you’re here at MaKami, you’re going to be well taken care of.

Freddy / Massage Therapy Graduate
Two individuals standing side by side against a light blue background. One is holding a black dumbbell and wearing a light blue shirt; the other is in a teal polo shirt.

Scholarships & Promotions

Are you a friend or family member of a MaKami student or alumni? Receive $50 off your course! Contact us for more information.

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Student Life

Get hands-on training with professional, highly trained instructors, one-on-one attention with our Student Success Centre and excellent career opportunities after graduation. 

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Interested in the Personal Trainer Program?

Get pre-approved today!

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