Become a Certified
Personal Trainer
In this immersive program, veterans develop the coaching, programming, and leadership skills to improve health and performance.
Program at a Glance
- 19 days on UHP’s Northwest Arkansas campus
- Train alongside other veterans
- Learn in a 17,000-square-foot training facility
- Earn industry credentials
- Prepare for national certification exams
- Housing and meals provided
Build the skills the work requires
The program combines technical instruction with practical coaching experience.
Client Assessment
Evaluate movement, fitness level, goals, and individual needs.
Program Design
Create structured training plans around each client’s ability and objectives.
Coaching and Communication
Practice cueing, instruction, feedback, motivation, and client interaction.
Exercise Science
Develop a working knowledge of anatomy, physiology, movement, and energy systems.
Recovery and Lifestyle
Understand how sleep, stress, recovery, and basic nutrition influence performance.
Business and Leadership
Learn how trainers earn trust, retain clients, manage services, and operate professionally.
Credentials & certifications
Complete the program with practical coaching experience, UHP credentials, and preparation to pursue professional certification and client-facing work in personal training.
- UHP Certified Personal Trainer Certificate
- CPR certification
- Mental Health First Responder certification
- Client assessment and goal-setting
- Exercise programming and progression
- Strength and conditioning fundamentals
- Movement instruction and coaching
- Recovery and nutrition principles
- One-on-one and group training
- Hands-on coaching practice
- Instructor feedback and peer coaching
- The ISSA Certified Personal Trainer examination
- One-on-one personal training
- Small-group and group fitness coaching
- Coaching within gyms, performance facilities, wellness programs, or human-performance roles
- Independent training and client-based services
- Continued professional development in fitness and performance
Successful completion of the UHP Certified Personal Trainer program provides graduates with a UHP program certificate, practical coaching experience, and preparation for the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer examination. Access to the ISSA CPT examination is included. ISSA certification is awarded only after the candidate passes the certification examination.
Train, live, and learn on campus
The full program takes place on UHP’s Northwest Arkansas campus, with training, housing, meals, and daily support provided in one immersive environment.
Where this training can take you
CPT can support client work, performance coaching, leadership, program management, and business ownership across fitness and human performance.
Work Directly With Clients
Personal training, group fitness, and performance coaching.
Support Military and Tactical Populations
Apply fitness and performance skills in roles serving active-duty personnel and other high-performance groups.
Lead Programs and Teams
Gym operations, team leadership, and program management.
Build Something of Your Own
Independent coaching, corporate wellness, and business ownership.
Career paths depend on experience, credentials, employer requirements, and location.
Your 19-day path
UHP’s Certified Personal Trainer program gives veterans an immersive 19-day path toward coaching skills, practical experience, recognized credentials, and professional direction in human performance.
Foundations & Assessment
Build a foundation in movement, assessment, exercise science, and core coaching principles.
Programming & Performance
Learn program design, strength training, recovery, and performance-focused application.
Coaching & Career Application
Practice one-on-one and group coaching while developing the business, career, and client-facing skills needed to move into the field.
Hear from veterans who completed CPT
Continue building your skill set
CPT can stand alone or can be stacked with Integrative Health Coach and Culinary Nutrition Coach to expand how you support clients.
CPT questions, answered
Become a leader in human performance
Build the practical skills to coach clients, lead teams, and advance in the fitness industry.