A personal training contract should contain the following information:

• Services – What the trainer’s services include (e.g., physical assessments, programming workouts, skill training, etc.).
• Payment amount and method – The form should include the personal trainer’s pay and specify whether they will be compensated per session or per hour.
• Schedule – The days and hours when the client and trainer will be working together in the gym.
• Location – The address of the gym or training site must be indicated.
• Late and cancellation policy – The personal trainer should specify their cancellation policy and how late the client can arrive before forfeiting a session.
• Obligations – The contract will often include the trainer’s duties, such as meeting the client’s fitness goals, explaining nutrition, and assessing their health.
• Disclosure – The contract should disclose that the personal trainer is not a licensed physician.
• Signatures – The client and the personal trainer must both sign.

There is no legal requirement for a personal trainer to be certified to provide their services in the US, though various certification options are available.

Trainer Verification – Clients may verify a trainer’s credentials with the United States Registry of Exercise Professionals (USREPS), the official US registry of certified fitness professionals.