Crunch Fitness, NASM Launch Guaranteed Interview Program for Personal Trainers

NASM-certified personal trainers will receive a first-round interview for open roles across Crunch’s corporate and franchise gyms — the latest such move by gym operators looking to ramp up their PT hiring

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) is expanding its push to connect certified trainers directly with jobs, striking a new partnership with Crunch Fitness.

Under the agreement, NASM Certified Personal Trainers (CPTs) will be guaranteed a first-round interview for open personal trainer positions across Crunch’s U.S. corporate and franchise locations.

The deal marks the first time NASM’s Interview Guarantee program has expanded to a franchise system, potentially giving certified trainers access to opportunities across a much broader network of independently operated gyms.

Eligible trainers must have earned and maintained their NCCA-accredited NASM-CPT credential and apply through Crunch’s careers website, indicating their certification status during the application process. The program guarantees an initial interview, not advancement through the hiring process or an employment offer.

“Finding trainers who are both highly credentialed and the right cultural fit is one of our biggest priorities as we keep growing,” Crunch executive vice president and head of people and culture Pam Brown said. “This partnership with NASM gives us a direct line to trainers who’ve already proven they meet a rigorous standard — and it does that across our entire footprint, corporate and franchise alike.”

Operators Build Out Their PT Pipelines

The partnership comes as Crunch continues to rapidly expand its gym footprint. The fitness chain now counts more than 585 gyms and 4 million members worldwide, with locations across 41 states and several international markets.

At the same time, demand for fitness professionals is expected to rise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of fitness trainers and instructors to grow 12% from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 74,200 openings per year over the decade, according to the release.

“The data is clear: demand for certified personal trainers continues to grow, and employers need a faster, more reliable way to connect with qualified talent,” NASM CEO Mehul Patel said.

NASM launched a similar Interview Guarantee program earlier this year in a partnership with Life Time, giving NASM-certified trainers a guaranteed interview for eligible entry-level roles with the athletic country club operator.

Life Time has since struck a similar arrangement with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), another major certification provider.

The agreements point to a growing effort among fitness education providers and major gym operators to create more direct pathways from certification to employment, while giving expanding fitness brands access to larger pools of credentialed trainers.