How Long Does it Take to Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach?

A strength and conditioning coach plays an important role in improving athletic performance and reducing injury risks through specialized training programs. Becoming a certified strength and conditioning coach could be a rewarding career choice if you’re passionate about fitness and helping athletes reach their peak potential.

It’s a rewarding and challenging career if you’re interested in fitness, athletics, and working with people. Before you begin, make sure you understand the requirements. You’ll want to know whether you need to be certified and how long it will take before you can start working as a strength and conditioning coach. 

What Does a Strength and Conditioning Coach Do?

It’s important to learn more about any career before spending valuable time earning a degree or certification. Preparing for a new career takes time, so be sure it’s what you really want to do. 

A certified strength coach works with athletes to improve performance and reduce the risk of injuries. Some coaches work with entire professional or collegiate sports teams. Other coaches work with individuals, both serious athletes and ordinary people looking to boost their performance in recreational sports. 

Key Responsibilities of a Strength and Conditioning Coach

Strength and conditioning coaches are responsible for: 

• Evaluating their athletes’ strength, performance, and injury risk

• Helping clients develop performance or recovery goals

• Creating conditioning and strength training plans to meet those goals

• Assessing their athletes along the way and making changes to the plan as needed

• Guiding clients through their training 

• Providing motivation and coaching strategies to keep their clients progressing

Check out this ISSA post for even more details about what it means to work as a strength and conditioning coach. 

How to Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach

Becoming a certified strength and conditioning coach requires a combination of education, certification, hands-on experience, and ongoing professional development. Follow these steps to start your career in this dynamic and rewarding field.

Step 1: Gain a Strong Educational Foundation

The first step to becoming a strength and conditioning coach is gaining essential knowledge through a comprehensive training program. This training covers key areas such as exercise physiology, sports science methodologies, and how to effectively apply them to athletes. Topics include conducting proper fitness assessments, weight training techniques tailored to different athletes, strategies for preventing sport-related injuries, mental preparation methods for athletes, and principles of nutrition and supplementation for peak performance.

Step 2: Get Certified

Earning a certification as a personal trainer adds credibility in the fitness industry, and the same holds true for a strength and conditioning certification. It demonstrates to potential clients and athletic coaches that you have the expertise to design effective training programs for athletes. Some training programs, like ISSA's Strength and Conditioning Coach course, even include the opportunity to earn your certification upon completion. This makes it a convenient option for personal trainers looking to expand their credentials and become certified strength and conditioning coaches.

Step 3: Gain Practical Experience

Real-world experience is essential for honing your skills as a strength and conditioning coach. Whether through internships with sports teams, entry-level jobs in gyms, or volunteering with local teams, hands-on experience will help you build the confidence and expertise you need.

Step 4: Continue Your Education

Stay ahead of the curve by pursuing advanced certifications, attending workshops and seminars, and continuing to develop your knowledge in areas like rehabilitation or sports psychology. Look for continuing education credits that will bolster your skills and career.

Step 5: Build Your Network and Career

With your education, certification, and experience, you’ll be ready to start your career as a strength and conditioning coach. Build your network by attending industry events, joining professional organizations, and leveraging online platforms to reach clients. If you want to work independently, focus on building a personal brand through social media or starting a fitness blog.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach Online? 

One of the quickest ways to become a strength and conditioning coach is to complete an online certification program. It will provide the first two things you need to be a coach: education and certification. 

Most online strength and conditioning programs allow you to complete the course at your own pace. If you move quickly through the materials, you should be able to take the test and get certified within a few months. With self-pacing, though, you can take more time if you need it. 

While the time it takes to complete a strength and conditioning specialist course may be an important factor, there is more to consider. Choose a strength and conditioning program that is accredited, recognized in the fitness industry, and led by experts and professionals in strength and conditioning. 

Is a Degree Necessary for a Strength and Conditioning Coach?

The most time-consuming path to becoming a strength and conditioning coach is to earn a college degree. You don’t necessarily need a college degree to become a certified or successful strength and conditioning coach, but it’s a valid option. 

If you want to earn a degree, choose a related major, like exercise science, athletic training, or kinesiology. Some schools even offer a specific strength and conditioning degree. You can find two-year programs for an associate degree or spend four years earning a bachelor's degree. 

There are some pros and cons of taking the college path to coaching. In the pro column: 

• A degree is required for some jobs in strength and conditioning.

• You might be able to earn more as a degree holder.

The downsides to choosing a degree path to becoming a strength and conditioning coach are also important to consider: 

• It can take four years or longer to earn a degree.

• Earning a college degree is expensive.

• If you need to work and earn a living while becoming a coach, you might not be able to fit college courses into your schedule. 

• Fitting in college courses can also be challenging if you have family responsibilities. 

Start Now, Get a Degree Later

There are many good reasons to earn a college degree if you aspire to be a strength and conditioning coach. It’s not the right path for everyone, though. If you don’t have the time or can’t afford college right now, start with a strength and conditioning certification program. 

Certification is all you need to start working. You can always go back to college later. An online certification course can get you working within a few months. You may never decide to earn a degree, but if you do, it could open the door to more career opportunities, such as a head coach for professional sports teams. Some jobs in strength and conditioning require a four-year degree or even a graduate degree. 

Average Salary and Job Outlook for Strength and Conditioning Coaches

The average salary for strength and conditioning coaches varies based on factors such as location, experience, and work environment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), fitness trainers, including strength and conditioning coaches, earn a median annual salary between $40,000 and $50,000. However, coaches working in major cities or with elite professional athletes can earn significantly more, with salaries potentially reaching upwards of $80,000 or more for high-level positions. (1)

Salary also tends to increase with experience. Entry-level coaches may earn closer to the lower end of the scale, while those with years of experience and advanced certifications can expect higher wages. According to USA Today, the top 100 college football strength coach salaries range from $110,000 for the coach at Jacksonville State to $1,100,000 for the coach at Oklahoma State. (2)

The job outlook for strength and conditioning coaches is strong, according to the BLS, with employment in the fitness industry projected to grow 15% from 2021 to 2031—much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is driven by a heightened awareness of the importance of fitness and wellness, increased sports participation, and a growing focus on injury prevention and performance enhancement. (1) Coaches can find opportunities in a wide range of settings, including professional sports teams, universities, gyms, health clubs, and even virtual platforms for online coaching.

Additionally, strength and conditioning coaches with specialized skills, advanced degrees, or certifications in niche areas like sports rehabilitation or nutrition may see even greater career advancement opportunities and higher salaries. Whether working in high-level sports programs or managing private training businesses, the career potential in strength and conditioning is both rewarding and expanding.

Is it Worth Becoming a Certified Personal Trainer First? 

If you’re looking to start working right away, becoming a personal trainer first will delay the start of your strength and conditioning coaching career. However, it wouldn’t delay it very much, and there are good reasons to consider this path to coaching. 

Being a personal trainer first provides a solid foundation for specializing in strength and conditioning. It will also make it easier to learn the principles and pass the classes in a strength and conditioning program. Also, if you can start working in the personal training sector, you’ll begin to gain valuable real-world experience that will make you a better strength coach. 

As with strength and conditioning, you can become a personal trainer within a few months by taking an online certification course. 

With a foundation as a personal trainer, you can get certified in many different areas of health and fitness. Here are some of the many specialization certifications available through ISSA. 

Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach with ISSA

Strength and conditioning coaches have rewarding, often lucrative careers. They get to work with athletes, helping them succeed and avoid injuries. If you love being active, enjoy sports, and like working with people, this could be the career for you.

Ready to start your journey as a strength and conditioning coach? Explore ISSA's certified strength and conditioning coach program. You’ll learn exactly how to help your clients work with what they have to build unbelievable endurance, strength, power, and speed.

References

1. Fitness trainers and instructors. (2024, August 29). Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/fitness-trainers-and-instructors.htm#tab-1

2. College football strength coach salaries. (2024, December 11). USA TODAY. https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/football/strength