Personal trainer insurance includes a range of coverage against bodily injury, property damage and malpractice that occurs as a result of your training. While some employers provide coverage for you, personal trainers will need their own coverage when working outside a gym, or even within a gym if you’re working as an independent contractor.

This guide is not written by a lawyer or insurance broker. For answers related to your specific situation, be sure to consult a professional.

What We Recommend

Option 1: Next Insurance (for Solo Trainers)

We recommend Next Insurance for their low costs (starting at $11/mo), simple online application process, fast approvals, and the ability to immediately print certificates of insurance.

Since most gyms require a certificate of insurance (COI) in order to train at their facility, the ability to apply for coverage and print COIs online is a huge plus. Unlike other companies, there’s no additional fees to print COIs, even if you need to list the gym as an additional insured.

The Next Insurance Pro Plan ($13/mo) includes the following coverage (other plans are available at higher and lower price points):

• $1,000,000 in General or Professional Liability Coverage ($3,000,000 in aggregate)
• $1,000,000 in Product Liability Coverage
• $100,000 in Rented Premises Coverage
• $100,000 in Sexual Misconduct Coverage
• Optional $250,000 in Nutritional and Dietary Supplement Coverage

To submit an online application, simply follow this link.

Visit Next Insurance

Option 2: Insurance321 (for Small Businesses)

While Next Insurance is ideal for personal trainers who rent a space, it’s not ideal for all businesses. Those who own their own gym, or train swimming, acrobatics, or boxing/martial arts with contact will need a different policy. For these situations, we recommend speaking with Insurance321, who will connect you with a local insurance broker specializing in your area.

You can get quotes through Insurance321 for free, and you can get started just by following this link.

Visit Insurance321

Types of Personal Trainer Insurance

Below you’ll find a summary of the most common types of personal trainer coverage:

	What it Covers
General Liability	Actions that cause bodily injury to others, or property damage to a gym.
Professional Liability	Injuries and damages that occur as a result of your professional advice.
Products Completed Liability	Injuries that occur from products you provide or sell to your clients.
Damage to Rented Premises	Cost of repair for damages caused to the space where you train clients.
Sexual Misconduct Liability	The cost of legal defense if you are falsely accused of sexual misconduct by one of your clients.

1. General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance is designed to cover the costs of legal defense and settlement for client injuries (or alleged injuries) that happen while they are training with you, but which are not directly related to your training.

Example: While working out at the gym with you, a client slips and falls on a wet floor, and sues you for their injuries. Whether or not the client is correct, your general liability insurance should cover your legal defense, and any compensation made to the client, up to the limit of your coverage (generally $1 million).

2. Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance is designed to cover the costs of legal defense and settlement for injuries (or alleged injuries) to clients while you are training them. In order to be covered under your professional liability policy, the injury (or alleged injury) must have happened as a direct result of the service you are providing.

This includes injuries to a client caused by giving incorrect advice, an omission (leaving something out), or failing to deliver some aspect of your service.

Professional liability insurance is also called Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance.

Example: Someone is hurt during a workout and claims that it was because of your incorrect advice. Whether or not the client is correct, your personal trainer professional liability insurance should cover your legal defense, and any award made to the client, up to the limit of your coverage (generally $1 million).

3. Products Completed Liability Insurance

Product liability insurance is designed to protect you against injuries caused by products (such as faulty gym equipment) used when training clients. Even if you did not make the product, you can still be sued if you advised the client to use a faulty product.

If you sell or provide products for clients to use at home, some policies can extend protection to the client’s home as well. Be sure to ask your provider if this specific type of coverage is included.

Example: A cable on a new piece of gym equipment snaps and injures the client you are training. Your product liability insurance should cover your legal defense, and any award made to the client for your involvement in the accident (or alleged accident), up to the limit of your coverage.

4. Damage to Premises

If you are renting a space to train clients, this type of coverage will protect you against property damage that occurs as a result of your training. Most gyms will require minimum property damage coverage (typically $100,000) before allowing you to train on their premises.

Example: A stray medicine ball strikes a mirror in the studio you are renting and shatters it. Your insurance should cover repairs, up to your coverage limit.

5. Sexual Misconduct Insurance

Because of the nature of the personal trainer profession, many policies will also include protection against a false accusation of sexual abuse. Personal trainer insurance does not cover you against illegal acts however, so if you are guilty, your insurance will not pay.

Example: A client sues for sexual misconduct because you brushed her bra strap while training. If the claim is groundless, it’s covered.

Who Needs Personal Trainer Insurance

In short, every fitness professional. Whether you’re training one-on-one at the park, or teaching classes in a commercial gym, every fitness professional should have coverage.

If you work for a commercial gym as a direct employee, there’s a good chance you’re covered by a personal trainer insurance policy already. However, you need to confirm this with your employer and check that the scope of coverage is acceptable (in-line with the amounts listed above.)

If you work for at a gym as an independent contractor, you are not likely covered by a policy. This is when it’s crucial to obtain your own coverage. In fact, most gyms will require proof of personal trainer insurance before allowing you to work in the facility.

Likewise, if you train any clients on your own — whether at your home, your client’s home, an independent studio, or a public park — you will need your own coverage. If you don’t think this applies to you, remember there can be a blurry line between professional and recreational training. Even simply jogging with friends, or chatting about nutrition can make you susceptible to legal action should an injury occur.

Certificate of Insurance (COI)

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a document given to you by the insurance company that confirms your coverage. Personal trainers are typically required to provide COIs to gyms and studios before they can begin training.

Some gyms will also need to be listed on the COI as an additional insured. This means you’ll need to request a new document from your insurance provider each time you work at a new gym, and wait for them to process and send it over. One of the perks of using Next Insurance is that you can print COIs instantly online, or call to receive it in 1 business day.

The Bottom Line: Personal Trainer Insurance

If you’re a personal trainer who rents a space, or trains outside a gym, Next Insurance provides all the coverage you’re likely to need for around $13/month. You can apply online quickly and painlessly, and print unlimited COIs without any additional fees.

If you own your own space, and/or are looking for more types of coverage (such as swimming or boxing), we recommend Insurance321. They’ll connect you with a local insurance broker who can get you a quote.

Visit Insurance321