Life Time, ISSA Expand Partnership to Include Guaranteed PT Interviews

Eligible ISSA-certified personal trainers will receive an interview opportunity at Life Time as the luxury operator looks to hire hundreds of coaches amid continued expansion

Life Time is building another direct pipeline for personal trainers as the luxury athletic country club operator expands its footprint and looks to add hundreds of coaches.

The company has expanded its partnership with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) to give eligible ISSA Certified Personal Trainers a guaranteed interview screening opportunity with Life Time.

Partnership details

The program will operate through ISSA’s Career Connect employment platform, where eligible certified trainers can view Life Time openings and begin the interview screening process.

The initiative arrives during one of Life Time’s most active periods of expansion. The company expects to bring hundreds of new certified trainers onto its team across athletic country clubs opening through the end of 2026, according to the companies.

“As we continue to grow with more locations in great markets, access to high-quality, career-ready professionals is essential,” Life Time national director of business operations Dustin Greenig said. “This expanded partnership strengthens our hiring pipeline while creating meaningful employment opportunities in a rapidly expanding field.”

Life Time and ISSA have worked together for several years on education and professional development, but the new program formalizes a more direct pathway from certification to potential employment.

Life Time also operates Life Time Academy, which offers certification programs, practical training, mentorship and career-focused education for current and aspiring fitness professionals.

Industry growth outlook

The hiring push comes as demand for fitness professionals is expected to continue growing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of fitness trainers and instructors to increase 7% from 2025 to 2035, with an average of 68,000 openings annually, according to the release.

“This is about turning education into employment at scale,” ISSA CEO Warren Heffelfinger said. “By expanding our partnership with Life Time, we are helping create clearer career pathways while supporting real job growth in communities across the country.”

Life Time has also established a similar hiring pathway with another major certification provider. In July, the company partnered with the National Academy of Sports Medicine to guarantee interviews for NASM-certified personal trainers who apply for eligible entry-level positions.

Together, the programs give Life Time direct access to larger pools of certified trainers at a time when personal training is becoming an increasingly important part of its business.

Life Time founder and CEO Bahram Akradi has said the company’s Dynamic Personal Training program has generated record-breaking monthly revenue at some clubs, while the operator continues opening new athletic country clubs across North America.