Personal Trainer Permit Requirements in Evansville, IN

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Indiana Department of Revenue — Registered Retail Merchant Certificate

   Required for all businesses selling tangible personal property at retail in Indiana. Indiana charges a flat 7% state sales tax with no additional local sales tax. Register online via INBiz.

   Official government source

   $25 one-time registration fee·Immediate (online via INBiz)

   $25 one-time registration fee

   Immediate (online via INBiz)

2. Indiana — No State Personal Trainer License Required

   Personal trainer is not a regulated profession in Indiana. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency's list of licensed professions contains no personal trainer or fitness instructor board — Athletic Trainer, which is licensed, is a separate healthcare profession requiring a degree and BOC certification, and personal trainers may not use that title. National certification from NASM, ACE, ACSM, ISSA or NSCA is not a legal requirement but is commonly demanded by gyms, insurers and facility contracts, usually alongside current CPR/AED certification.

   Official government source

   No state license or fee. Voluntary national certification is priced by the certifying body, typically several hundred dollars including study materials and the exam·N/A for the state; 1–6 months of self-study if pursuing a national certification

   No state license or fee. Voluntary national certification is priced by the certifying body, typically several hundred dollars including study materials and the exam

   N/A for the state; 1–6 months of self-study if pursuing a national certification

1. No General Business License in Evansville

   Evansville does not require a general/universal business license for most business types. The City Controller's office issues licenses only for specific activities (e.g., street vending, hotels, pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers) — none apply to a typical service business. Verify zoning compliance and, if applicable, a Certificate of Occupancy with the Area Plan Commission / Building Commission before opening.

   Official government source

   Not applicable (no general license fee)·Not applicable

   Not applicable (no general license fee)

   Not applicable

2. Evansville — Zoning Approval, Home Occupation Permit & Certificate of Occupancy

   A personal training business in a commercial Evansville space needs zoning approval and an Improvement Location Permit from the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Area Plan Commission — a Change of Business permit when taking over an existing space, or a change-of-use permit if the building's use classification changes — followed by building permits and inspections from the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission. The Building Commission issues the Certificate of Occupancy once the Evansville Fire Department final inspection and all code compliance inspections are passed, and the building may not be occupied or used for its intended purpose until it is issued. Home-based training does have a permit route: the Area Plan Commission issues a Home Occupation permit.

   Official government source

   Area Plan Commission fee schedule effective January 1, 2026: Home Occupation permit $100; Change of Business $100; Remodeling $100; new structure, addition, or change of use $200 plus $0.05 per sq ft; commercial site review application $200; Zoning Certificate $100. Building Commission permit fees are set separately in its published Permit Fee Schedule.·The Area Plan Commission's Site Review Committee meets weekly — plans submitted by Monday 4:00 p.m. are reviewed the following Monday, and site approval is valid six months. The Certificate of Occupancy issues only after the Building Commission and Fire Department final inspections are passed.

   Area Plan Commission fee schedule effective January 1, 2026: Home Occupation permit $100; Change of Business $100; Remodeling $100; new structure, addition, or change of use $200 plus $0.05 per sq ft; commercial site review application $200; Zoning Certificate $100. Building Commission permit fees are set separately in its published Permit Fee Schedule.

   The Area Plan Commission's Site Review Committee meets weekly — plans submitted by Monday 4:00 p.m. are reviewed the following Monday, and site approval is valid six months. The Certificate of Occupancy issues only after the Building Commission and Fire Department final inspections are passed.

Official Sources

• City of Evansville Department of Metropolitan Development

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