It can sometimes be difficult to fully understand the path that takes you from an interest in personal training and the fitness industry through to making this passion into a career.This is why we’ve put together a detailed guide that will help answer some of the most frequently asked questions about becoming a successful personal trainer here in the UK. From the attitude and physical ability you’ll need through to the personal training courses you should look at enrolling on, we’ve covered everything you need to know about becoming a qualified personal trainer and launching a personal training business.
What is a personal trainer and what do they do?

What is a personal trainer and what do they do?
Why become a personal trainer?

Why become a personal trainer?
- Helping people. As a PT, you’ll be helping people improve their quality of life – a great feeling that leads to incredible job satisfaction.
- Opportunities. In a world designed for convenience, it’s harder and harder for people to stay fit. If you want a job with endless opportunities for work, being a personal trainer is a safe bet!
- Being your own boss. Many personal trainers are self-employed or start their own personal training businesses. Being your own boss can be very rewarding!
- Improving your knowledge. Your growing health and fitness knowledge can help you take steps towards your fitness goals too.
- Earning potential. With the right attitude, your personal training certification can help you unlock excellent earnings.
Where can you work as a personal trainer?

Where can you work as a personal trainer or gym instructor?
- Working at athletic performance centres supporting professional athletes
- Delivering personal training advice online
- Supporting occupational health departments for corporate clients
- Creating outdoor training bootcamps and classes
- Working at holiday resorts in the UK and overseas
- Working on cruise ships
Of course, there are also endless creative opportunities if you set up your own personal training business and have an eye for creativity and innovation. You can read more about personal training jobs here.
Is being a personal trainer a good career?

Is being a personal trainer a good career?
What qualifications do you need to be a personal trainer?

What qualifications do you need as a personal trainer?
How long does it take to become a personal trainer?

How long does it take to become a personal trainer?
How hard is it to become a personal trainer?

How hard is it to become a personal trainer?
How much does it cost to become a personal trainer?
The financial cost involved with becoming a personal trainer will depend on the training provider you choose. The National Register of Personal Trainers (NRPT) correctly points out that courses can cost anywhere from around £900 right through to £30,000+, (although this huge figure would represent the cost of studying at university for three or more years). As one of the very best personal training course providers in the UK, we do everything we can to keep our courses accessible to as many people as possible, so our entry-level course starts at £599 – and there are options for paying in instalments to make things more affordable.
How much does a personal trainer get paid?
As with most jobs, there’s no ‘set wage’ for a personal trainer. The amount you get paid will depend on your experience, your location, the company you’re working for, and whether you decide to set up as a self-employed personal trainer. Industry averages suggest a personal trainer will be paid around £25 per hour – but in truth, this is often way below what a personal trainer could be expected to earn. In fact, the same industry studies find that some PTs will earn upwards of £80,000 each year. There are a lot of factors to consider when estimating what a personal trainer will be paid – and some of these relate to risk. If you’re happy working for a gym chain offering personal training services to their clients for a set monthly salary, you can be confident you’ll be paid this amount each month. However, if you’re willing to set up on your own and an independent personal trainer, you’ll probably find you end up with more money in the bank – but there’s the risk involved with finding your own clients, covering your costs, and other factors.
How to become an online personal trainer?

We explore how to become an online personal trainer
What makes a good personal trainer?

What makes a good personal trainer?
- Knowledge. A good understanding of your field of expertise
- Friendliness. Being approachable is a key part of communicating with your clients.
- Communication skills. Effective speaking and listening is key to understanding what your clients are saying and whether they’re understanding you.
- Patience. Not everyone will have your level of motivation – so you’ll often have to be patient with people who don’t have your passion for fitness!
- Adaptability. Working with people means you have to be ready to change and adjust as they move the goalposts (and they will!)
- Professionalism. Although you’ll almost certainly become friendly with your clients, staying professional and remembering you’re delivering a paid service is important.
- Organisation. Running a tight diary is essential as a PT – clients don’t want to be let down!
- Internal motivation. As a PT, you’ll have to face early mornings and a busy schedule – so it’s important to find ways to stay motivated to deliver the best service to your clients.
Do personal trainers have to be fit?

Do personal trainers have to be fit?
How old do I have to be to be a personal trainer?
As a minimum, you have to be 18 to be a personal trainer – and a big part of the reason why relates to the personal trainer insurance you’ll need to hold to practise as a PT. As a personal trainer, you’ll almost certainly be working with clients of varying ages. It’s not uncommon to work with sportspeople and athletes who are children and teenagers – but also private clients who are 70 or older. As such, age shouldn’t be a huge concern. Instead, a mature and considered way of applying your knowledge and practical experience is the thing that will help your clients get the results they need. Read more on How old do I have to be to be a personal trainer.
What are the negatives of being a personal trainer?
As a provider of personal trainer courses, you probably think we’ll have nothing but good things to say about our industry – but, like with any role, being a PT does have some downsides.
- As a self-employed personal trainer, you could find you have no guaranteed income – which can be a worrying prospect when you’ve got bills to pay.
- You might find you work unsociable hours – which can clash with leisure time and life with friends and family.
- You will, sooner or later, have difficult clients that don’t follow your guides but still expect amazing results.
- Being self-employed means you often won’t have any holiday or sick pay.
Honestly though, when your career as a personal trainer is flying, these things are likely to feel like very minor downsides of an otherwise incredibly fun and fulfilling career. However, they’re worth thinking about – because if they’re things that you feel you’ll struggle with, it’s important to understand them in more detail.
How to become a personal trainer for kids?

We explore how to become a personal trainer for kids
- Children’s Fitness Instructing
- Exercise with disabled clients & Exercise and Disability (if you’d like to work with children with additional needs)
When qualified, you’ll be able to explore employment opportunities in a number of places – including:
- As a freelance PT, working directly for parents of children
- Children’s sports clubs
- Schools and education facilities
- Gyms, leisure centres, and health clubs
Read our full guide on How to Become a Personal Trainer for Kids.
What are alternative jobs for a personal trainer?

What are alternative jobs for a personal trainer?
- Gym or leisure manager
- Fitness industry sales
- Health, wellness, and nutrition coaching
- Group exercise instructor
- Fitness blogger, writer, or influencer
- Fitness model
- Workout developer
Of course, there are also a range of advanced personal trainer jobs that you can look into after completing additional training, including:
- Exercise referral
- Fitness course assessment
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Exercise with disabled clients
- Quality assurance
- Back pain management
- Obesity and diabetes management
Read our full guide on Alternative jobs for a personal trainer
Can personal trainer be a side job?

Can personal trainer be a side job?
How soon can I start my personal training course?

It’s possible to become a personal trainer in 5-6 weeks