What to Look For in a PT Course Provider

As someone looking to become a personal trainer, a quick internet search will show you dozens of
personal trainer course providers. You’re spoilt for choice…or are you? Here are three things you should look out for before you decide on a training provider to study with.

1. How long have they delivered personal trainer courses
2. Do the personal trainer courses they deliver lead to a recognised qualification?
3. Are they authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)?

1. How long have they delivered personal trainer courses?

What makes you more comfortable, studying with a company that’s delivered personal trainer courses for 2 years or 12?

We’ve delivered personal trainer courses for 20+ years and have trained thousands of people just like you. You can read what some of them have to say about their experience with us here.

2. Do the personal trainer courses they deliver lead to a recognised qualification?

Training providers deliver courses. These courses can lead to an Ofqual regulated qualification.
For a qualification to be recognised by CIMSPA, formerly REPs, it must meet certain criteria and be designed and awarded by an awarding organisation. There are a few these awarding organisations, perhaps chief amongst them in the active leisure sector is Focus Awards. Training providers will normally advertise on their websites which awarding organisations approve them to deliver the personal trainer courses they offer. Despite this, you should call the awarding organisation directly and confirm that the training provider you’re looking at is approved by them. At TRAINFITNESS we offer personal training courses that exceed the standards set by CIMSPA.

We’re an approved centre for a number of Awarding Organisations including YMCA Awards (training provider number is EDF025), Active IQ (training provider number is 0045) & Focus Awards.

Other qualifications, such as our Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga & Level
3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates are also awarded through Focus Awards and
recognised by CIMSPA.

Related Resource: See How You Will Study With Our Award Winning Virtual Leaning Environment and Mobile App!

3. Are they authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)?

If you’re looking to pay for your personal trainer course via a payment plan, the training provider must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to offer you a payment plan with charges or interest. A training provide must also be authorised by the FCA if the payment plan is repayable over more than 12 months or by more than 12 instalments. You can find out if a training provider is authorised by the FCA here https://register.fca.org.uk/

A company that is authorised by the FCA must display its FCA registration number on its website, emails and letterhead.

We’re authorised and regulated by the FCA under registration number 628699. You can find our registration details right now on the Financial Services Register above and in the footer of each of our web pages.