Become a Personal Trainer
Help others become healthier and happier. Do what you love. Turn your passion for fitness into a rewarding personal training career.
Exercise is now a regular part of people’s lives. 1 in 7 adults in the UK are members of a gym and more people than ever are turning to qualified personal trainers to help them improve their physical and mental health. With the fitness industry forecast to grow a staggering 171% by 2028, now is the time to become a personal trainer, land your dream career, and change people’s lives through exercise.
When you graduate from one of our personal trainer courses you’ll be recognised internationally as a qualified personal trainer, enabling you to take advantage of exciting employment opportunities in a variety of settings including health clubs, your own personal training business, personal training franchises, and community fitness groups.
Health clubs: train clients in your local health club.
Your own personal training business: work for yourself, when and where you choose.
Personal training franchise: launch your PT business with the help of an established personal training franchise.
Community fitness groups: support the health of your community by delivering fitness training services and advice through organised group initiatives.
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Personal Trainer Courses
Our range of exceptional personal training courses are built on evidence-based exercise science and designed to boost your skills, advance your knowledge, and maximise your career opportunities.
These personal trainer courses are internationally recognised; exceed the standards set by CIMSPA; and meet the criteria for official American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Approved Provider status◊.
Our personal trainer courses represent peerless quality and value. Over 20 years we’ve helped over 20 000 people qualify as personal trainers. We can help you too.
We offer a range of easy payment options: pay in full up front and receive a prompt payment discount, or pay the regular price with a no deposit, interest free payment plan. You can even use your Enhanced Learning Credits through ELCAS if you are (or were within the past five years) military service personnel.
As the UK’s most trusted authority in personal training courses, we have 1056 reviews and our customer experience rating is 4.8 out of 5
Read ReviewsCourse Foundation
Choose from three personal training course packages, all of which incorporate our acclaimed Course Foundation. The Course Foundation includes the latest internationally recognised personal training qualifications from the Regulated Qualfications Framework (RQF).
Our Course Foundation features proprietary, cutting-edge, personal training content produced by some of the industry’s leading educators and includes video lectures, interactive animations, multiple choice worksheets and motion infographics. It covers a comprehensive range of subjects, including:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Diseases and health conditions
- Analysis of client information
- Functional programme design
- Movement screening
- Effective coaching models
- Health risk stratification
- Postural assessment
- Metabolic breakpoint testing
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Health and safety
- Planning and instructing gym-based exercise
- Health optimisation
- Nutrition
- Training movements vs. training muscles
- Circuit training
- 10-step consultation process
- Corrective exercise
- Business skills and employment preparation
Level 3 Practitioner Diploma
Our entry-level PT course.
Ideal for those looking to become a personal trainer in the shortest time.
The Practitioner Diploma features the Course Foundation and includes:
- Level 2 Gym Instructor
- Level 2 Circuit Training
- Level 3 Personal Trainer
- T3 (HIIT) Coaching
Level 3 Specialist Diploma
Our most popular PT course.
Perfect for those looking to earn more by offering their clients a greater variety of training services.
The Specialist Diploma includes the Practitioner Diploma plus:
- Level 2 Group Indoor Cycling (Distance and In-Person study options)
- Level 2 Advanced Stretching (Live-Virtual study option)
- Level 3 Sports Conditioning
- Level 3 Outdoor Fitness
- Level 3 Exercise Referral
Level 4 Master Diploma
Our most advanced and best value PT course.
The best choice for those looking to maximise their earning potential with additional specialised skills and professional development.
The Master Diploma includes the Specialist Diploma plus:
- Level 3 Life Coaching
- Level 4 Obesity Management
- Level 4 Diabetes Management
- Level 4 Advanced Personal Trainer
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Flexible Study Options
To meet different study needs and styles, we offer three different study options for our personal trainer courses – Distance, Live-Virtual and In-Person.
And you can start your course the minute you enrol: simply log on to our website or mobile app and get instant access.
Distance
From £849
The ultimate in flexibility, the Distance study option is conducted as home study.
Perfect for those who aren’t looking for, or whose lifestyle can’t accommodate, a schedule of clinics (classes) to attend. Complete your online course material and theory assessments as home study, then film your practical assessments and submit them electronically along with your completed portfolios.
Check out Distance in Course Specs below for the steps you’ll take to complete your course by Distance study.
Live-Virtual
From £1499
Our most popular study option is the best of both worlds: home study plus live, tutor-led Virtual clinics that you participate in at home. These clinics are not pre-recorded webinars – they are conducted in real-time with a tutor.
Available Full Time and Part Time.
Ideal for those looking for daily interaction with a tutor and other learners from home. The perfect choice if you’re looking to also offer your personal training services online once you’ve qualified, using Zoom for example.
See Live-Virtual in Course Specs below for a breakdown of the steps involved in completing your course by Live-Virtual study.
In-Person
From £1499
The in-venue, in-person experience: home study plus tutor-led clinics that you attend at one of our venues.
Available Full Time and Part Time.
A great choice for those looking to learn in the gym environment with a tutor and other learners.
Visit In-Person in Course Specs below for details on what you’ll do to complete your course by In-Person study.
Practitioner Diploma
To enrol on a level 3 Practitioner Diploma, our entry-level PT course, simply choose your course and study option and click Get Started.
*Select the Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer course if don’t already have a CIMSPA-recognised level 2 gym instructor certificate.
We won’t be beaten on price. So don’t forget our Price Match Promise.
Select Course
Select Study Option
Regular Price From: £1599 £33/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £1599 £1199
Prompt Payment From: £1399 £999. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £2199 £56/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £2199 £1999
Prompt Payment From: £1899 £1799. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £2299 £56/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £2299 £1999
Prompt Payment From: £1999 £1799. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £1449 £29/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £1449 £1049
Prompt Payment From: £1249 £849. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £1949 £50/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £1949 £1799
Prompt Payment From: £1649 £1499. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £2049 £50/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £2049 £1799
Prompt Payment From: £1749 £1499. Offer ends 12th June.
Specialist Diploma
To enrol on a level 3 Specialist Diploma, the most popular of our personal training courses, select your course and preferred study option and click Get Started.
*Choose the Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer course if don’t already hold a CIMSPA-recognised level 2 gym instructor qualification.
We won’t be beaten on price. So don’t forget our Price Match Promise.
Select Course
Select Study Option
Regular Price From: £2599 £54/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £2599 £1949
Prompt Payment From: £2199 £1549. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £3099 £71/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £3099 £2549
Prompt Payment From: £2699 £2349. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £3199 £71/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £3199 £2549
Prompt Payment From: £2799 £2349. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £2349 £47/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £2349 £1699
Prompt Payment From: £2049 £1399. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £2899 £69/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £2899 £2499
Prompt Payment From: £2499 £2199. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £3049 £69/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £3049 £2499
Prompt Payment From: £2649 £2199. Offer ends 12th June.
Master Diploma
To enrol on a level 4 Master Diploma, our best value and most advanced personal training course, decide the course and study option that suits you best and click Get Started.
*Pick the Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer course if don’t already have a CIMSPA-recognised level 2 gym instructor qualification.
We won’t be beaten on price. So don’t forget our Price Match Promise.
Select Course
Select Study Option
Regular Price From: £3299 £67/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £3299 £2399
Prompt Payment From: £2899 £1999
Regular Price From: £3799 £83/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £3799 £2999
Prompt Payment From: £3399 £2799. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £3899 £83/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £3899 £2999
Prompt Payment From: £3499 £2799. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £3049 £60/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £3049 £2149
Prompt Payment From: £2649 £1749. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £3549 £81/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £3549 £2899
Prompt Payment From: £3149 £2599. Offer ends 12th June.
Regular Price From: £3649 £81/month. Offer ends 12th June.
Payment plans from 6 to 48 months. Total repayments from: £3649 £2899
Prompt Payment From: £3249 £2599. Offer ends 12th June.
Career Opportunities
As the leading training provider in the fitness industry, our exceptional career support extends beyond our accredited personal trainer courses. So, whether it’s guaranteed interviews, job opportunities or starting your own PT business, we can help.
Trusted by Employers
Because of our outstanding reputation in the fitness industry, many of our graduates have gone on to secure their dream jobs as personal trainers working in leading fitness centres including Pure Gym, Virgin Active and Fitness First.
Our graduates have also gone on to start their new career at other popular fitness centres across the UK including:
Job Opportunities for Personal Trainers
Once enrolled on one of our personal training courses, you’ll have access to our job board which sits within our online learning platform and mobile app where you do your online study.
Jobs Matched to You
Our AI engine will match you with jobs based on the fitness courses you’re studying with us and the fitness qualifications we know you already have. As you carry on additional training through more courses with us and build out your continued professional development, the range of job opportunities presented to you will be automatically matched to suit your knowledge, skills and experience.
Our job board is only available to those enrolled on one of our personal training courses.
Career Concierge™ and Guaranteed Interviews
Access guaranteed interviews and business start-up specialists.
With our unique Career Concierge™ service, we can introduce our personal trainer course graduates to job opportunities across the UK with many of the most popular fitness club operators, leisure centres and boutique personal training studios through our exclusive relationship with Love Recruitment, the leading recruitment agency in the fitness sector. Whether it’s help whipping your CV into shape, prepping you for an interview or introducing you to your big break, Love Recruitment are the fitness industry experts.
You can also access a range of specialists in areas such as personal trainer insurance, web design, branding and social media to help you get your new business up and running. With this abundance of career support, a stellar new career as a personal trainer is yours for the taking.
Learn more about our Career Concierge™.
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Why Choose Our Personal Training Courses?
Premium services. Unrivalled value. Supreme support.
For more than 20 years our commitment to quality has cemented our position as leaders in the field. Designed and delivered by a team of exercise experts, our world class training and dedication to excellence has set the industry benchmark for training and support.
Convenience and Simplicity
Study anywhere, anytime.
Mobile, tablet, laptop and desktop: you can study our fitness courses where, when and the way you like thanks to our award-winning digital ecosystem and e-learning resources. As soon as you enrol, you can log onto our website or mobile app and access your online Student Desktop. Through the Student Desktop you complete the online lessons and assessements and, depending on the study option you choose, you can book onto optional assessment days, optional training days or clinics.
Technology is in our DNA. We were the first course provider in the UK fitness industry to offer e learning and the first to offer a mobile app so that you can study any of our fitness courses on the go. Our digital heritage ensures a rich and seamless learning experience – however you like to learn – which was recognised by the health and fitness industry with our achievement of the ukactive award for Best Use of Technology.
Leading Learning Principles
Learning strategies for the modern world.
Our personal trainer courses are created using microlearning principles, where content is divided into bite size chunks, helping you to better comprehend and retain information. Clear learning paths and our unique blend of stimuli make learning simpler and help build knowledge piece by piece.
Our personal training courses also include synoptic assessment, which combines assessments over modules and across subjects. This method allows learners to transfer knowledge and skills between subjects and helps you see how issues and themes connect. Synoptic assessment reduces compartmentalised learning, so in your course you’ll notice anatomy and physiology, for example, is split across multiple lessons. You, the learner, will then combine elements of your learning from these different lessons and show your accumulated knowledge and understanding.
Our PT courses meet the real-world requirements of fitness instructors and personal trainers and are specifically structured in such a way as to represent the real-world journey you’ll take your personal training clients on once you’ve qualified.
Support for Success
Every step of the way, our dedicated team of Success Coaches are on hand to help you become the very best personal trainer.
As well as the support you receive from your expert tutors on a scheduled clinic or training day (if applicable), you’ll also have access to our Learner Success team. This team is dedicated to helping you with study questions, course content and administration queries via phone, email or through our Helpdesk.
You’ll be in good hands – all team members are qualified personal trainers themselves, who not only have the knowledge to help you through the course but have real-world experience of turning a qualification into a successful career.
Price Match Promise
Why pay more to launch your new career as a fully qualified fitness professional?
We’re confident we deliver the best value and highest quality training in the health and fitness industry. We don’t expect you’ll find a better price elsewhere for the same fitness instructor or personal training course sold with the same services. But if you do, we’ll match the price when you enrol with us.
Learn more about the Price Match Promise we offer with our Level 3 diploma personal training courses.
Extensive Exercise Libraries
Access over 1300 exercise and workout videos.
Enrolling on our Practitioner, Specialist or Master Diploma (whether that be the combined gym instructor and Level 3 personal training option or just the personal training Level 3 option) will give you access to 225 exercise videos in our extensive exercise library. Videos include base exercises as well as a range of modifications and progressions to help you create varied and effective workout programmes for your clients. You’ll have access to the exercise library throughout your course and once you’ve graduated.
If you choose to enrol on the Specialist or Master Diploma, you’ll also have access to the Outdoor Fitness Exercise Library. This library contains an additional 90 exercise videos that demonstrate a range of body weight and small equipment exercises which can be used both indoors and outdoors. You’ll also have access to this video library throughout the course and after you’ve qualified.
Graduating from our Practitioner, Specialist or Master Diplomas will also open up over 170, 30-minute T3 High Intensity Interval Training workouts. These workouts include:
- a 4-minute mobilisation routine
- 4 x 5-6 minute HIIT routines
- a 4-minute active recovery routine
- programme cards to give to your clients to track their results
All exercise libraries are accessed in the cAmpus app.
These fitness instructing videos are an incredible resource for your future career as a highly sought personal trainer. As a form of career support, you can draw on these videos when designing workouts to help your clients achieve results in rewarding and different ways.
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Course Specs
Take a deep dive into our range of personal training courses. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, please call us.
Distance
You will:
- Complete as independent home study the online learning, online theory assessments, workbook and portfolios before performing any of the practical assessments.
- Film the practical assessments in a professional fitness environment; for example, a fitness centre (for which you’ll need a minimum of three apparently healthy clients).
- Submit via our Help Desk a video of your practical assessments and completed portfolios. If you enrol on a combined gym instructor and personal trainer course, you must complete the gym instructor component of the course before the personal training component. If you enrol on a Specialist or Master Diploma, you must complete the personal training component before the subsequent units.
- As an alternative to submitting a video of your practical assessments, for an additional fee you can either book onto and attend In-Person assessments held on scheduled assessment days to which you’ll bring your one-to-one client and hand in a copy of your completed portfolios, or you can book onto and perform Live-Virtual assessments at bespoke times and dates that you arrange with us and for which you’ll have three clients with you and submit in advance via our Help Desk a copy of your completed portfolios. View dates
Live-Virtual
The Full Time option runs Monday to Friday. The number of days in which you participate is:
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma – 11 days (two clinics – Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer)
- Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma – 6 days (one clinic – Personal Trainer)
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Specialist Diploma – 15 days (three clinics – Gym Instructor, Personal Trainer and Specialist)
- Personal Trainer Specialist Diploma – 10 days (two clinics – Personal Trainer and Specialist)
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Master Diploma – 15 days (three clinics – Gym Instructor, Personal Trainer and Specialist)
- Personal Trainer Master Diploma – 10 days (two clinics – Personal Trainer and Specialist)
The Master Diplomas include additional units (Level 3 Life Coaching, Level 4 Obesity Management and Level 4 Diabetes Management) which are completed as Distance study.
The Part Time option runs over consecutive Monday and Tuesday evenings (Part Time Evenings). For this option, one day equals two evenings a week on Monday and Tuesday. The number of days in which you participate is:
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma – 11 days (two clinics – Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer)
- Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma – 6 days (one clinic – Personal Trainer)
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Specialist Diploma – 11 days (twoclinics – Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer)
- Personal Trainer Specialist Diploma – 6 days (one clinic – Personal Trainer)
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Master Diploma – 11 days (two clinics – Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer)
- Personal Trainer Master Diploma – 6 days (one clinic – Personal Trainer)
The Specialist Diplomas include additional units (Level 3 Sports Conditioning, Level 3 Outdoor Fitness and Level 3 Exercise Referral) which are completed as Distance study. The Master Diplomas include the additional Specialist Diploma units (Level 3 Sports Conditioning, Level 3 Outdoor Fitness and Level 3 Exercise Referral) as well as other additional units (Level 3 Life Coaching, Level 4 Obesity Management and Level 4 Diabetes Management), all of which are completed as Distance study.
Regardless of whether you choose the Full Time or Part Time option, you will:
- Book onto scheduled Live-Virtual clinics according to the course (Practitioner Diploma, Specialist Diploma or Master Diploma) and study option (Part Time or Full Time) that you enrolled on. Check out the clinic dates.
- Complete as independent home study the online learning, online theory assessments, workbook and specified sections of the portfolios for each clinic before you participate in that clinic. For example, you will complete the online course material and online theory assessment for the personal trainer component of the course (as well as specified sections of the personal trainer portfolio) before participating in the personal trainer clinic.
- Participate in the Live-Virtual clinics you have booked onto. You’ll perform various training and assessments during these clinics and also finish and hand in your portfolios. All practical assessments bar one are completed on clinic. For the practical assessment not completed on clinic, you will instead film it in a professional fitness environment, for example, a fitness centre, for which you’ll need one apparently healthy client.
- For the Full Time option, if you enrol on a Master Diploma you will complete as independent home study those additional Master Diploma units referred to above and submit the assessments for marking via our Help Desk. For the Part time option, if you enrol on a Specialist or Master Diploma you will complete as independent home study those additional Specialist and or Master Diploma units referred to above, as per your enrolment, and submit the assessments for marking via our Help Desk.
In-Person
In London, we offer the In-Person study option both Full Time and Part Time. The Full Time option runs Monday to Friday, and the Part Time options run over consecutive scheduled Saturdays (Part Time Saturdays option) or Sundays (Part Time Sundays option). Whether you choose Full Time or Part Time, the number of days on which you attend is the same:
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma – 11 days (two clinics – Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer)
- Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma – 6 days (one clinic– Personal Trainer)
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Specialist Diploma – 15 days (three clinics – Gym Instructor, Personal Trainer and Specialist)
- Personal Trainer Specialist Diploma – 10 days (three clinics – Personal Trainer and Specialist)
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Master Diploma – 15 days (three clinics – Gym Instructor, Personal Trainer and Specialist)
- Personal Trainer Master Diploma – 10 days (two clinics – Personal Trainer and Specialist)
The Master Diplomas include additional units (Level 3 Life Coaching, Level 4 Obesity Management and Level 4 Diabetes Management) which are completed as Distance study.
Outside of London, we offer the In-Person study option Part Time over full weekends (i.e. both Saturday and Sunday). The number of days you on which you attend is:
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma – 11 days (two clinics – Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer)
- Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma – 6 days (one clinic – Personal Trainer)
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Specialist Diploma – 12 days (three clinics – Gym Instructor, Personal Trainer and Group Indoor Cycling)
- Personal Trainer Specialist Diploma – 7 days (two clinics – Personal Trainer and Group Indoor Cycling)
- Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer Master Diploma – 12 days (three clinics – Gym Instructor, Personal Trainer and Group Indoor Cycling)
- Personal Trainer Master Diploma – 7 days (two clinics – Personal Trainer and Group Indoor Cycling)
The Specialist Diplomas include additional units (Level 3 Sports Conditioning, Level 3 Outdoor Fitness and Level 3 Exercise Referral) which are completed as Distance study. The Master Diplomas include the additional Specialist Diploma units (Level 3 Sports Conditioning, Level 3 Outdoor Fitness and Level 3 Exercise Referral) as well as other additional units (Level 3 Life Coaching, Level 4 Obesity Management and Level 4 Diabetes Management), all of which are completed as Distance study.
Regardless of the location of the clinics you have booked to attend (i.e. inside or outside of London), you will:
- Book onto scheduled In-Person clinics according to the course (Practitioner Diploma, Specialist Diploma or Master Diploma) and study option (Part Time or Full Time) that you enrolled on. View clinic dates.
- Complete as independent home study the online learning resources, online theory assessments, workbook and specified sections of the portfolios for each clinic before you attend that clinic. For example, you will complete the online course material and online theory assessment for the personal trainer component of the course (as well as specified sections of the personal trainer portfolio) before you attend the personal trainer clinic.
- Attend the In-Person clinics you have booked onto. You’ll perform various training and assessments during these clinics and also finish and hand in the relevant portfolios.
- In London, if you enrol on a Master Diploma you will complete as independent home study those additional Master Diploma units referred to above and submit the assessments for marking via our Help Desk. Outside London, if you enrol on a Specialist or Master Diploma you will complete as independent home study those additional Specialist and or Master Diploma units referred to above, as per your enrolment, and submit the assessments for marking via our Help Desk.
Recognition
The awarding organisation we use is Focus Awards. You’ll achieve the relevant Focus Awards level 3 diploma personal trainer qualification upon successful completion of the course you enrol on – Practitioner Diploma, Specialist Diploma or Master Diploma – the internationally recognised personal training certification for which will be issued by them.
Our level 3 personal trainer courses are also recognised by CIMSPA and meets the criteria for official American College of Sports Medicine Approved Provider status◊.
Prerequisites
In terms of entry requirements, no prior fitness qualification is required before starting one of our combined gym instructor and personal trainer courses. You are; however, required to hold a CIMSPA-recognised level 2 gym instructor/fitness instructor qualification if you enrol on a personal trainer course that does not include the level 2 gym instructor qualification.
A basic level of English and Maths is necessary to understand the content of our fitness courses.
Our internationally recognised level 3 gym instructor and personal training courses require physical exertion and individual participation is essential; therefore, a level of physical fitness is necessary. Relevant personal experience of the subject – for example, prior participation in gym sessions – will be helpful.
Payment Options
Our level 3 personal training courses represent the very best value and are made even more affordable by the range of flexible funding options we offer to help you spread the cost:
Prompt Payment: Straight up and simple. Pay up front, in full and receive a prompt payment discount.
Interest Free Payment Plans: You can apply for finance and if approved you’ll pay the regular price via a payment plan. These plans may include interest free payment plans (0%) and zero credit charges on terms of two months to four years with no deposit in some instances. Learn more about our finance options.
ELCAS: We’re also an approved training provider for the Enhanced Learning Credits Administrative Service (ELCAS), so if you’re a current or former member of the armed services (within five years of leaving the service), you can apply for Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) funding for any of our level 3 diploma personal training courses. Learn more about ELCAS.
Resources
Interested in becoming a personal trainer or starting a fitness business? You’re welcome to read some of our blog articles related to personal training:
Why you should become a personal trainer
How to become a personal trainer in the UK
Guide to selecting the best course provider
Dates
Check out dates for our In-Person and Live-Virtual personal training courses near you:
Locations
We believe your address shouldn’t stand in the way of your new career ambitions for becoming a personal trainer. You can study our CIMSPA recognised level 3 personal training courses throughout the country, including:
Do we offer weekend personal training courses?
Yes, we offer weekend personal training courses via our In-Person study option. In London, our weekend personal trainer courses are conducted either one Saturday per week (Part Time Saturdays option) or one Sunday per week (Part Time Sundays option) over consecutive weeks. Outside London, we offer our weekend personal trainer courses on full weekends (i.e. both Saturday and Sunday) over a number of weeks.
See the In-Person Course Spec above for more information about our weekend PT course options.
Do we offer a part time personal trainer course?
Yes, we do. We offer part time personal trainer courses on weekends and also on weekday evenings.
Check out the In-Person Course Spec for more information about our part time personal trainer courses held on weekends, and see the Live-Virtual Course Spec for information about our part time personal training courses held on weekday evenings
Do we offer a Level 4 personal trainer course?
Yes, we offer level 4 personal trainer courses. As far as units and qualifications go, a personal trainer qualification in and of itself is level 3; however, both our Level 4 Personal Trainer Master Diploma and our Level 4 Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer Master Diploma include the Obesity and Diabetes Management specialism which is level 4 as well as the Level 4 Advanced Personal Trainer qualification. With a personal trainer qualification, you can also do the following courses of ours which are level 4 qualifications:
Do you need to do level 1 & 2 before doing a level 3 a
There isn’t a level 1 or level 2 personal training qualification. Personal trainer qualifications are level 3 but to become a level 3 personal trainer you must first achieve a level 2 gym instructor qualification. Alternatively, you can do any of our combined gym instructor and personal trainer courses which include both the level 2 gym instructor and level 3 personal trainer qualifications. Choose from our Level 3 Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma; Level 3 Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer Specialist Diploma; or our Level 4 Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer Master Diploma (which includes the Level 4 Obesity and Diabetes qualification).
What is the best personal training qualification?
The best personal training qualifications are those that are recognised in the industry. You don’t want to do a course that employers and insurance companies won’t recognise.
To explain further, personal training qualifications and their syllabi are written by awarding organisations. They determine the learning outcomes as well as the assessment requirements for their qualifications. Training Providers then design their course, course delivery and assessments based on each qualification’s syllabus. When you pass a course that meets an awarding organisation qualification syllabus, the awarding organisation issues you with a qualification that is recognised in the industry and by insurers.
TRAINFITNESS offers the highest quality personal training courses which allow you to achieve an industry-recognised personal trainer qualification.
How much does it cost to become a personal trainer?
The cost to become a personal trainer varies from approximately £700 to £3000. The main factors that will affect the cost include:
- how you want to study: Distance study at home, In-Person at one of our venues, or Live-Virtual from home over Zoom.
- how much you want to learn: our entry-level Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma or Personal Trainer Practitioner Diploma (if you already hold a recognised level 2 gym instructor qualification) is the minimum requirement to work as a personal trainer. If, however, you’d like to train clients in different ways, in different environments, using different equipment and/or specialise in something like Exercise Referral or Obesity & Diabetes Management, you should choose one of our Specialist Diplomas or Master Diplomas.
- how much you pay today: if you pay for your course up-front, in full, we offer a prompt payment discount of up to 20% off your course fee. If an up-front, in full payment isn’t possible but you can pay a 5% deposit, you can spread the cost of your course over a payment term of up to two years with no interest, or up to five years with a competitive rate of interest.
We also have other payment options available. Call us to find out more.
What qualifications do you need to become a personal trainer?
To become a personal trainer, you must first hold a level 2 gym instructor certificate, then you can go on to achieve a level 3 personal trainer certificate. TRAINFITNESS offer both gym instructor and personal trainer qualifications as part of our Practitioner, Specialist and Master diplomas which are recognised across the fitness industry and by CIMPSPA.
How long does it take to complete a PT course?
You could complete our entry-level Practitioner Diplomas in four to eight weeks. Our larger Specialist Diplomas and Master Diplomas contain more courses, so these will take a little longer to complete.
That said, these timescales are guidelines only because we are all unique with different lifestyles, priorities, preferences and aptitudes. If you’re a self-starter and are looking for flexibility, our Distance study option is the way to go. If you prefer daily interaction with a tutor and a schedule of classes to attend, our Live-Virtual and In-Person study options are for you
How long does it take to learn to be a personal trainer in the UK?
There is the time it takes to get qualified, however your learning won’t stop there. Great personal trainers continue to gain more knowledge and skills throughout their career. TRAINFITNESS have a range on ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, as well as more advanced qualifications, to help you progress your career. See our full range of courses here.
Do you offer personal training courses for free?
Free personal training courses are not something we offer. Instead, we offer affordable, value for money courses backed by our Price Match Promise. If you find the same course with the same services at a better price elsewhere, we’ll match it.*
* Conditions apply.
What do you learn in a PT course?
The PT course covers a vast array of topics to best prepare you for being a knowledgeable and successful PT. You’ll learn about human anatomy and physiology, including workings of the body and its various systems such as the muscular, cardiovascular and endocrine systems, to name a few.
The main duty of a personal trainer is to programme safe and effective workouts for clients. You’ll therefore learn the best way to programme exercises for a range of health and fitness related goals. You will learn how to periodise training to maximise the benefits and most successfully meet your clients’ needs. The course also covers various training systems, modalities and styles allowing you to programme for a variety of different clients and goals.
It’s not all about just having extensive knowledge – you also need to be an effective communicator. On the TRAINFITNESS personal trainer courses, you’ll gain all the soft skills required to be empathetic, relatable, and trusted by your clients.
In addition, you’ll gain a basic understanding of nutrition, how to programme for special populations such as older adults and working with pregnant clients. And finally, you’ll learn how to run your own, successful personal training business.
Can you do personal training courses online?
You can absolutely do your personal training course online with us. With all of our study options – Distance, Live-Virtual, and In-Person – you’ll complete the theory component, including the theory assessments online. The main difference between our study options is how you perform the practical assessments.
For more information, see the Distance, Live-Virtual and In-Person Course Specs above.
Do you have personal trainer courses near me?
We have venues up and down the country from Glasgow and Edinburgh in the north to Bath and London in the south. If none of our training venues are suitable, we offer Live-Virtual clinics held over Zoom where you can complete the course from the comfort of your own home.
Get Started with
Personal Training Guidance
The fitness industry is an incredibly fulfilling place to build a successful career and is forecast to grow 171% by 2028. Become a personal trainer now and take advantage of this explosive growth. With over 7000 gyms in the UK, there’s never been a better time to start your career in the personal training industry.
Check out information about the employment models you can choose from when you graduate with us as a qualified personal trainer.
Employed
Working as a full time, employed PT (holding a recognised level 3 personal training certification and personal trainer insurance), you would receive set work hours and a salary from your employer. In most cases, your salary will remain the same regardless of how many clients you end up training per week.
As an employed fitness professional, your duties will involve more than designing exercise programmes and taking clients through fitness training sessions. On top of fitness instructing, you may be required to work on reception, teach a variety fitness classes that you’re qualified to deliver, and perform other duties such as cleaning and maintaining the fitness equipment. You may also be required to conduct gym inductions and take new members through their first exercise workout.
For some people, full time employment as a fitness professional provides the job security they’re looking for. As a professional PT working in professional fitness settings such as gyms and leisure centres, you would receive the regular benefits a full time position comes with, such as holiday pay and sick pay, whilst you build your industry experience.
Self-Employed
As a self-employed fitness professional, you have greater freedom to decide when, where and how you deliver your training and fitness services. For many learners, the ability to marry their desire to change lives through exercise with the ability to decide their own path to work/life balance is one of the many reasons they become a qualified level 3 personal trainer.
Running Your Business
As a self-employed personal trainer you decide how many exercise sessions you want to deliver per day and per week. In most cases, the fees you charge your clients are your own; however, the gym you work at will often charge you a rental fee to use their exercise facilities. These rental fees vary greatly depending on the gym and its location.
Of course, being self-employed also means greater flexibility with the whereabouts of the training you offer. For example, you can train clients in their own home or outside, where there are little to no costs.
Benefits of Being Self-Employed
Being self-employed gives you the greatest amount of control and flexibility over your working life. You are your own boss; therefore, you choose how many PT sessions you want to do, where you train your clients and how much you charge.
Hybrid Employed/Self-Employed
Increasingly, the hybrid employed/self-employed model is becoming a more popular personal training model offered by health and fitness clubs. It involves you working some set, salaried hours for the health club, and then you’re free to train your clients in the club for a reduced rental fee. It’s the best of both worlds with the security of a salary and some of the freedom of a self-employed position.
After You Complete Your Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training Course
Once you complete your Level 3 personal trainer qualification, your next step is to start building your client base. The hybrid model allows you to earn a salary performing the duties the fitness club sets for you, while also allowing you get to meet members and convert them into paying clients at your own pace.
Hybrid Employed/Self-Employed
Increasingly, the hybrid employed/self-employed model is becoming the most popular personal training offering by operators. It involves you working some set, salaried hours for the employer, around which you’re free to train your clients in the club for a reduced rental fee. It’s the best of both worlds with the security of a salary and some of the freedom of a self-employed position.
After You Complete Your Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training Course
Once you complete your level 3 personal trainer qualification, your next step is to start building your client base. The hybrid model allows you to earn a salary performing the duties the employer sets for you, while also allowing you get to meet members and convert them into paying clients at your own pace, in your own time.