What qualifications to be a Personal Trainer is a popular question asked of our team here at the Academy of Fitness Professionals.
There’s no doubt it’s an attractive career proposition if you’ve an interest in all things fitness enabling you to use your skills to help others, build your own client base and even work for yourself starting your very own personal training business. Nonetheless it can be a little bit daunting figuring out how to get started and understanding exactly what qualifications you need to become successful. Fear not, our handy tips and popular questions about becoming a Personal Trainer aim to give you the need to know answers.
Personal Trainer Career Start Point
To work as an accredited Personal Trainer you will need a level 3 Personal Trainer qualification. A prerequisite to studying for your level 3 is to hold a level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification. If you’re starting from scratch you can complete a level 3 Personal Trainer course package which combines your level 2 and level 3 qualifications or choose to qualify for these separately.
So which is better? There’s no doubt a Personal Trainer Package route is a popular choice for those starting out and will save you time and money on becoming qualified but it’s also important to consider how you learn best. If you prefer a step by step approach you may be better suited to gaining your Level 2 qualification and then progressing to your Level 3. Remember both options lead to the same ultimate goal in that you will be qualified to work as a Personal Trainer providing expertly designed exercise programs and coaching to support your clients’ needs.
With your preferred study route sorted there are a few UK Personal Trainer qualification options to choose from including Certificate and Diploma level accreditations. For more information download our fitness course guide which will explain full course content and assessment choices.
I want to be a Personal Trainer – Popular Questions
Check out these popular questions about our personal training courses for a little help on how to get your PT career started.
How long does it take to qualify as a Personal Trainer?
If you are able to study full-time you can complete your level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing from as little as 6 weeks and the same for your level 3. If your preference is to study part-time then a typical course duration is 12 weeks for each level. You get to study by blended learning and work with the help and support of your course tutor which gives you the advantage of being able to set the pace to how you learn best.
What do you need to be a Personal Trainer?
Once you are Personal Trainer qualified there’s a few things to bear in mind before you start to work with clients. It’s important to have the relevant insurance and public liability cover to protect yourself and your clients, for example in the event of an injury. It’s also seriously worth thinking about joining an independent body such as REPs, the Register of Exercise Professionals which will build client confidence that you are accredited to practice from the outset.
How can I be confident in my Personal Trainer Course choice?
Firstly look for awarding body endorsement and secondly industry accreditation. Both of these are important indicators that your course conforms to industry standards and is from an approved fitness training provider. Our students have the peace of mind that we work with the NCFE awarding body and our Personal Trainer qualifications are industry endorsed through REPs. But it’s not just about endorsement and accreditation. Ask yourself am I having a real conversation about my career goals and the right fitness qualifications for me?
Can I be a Personal Trainer without certification?
It is not advisable to be a Personal Trainer without the relevant industry approved certification. Whilst you may feel you know a lot about fitness, gym-based exercise and how to create training programs you are leaving yourself wide open to potential legal action should things go wrong and potentially are putting the health, safety and well-being of your clients at risk. What’s more word soon spreads and rather than building a reputation as the go to Personal Trainer in your locality you could do quite the opposite and carve out a negative reputation that’s hard to shake off. Devote the time to learning your trade the right way and you can look forward to starting an exciting new Personal Trainer career knowing you’ve all the essential qualifications to practice with confidence.
Do Personal Trainers need any specialist equipment?
There’s a huge range of highly effective strength and cardio-vascular exercises that use nothing more than human body weight so the quick answer to this is no. However, with such a wide choice of indoor and outdoor fitness facilities to choose from most Personal Trainers adopt a range of training techniques using relevant equipment to maximise results for their clients. A popular choice is to work from a gym where there’s a whole host of equipment at your fingertips. Alternatively if you’re working freelance in client homes key pieces of equipment include; appropriate free weights, Swiss balls and a foam roller.
