How do I become a Personal Trainer?

If you are reading this then you more than likely already enjoy learning about health, fitness and nutrition, and are looking to apply this passion into a career that you will love.

Let us give you a very easy and understandable insight into what you actually need to become an industry recognised Personal Trainer.

The recognised Personal Trainer qualification is split into two levels:

• Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing

• Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training

You can complete these seperately, Level 2 and then Level 3, or you can complete both qualifications as one course:

• Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training

Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing

The Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing qualification will teach you all of the fundamental skills that a good fitness professional needs to have a full understanding of:

• How to coach and instruct exercise to others in a gym environment
• The basics of programming
• Understanding the theory behind the principles of exercise
• Learning the foundations of Anatomy & Physiology
• An introduction to nutrition
• And much more…

All of this subject knowledge needs to be clearly understood by any individual before moving onto the Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training course.

If you already hold a recognised Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing qualification, this will count as your pre-requisite and you can enrol straight onto the Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training course.

*If the level 2 course has not been completed with us, we will simply need a copy of your achieved Level 2 certificate.

Upon completion of your Level 2 course, you can progress onto the Level 3 course and it is generally best to do this straight away whilst the knowledge is fresh.

If you were to stop your learning after you have completed the Level 2 Certificate in Gym Intsructing qualification, you will be recognised as a Gym Instructor. This will allow you to be employed in a gym environment, but it will not give you the qualification to be able to work with clients on a one-to-one basis or as an employed or self-employed personal trainer.

Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training

The Level 3 Diploma in Perosnla Training qualification will give you the advanced knowledge, and certification, that is needed to work with clients on a one-to-one basis and should also give you the knowledge, tools and support to allow you to build a business as a Personal Trainer – generally a high percentage of Personal Trainers are self-employed so an understanding of business set up and how to build this business is key.

On the Level 3 Dipoloma in Personal Training course, you will build upon the fundamental skills taught to you on the Level 2 Gym Instructor course. The subject knowledge you will learn should include:

• Applying advanced training techniques to your coaching skill set, i.e. Interval Training, Resistance Training Methods, KettleBell Training, Circuit Training, Focus-Pad Traing, and much more…
• Programming for a range of different goals – weight loss, muscle growth, sports specific, endurance, general health and fitness, and much more….
• Nutrition – Teaching you not just the basics of nutrition, but how to analyse client food diaries and prescribe nutrition plans to suit a clients needs and goal
• Advanced Anatomy & Physiology
• Business Set Up and Marketing
• And much more…

Once you have completed both the Level 2 and the Level 3 qualifications, you will be recognised as a Personal Trainer and you will be able to gain employment or build your own self-employed personal training business, and be able to obtain the relevant insurance to train clients.

**Best option – Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training**

Although as referenced above, the best way to learn this excellent qualification is to enrol onto the Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training course – this includes both the Level 2 and the Level 3 content and is everything you need to become a Personal Trainer.