The Complete Career Guide to Become a Personal Trainer

About PT Skills

We help people passionate about fitness start their careers as personal trainers. Once qualified we nurture their talent and help develop their careers. We’re recognised as “outstanding” by the leading awarding body in the active leisure sector, Active IQ.

We’re stoked you’re learning more about health & fitness.

If you want to learn more about a career in fitness, click here.

Choosing a career that you’ll enjoy and will support your personal & professional goals is important to leading a healthy and happy life. A successful career is personal, it’s a career that helps you achieve what’s important for you.

We’re excited to help you learn more about the exercise & fitness industry and how to become a personal trainer. The fitness industry is full of exciting and rewarding opportunities.

This career guide will give you a taste of what a personal trainer career involves, how to gain the correct qualifications and start a personal training career no matter what level of experience you have.

As you’ll learn, the fitness industry continues to grow rapidly, with exciting new technology, and innovation in fitness, providing personal trainers an abundance of opportunity for a rewarding career.

PT Skills Academy supports people who are passionate about fitness take their first steps in the fitness industry. 

As a training provider, we nurture and develop talented fitness professionals who make a difference to the health of people’s lives.

Our students range from university students, professional athletes to career changers looking to follow their passion for health & fitness.  

Choosing a career you’re passionate about will make work fun and challenging, you’ll work hard to realise your professional goals and make “work” fit your lifestyle.

We’re incredibly proud of our students and graduates who go on to work as personal trainers, managers, studio owners, bootcamps instructors and online coaches.

With a growing range of career paths for qualified personal trainers in today’s industry, there has never been a more exciting time to join the fitness industry. 

Enjoy learning about a career in personal training. When you’re ready, our friendly team are available to help you with any questions you might have.

Exercise & Fitness Industry Sector

The exercise & fitness industry sits within the wider active leisure sector. There are hundreds of employers looking for qualified & skilled fitness professionals.

Industries 

Are the places services are delivered

There are four industries in the sport & physical activity sector.

Exercise and Fitness – Services, activities and venues that predominantly improve participant physical fitness.

Leisure Operations – Services, activities and venues that predominantly improve participation in physical activity.

Community Sport – Sport/skill based services, activities and venues that increase participation and develop skill, sometimes targeting underrepresented groups and inequalities.

Performance Sport. – Competitive sport and activities including those in which athletes receive payment for their performance; professional, semi-professional and grass roots sport.

Every industry has people who work in leadership and management and education and training.

Occupations 

Are the jobs performed in the industries

There are hundreds of job titles and CIMSPA grouped them into the following core occupations.

Front Line Workforce – Gym Instructor, group exercise instructor, coach, personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, pilates / yoga/ tai chi instructor, aspiring manager, entry manager, health navigator, swimming teacher, lifeguard, leisure attendant, recreation assistant, swimming teacher, assistantswimming teacher

The Support Workforce – general manager, senior manager, coach developer, senior coach, maintenance operative, pool plant operator

The Broader Workforce – these jobs may be available in sport and physical activity but aren’t jobs CIMSPA provides a membership opportunity for. Receptionist, bar staff, kitchen and catering assistant, waiting staff, cleaner and domestic assistant, sales and retail assistant, chef, sports therapist, nutritionist, sport nutritionist, physiotherapist, PE teachers, childcare workers, carers, sport event staff/volunteers, activity group leaders (e.g. scouts, guides etc), officials.

You can become an employed or self employed personal trainer, able to work in the UK and overseas including countries like Australia, Dubai, and the United States by studying the following fully accredited courses: 

Active IQ Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing

What You’ll Cover 

• Anatomy, physiology and nutrition and how they relate to exercise and fitness
• Health and safety in the fitness environment
• The skills to conduct client and group inductions in a gym-based environment and support exercise adherence and a healthy lifestyle
• The skills to plan, instruct and supervise safe and effective exercise and physical activity sessions
• Professionalism for fitness instructing
• Personal and professional development
• Delivering exceptional customer service

Entry Requirements 

• Some experience of gym-based exercises, including free weights, is highly recommended
• You must be 16 or above to enrol with a reasonable level of fitness; reading, writing, and numeracy

What You’ll Study

• Principles of anatomy, physiology, and fitness.
• Professionalism and customer care for fitness instructors.
• Health, safety and welfare in a fitness environment.
• Conducting client consultations to support positive behaviour change
• Planning & instructing gym-based exercise

Assessment

• Coursework/Project
• Multiple Choice Examination
• Portfolio of Evidence
• Practical Observation

Qualification Earned

• Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing
• Ofqual Number: 603/2692/X

Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training

What You’ll Cover 

• Further knowledge of anatomy and physiology applicable to personal training
• Lifestyle and medical factors that affect wellbeing
• Effective communication skills for client consultations to encourage healthy lifestyle behaviours and strategies for change
• Skills to plan and conduct physical activity sessions with different types of clients in a variety of environments with a range of resources
• Legal and professional requirements for personal training
• How to set up and manage a personal training business on a self-employed basis if they wish to
• How to manage, evaluate and improve own performance.

Entry Requirements 

• You must hold a recognised level 2 fitness instructor (gym) qualification. You must be 16 or above to enrol with a reasonable level of fitness; reading, writing, and numeracy

What You’ll Study

• Applied Anatomy and physiology for exercise, health, & fitness
• Nutrition for exercise, fitness and health
• Understanding lifestyle, health, wellbeing and common medical conditions
• Encouraging positive health behaviours
• Programme design and delivery for Personal Training
• Professionalism & business acumen for personal trainers

Assessment

• Coursework/Project
• Multiple Choice Examination
• Portfolio of Evidence
• Practical Observation

Qualification Earned

• Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training
• Ofqual Number: 603/0895/3

Course durations vary, to complete a level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing & level 3 Diploma in Personal Training, the average completion time is within 6 months.

What it Takes to be a Personal Trainer

Employed & self employed personal trainers are responsible for providing one-on-one or group fitness training to clients. They work in a variety of settings, including gyms, health clubs, and fitness studios. Their duties vary depending on the setting, but they typically include:

Skills & Knowledge

• Customer service skills
• The ability to teach people how to do something
• The ability to work on your own
• Physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• Knowledge of psychology like theories of motivation
• Knowledge of teaching and the ability to design fitness programmes
• Physical fitness and endurance
• Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• To be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What You’ll do as Personal Trainer 

Day-to-day Tasks

• Conducting fitness assessments to determine client fitness levels and goals
• Creating and implementing individualized exercise programs
• Monitoring client progress and providing feedback
• Educating clients on proper exercise technique and safety
• Motivating and encouraging clients to reach their fitness goals
• Adhering to all safety and sanitation procedures

Career Path & Progression

You could take further instructor courses to learn new skills to offer clients, like instructing kettlebells, circuit training, studio cycling or suspension movement training.

With further training, you could become a specialist personal trainer working with people recovering from illness or who have medical conditions and athletes. 

Continuing your education can help you progress into personal training management or gym management.

Our career guide provides up to date and accurate information about the role of a personal trainer, the educational requirements and the fitness industry. Request our career guide today to make an informed decision about a career in personal training & the fitness industry.