How To Become A Personal Trainer In The UK
If you have a passion for health and fitness, becoming a personal trainer could be a wise career move. You’ll help clients reach their fitness goals, and there’s always an opportunity to specialise in working with specific demographics.
The UK health and fitness industry continues to grow, and qualified trainers can work in gyms, health centres, and even online (Statista).
Better still, you don’t need to worry about years of university or hold any previous qualifications to begin your career.
Ready to learn how to become a personal trainer? We’ve outlined the steps you’ll need to take.
Step 1: Get qualified
The first step in becoming a personal trainer is to get qualified. As we mentioned before, you don’t need A Levels or a degree, but you will need a foundational knowledge of health and fitness. Most people begin with a Level 2 qualification and then move on to a specialist personal training diploma.
Become a Level 2 Gym Instructor
The Level 2 Gym Instructor Certification is your pathway into the fitness industry. It’s the qualification most gyms will ask for and demonstrates that you have an in-depth understanding of fitness principles, health and safety, gym class planning, and providing a constructive experience for clients.
A fitness instructor can assist members inside the gym and perform induction sessions, but they cannot work with clients on a one-on-one basis.
While this qualification won’t allow you to work as a personal trainer, it ensures you can find employment in a gym and build your skills.
Complete a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma
The Level 3 Personal Training Diploma is an advanced qualification that allows you to work as a personal trainer in gyms and health centres.
It’s the gold standard for fitness professionals and covers vital information, including nutrition, working with clients with different needs, planning and developing exercise plans, identifying risks, and marketing yourself as a personal trainer.
Key tasks to complete:
- Find a reputable personal training course provider.
- Make sure the courses are CIMSPA-accredited.
- Complete a Level 2 certification, then complete the Level 3 diploma.
Step 2: Get insurance
Once you’re qualified, you’ll need to consider obtaining insurance. Multiple types of insurance are available for fitness industry professionals, but not all are essential.
The policies you’re legally required to have are:
- Public Liability Insurance: These policies cover you financially if a client becomes injured. Most gyms ask their trainers to obtain Public Liability Insurance before starting work.
- Professional Indemnity Insurance: Fitness instructors offer professional advice to clients, and they need Professional Indemnity Insurance in case of negligence.
Optional insurance policies
You don’t necessarily need these insurance policies, but they can be beneficial to have. You’ll need to consider the initial costs and whether the following policies are a good investment:
- Personal Accident Insurance: When you’re continuously instructing clients and running fitness classes, there’s a risk of injury. Personal Accident Insurance can provide financial support if you can’t work due to an injury.
- Loss of Earnings Insurance: Similar to Personal Accident Insurance, this type of coverage protects you financially if you cannot work.
- Equipment Insurance: Most gyms and health clubs have equipment insurance, but you should get a policy if you use your own equipment.
Key tasks to complete:
- Compare insurance providers and ensure you meet legal requirements.
- Think about whether you need the other policies.
Step 3: Plan your personal training career
So, you have the necessary qualifications and have appropriate insurance – now it’s time to consider your career. The biggest decision you’ll need to make at this stage is whether you want to work for a gym, offer freelance fitness classes, or become a self-employed personal trainer.
While each career path has benefits, the right one depends on your immediate and long-term goals.
Becoming employed
If you’re newly qualified and want to gain experience, working in a gym or health centre is a great way to learn from more experienced personal trainers. You’ll run fitness classes or work with clients one-on-one (if you hold the Level 3 PT diploma) and enjoy a fixed income.
Working on a freelance basis
If you want more flexibility or plan to balance your PT career with childcare commitments, freelance work can be beneficial. Many gyms will hire people to teach a regular class, but you can also provide backup support for busy health centres or work with specific demographics.
Starting your own personal training business
Many people love the idea of starting their own business, but it’s not advisable if you’re new to the industry. Most self-employed trainers have years of experience and know the industry inside out. However, your earning potential will improve once you’re ready to start a business.
Key tasks to complete:
- Decide whether you want to become employed, work freelance, or open a personal training business.
- If you’re planning on working in a gym, you’ll need to find employment opportunities. Students of The Fitness Circle can look forward to plenty of interview opportunities due to our links to gyms like Virgin Active and Nuffield Health.
- Before establishing yourself as a freelance personal trainer, look for available opportunities in the area and decide whether there’s enough earning potential.
Step 4: Learn and grow
Once you become a personal trainer, you can look forward to improving your skills and gaining confidence in your abilities. Multiple skills and characteristics make a successful personal trainer, but the best way to learn them is through practical experience.
By providing a complete experience and building a loyal client list, you can expand your knowledge and become a popular source of information for clients.
Learn nutrition skills
Nutrition is a vital component of fitness. Even if someone exercises for an hour each day, poor nutrition means they won’t achieve their desired results. If personal trainers can go beyond basic nutrition tips and provide their clients a well-rounded experience, they’ll be more in demand.
The Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity course gives you a deep understanding of nutrition principles to support clients. A YMCA Level 4 Nutrition course is ideal if you want to gain an advanced qualification.
Learn More About Nutrition Courses.
Build a client base
You can build a client base while working in a gym by having excellent communication skills and being willing to go the extra mile for each client. To develop a successful personal training business, you’ll need to actively build your client base.
Our Level 3 PT Diploma covers marketing, and collecting positive reviews means prospective clients are more likely to choose your services.
Diversify your skill set
The Level 3 Personal Training qualification is a great starting point, but at some point, you might want to think about advancing your skills or specialising. The fitness industry is constantly evolving, and there are plenty of opportunities to find your niche through taking specialist fitness courses.
Popular career paths include:
- Becoming an advanced trainer through the Level 4 Personal Training Diploma. This certification prepares you for senior roles and is more in-depth than the Level 3 PT Diploma.
- Completing a Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Diploma to support women with their fitness goals at different pregnancy stages and after birth.
- Specialising in Circuit Training or becoming an Exercise to Music Instructor.
- Stepping away from client-facing roles to become a Tutor and Assessor, helping students embark on a new career.
Key tasks to complete:
- Broaden your skills by completing a nutrition certification.
- Make sure you provide clients with a positive experience and develop a loyal customer base.
- Think about which areas of fitness you’re most interested in and consider specialising.
Ready to become a successful personal trainer?
If you’re ready to develop your skills and look forward to a prosperous career within the fitness industry, studying with The Fitness Circle gives you everything you need to thrive. Our online Personal Trainer Diploma is fully accredited, and you’ll receive ongoing support from expert tutors.
Please book a free call with a specialist today to discuss your career goals, or add a course to your basket and begin the learning journey. We also offer flexible payment options, which make our courses more accessible.
FAQs
What’s the average personal trainer salary?
It depends on your experience and whether you work in a gym or run a business. Multiple factors impact personal trainer salaries, but the average amount ranges from £16,000 to over £80,000.
Self-employed personal trainers earn more if they build a large client base, so there are plenty of opportunities to increase your earnings over time.
How can I find personal training jobs?
Studying with The Fitness Circle gives you access to career opportunities from the UK’s most reputable gyms. We’ve helped many of our students secure employment at prestigious gyms, but you can also use Indeed, Monster and other job boards to find opportunities.
Are online courses reputable?
Yes, as long as they’re accredited. Our courses are fully online but are also CIMSPA-accredited and follow industry standards. You’ll also have ongoing support from a tutor with fitness industry experience and can fit studying around other commitments.
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