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Personal trainer

Alternative titles for this job include

Personal trainers work with clients to improve their health and fitness.

Average salary (a year)

£14,000 Starter

to

£22,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

32 to 34 variable

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays as customers demand

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a personal trainer

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

College

You could take a college course to help you get into this career. Courses include:

  • Level 2 Diploma in Instructing Exercise and Fitness
  • Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing
  • Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training

Entry requirements

You'll need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could do a personal trainer advanced apprenticeship.

You could do a similar role in the forces through an apprenticeship to become a physical training instructor.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Direct Application

You can apply to become a personal trainer or set up your business, if you've got qualifications and experience as a fitness coach or gym instructor.

More Information

Career tips

It's usual to have a certificate in first aid that includes cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Further information

You can find out more about careers in exercise and fitness from the National Register of Personal Trainers.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • 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

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

On a daily basis you might:

  • help clients set short-term and long-term fitness goals
  • plan a fitness programme to help clients achieve their goals
  • teach, motivate and coach clients in how to follow their programmes safely and effectively
  • give advice on health, nutrition and lifestyle changes
  • help clients with their workouts
  • check and record clients' progress, using methods like measuring heart rate and levels of body fat
  • promote your services and do business admin tasks if you are self-employed

Working environment

You could work at a fitness centre or at a client's home.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

You could take further instructor courses to learn new skills to offer clients, like yoga, pilates, nutrition or aerobics.

With further training, you could also work with people recovering from illness or who have medical conditions.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Level 3 Personal Training Apprentice

  • Wage: £10,982.40 Annually
  • Location: London

Apprentice Personal Trainer

  • Wage: £8,128.90 Annually
  • Location: BodyTalk Gym, Adastral Park, Martlesham, Ipswich
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Personal Trainer

  • Provider: SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE
  • Start date: 12 September 2023
  • Location: Ipswich

Personal Trainer Level 3

  • Provider: THE OLDHAM COLLEGE
  • Start date: 04 September 2023
  • Location: Oldham
Find courses near you

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