Fitness Industry Qualifications – Explained
Throughout many years of teaching I was always amazed that students were frequently perplexed over what qualifications they were completing and what they would actually gain at the end of all their hard work. Some students were under the impression you have to complete a whole array of courses to be recognised as a Personal Trainer, others didnt understand what qualifications employers are looking for when hiring a Personal Trainer and others have simply handed over copious amounts of their hard earned cash and dived in anywhere hoping for a good outcome, (hoping for the best). Therefore this Blog is written to enlighten all students who are a little unclear as to what they actually have to acheive in order to be employed as a Personal Trainer.
To become a Personal Trainer you are required to complete the following:
- Gym Instructor Award or Exercise to Music or Aqua Instructor
- Personal Trainer Award (Which comprises of the Advanced Instructor and ‘either’ Nutrition for Weight Management if you are completing a City and Guilds qualification, or Nutrition for Physical Activity if you are completing a Central YMCA Qualification)
That’s it! Obviously, once you’ve qualified as a Personal Trainer more courses and gaining new skills are a necessity. However, these can be gradually worked on after you’ve commenced your new exciting role in the fitness industry.
It is also worth noting that if you undertake an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) in Personal Training this means that you will take your course whilst as an apprentice in a work placement, where a tutor will visit you at your place of work to teach and assess you there. Therefore, you don’t need to complete an NVQ and a City and Guilds, they are one of the same thing.
I have taken time to research the latest packages on the market which companies are currently offering and have broken down the actual qualification, which is what is stated on the certificates when you receive them. I have also included the prices of the courses where possible, so you can confidently compare. There are a lot of training providers currently operating; I have only chosen the most popular companies. I have also chosen not to state the company names apart from our own company Distinction Fitness and Education.
One final note I feel necessary to point out. You can complete, as an example, a Level 2 Gym Instructor Award (City and Guilds) with one training provider and a Level 3 Personal Trainer Award (Central YMCA Qualification) with a different training provider. At the end of the day you will have achieved a REP’s recognised Level 3 qualification in Personal Training and will be able to register as a Level 3 Instructor, providing that the qualifications you are gaining are REPs recognised (as an example CYQ and City and Guilds).
Follow this link for a list of qualifications which are not REPs recognised.
Follow this link for a list of approved training providers.
I hope that this clears up a lot of misconceptions for future students. Enjoy learning and remember ‘research before you purchase’
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AM**’s Training’s – Personal Trainer Diploma (£2300)
Gym Instructor Award CYQ Level 2 £645
Personal Trainer Award CYQ Level 3 £982
GP Referral CYQ Level 4 £664
Plus 1 CPD Course
Dis*** Learning – Master Personal Trainer (£2200)
Gym Instructor Award CYQ Level 2 £699
Personal Trainer Award CYQ Level 3 £1399
Plus some of Dis******’s own qualifications
Distinction Fitness and Education – Ultimate Personal Trainer (£1680)
Distinction Fitness clearly state the qualifications you are receiving and have excellent university level qualified tutors.
Gym Instructor Award CYQ Level 2 £495
Personal Trainer Award CYQ Level 3 £985
Sports Conditioning Award CYQ Level 3 £295
Fo****** Training – Master Personal Trainer (£2,760)
Note that this doesn’t include the Gym Instructor Award, which is a requirement prior to Personal Trainer Award (extra £612)
Certificate in Personal Training CYQ Level 3
Certificate in Training in Different Environments CYQ Level 3
Certificate in Sports Conditioning CYQ Level 3
F***** F**’s –Personal Trainer Diploma
Gym Instructor Award City and Guilds Level 2 £695
Personal Trainer Award City and Guilds Level 3 £1450
Circuit Training Award City and Guilds Level 2
Sports Nutrition City and Guilds Level 3
Core and Torso Training City and Guilds Level 2
Lif**** – Intensive Personal Trainer (£3295)
Everything within this course is labelled ‘intensive’. Note it is no different than any other CYQ course.
Gym Instructor Award CYQ Level 2 £699
Personal Trainer Award CYQ Level 3
P*** Tr***** – Diploma in Personal Training (Part Time: £3450)
P******* Certificate in Gym Instruction
P******* Certificate in Advanced Personal Training
Blog Auther: www.distinctionfitness.co.uk
This was really helpful thanks! However the course im looking into provides a level 3 City and Guilds and Level 3 entry on REPs, could you please tell me if this course would be really good and noticeable in the industry?
Thanks!