Compare Personal Trainer Courses

Whether you're looking for a new fitness career or just want to change your existing fitness job, if you want to know just how to become a trainer and which courses suit you, then we CAN help you.

3 Quick Facts On Becoming a Personal Trainer

 

	Calling yourself a personal trainer means you must have passed a minimum of a Level 3 certification in Personal Training. This must be from a CIMSPA approved training provider.
	Once you have a Level 3 or Level 4 personal training qualification, you are then able to work as a personal trainer. You can choose whether to work in a gym, a PT studio, a hotel or you can of course set up your own PT business.
	Before you train anyone, you need to ensure you have sufficient Public Liability insurance to cover you in the event of an injury or illness with your clients. This is imperative.

 

That's the facts. Now why not take a little time to look more into the detail with our 6 steps below.

 

How To Choose A Personal Trainer Course

 

The NRPT.co.uk has been helping people find the right personal trainer course for over 20 years now - so we know what we're talking about. We cannot emphasise enough that you do your homework when trying to choose the right training course.

So we have put down 6 steps we think are crucial to ensure you are considering everything :

 

+ Step 1 - What Is An Accredited PT Course?

 

+ Step 2 - Part Time or Full Time Courses?

 

+ Step 3 - Employed or Self Employed When Your Qualify?

 

+ Step 4 - What Does it Cost?

 

+ Step 5 - Personal Trainer Courses

 

+ Step 6 - Related Articles and Advice

 

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Step 1 - What Is An Accredited PT Course?

 

Probably the most important step if you're serious about becoming a personal trainer! You must ensure the course you eventually sign up for is an "Accredited" course from a UK personal training company.

The Government-backed 'Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity –CIMSPA,  provides a framework that recognises the qualifications and expertise of professionals in the fitness industry. This a far cry from even 10 years ago where there was no framework overseeing personal trainer, fitness instructors or anyone else in the fitness and leisure industry.

The NRPT.co.uk ONLY works with training providers who are part of and adhere to the CIMSPA framework.

For You :  When you search and find training courses on the NRPT.co.uk, you can be assured we've done our checks on the training providers. Do not leave this to chance!

 

Step 2 - Part-Time or Full-Time Course?

 

Whatever your circumstances, there is likely to be a course that will suit your needs. If you need to keep working, then Distance Learning courses may be the best option. If you've been made redundant or are between jobs, then an intensive full-time course over a 6 week period may suit you better. With most Training Providers, there are a range of options from which you can choose.

Online (or Distance Learning)

Also known as Distance Learning. This option is mainly for those that not only have a full-time job, but would also have difficulty attending an academy during weekends. With an online course you’ll be completing most of the modules from home at your own pace, and will only be required to attend an academy to sit your exams.

Part Time

If you have a current job, or are a working mum or dad, then part time personal trainer courses give you more flexibility. The largest proportion of your learning and revising will be from home, but you will need to attend practical courses and assessments over a weekend. Look on the bright side, these are a lot cheaper and a full-time or residential course. Most training providers offering these type of courses (FIE, Premier, YMCAfit, Core Fitness)   

Full Time

Still the best way to get a qualification in our view, full time personal trainer courses mean you have to attend a course on weekdays for up to 6 weeks. There are also some weekend 'practical' elements with most providers. This is also referred to by some Training Providers as a "Fast Track course". It's a perfectly acceptable route to become a personal trainer, but is usually one of the most expensive options for most providers.

Residential

Finally, there are also a few Residential Intensive Courses. These are either in the UK, or with some providers, in Spain. These give you 'in gym' practicals as well as the intensive classroom learning experience.

 

Step 3 - Work in a Gym or be Self-Employed

 

You have a big decision to face when you complete your course - do you go it alone and become self-employed, or do you accept a job with one of the gym chains? We can't tell you what to do here, everyone is different.

Accepting a job (if you choose the right course you have guaranteed interviews on completion) from one of the big chains is the easiest route. There's no setting up a company or finding insurance, you have clients 'on a plate' through the gym and you have some support around you from fellow personal trainers or gym staff. On the downside, you do not get much freedom on how or when  you work, the amount you earn will be significantly lower than being freelance and finally, is this why you changed career?

So the upsides for going freelance or self-employed are the freedom you may want, flexibility for a working day, increased wages (typically you could be charging from £20 - £30 an hour upwards) and no one looking over our shoulder. Obviously you need to be a "get and go" type of person to really thrive, but only you know how you will cope with the ups and downs. You can get support from your course providers, fellow trainers off your course, maybe from local personal trainers too.

Don't forget that you may be able to combine being employed with some self-employed training (although check your contract before you do!)

 

Step 4 - The Costs of a PT Course

 

The price for training courses varies between the training providers. Ranging from around £888 for a purely online "Distance Learning Course", through to £5000 for an intensive 6 week course. This may sound like a substantial cost for wanting to change (or enhance your career) but the initial cost is far outweighed by the career prospects.

Increasingly, training providers are realising the need to provide you with ways to pay in instalments. Often these are also at zero interest rates. The best route if this sounds right for you is to contact the training course provider you are thinking of signing up with and discussing with one of their careers advisers.

There is also the option with some providers to apply for an 19+ Advanced Learning Loan.

Once you have chosen the course you want and know how much you have to pay, you will usually need to pay a deposit to secure your place on the course.

 

Step 5 - Find Personal Trainer Courses

 

 

We work with a whole range of other training providers, so you can find all UK training providers we work with here.

Step 6 - Related Articles & Advice

As well as working through the steps above, why not also read through the following articles that may shed some light on the basic information, whether you are suited to beng a personal trainer and what your expectations could be post-qualification.

+ What Does a Personal Trainer Do? (Role Profile)

+ The Skills, Pro's and Cons of Being a Trainer

+ What I Can I Earn as a Trainer?

+ How Much Do Trainer Courses Cost?

+ How Can I Start a PT Business?

+ Which Course Will Get You a Job as a PT?