So, you have decided to take the plunge and turn your passion for health and fitness into a new career you’ll love. You know you need to get qualified, but how do you choose, what pt course is the right course for you?

Many different personal training courses are available, and even a quick online search can overwhelm you with information. With such a wide range of learning methods and training programmes available, it can be very challenging to work out exactly what you need to do to start your exciting new career.

There are a few things to consider and a wealth of information available online to help you make the decision. Whether you’re looking for additional qualifications to complement the personal training course you’ve already achieved, or you’re planning to start your own business in the fitness industry, it’s important that you choose the right personal training course to match your individual needs. 

What matters the most to you will be different from other people, but there are a few things that you should be aware of that make for a good, accredited course. If you want to become a personal trainer, the more you know about the different kinds of personal trainer courses available, the easier it will be to find the training provider and training programmes you need.

What to Look Out for in Your Personal Trainer Course

There are many personal trainer courses available for those who want to start a new career in the fitness industry. The challenge is knowing how to choose the best personal training courses for you. 

Your first step is to know what level the training course is. There is a wide range available from most training programmes and providers. For some personal training courses, the content is only for a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma, with a prerequisite that you have already completed a relevant Level 2 qualification in something like Gym Instructing.

For most personal trainer courses, a combination of both Level 2 Gym Instructing and Level 3 Personal Training is taught, making the course suitable for complete beginners and culminating in a fully qualified student who has all of the skills and knowledge needed to become a successful personal trainer.

Who Offers Accreditation for the Course You Are Looking At? 

When it comes to course accreditation, making sure the provider, course, and qualification are supported by a recognised body is important. There are lots of companies and individual personal trainers out there offering different kinds of fitness qualifications, but if they aren’t accredited by the right official bodies, then your professional development is going to be slowed down or halted altogether. 

So when you’re looking at possible personal trainer courses, always ensure that the training provider is accredited. The names of accreditors you can expect to see with legitimate personal training qualifications can include any of the following:

• Active IQ
• Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs)
• Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)
• UK Active

When you can see that your training provider is accredited by any of these organisations, you know that potential employers will understand that you have studied the correct modules and learned all you need to. For fitness professionals that have certification from an accredited personal training course, finding employment in the fitness sector will be considerably easier. 

All CIMSPA courses follow a set syllabus, so the content of the personal training course will not differ, but it might be delivered differently by your chosen training provider.

All of the personal training courses available from The Fitness Group are certified by Active IQ, the leading awarding body in the UK for the fitness industry. Our training courses are also internationally recognised qualifications that meet REPs, CIMSPA, and UK Active standards. That means that once you have passed all of the training courses that make up your programme, you will be able to:

• Start your own business as a personal trainer or fitness instructor
• Work in health clubs or even in your own gym
• Work alongside other trainers and fitness professionals

The support that we offer means that as well as your personal training qualification, you also get business skills tuition and we will even arrange a guaranteed interview for all of our students. 

Other Differences in Personal Trainer Courses

These are the differences that are more about personal preferences. Every learner has their own needs when it comes to succeeding in any qualification, so choosing a course based on these is more to do with what learning methods suit you.

Format — Full Time/Part Time/Online

Intensive full-time courses will end in qualification occurring sooner as a rule, but for those looking to study around other commitments like children or work, part-time and online courses might be more suitable. Some training providers that will help you to become a personal trainer are full-time and in-person, while others can either be 100% online learning or a combination of blended learning (with some parts of the training course available online and other parts in-person). 

Choosing the suitable format for your personal training course means that you can learn at your own pace and in the way you prefer.

Location

Whether you are taking the course part-time or full time, attendance at a training location is easier when it is nearby. Not every training provider will have a location near you, so if you’re not looking for online resources for your personal training certification, make sure that you choose a personal training course that’s within an easily accessible commute.

Contact Time

Having one-on-one time with your tutor, whether on the phone, via video conferencing, or in person is essential, especially if you have a query or need extra support. Tuition and support can come from online resources like lectures and tutorials as well as physical demonstrations to help you become a personal trainer.

Price

Although it might seem odd, the most expensive personal training courses are not necessarily the best. Finding the right course at the right place is important – but remember there are often funding options available, from discounts on upfront payment to interest-free instalments and even loans.

So if you’re looking for a new career and can’t wait to be fully qualified, don’t rush into a decision about the best personal training course without checking the price of each course and how much support that provider offers.

Get the Right Personal Training Course with The Fitness Group

We know what you need to be successful in the fitness industry. Our personal training courses are created specifically to ensure that you can transform your learning into the fitness career you want.

For more information about how learning with The Fitness Group works, get in contact with the team and we would be happy to help you. As the leading training provider for personal trainers in the UK, we can help you become a fully qualified personal trainer.

Call us today and find the right personal trainer course for you! You can start your exciting journey to become a qualified personal trainer by signing up for the best personal training courses in the country, with all of the support you’ll ever need.