If you’re asking yourself ‘Am I too old to be a personal trainer?‘, the quick answer is no – you are not too old to be a personal trainer. Whether you’re 18 or 80, there are no age limits when it comes to becoming a personal trainer. In fact, the health and fitness industry is in desperate need of a more diverse range of personal trainers, including those with more life experience.

Recent statistics show that the fitness industry in the UK is booming. As of 2022, there were 25,350 registered personal trainers and 69,300 fitness trainers in the UK. The number of gyms and fitness centres has more than doubled in recent years too, with over 7,000 facilities now available across the country. Approximately 16% of the UK population, roughly 11 million people, have a gym membership too.

All this means there’s plenty of room for personal trainers of all ages to enter the field and make a significant impact. So if you’ve discovered a new passion for fitness, no matter how late in life, a new career as a personal trainer is well within your reach.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering becoming a personal trainer as a late career change.

Smashing the stereotypes

When most people think about a personal trainer, the immediate mental image is often a toned man or woman, generally in their early 20s or 30s, looking great with sculpted muscles. However, this stereotype is not only inaccurate but can be harmful, potentially deterring some people from hiring a personal trainer or pursuing this career path themselves.

The truth is that becoming a personal trainer isn’t only for the young. In fact, older trainers bring unique advantages to the profession that can make them even more effective and successful.

Benefits of Becoming a Personal Trainer Later in Life

Not only can you become a personal trainer in your 40s, 50s or even if you’re older, but you may actually be a better and more successful PT if you’re over 40. Certain benefits come with your age that younger personal trainers may not have. 

Life experience

Being older means that you have a lot more life experience than those younger personal trainers. When you become a fully-qualified personal trainer, a large part of running your new business will be finding and then retaining your clients. Professional conversation and maintaining your reputation are vital skills for a personal trainer. Those are skills that you simply won’t get in the classroom but will have learned through experience.

Those life experiences can also guide your career path. For example, If you’re an older woman who has gone through a pregnancy, then you’re ideally suited to a pre and post natal training certification, and clients will seek you out if they know you’ve been there before. 

Relatability

Life experience extends to all of those clients who will be able to relate to you more because of your age. Clients in their 40s, 50s and beyond are more likely to sign up if they can relate to you.

It’s a fact that personal trainers need to stay professional at all times, but that works alongside the need to build a good relationship. Older clients that want to get healthier are more likely to look for a personal trainer that matches their demographics.

With that sense of comfort, your older clients will also be more likely to be honest with you about their health levels, lifestyle and any mistakes they’ve made with their diets that week. Happy customers are more likely to provide a word of mouth recommendation to their friends, colleagues and family, giving you an entirely new marketing resource at your fingertips.

Transferable skills

It’s likely that if you’re considering becoming an older personal trainer, this isn’t your first career. That’s going to mean you have transferable skills that you picked up in your previous career that can be used in your new health and fitness role. In fact, becoming a PT is a great career change idea for those in their 40s and 50s. 

From better time management, budgeting or marketing, whatever your previous career, you can be sure that there are elements of it that will be extremely valuable when you become a fully-qualified personal trainer. Think about the skills you learned in your previous role. You might be surprised by the skills you bring to the gym. 

So if you’re asking if you can become a personal trainer despite your age, it’s important to remember that your age is less of a barrier than you might have assumed. Instead, it could be your biggest asset. Not all clients are going to want young personal trainers who lack life experience and who they can’t relate to.

Even if you’re in your 60s or older, there’s a ready-made market out there waiting to sign up as your client. Of course, you don’t have to specialise in training older clients if you prefer not to. The only skills you need to showcase are your knowledge, enthusiasm, passion and ability to motivate. Everything else, including your age, is irrelevant.

Potential challenges of becoming a personal trainer at an older age?

While there are many advantages to becoming a personal trainer later in life, it’s important to be aware of potential challenges:

• Physical Demands – Personal training can be physically demanding. If you have any physical limitations, consider how you can work around them. For example, you might focus more on form and technique rather than demonstrating every exercise yourself.
• Technology and Trends – The fitness industry is constantly evolving, with new trends and technologies emerging regularly. Stay current by committing to continuous learning and professional development.
• Work-Life Balance – As an older trainer, you may have more family commitments or other responsibilities. Ensure you can balance these with your new career, perhaps by offering flexible scheduling or online training options.

How to become a personal trainer

If you’re inspired to start a career as a personal trainer, here are the main steps you need to take to get there.

1. Get Certified – The first step is to get a recognised personal training certification. In the UK, you’ll need to complete a Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification followed by a Level 3 Personal Trainer course. These courses cover anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and exercise programming.
2. Gain Practical Experience – While studying, try to gain hands-on experience. This could involve volunteering at local gyms or working with friends and family.
3. Specialise – You might want to consider obtaining additional certifications in areas that interest you. Good areas to think about are popular areas such as strength and conditioning and nutrition. You can also think about other courses like obesity and diabetes and lower back pain.
4. Get Insured – Personal trainer insurance is crucial to protect yourself and your business. Look for policies that cover professional liability and personal accident.
5. Choose Your Work Environment – Decide whether you want to work in a gym job, become self employed and start your own business or offer online personal training services, allowing you to work from home and provides more flexibility. Each option has its own benefits and challenges.
6. Market Yourself – Use your life experience and unique perspective as selling points. Highlight how your age and experience make you a great choice for clients.
7. Stay Updated – Commit to ongoing learning to stay current with the latest fitness trends and research.

You can become a personal trainer at any age

Age should never be a barrier to becoming a successful personal trainer. Your years of life experience can be your biggest asset in this field. Whether you’re in your 40s, 50s, 60s or beyond, there’s a place for you in the fitness industry.

Remember, clients of all ages need guidance, motivation and support in their fitness journeys. This is especially true as a greater variety of people are wanting to improve their fitness and go to the gym. Your unique perspective and life experiences can make you an invaluable resource to these clients. With the right certifications, a commitment to ongoing learning, and a passion for helping others, you can build a rewarding career as a personal trainer at any age.

So, if you’re asking yourself, “Am I too old to be a personal trainer?” – the answer is a resounding no. Your age isn’t a limitation, it’s an advantage.