How to Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach

Becoming a strength and conditioning trainer is a great choice for anyone who wants to work with athletes day-to-day. If you’re interested in this role, it’s important to have a good understanding of what steps you need to take to start building a career. This guide will take you through all that you need to know about being a strength and conditioning coach and how to get into your dream job.

As well as explaining what exactly a strength and conditioning coach does and how to make it as one, we’ll help you explore your options for getting qualified. At The Fitness Group, our Level 4 Strength and Conditioning Course is available online, as a hybrid study course, or with mentorship.

Let’s look at what being a strength and conditioning coach entails, the benefits of this career, and how you can get started.

What’s the Role of a Strength and Conditioning Coach?

So what does a strength and conditioning coach do? Strength and conditioning coaches work with athletes to help them achieve peak performance and improve their physical fitness. They might be helping people in sports by creating custom workout programmes, teaching them essential skills, and helping them reduce the likelihood of injury.

Their ultimate goal is to enhance the performance and fitness of their clients, with a more specialised role than a standard personal trainer. This means that strength and conditioning trainers often work with some elite athletes and the best in their fields.

Some of the activities involved in being a strength and conditioning trainer can include writing workout programmes and schedules, delivering both one-on-one sessions and group training, and monitoring athletes’ physical and mental health. Strength and conditioning coaches also often work together with medical professionals to help with rehabilitation and recovery from injury. Of course, the exact activities involved will depend on your employer or if you choose to be self-employed.

What Are the Pay and Hours Like?

Enjoying the tasks involved in carrying out your job is important, but most people also value the other conditions of their work. Things like how much you’re getting paid or what your schedule looks like matter too.

In terms of salary, the average for a strength and conditioning coach is £26,165 per year, according to Indeed. They also say that coaches who charge an hourly rate set it at an average of £14.60 per hour. However, this data is based on general personal trainer salaries, whereas a strength and conditioning coach is a slightly more specialised role. Glassdoor puts the average rate for a strength and conditioning coach slightly higher at just over £31,000. At the top end, their data shows salaries as high as £41,000, while the lowest is £24,000 per year, not much lower than the average for a standard personal trainer.

This shows that taking the time to specialise in strength and conditioning could definitely benefit you as a trainer. You’re likely to find higher salaries or to have the option of charging higher hourly fees if you’re working for yourself. You could find higher salaries in roles where specific strength and conditioning qualifications are required or the employer is looking for experience working with certain groups of people.

But what about the hours? Most people value a good work-life balance and want to fit their work around the rest of their lives. Both full-time and part-time roles are typically available and strength and conditioning coaches can find themselves working on weekdays or at weekends. Early mornings or working in the evenings can be required too, and some coaches may be needed on days when athletes have events.

The First Steps on How to Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach

Now you know what the role involves, it’s also necessary to understand what you actually need to do to become a strength and conditioning coach. Some employers might require a bachelor’s degree. However, it’s also possible to train for this role without any prior qualifications. A Level 4 Personal Training Course is available for those already working in the industry or could be the next step in your education if you are working your way up to becoming a strength and conditioning coach.

To take a Level 4 course, you should first complete a minimum of your Level 2 Gym Instructor Course or your Level 3 Personal Training Qualification. This should be accredited and endorsed, like the courses offered by The Fitness Group. When you have completed your training, you can become a trainer recognised by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). Completing a Level 4 Strength and Conditioning course gives you the chance to learn specialised skills, open up new opportunities, and earn more in your career.

Strength and conditioning course: Finding the right one to get qualified

When you start looking for a strength and conditioning course, you will find that there are multiple providers to choose from. So how do you make sure you get the right provider and the right course? You need to know what to look for in a provider and how to tell if a course is going to give you what you’re looking for.

The main thing to keep in mind is that you should choose a training provider that has high industry standards and that delivers an accredited course. At The Fitness Group, our Level 4 Strength and Conditioning course is internationally accredited and endorsed by CIMSPA. Our course is delivered in partnership with S&C Education and has been developed over many years to provide everything you need to become a qualified strength and conditioning coach.

Another thing to look for is the structure of the course and how it’s delivered. Some courses are online, some are delivered in person, and some offer a hybrid experience. At The Fitness Group, we offer all three options for a flexible way to learn in the way you want to. Take a look at the length of the course too. Some will be a set length with a deadline while others, including our online and hybrid Level 4 course options, allow you the flexibility of completing the material in your own time.

Price is naturally a concern for anyone looking for the right course. One of the top things to look for is the option to pay for the course over time. The right financing options can make it a lot more affordable. Our courses have 0% finance available, allowing you to spread out the cost of your course into easy monthly payments.

Finally, take a look at reviews and ratings to help you find the right provider for your course. You can read the opinions of real course participants and check out the average ratings for both course providers and individual courses. Review sites like TrustPilot are really useful for finding helpful reviews.

How to Start Your Journey as a Strength and Conditioning Coach

Building a career as a strength and conditioning coach takes time and there are several steps you might need to take to reach your goal. Getting the right strength and conditioning qualifications and experience will allow you to find your dream role and start working as a strength and conditioning coach. The next few steps below will outline how to become a strength and conditioning coach.

Understand the role and career options

Firstly, make sure you understand what the role entails and whether it’s right for you. Do some research on the typical responsibilities, salaries in your region, and benefits of the job. You might also want to take a look at current and future job opportunities to determine what the job market is like. You want to know that there’s going to be work available for you when you’re ready to start working. Take a look at our guide to strength and conditioning jobs here.

You can research the career options as a strength and conditioning coach, for example this can be one of the highest paying jobs without a degree in the UK today. You should either already hold your Level 2 Fitness Instructor course qualification or a level 3 personal training course.

Strength and Conditioning qualifications to become a coach

If you’re sure that you want to become a strength and conditioning coach, your next step is to get qualified.

You might already be working (or qualified) as a personal trainer. This means you have a head start and you can begin to look at training as a strength and conditioning coach to add another string to your professional bow. However, if you’re not yet working as a personal trainer, that will be your first step.

If you’re not already a personal trainer, you will need to start with a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course at a minimum and ideally also a Level 3 Personal Trainer Course.

You can then go on to do a Level 4 Strength and Conditioning course to further your training and get a step closer to your new career – the level 4 is the main strength and conditioning qualification you need.

Choose a course that works for you

Furthering your career or retraining is something that takes time. You might even be hesitant to do it because it seems difficult to fit around your other commitments. Fortunately, you can choose a course that works for you. There are options to learn in person but you can also choose a hybrid or online course. Each of these has its benefits.

Online courses – Online courses are the most flexible option, usually allowing you to complete your work at your own pace. With our online Level 4 Strength and Conditioning course, there are no deadlines and you can arrange your online assessment for a time that’s convenient for you.

Hybrid courses – Hybrid courses can combine the best of both worlds, offering flexibility and the benefit of face-to-face learning. For example, our Flexi course gives you the chance to complete your work in your own time while also combining it with a 2-day Practical Workshop led by our expert tutors.

Mentorship courses – For those who prefer to learn face-to-face, courses are also available in person. Some people find this method of learning easier and it can work well for anyone who is able to fit it into their schedule. Our course offers options for 6 or 12 months with one-to-one mentorship.

Where Can You Work With Strength and Conditioning Coach Qualifications?

Once you have your strength and conditioning coach qualifications, it’s time to start looking for work. Your two main options are to find an employer or run your own business. Many people will want to work for someone else first, as this gives you the chance to learn the business and build your skills and experience. However, if you’re already an experienced personal trainer, perhaps you will use your new strength and conditioning qualification to strike out on your own.

There are different environments where you might find yourself working as a strength and conditioning coach. Here are some of the options you could explore when you’re looking for a job.

Professional sports clubs, teams, and athletes

Many strength and conditioning coach roles will involve being employed directly by sports teams and organisations, or by individual athletes. For example, you could end up working with a football team. These roles could range from being part of a local club or team to national organisations that represent elite athletes across the country.

Gyms and fitness organisations

Although many strength and conditioning coach roles will be attached to professional sports organisations, you’re also likely to find lots of jobs going in gyms and fitness centres. These might involve working with athletes, as well as coaching members of the general public.

This type of role is actually well-suited to those who have just qualified. Professional bodies are often looking for someone with more experience, whereas gyms can be more likely to take on someone who might not have as much. Check out the best fitness jobs here.

Educational institutions

Schools, colleges and universities also hire people with qualifications and experience as strength and conditioning coaches. This could involve coaching people who are athletes for school or university teams, particularly those establishments that specialise in sports education. Additionally, experienced coaches might want to consider the option of teaching roles. This is a way to teach and inspire the next generation of personal trainers and others who want to work in sports sciences or health and fitness.

Starting your own business

The other option you have once you’re qualified as a strength and conditioning coach is to work for yourself. Running your own business takes time and effort, but it also puts you in control of your personal training career. You can take on your own clients as you see fit, whether you want to work with organisations or individuals.

Gaining your Level 4 Strength and Conditioning qualification will help set you up for this challenge. However, it’s a good idea if you have some experience as a personal trainer first, so seeking some work experience before you strike out on your own is recommended.

Owning a business entails a number of things, and you will need to work on your business skills, as well as your knowledge of strength and conditioning. You will need to be able to promote your business, secure clients and maintain good client relations, while also managing your business’s finances. It’s also important that you have the right insurance if you’re working for yourself. When you’re employed by someone else, you might be covered by your employer’s insurance. But if you’re a business owner, it’s up to you to protect yourself.

Why Choose The Fitness Group?

Choosing a provider for your strength and fitness coach education can be difficult, but we’re sure that our courses are the best you can get. What sets us apart from other providers is the excellent support that you receive throughout the course.

How to become a strength and conditioning coach can take different study options, depending on what suits you best.

Whether you choose to study online, go with a hybrid course or get one-to-one mentoring, we make sure that you get more from our courses. Every student is assigned an expert tutor who will provide you with support until you have gained your strength and conditioning qualification. You can contact them in whatever way suits you, whether it’s calls, video calls, or emails.

Our support doesn’t stop once you’ve finished your course, either. We can help you develop your career and even your own business both during and after your course. Your tutor will provide you with business plans, tips for marketing yourself and more to help you get started and continue to develop in your career as a strength and conditioning coach. We help you find a job or set up your business after you have finished your course to ensure you get off to a flying start.

If all of this isn’t enough, we also offer a money-back guarantee. We’re so confident in our ability to deliver a superior learning experience with all the support you could need that we’re happy to back it up and remove all the risk for you.

Are you ready to begin your career as a strength and conditioning coach? Find out more about our Level 4 Strength and Conditioning course and find the study option that’s right for you.

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How to Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach