Qualifying as a Personal Trainer with a Level 3 Diploma is an exciting achievement. It gives you the skills to design exercise programmes, coach clients towards their fitness goals, and start making a real difference. However, to be a truly professional trainer, it is essential to understand your scope of practice: what you are qualified to do, what you must not do, and when you must refer clients to other professionals.
This guide explains what a Level 3 Personal Trainer in the UK can and cannot legally and ethically do, according to CIMSPA (the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity) standards. It will help you protect your clients, your career, and your reputation, and show you how you can responsibly expand your scope through further qualifications.
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What Does ‘Scope of Practice’ Mean for Personal Trainers?
Your scope of practice defines the boundaries of your role as a Personal Trainer. It is based on:
Your education and qualifications
The professional standards you are endorsed to (e.g., CIMSPA)
Your insurance coverage
It outlines the advice, services, and activities you are legally and ethically allowed to provide to clients. In short, it is about staying within your professional limits, working safely, and recognising when specialist input is needed.
What a Level 3 Personal Trainer Can Do
As a qualified Level 3 Personal Trainer endorsed by CIMSPA, you are professionally recognised to:
Design and deliver safe, effective, and personalised exercise programmes
Instruct and correct exercise techniques to promote client safety and success
Offer general healthy eating and hydration advice aligned with public health guidelines such as the NHS Eatwell Guide
Motivate and coach clients to create positive lifestyle habits around physical activity, nutrition, and health behaviours
Adapt and progress exercise programmes based on client feedback and needs
Highlight the mental health benefits of exercise and encourage wellbeing-focused lifestyle changes
This scope enables you to work with healthy individuals and clients with non-complex needs to improve their fitness, wellbeing, and quality of life.
What a Level 3 Personal Trainer Cannot Do
There are strict professional boundaries you must not cross. You must not:
Diagnose injuries, illnesses, or medical conditions
Prescribe rehabilitation or treatment programmes for injuries or conditions
Provide clinical nutrition advice, such as diets for diabetes or eating disorders
Act as a physiotherapist, dietitian, doctor, or mental health therapist
Override or contradict medical advice
Treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or eating disorders
When a client’s needs fall outside your qualified scope, you must refer them to an appropriate healthcare professional.
Common Grey Areas Explained
1.) Nutrition Advice
Allowed: You can discuss general healthy eating principles, hydration, and public health advice.
Not allowed: You cannot create detailed meal plans, prescribe calorie-specific diets, or provide dietary advice for medical conditions.
If you want to offer structured nutrition support, you can study the Level 4 Nutrition for Sport and Physical Activity qualification, which is RSPH-certified and Ofqual-regulated.
2.) Working with Injuries or Medical Conditions
Allowed: You can modify exercise programmes with client consent to accommodate old injuries or health histories.
Not allowed: You cannot diagnose injuries, treat conditions, or create rehabilitation plans.
If you want to work with clients referred by healthcare professionals, you should complete the Level 3 Exercise Referral or Level 4 Specialist Qualifications such as Lower Back Pain Specialist.
3.) Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
Allowed: You can encourage physical activity for mental wellbeing and talk about the benefits of exercise for mood and energy.
Not allowed: You cannot diagnose or treat mental health conditions or provide therapy.
To deepen your understanding, you can complete a Mental Health Awareness CPD course. CPD courses improve your knowledge but do not formally expand your professional scope.
How to Expand Your Scope of Practice
You can expand your career opportunities by gaining recognised, regulated qualifications. Here is a breakdown of specialisms and qualifications that formally expand your scope.
Expanding Your Scope: Specialist Skills for Career Growth
Support Clients Managing Ongoing Health Conditions: If you want to work with clients who have long-term but well-controlled health conditions, the Level 3 Exercise Referral qualification is the essential first step. This course prepares you to design safe, effective exercise programmes for individuals whose conditions are being managed by healthcare professionals — such as those with controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, or arthritis. If you are looking to specialise further, the Level 4 Lower Back Pain Specialist qualification focuses on supporting clients living with persistent back pain, always working within your scope of practice and alongside medical guidance where needed.
Offer Non-Clinical Nutrition Support: The Level 4 Nutrition for Sport and Physical Activity qualification enables you to provide structured nutrition advice to support general health, weight management, and sports performance. It is important to note that this qualification does not allow you to diagnose medical conditions or offer clinical nutrition therapy. Instead, it builds your confidence to deliver evidence-based guidance that complements your clients’ broader fitness goals.
Work Safely with Pre- and Post-Natal Clients: Specialist training is essential when working with pregnant or postnatal clients. The Level 3 Pre and Post-Natal Exercise qualification equips you with the knowledge to design safe, effective programmes that adapt to the changing needs of women before and after childbirth. This training ensures you understand when to refer clients back to their healthcare team if additional support is needed.
Deliver Pilates and Reformer Sessions with Confidence: With the growing popularity of Pilates across all age groups, completing a Level 3 or Level 4 Pilates Instructor qualification allows you to lead structured Mat or Reformer classes. These qualifications prepare you to support general health, mobility, and wellbeing through Pilates, rather than offering clinical rehabilitation services.
Further Specialist Study Opportunities
For learners aiming to broaden their expertise across multiple client needs, The Fitness Group offers the Level 3 Specialist Personal Training Diploma. This comprehensive programme combines the foundational Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 Personal Training qualifications with additional accredited study in Exercise Referral and Pre- and Post-Natal Exercise and Nutrition. It is designed to equip fitness professionals with the skills to support a diverse client base, including individuals managing ongoing health conditions or navigating life stages such as pregnancy and postpartum recovery. Flexible study options are available, allowing learners to complete their qualifications either in-person or online.
How to Tell if a Qualification Expands Your Scope
Formal scope expansion only happens if a qualification:
Is mapped to a CIMSPA Professional Standard
It is regulated by Ofqual and listed on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
It is recognised by professional insurance providers for expanded practice
Short CPD courses, while valuable for skill development, do not allow you to take on clinical or specialist client groups.
Final Thoughts
Understanding and respecting your professional boundaries is not about limiting your ambition. It is about safeguarding your clients, protecting your career, and building lasting trust.
By working within your qualified scope, referring to other professionals when needed, and committing to responsible skill development, you will demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism expected by CIMSPA and the wider fitness sector.
If you are ready to responsibly widen your skills and support a broader range of clients, The Fitness Group offers a range of accredited qualifications designed to help you grow your expertise and your career.