Are you passionate about fitness and looking to make a difference in people’s lives by helping them achieve their health and wellness goals? If so, becoming a personal trainer might be the perfect career path for you. As the demand for qualified personal trainers continues to rise, it’s essential to stand out from the crowd with a proper PT qualification. Embarking on this rewarding career journey requires dedication, hard work, and the right guidance. In this article, we’ll discuss the first steps you need to take to become a personal trainer, from choosing the right course to networking and gaining practical experience.
Research and Choose a PT Qualification
To establish yourself as a professional personal trainer, it’s crucial to obtain a reputable and accredited PT qualification. There are plenty of course providers to choose from, all with their own pros and cons, so make sure you research them thoroughly to find one that is the right fit for you.
What should you look for?
Accreditation – OFQUAL govern the quality of learning providers, they do so via awarding organisations. To ensure you’re getting a good quality, industry recognised qualification you need to go with a learning provider that is accredited by a decent awarding organisation such as Active IQ or YMCA. There are more but these are most recognised in the UK.
Learning content – There is a base syllabus that will be included in all of these accredited courses that will teach you the fundamentals of what is needed. However some online personal trainer course providers will go above and beyond what is required to provide additional learning materials that will help ensure you’re the best PT possible.
Format – By this we mean whether it is online, in-person or a mixture of the two. E-learning has become increasingly popular and the quality of the courses is constantly improving. By offering the course online the providers are able to keep the price much lower, so it can be a good option if you’re less bothered about in-person coaching and more interested in keeping the cost down. In-person learning is great if you have a good coach but it can be costly and you’ll need to travel to the premises of the provider. Blended learning is a mixture of the two, you should in theory get the best of both worlds, flexible e-learning with workshop days to cover key topics, and a price point somewhere in the middle.
Support – If you’re going with an online course you’ll want to check the level of support you’re going to receive. You don’t want to be left waiting days or more for a response to your questions, and when you submit work for marking you want to know you’ll hear back quickly with any changes you need to make.
Optional extras – This can add great value to a course by including CPDs such as circuit training, spinning, padwork etc. Or maybe with additional qualifications like training older adults, nutrition, pre & post natal, exercise referral etc. If you want to go in to continue your learning past your PT qualification then it’s worth looking at what extras are included. This tends to be the other main way that companies differentiate themselves and charge more for courses, by including a bunch of extra courses.
Cost & payment options – As discussed above, the format you go with and what extras you want will likely be the biggest factors affecting cost but all providers charge different amounts so you’ll want to make sure you check what’s included. If you’ve found a price point that works for you, you should also check if they offer payment plans and if they’re interest free or not. Some will offer flexible payment plans that make it more affordable for you, so keep an eye out for that.
Gain Practical Experience and Networking
While obtaining your PT qualification is a critical step in becoming a personal trainer, it’s equally important to gain practical experience and develop your professional network. Volunteering or shadowing experienced personal trainers can provide invaluable insights into the day-to-day responsibilities and challenges of the profession. This hands-on experience will help you hone your skills and better understand your clients’ needs. Additionally, networking within the fitness industry is essential for your career growth. Attend workshops, join professional associations, and connect with fellow trainers to establish relationships that can lead to future job opportunities or collaborations. Remember that building your client base and personal brand begins early on, so make the most of every chance to learn, network, and showcase your passion for personal training.
