Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training

Course Summary

This course is aimed at individuals who wish to pursue a career in the health and fitness industry as a Personal Trainer. The aim of this qualification is to recognise the skills, knowledge and competence required for an individual to work unsupervised as a personal trainer. This includes being able to offer one-to-one training, baseline assessment, nutritional advice and progressive programming which is specific to the individual needs of a client.

You will learn

• Anatomy and physiology including:
  • the heart and circulatory system
  • the musculoskeletal system
  • postural and core stability
  • the nervous, endocrine and energy systems and their relation to exercise and health
• How to programme safe and effective exercise for a range of clients, the health benefits of physical activity and the importance of healthy eating
• How to design, manage, and adapt a personal training programme with apparently healthy adults of all ages
• How to deliver exercise and physical activity as part of a programme for apparently healthy adults of all ages
• How to apply the principles of nutrition to support client goals as part of an exercise and physical activity programme
• How to maintain health, safety and welfare in a variety of fitness environments, including the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults
• How to communicate with clients effectively, and motivate clients to adhere to an exercise programme

Personal Trainers are in constant demand in the health and fitness industry with some trainers earning in excess of £100 per hour. It is a challenging and rewarding career with many personal trainers finding themselves working with a diverse range of clients in a wide range of venues.

As part of your job you will be required to provide specialist dietary advice, develop tailor made programs in-line with fitness appraisal results and work in non-traditional environments such as clients homes and places of work. Being a Personal Trainer can open up a lot of new fields for your career in the Health and Fitness Profession. Many Personal Trainers are self-employed operating on a freelance basis for individuals or for a range of health and fitness organisations, many of which recognise our graduates as amongst the best in the industry.

Study options

We have a range of study methods available that will allow you to complete this course. Simply chose the option of study that fits into your lifestyle and matches your preferred study method. The options available include;

1. INTENSIVE – classroom based over 6 weeks (Monday – Friday)
2. ONLINE - distance learning method which allows you to start the course straight away. You will complete the course at home and at your own pace and then attend training days before your assessment

REPs and Awarding Bodies

Successful completion of this course will allow you to enter REPs as a Level 3 Personal Trainer. Our qualifications are all certified by CYQ, Central YMCA Qualifications, who are the leading awarding body across Europe.

All of our qualifications are recognised by industry employers across the UK and Europe.

Prerequisites

There are no formal entry requirements for this course although you must have a keen interest in exercising and keeping fit.

If you already hold the CYQ Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing - Gym-Based Exercise (or equivalent), gained while studying with us or another provider, than you will only have to complete the Level 3 modules of this qualification. Our course advisors will be able to provide you with detailed information about what you won’t need to complete and the reduction to the overall cost.

Payment

You can pay for this, and any of our courses, in a variety of options. These options include;

• Payment in full
• Direct debit plan over 3, 6 or 12 months

Our direct debit plan allows you to spread the cost of the course over an agreed period of time, with payment coming out automatically each month. All you need to do is make your first payment and we will confirm your enrolment onto the course and you can begin studying. You will receive your certificates once you have completed the course, even if you still have agreed payments to be made so that you can begin working straight away. You will not pay any extra charges or fees if you decide to use our direct debit system.

Please contact one of our course advisors for more information about the payments over a 3, 6 or 12 month period.

Course & Schedule

Study options

Our range of study methods will fit into any lifestyle, which will allow you to gain your qualification and still maintain your current work, family and sporting commitments.

INTENSIVE – classroom based over 6 weeks (Monday – Friday)

Become more than just an average Personal Trainer with our intensive 6 week training course that has been put together by our team of senior tutors, the best personal trainers in the industry and major employers to ensure you are equipped with the skills and knowledge to be amongst the best Personal Trainers in Europe.

Over the 6 weeks you will cover;

Week 1:

• Course and industry introduction
• Individual Personal Training session with a Personal Trainer
• Exercise techniques
• Anatomy and Physiology for Exercise – Level 2
• Health, Safety & Welfare in a Fitness Environment
• Principles of Exercise, Fitness & Health

Week 2:

• Planning Gym-based training sessions
• Instructing Gym-based training sessions
• Monitoring training intensities
• Supporting clients who take part in exercise and training
• FIRST AID QUALIFICATION
• Introduction to Pilates

Week 3:

• Anatomy and Physiology for Exercise – Level 3
• Advanced Cardiovascular training systems
• Fitness testing of clients
• Goal Setting with clients
• Introduction to Yoga

Week 4:

• Anatomy and Physiology for Exercise – Level 3
• Advanced Resistance Training systems
• Advanced Resistance Training exercises
• Introduction to studio group classes (Spin, Step, Body pump)

Week 5:

• Advanced Core Conditioning training systems
• Behavioural change of clients
• Collecting information to plan a training program
• Advanced Program design
• Periodisation
• Introduction to Water Based Exercise
• Boxing techniques to use with clients

Week 6:

• Understand the principles of Nutrition
• Analyse Nutritional information gathered from clients
• Providing nutritional advice and plans to clients
• Advanced stretching systems
• The Business of being a Personal Trainer

After enrolling onto the course, you will be sent your pre-course reading pack. This pack contains manuals which you can read through leading up to the start of the course.

The course runs from Monday through to Friday, starting at 10am each day. Each day of the course will combine theory and practical elements and throughout the entire 6 weeks you will receive valuable feedback to prepare you for your assessment.

We maintain a very low student to tutor ratio to ensure that you receive as much individual feedback and support as you need to take on board all of the new information and skills we introduce to you. This new 6 week full time course is ideal for people that want to gain the qualification within a short period of time. Our intensive courses are limited to 10 students to ensure the highest quality of teaching and support.

Throughout the 6 weeks you will complete all of your assessments so there is no need to attend extra assessment days outside of the 6 week course.

If you already hold some Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications, gained while studying with us or other providers, than you will only have to complete, and pay for, the qualifications that you don’t hold to gain our full Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training.

ONLINE - distance learning method which you can start straight away

As soon as you register and enrol for this course you will be able to access our online learning environment. You will start by completing the Level 2 Fitness Instructor - Gym qualification. After you have completed this, you will then work your way through the Level 3 modules that make up the full award. We have structured the course so that you will complete each module one at a time. This will allow you to build on your knowledge as you start each new course. Your tutor will guide and support you through this entire process. You can work your way through this qualification as quickly as you like, with the majority of our students taking between 3 - 9 months to become fully qualified.

Once you have completed certain blocks of the online material you will be required to attend a variety of training and assessment days. These training days will re-cap on all of the theory you have learnt while studying on-line and provide you with an opportunity to put your practical skills into action. Your tutor will also give you valuable feedback to prepare you for your assessments that will take place throughout the course. 

You can book onto the training and assessment days that suit you and we are able to open up the next elements of the course so you can continue working while you wait to complete your training and assessment days. We maintain a very low student to tutor ratio on all of our training days to ensure that you receive as much individual feedback and support as you need to take on board all of the new information and skills we introduce to you.

In total you will be required to attend 8 training and assessment days to complete this qualification and gain your Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing and your Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training.

If you already hold some Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications, gained while studying with us or other providers, than you will only have to complete, and pay for, the qualifications that you don’t hold to gain our full Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training.

Progression & Employment

After successfully completing this course you will be able to become a registered Level 3 Personal Trainer with REPs. You will also have two options.

Option 1:

You will be able to start working as a Personal Trainer. You will find employment opportunities in major health club chains, large hotels and local leisure centres where you can become an in-house Personal Trainer. You will be able to work with clients on a one to one basis or in small groups both inside and outside of the gym. You will be able to offer nutritional advice and also carry out health and fitness tests on your clients.

Working as an in-house trainer allows you receive the support of the club you are working in. They will generally supply you with a uniform and also business cards and other promotional material. In return for this, up to 50% of your income from personal training will be kept by the club.

Option 2:

You can set up your own business as a Personal Trainer. You will have a comprehensive plan that you will have designed to complete the Business and Marketing Skills qualification that you can follow. You will be based within a club as a freelance Personal Trainer or you will be working from your own studio. Either of these options may also include working with people in their homes, offices or local parks.

Personal Trainers earn in excess of £30,000 per year with some trainers charging over £100 per hour for their services.

After completing the Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification you will also be able to gain more specialist qualifications such as the Level 3 GP Referral certificate.

REPs requirements:

As a Level 3 Personal Trainer you will be required to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points to stay registered as a Level 3 Personal Trainer with REPs. You will be able to complete any our CPD workshops, attend any of our CPD seminars or view any of our CPD webinars to earn your points.