There are many options to explore once you have completed your personal trainer qualification. If you enjoy the freedom of being your own boss, you may like to work as a freelance personal trainer. You could train people at work, outdoors, at home or in a PT studio. Many PTs choose to work in a gym initially as a way to build up experience and access the gym’s client base. If you would like to find out more, you can have a look at the insider's guide to personal trainer careers.

Training to be a gym instructor is a great way to enter the fitness industry. You can work for big gym chains, health and fitness clubs, local authority facilities and a range of community and independent organisations. Work is generally based on shifts, often involving early morning starts or finishing late in the evening. You can often earn additional income by teaching classes such as circuits. There are many continuing professional development (CPD) modules you can explore.

A great place to start is the insider's guide to working in the fitness industry written by industry expert Robin Gargrave.

If you enjoy attending group fitness classes, chances are you’ll love teaching them. Once you have finished your Exercise to Music (studio instructor) qualification you will be a trained freestyle instructor, so you can design your own classes to your own choice of music. Some instructors choose to hire out local halls or studios and usually charge a fee per participant. You could also get paid per class, usually if you pick up classes in a gym or health centre. Another option is to train as a Body Training Systems instructor (if your gym is affiliated to the programme). There is a wide and growing variety of CPD (continuing professional development) for Exercise to Music instructors, including the popular Step, Indoor Cycling (Keiser Cycle), Aqua training and more. You can have a look at the guide to working as an exercise to music instructor. written by Denise Page, industry expert and renowned Presenter.

Pilates continues to grow in popularity and pilates studios are on the increase. There is a growing need for good quality, well-trained pilates instructors to deliver these popular classes. You can become a pilates instructor whether you are new to fitness, possibly coming from a dance or physiotherapy background, or are already working in the industry. Once you have completed your STOTT Pilates training, you will find opportunities within gyms, health centres, pilates studios and more.

Once you have completed your initial fitness instructor qualification you can choose to specialise in fields such as GP Referral, Mental Health and Disability. Becoming an expert in a field of interest is a great way to develop yourself and your career. There are also courses you can take that explore exercise for specific groups, for example Ante and Post Natal women or Older Adults.

For those who are ready to advance their careers, there are plenty of options in the industry. You may like to take a management position, possibly starting as a studio coordinator or gym manager and working up from there. You could also share your experience with a new generation of instructors by working as an assessor or tutor.

If you have started your career as a gym instructor and would like to progress onto personal training, you can take the required modules over time and fit the training around your work.