CIMSPA Education Partner badge featuring a circular design with the text "Quality Assured Enhancing" and three blue stars.
white badge stating "10 CIMSPA CPD Points Endorsed" with a crown icon at the top, indicating professional development accreditation.

Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer

Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training

From £1850

  • 12-29 weeks

  • RQF accredited through YMCA Awards & CIMSPA Endorsed

  • Flexible blended learning including weekend and weekday formats

Book my place

Study locations across the UK

We deliver our face-to-face courses from state of the art venues across England.

Learning your way

Choose our weekday course to certify in 12 weeks, or a weekend format to qualify at a pace that suits your life.

Flexible payments

Costing from £1850, we have a number of payment options including low deposits and 0% finance.

Start Strong. Build a Career That Lasts — Backed by 40+ Years of YMCAfit Excellence

Ready to turn your passion for fitness into a successful career? Start your career as a Personal Trainer with no previous qualifications with the YMCAfit Level 3 Gym Instructing and Personal Training Diploma (practitioner) course. 

Gain the foundation knowledge and practical experience that inspires confidence in your clients and employers. Take part in inspiring practical workshops and engaging theory sessions to learn how to train clients and create advanced fitness plans over several practical sessions. Studying with our face-to-face format? You’ll also gain your certification in Emergency First Aid.

Embark on your Personal Training career with a qualification that is CIMSPA accredited, internationally recognised and developed to give you the skills and knowledge to build a longstanding career in fitness. 

We believe that training you in a gym environment will give you the right experience and provide you with the qualification you need to get employed. 

Course Overview

Upgrade Your Skills. Unlock Your Future

Technical Skills

Learn how to build and market a successful PT business while gaining the skills to train clients one-to-one or in small groups, plan and deliver HIIT sessions, and run individual consultations and group inductions.

Career progression

You’ll be qualified to work in any gym across the UK. Broaden your client base and help boost your earnings. Develop the skills and knowledge to build a longstanding career.

Support & confidence

You’ll be taught by industry-leading tutors with access to online eLearning and unparalleled support online, over the phone, and in person throughout the course.

Fully accredited

Our courses are internationally-recognised, Ofqual regulated and endorsed by CIMSPA, and their legitimacy will never be questioned.

Entry Requirements

Flexible learning formats

Learn your way, on your schedule with our blended Personal Trainer course.

Weekday (8weeks)

Qualify in 12 weeks 
Webinars and face to face sessions delivered on weekdays 
Support provided by our expert tutors  
Access to our online learning platform which contains eLearning and assessment activities 
Independent study required 
1 x in person assessment 

Weekend (16weeks)

Qualify in 29 weeks 
Webinars and face to face sessions delivered on weekends 
Supported by our expert tutors 
Access to our online learning platform which contains eLearning and assessment activities 
Independent study required 
1 x in person assessment 

0k+

Qualified fitness professionals trained

0%

Of learners recommend YMCAfit courses

0+years

Industry-leading experience & training since 1984

0%

Progression to paid roles or advanced study

Abbee C/ YMCAfit Tutor

Helping learners find their rhythm as instructors is the most rewarding part of my job. Seeing them grow from enthusiasts into confident class leaders is what YMCAfit is all about.

Our graduates go on to work at

Course Overview

What you will learn

  • Fundamentals of anatomy and physiology for exercise and fitness professionals
  • Providing a positive customer experience to exercise and fitness participants
  • Principles of physical activity, exercise and training approached to develop fitness and health
  • Health awareness and lifestyle management
  • Supporting clients in a gym-based environment
  • Plan, deliver and evaluate gym-based training
  • Anatomy and physiology for exercise and fitness professionals
  • Health screening, risk stratification and scope of practice
  • Nutrition for physical activity and exercise
  • Consultation and assessment for personal training
  • Plan, deliver and evaluate personal training
  • Plan, deliver and evaluate outdoor training
  • Business acumen for fitness professionals
Group of people in a classroom observing as an instructor writes on a whiteboard beside a skeleton model.

Assessment

  • Open book knowledge tests
  • Practical assessments
  • Video assessments
  • Independent research opportunities
  • Assessments to reflect specific job skills
A student writes in a notebook during a class, surrounded by peers seated at desks in a modern classroom setting.

Qualification

  • YMCA Awards Level 3 Diploma in Exercise and Fitness: Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer
  • *note you will receive one combined certificate upon completion of this qualification
Trainer in black watches as a young man in a tank top performs sit-ups in a gym setting.

Entry requirements

  • You must be over 16 years of age
  • You must have a good command of the English language and be able to communicate with clients
  • We recommend that you have some experience in a gym-based environment
Three men in casual clothing discuss while one reads from a booklet in a crowded indoor setting.

Discover where this qualification can take you…

Zelin Xu / PT Graduate

My proudest moment was passing my Level 3 PT assessment! I qualified in 6 months, got a job straight away, and with YMCAfit’s support, I’m now working as a Personal Trainer.

See all our graduate success stories

Fees and Funding Options

Payment and Funding Guide

Pay upfront

Pay the full amount for your course upfront in one lump sum.

0% Finance

Spread the cost with a deposit and an interest-free monthly direct debit.

Early Bird

Get 10% off when you book 2 months before the course start date.

Low Deposit

Get your career started with less upfront cost.

Ready to take the next step in your fitness career?

Secure your place on the next YMCAfit course today. Get in touch now and start your journey with industry-leading tutors.

Book my space

Courses Near You

We deliver our face-to-face courses from state-of-the-art venues across England. This course is currently running from:

London, Manchester, Leicester, Brighton, Bristol

To find the best date and location for you, speak to one of our experienced course advisors.

London

Manchester

Leicester

Brighton

Bristol

Book My Place 

Simply complete the form below and one of our expert course advisors will be in touch shortly to get you enrolled. Start your future, today! 

Speak to a Course Advisor

Data protection

We will use these details to respond to your enquiry. Our Privacy Policy sets out how we will use and look after your data. If you would like to be contacted in the future about other services that may be of interest, please select the option below. You can opt out at any time by contacting Central YMCA.

Frequently asked questions

How can I become a Personal Trainer?

Once you’ve successfully completed this course, you will be able to work in a gym or health club with this personal trainer qualification as well as being qualified to set up your own personal training business if you choose to work for yourself. This course gives you the foundations for a fitness career and the ability to study other specialisms that will help boost your future earnings. Click here to start your career

How is this course taught?

The personal trainer course is delivered through a blended approach which includes independent study via our interactive learning platform, live webinars, remote tutor support sessions and sessions taking place in the classroom with our expert tutors.

How many hours of study are expected per week?

On average, learners will need to complete 5-10 hours of independent study per week which includes online learning and completion of assessment activities. 

What do I need to undertake this qualification?

Whilst studying, all you’ll need is access to a laptop/desktop/ipad and reliable WiFi.
You must also arrange a ‘live’ client who can commit to taking part in a training programme(including fitness testing). This client must also attend the face-to-face assessment days with you.

Explore other trending qualifications

Yoga Yoga instructor in a turquoise tank top leading a class of three people in tree pose in a bright studio with mirrors.

Yoga

Yoga Instructor YMCAfit Level 3 Diploma In Yoga Instructing 20 weeks RQF accredited through YMCA Awards…

View Course