How to become a Gym Instructor

Are you passionate about fitness and looking to turn it into a career but not sure where to start? Then you’ve come to the right place, as we are the UK’s most experienced fitness training provider and have helped develop over 125,000 careers in the industry.

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This is a great time to join the fitness industry.

The demand for experienced fitness professionals is on the rise, so there’s never been a better time to start your career in the fitness industry. There are a few different routes you can take so you can tailor your journey based on your interests and skills.

If you are looking to start a career in fitness, becoming a Level 2 Gym Instructor is a fantastic first step before taking your Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training. 

5 easy steps to becoming a world-class Gym Instructor

Step 1: Research your new career

Your first step is to research everything you can about a career as a Gym Instructor.

Take some time to speak to any Gym Instructors or Personal Trainers you may know and ask them about their career journey, any hiccups they may have had and advice they can give you.

As well as a respected qualification, you will need good communication skills and the ability to plan and motivate others. 

Think about what a normal working day may look like for you. Your hours may not be the normal 9 to 5 and you will be likely to work evenings, weekends and early mornings.

We know how important these skills are so have built them into our course but many course providers will only focus on qualifications. If this is the case, you will need to research other studying methods or courses to gain these critical skills alongside your main qualification.

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Step 2: Choose your course

To become a Gym Instructor in the UK, you will have to invest in a CIMSPA accredited course. Our Level 2 Gym Instructor course is one of the most complete courses in the market and is ideal for people new to the industry or as a starting point for a Personal Training qualification.


We don’t want you to sweat the payments so we have a number of payment options including low deposits, 0% finance and early bird discounts. If you choose to take a Personal Training course instead, you could also be eligible for a government-backed Advanced Learner Loan.

Step 3: Learn and qualify

Fitness Instructors are a vital aspect to gyms. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone, Gym Instructor take on a number of interesting roles including:

Setting fitness goals.
Giving advice and fitness plans.
Working to develop programmes that suit individuals’ needs.
Leading group training sessions.
Teaching clients how to use equipment.
Demonstrating exercises.

On a Level 2 course, you will learn these important skills and more. Starting your course will be an exciting time. Our Tutors are the best in the industry (82% of our students have said they are “exceptional”) and will teach and inspire you to be the best you can be. Make the most of this time and and take advantage of the support you will have available. 


Here at YMCAfit, we have invested in a fantastic support team to help our students to qualify and thrive. These include kickstart sessions, an on-hand support team, a designated learning support tutor, support workshops, a revision tips hotline and more. We’ll give you all the tools, knowledge and support you need to complete your qualification and go on to have an amazing career. 

Join an open evening to find out more about becoming a Gym Instructor

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Step 4: Start working as a Fitness Instructor

Once you’ve qualified, you will be able to immediately apply for a job and start working as a Fitness Instructor at your local gym, club or leisure centre.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic there has been a shortage of fitness professionals and employers actively seek our graduates so you shouldn’t have difficulty in finding a job.

Step 5: Take your career to the next level

Once you have completed your course and qualified, you will discover an exciting world of opportunities and training that can help you develop your career.

Explore new skills, gain new clients and expand your earning potential with our range of Continued Professional Development courses (CPDs) or enhance your career and become a Personal Trainer.

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Take a closer look at our courses or speak to our Course Advisor to find out more.

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