PERSONAL TRAINER QUALIFICATIONS

You must complete both a Level 2 Gym Instructor Certificate and a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma, recognised by CIMSPA and Ofqual. Our PT Essentials course combines both into one seamless self-funded pathway, saving you £195 compared to individual enrolment

With YOUR Academy's flexible learning system, you can complete your PT Essentials (Level 2 & 3 combined) in as little as 4 months, or extend to 12 months to fit around your current commitments. Our bespoke course timetables are designed around your lifestyle, allowing you to study theory online at your own pace while attending practical workshops on dates that suit you.

The beauty of our system is complete flexibility—most students balance full-time work with their studies, qualifying in 4-6 months while maintaining their current income. You'll benefit from:

• Online theory modules you can complete anytime, anywhere

• Face-to-face practical workshops at YOUR Academy venues across the UK

• Regular 1-2-1 mentor support throughout your 12-month course period

• Lifetime access to all digital learning materials

Once qualified, you'll also receive our FREE advanced business course (valued at £999) to ensure your PT career goes from strength to strength

Your Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification opens unlimited career opportunities and gives you the freedom to work anywhere, anytime, with anyone. Our industry-leading training combines face-to-face practical workshops, hands-on mentoring, and a flexible learning approach to ensure you leave fully prepared, confident, and career-ready

Employment Options:

• Work as an employed personal trainer in a UK gym, health club, or leisure centre

• Join boutique studios and specialist fitness facilities

• Work in hotel-based leisure centres and corporate wellness programmes

Self-Employment Options:

• Work as a self-employed personal trainer in any UK gym, health club, or leisure centre—enjoy the flexibility to choose your own hours and set your client schedule. With opportunities nationwide through YOUR Personal Training, you gain direct access to one of the UK’s leading PT management companies, connecting you to hundreds of partner clubs and a proven pathway to fast-track your business growth across the country.

• Establish your own personal training business

• Create group fitness programmes and bootcamps

• Develop specialist services in niche markets

It depends on whether you’re employed or self-employed:

• Employed PTs typically earn between £18,000 and £30,000 per year, often working in commercial gyms with commission-based structures.

• Self-employed PTs earn more on average — typically between £25,000 and £60,000+, depending on client base, hours, and pricing. Those with niche specialisms or online coaching models often reach the higher end of that range.

Yes, Level 2 Gym Instructor is a mandatory prerequisite for Level 3 Personal Trainer across all UK providers. This industry requirement ensures you have foundational knowledge of anatomy, exercise principles, and gym safety before advancing to personal training skills.

However, at YOUR Academy, we've solved this with our PT Essentials course—a combined Level 2 and Level 3 qualification that eliminates the hassle of taking separate course.

• Requires no prior experience to get started—just a passion for fitness

• Provides seamless progression from gym instructor to personal trainer

• Gets you fully qualified faster with one integrated programme

Absolutely not—there’s no upper age limit for becoming a personal trainer. At YOUR Academy, our oldest learner started their qualification at 63. Many of our most successful students are career changers in their 40s, 50s and beyond. Your life experience is a genuine asset, helping you relate to clients and build trust.

Yes, all Personal Trainer qualifications provided by YOUR Academy are fully CIMSPA-endorsed and Ofqual-regulated through Active IQ, the UK's leading fitness awarding body. Your Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing and Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training are recognised by all major UK gyms, insurance providers, and fitness employers. This accreditation ensures your qualification meets industry standards and provides professional credibility throughout your personal training career.

Our course contact days are held at leading gyms across the UK, making it easy for you to get hands-on, real-world experience wherever you’re based. These in-person sessions are a vital part of your journey—your Mentor will work with you directly to sharpen your exercise technique, develop your coaching skills, boost your confidence, and master programme design and client motivation. It’s the best way to learn what it really takes to become a top-level personal trainer.

Current academy locations include:

• London

• Manchester

• Leeds

• Nottingham

• Cambridge

• Swansea

• Bristol

• Dundee

• Portsmouth

You’ll get the practical, face-to-face support you need to build your skills and launch your PT career, no matter where you’re starting from.

Level 2 Gym Instructor is your essential foundation qualification that allows you to work in gyms supervising members, leading group classes, and providing basic fitness instruction. This entry-level certification covers fundamental anatomy, exercise principles, and health and safety requirements for gym environments.

Level 3 Personal Trainer is your advanced qualification that enables you to work independently with clients, design personalised programmes, and provide nutrition guidance. This builds on your Level 2 knowledge with deeper expertise in client consultation, programme design, and business skills.

The key difference is scope: Level 2 limits you to supervised gym work, while Level 3 gives you the freedom to work one-on-one with clients anywhere—in gyms, their homes, or online. At YOUR Academy, we offer PT Essentials—a combined Level 2 and Level 3 course that saves you £195 and eliminates the need to take separate qualifications. This streamlined approach gets you fully qualified faster, with no prior experience required to get started.

While there are many online providers offering quick, online-only courses, we don't believe this approach sets you up for real success as a personal trainer. At YOUR Academy, we've designed a hybrid learning model that combines the flexibility of online study with essential face-to-face contact days—because we know this is what creates confident, competent trainers.