If there’s anything the global pandemic has taught us, it’s that health and fitness are essential to having a good and happy life! With more people putting importance on their fitness by the day, it makes sense to grab the opportunity and address the growing demand by becoming a professional personal trainer. However, keep in mind that becoming a personal trainer isn’t as easy as it sounds—you don’t just decide to train people for a living and earn money. Just like other jobs, the road to becoming a professional personal trainer requires you to put in some time, effort, and money!
Josh Thursby
Founder & CCO · 14 July 2021 · 3 min read
Reviewed by
Adam Rhodes
Owned a gym for eight years before founding Create
For more information on our content creation process, view our Editorial Policy.
To become a personal trainer, you don’t need a degree. Whether you’re passionate about fitness, looking for a flexible job, or dreaming of running your own business, the journey to becoming a Personal Trainer is more achievable than you might think. You don’t need a university degree to get started.
At Create PT, we provide everything you need to launch and grow your PT career. Once you qualify, you’ll gain access to guaranteed interviews, connecting you with leading fitness employers across the UK.
Before diving into training, it’s helpful to understand the key skills that successful Personal Trainers use every day.
While your course will cover the technical knowledge, having a strong foundation in these areas will give you an advantage:
RELATED: Is personal training still a viable career?
Choosing the right education is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Look for a Personal Training course that’s CIMSPA-endorsed and meets current industry standards. To help, we’ve created a comparison checklist that evaluates the UK’s top training providers.
Create PT offers a range of qualifications designed to suit your goals:
You don’t need a degree to become a PT, just the right qualifications.
RELATED: Best UK personal training courses compared
To become a Personal Trainer in the UK, you’ll need to complete your Level 2 and Level 3 certifications. These courses cover everything from anatomy and physiology to client programming and effective coaching.
Our training is built to go beyond industry standards, giving you the knowledge and confidence to succeed.
Insurance is essential for working safely and legally. Most gyms require it, and it protects you if a client is injured or something goes wrong.
Make sure your policy includes:
Renew your insurance annually to stay protected.
Real-world experience helps you apply what you’ve learned and improve your confidence. You might start by volunteering at a gym, shadowing an experienced trainer, or working as a Gym Instructor.
Once you’re qualified, decide whether to work independently or for a fitness organisation. Each path has its advantages:
Self-employed Personal Trainers
Employed Personal Trainers
RELATED: Employed vs Self-Employed
Clients are the heart of your business. Social media can help you raise your profile, but attracting clients takes more than just posts.
Try these strategies:
We’ll also teach you how to market yourself and build your reputation.
Josh Thursby
Founder & CCO
Josh qualified as a personal trainer in 2008 and spent twelve and a half years training clients face to face, delivering 45 to 55 sessions a week at his peak. He co-founded Create and writes about the commercial side of the job.
Reviewed by Adam Rhodes, Owned a gym for eight years before founding Create.
More about Josh →
