Level 3 Personal Training (Practitioner)

This YMCA Awards Level 3 Personal Training (Practitioner) qualification is for anyone wishing to become a personal trainer and work with clients on a 1-2-1 basis or in small groups.

This course will equip you with all of the skills and qualifications to establish yourself as a Personal Trainer. 

Includes the YMCA Awards Level 3 Award in Sports Conditioning and YMCA Awards Level 3 Award in Outdoor Fitness (worth £500)!

Payment Plan

To make your qualification more affordable, we offer a payment plan where you pay a non-refundable £125 deposit and choose to repay the balance, interest-free over 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.

Study and Assessment Options

This qualification is offered as a FACE-TO-FACE or ONLINE course, which you can start studying straight away.

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The ONLINE course includes online elearning for all units plus video submission for assessments. It is possible to sit your exams online should you not be able to attend our assessment centre in Telford, Shropshire. ​

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The course dates for our next FACE-TO-FACE course are;

15th - 19th April in Newcastle Under Lyme (intensive)

6th - 10th May in Telford (intensive)

20th - 24th May plus 3rd - 7th June in Worcester

9th - 13th September in Telford (intensive)

21st - 25th October in Newcastle Under Lyme (intensive)

Please specify which dates you wish to attend upon booking (unless you are opting for the online course). Face-to-face dates will only run with sufficient numbers.

All students have up to 12 months to complete and pass all assessments in order to achieve the qualification.​ 

What will I learn on the Level 3 Personal Training Diploma?

What topics are covered on this course?

Applied anatomy & physiology including;

• Optimal posture, causes of postural deviations and spinal conditions and the impact of exercise,

• Structure and function of the skeletal system and the effects of exercise on the musculoskeletal system and disease processes,

• Structure and function of the nervous system and the effect of exercise on neuromuscular connections,

• Structure and function of the cardio

• Respiratory system and endocrine system,

• Classification of energy systems and how they are utilised during exercise.

• The digestive system,

• Implications for special populations.

Promoting wellness including;

• Components of a healthy lifestyle,

• Psychological factors that can influence change to an individual's lifestyle,

• Health conditions and medically controlled diseases,

• Evidence based pre-exercise health screening methods,

• Theories/approaches that can motivate positive behaviour change,

Bespoke exercise programme design including;

• Screening clients,

• Selecting and implementing client assessments,

• Methods of static and dynamic assessment and posture assessment,

• Setting and adapting SMART goals linked to client's individual needs, wants and motivators,

• Planning a safe personal training programme with clients,

• Using alternative environments in programme design (home, office, garage, outdoors, gyms, studios),

• Design and delivery of small group personal training.

Customised exercise programme instruction including;

• Fitness training techniques including various CV and resistance training methods,

• Legal and ethical responsibilities,

• Best practice for a personal trainer,

• Planning and preparing personal training sessions,

• Safely instructing, monitoring, adapting and supporting clients during sessions,

Nutrition to support physical activity including;

• Principles of nutrition,

• The influence of nutrition on health,

• Key nutritional guidelines and evidence-based recommendations and how they can be applied to individual clients,

• The relationship between nutrition and physical activity,

• Collecting and using nutritional information,

• Identify and analysing nutritional information to identify client's dietary habits.

Business acumen including;

• Marketing strategies and techniques in planning and promotion,

• Selling personal training services to clients,

• Communicating the benefits of a personal training service,

• Components and the purpose of a business plan relevant to a personal trainer,

• How to legally set up a business as a personal trainer,

• Financial requirements when setting up and running a health and fitness business,

• Planning, marketing and selling health and fitness services.

What are the course units and how are each assessed?

• Applied anatomy & physiology - assessed via a multiple choice exam and digital assessment workbook

• Promoting wellness through client motivation and interaction - assessed via a digital assessment workbook and client consultation, lifestyle assessment, client profile and knowledge questions.

• Bespoke exercise programme design - assessed via a digital assessment workbook, client consultation, lifestyle assessment, client profile, knowledge questions, a log and observation of a range of client assessments, and a 12 week personal training programme. Observations are completed in-person on the face-to-face course or via video submission on the online course.

• Customised exercise programme instruction and communication techniques - assessed via a digital assessment workbook, a 12 week personal training programme, demonstrating the instruction of a range of CV, resistance, functional exercise, core and flexibility/mobility methods, and delivery of a small group personal training session (in-person on the face-to-face course or via video submission on the online course).

• Nutrition to support physical activity - assessed via a multiple choice exam and nutritional consultation.

• Business acumen for a successful personal training practice - assessed via a digital assessment workbook and business and marketing plan.

What is the entry requirements for this course?

The entry requirement for this course is a recognised Level 2 Gym Instructing qualification plus a keen interest in fitness and experience using a gym including free weights and confidence working online and with programmes such as Microsoft word and excel. A good level of communication and competence working online is essential.

What course materials are provided for this course?

• Online elearning for all units (online course only) - access for 300 days,

• Hard copy resources (for face-to-face course only)

• Electronic assessment paperwork for all units,

• Link to further presentations and mock exams,

• Option to purchase hard copy manuals to supplement the elearning.​

  • Sample of manuals​

• Access to a personal tutor.

• Access to our study support Facebook Group.

• Ability to complete exams online from home (additional cost of £20 per exam) - for more information, please read our E-Proctored exam guidance

• Alternatively, you can sit theory exams at our centre in Telford on a date to suit you using our book an assessment form (updated every month),

• Full guidance on how to film and submit video assessments.