Level 3 Gym Instructing and Personal Training (Practitioner)

The YMCA Awards Level 3 Gym Instructing & Personal Training (Practitioner) combines the Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer courses into one qualification.

This course will equip you with all of the skills and qualifications to establish yourself as a Personal Trainer. Check out the Level 3 Personal Training (Practitioner) qualification if you already have a Level 2 Gym qualification.

Includes the YMCA Awards Level 3 Award in Sports Conditioning and the 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;

4th - 8th March, 20th - 24th May plus 3rd - 7th June in Worcester

11th - 15th March plus 15th - 19th April in Newcastle Under Lyme (intensive)

8th - 12th April plus 6th - 10th May in Telford (intensive)

3rd - 7th June plus 9th - 13th September in Telford (intensive)

2nd - 6th September plus 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).

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 Gym Instructing & 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.

Providing a positive customer experience to include customer needs and expectations, customer service, maintaining an exercise environment, professionalism, operative and legislative procedures, controlling risks, safeguarding and supporting a health and fitness business.

Lifestyle and health awareness management to include promoting a healthy lifestyle, the importance of healthy eating, and supporting clients to adhere to exercise.

Gym-based programme planning and preparation to include adapting communication techniques when dealing with different client needs, conducting health assessments, setting goals with client information, planning a gym-based session including cardiovascular methods, resistance training, functional exercise, flexibility and motor skills.

Gym-based delivery and instruction to include introducing individuals and groups to the gym environment, instructing gym-based sessions, and supervising clients in the gym.

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?

Level 2 Gym Instructing Units

• Anatomy & physiology for exercise and fitness instructors - assessed via a multiple choice theory exam and digital assessment workbook;

• Providing a positive customer experience in the exercise environment - assessed via a digital assessment workbook and observation (video submission);

• Lifestyle and health awareness management - assessed via a digital assessment workbook;

• Gym-based programme delivery and preparation - assessed via a gym programme card, observation (video submission), case study and worksheet questions;

• Gym-based programme delivery and professional instruction - assessed via two observations (video submission)

Level 3 Personal Training Units

• 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 via video submission.

• 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 (video submission).

• 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?

There are no entry requirements for this course apart from 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 (for online course) - access for 300 days,

  • Sample of Anatomy & Physiology elearning​

  • ​Sample of Gym-based programme planning and preparation elearning​

  • Sample of Bespoke exercise programme design elearning

  • Sample of Business Acumen for personal trainers elearning

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

• 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.