You are now successfully enrolled on the YMCA Awards Level 3 Personal Trainer (Practitioner) or the YMCA Awards Level 3 Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer (Practitioner) course.

This is an online/distance learning course, so includes elements of home study and online learning. 

 

You have up to 12 months to complete the course. Please see our policy on Course Fees & Timeframes for further information.

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If you think you are exempt from completing any of the assessments please read through our Recognising Prior Achievement & Exemption Policy and contact us.

 

Please also familiarise yourself with our Booking Terms, Appeals Procedure and Applying Reasonable Adjustments & Special Considerations Policy.
 

During the course, you will learn about:

 

Applied anatomy & physiology

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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.

Applied Anatomy & Physiology

Assessment 1 – Multiple choice theory exam (Section 1)
Assessment 2 – Y-Mark online assessment workbook (Section 1 – accessible via elearning platform)
 

Promoting Wellness Through Client Motivation And Interaction

Assessment 2 – Y-Mark online assessment workbook (Section 2)

Assessment 3 – Personal training case study

 

Bespoke Exercise Programme Design

Assessment 2 – Y-Mark online assessment workbook (Section 3)

Assessment 3 – Personal training case study

Assessment 4 – Learning log (Section A - Health screening and fitness assessments)
 

Customised Exercise Programme Instruction And Communication Techniques

Assessment 2 – Y-Mark online assessment workbook (Section 4)

Assessment 3 – Personal training case study

Assessment 4 – Learning log (Section B – Training methods and systems)

 

Nutrition To Support Physical Activity

Assessment 1 – Multiple choice theory paper (Section 2)

Assessment 2 – Y-mark online assessment workbook (Section 5)
Assessment 3 – Personal training case study

 

Business Acumen For A Successful Personal Training Practice 

Assessment 2 – Y-mark online assessment workbook (Section 6)
Assessment 3 – Personal training case study

You will have access to online elearning for all modules of your course. Please use this and the below presentations to prepare for your assessments. Please note that you have access to your elearning modules for 300 days, although you have a full 12 months to complete all the assessment within this qualification.

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We can also order hard copy manuals for all units if you'd like the content in that format. Please email your tutor to order.

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Other texts we recommend include:

The Concise Book of Muscles

Ignite the Fire (plus other books by Jonathan Goodman)

Strength Training Anatomy

Anatomy of Stretching

Complete Guide to Personal Training

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

Assessments 3-4

Please use these handouts as you see fit. Print them out, read them, make notes on them, use them as a starting point to undertake your own extra research. You can use them in conjunction with the elearning modules, so maybe have these handouts printed to make notes on as you work through the online modules.

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Applied Anatomy & Physiology

Posture and Core Stability

Musculoskeletal System

Joints and Joint Actions

Muscles of the Shoulder Girdle

Muscles of the Shoulder Joint

Muscles of the Shoulder Joint Rotator Cuff

Muscles of the Arm

Muscles of the Vertebral Column

Anterior Abdominal Wall Muscles

Muscles of the Pelvic Girdle and Hip Joint

Muscles of the Upper Leg

Muscles of the Lower Leg

Effects of Exercise on the Musculoskeletal System

Structure and Function of the Cardio-Respiratory System

Blood Pressure

Nervous System

Muscle Contraction

Endocrine System

Energy Systems

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Promoting Wellness Through Client Motivation and Interaction

Components of a Healthy Lifestyle

Factors Affecting Health

Psychological Factors

Common Health Diseases and Conditions

Arthritis

Asthma

Diabetes

Heart Disease

High Blood Pressure

Obesity

Benefits of Exercise for Medical Conditions

Risks of Exercise for Medical Conditions

Pre-Exercise Health Screening

Behaviour Change Theories

Readiness to Change

Interacting with Clients and Other Professionals

Evidence-based Health and Wellbeing Advice

Evidence-based Health Benefits of Physical Activity

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Bespoke Exercise Programme Design

Screening Clients Prior to Exercise Programming

Clients Assessments

Fitness Assessments

Postural Assessment

Monitoring and Reviewing Client Progress

Goal Setting

SMART Goals Tutorial

Planning a Safe Personal Training Programme

Muscular Fitness

CV Fitness

Flexibility, Motor Skills and Core Stability

Monitoring Exercise Intensity

Minimising Risk of Injury

Training in Alternative Environments

Small Group PT Sessions

Blood Pressure chart for Adults

Strength Assessment Norm Tables

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Customised Exercise Programme Instruction and Communication Techniques

Fitness Training Techniques

Client Monitoring

Adapting the Planned Exercises

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of a Personal Trainer

The Principles of Best Practice for a Personal Trainer

Assessing Accurate Information and Support

Continuous Professional Development

Planning and Preparing PT Sessions

Helping Clients to Feel at Ease Before a PT Sessions

Safely Instruct and Support Clients During Sessions

Monitoring Clients and Adapting PT Sessions

Bringing PT Sessions to an End

Evaluating PT Sessions and Personal Practice

Developing Own Professional Practice

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Nutrition to Support Physical Activity

The Principles of Nutrition

The Digestive System

Key Nutritional Terms

Fat

Carbohydrate

Protein

Vitamins and Minerals

Food Labelling

Professional Role Boundaries

Links to Disease

Risks of Specific Diets

Disordered Eating

Evidence-based Guidelines

Weight Management

Guidelines for Different Goals

The Relationship Between Nutrition and Physical Activity

The Energy Balance Equation

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

Collecting Client Information

Identifying and Analysing Client Information

Applying the Principles of Nutrition

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Business Acumen for Personal Trainers

Marketing Strategies and Techniques

Selling Personal Training to Clients

The Sales Cycle

Communicating the Benefits of PT to Clients

Business Plan

Key Elements of a Business Plan

Supporting Business Objectives and Growth

Setting up a PT Business

Business Contracts

HMRC Accounting Requirements

Financial Terminology

Start-Up Costs

Cash Flow Forecasting

Gather, Analyse and Interpret your Market Research

Competitor Analysis

Identifying Clients who are Interested in our PT Services

Developing Your Marketing Plan

Applied Anatomy & Physiology

Mock Paper 1

Mock Paper 1 Answers

Mock Paper 2

Mock Paper 2 Answers

Mock Paper 3

Mock Paper 3 Answers

Mock Paper 4

Mock Paper 4 Answers

Mock Paper 5

Mock Paper 5 Answers

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Nutrition to Support Physical Activity

Mock Paper 1

Mock Paper 1 Answers

Mock Paper 2

Mock Paper 2 Answers

Mock Paper 3

Mock Paper 3 Answers

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Combined Applied Anatomy & Physiology and Nutrition to Support Physical Activity

Mock Paper 1

Mock Paper 1 Answers

Mock Paper 2

Mock Paper 2 Answers

Mock Paper 3

Mock Paper 3 Answers

Mock Paper 4

Mock Paper 4 Answers

Mock Paper 5

Mock Paper 5 Answers

Face-To-Face Theory Exams

Book to sit a theory exam at our centre in Telford

Your first exam sitting is free and then a £20 charge applies to resits.

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Remote E-Proctored Theory Exams

Arrange to sit your theory exams from home using remote eProctoring invigilation

Remote exams are £20 including your first attempt. 

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Please ensure you have familiarised yourself with our Assessment Policy for E-Proctored and Face-to-Face exams.

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Submit Coursework for marking

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Guidance for uploading video assessments

Practical RE-assessments of video's are £40. Your first assessment is free.

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Upon successful completion of all assessments, your assessor will confirm via email that you have passed your qualification. Quality assurance and certification can take up to 3 months.