With dozens of PT course providers in the UK, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This guide cuts through the noise covering what actually matters when comparing courses, and why the right choice can make the difference between qualifying and thriving.
The best personal training course in the UK is offered by Future Fit Training. We might be biased, so don’t trust our word on that. Instead, why not check out our UK Active awards, Trustpilot reviews and client testimonials?
We have been operating in the industry since 1993, trained 60,000+ learners, so we know a thing or two about the quality of personal training courses.
That said, your choice of personal training courses can have a huge impact on your career, particularly if you focus on being ready for the job market and can quickly start earning from day 1.
Like any other career choice you’ll make in your life, it should prepare you for what’s next.
However, for you, choosing the right pt qualification can be tricky and it’s much easier said than done. There are many highly-qualified courses out there, and a few new ones come to the market every year.
So your final choice depends on your personal needs.
Those needs often tend to be determined by the kind of preparation you want. For example, a freelance personal trainer needs to know not only about the specific course contents, but also how to set up a freelance business, how to get private training insurance, and how to get your first client.
But most courses are not able to teach you all of that in one go.
You also may have more specific needs, such as nutrition for children or a focus on fat loss & personal training courses.
We have handpicked a list of training providers that are popular in the UK and show you how these compare:
There are choices that you can make during the process of choosing a partner that will have a strong impact on how quickly you can start earning, managing your clients and building a stable business.
Some of these factors will be covered in the section “Choosing the right course for you” at the end of this guide.
For the time being, let’s assume you don’t have any specific requirements for your new personal training course and you are just looking for the best course overall.
When you are comparing different personal training providers, by looking at reviews and doing Google searches, you’re going to want to consider the following factors in choosing the right provider.
1. Up-to-date research and material. The material provided is a very important factor. In short, it’s because the information in science, nutrition and fitness, in general, can become outdated. New methods and discoveries should be reflected in your learning materials.
2. Marketing and sales skills. These skills are so important and it is vital that on completion of your training, you are fully prepared to start working in the industry and are fully equipped to make your new career a success.
3. Assessment methodology. There’s a big difference between being assessed using a fellow student as a ‘client’ rather than practising on a true-to-life case study!
4. Practical sessions. Learning by doing is the most effective learning technique out there. You have a chance to apply the theoretical knowledge of a real client.
5. Career support. Courses with a focus on what happens after your course is finished, are those that would score the highest in this category.
We are offering all of the above units in our courses, including an exclusive Job Board with top brands to support your career, up-to-date information in your courses and practical workshops to hone your skills with real clients. This means our courses include face-to-face sessions with a qualified tutor, improving your learning experience with practical sessions.
Future Fit Training is particularly well-known for the awards we won in the past 4 years and for the Raising the Bar report done in partnership with CIMSPA ( Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity).
But let’s assume your needs are a lot more specific for the next category. For example, if you want to build a freelance fitness business.
Speak to our friendly Careers Team and get personalised advice
If you are planning to open or expand your own fitness business, you need to consider more factors when choosing the best course for you than a gym employee.
Your personal training course will require a lot more knowledge than standard qualifications.
In addition to great knowledge and practice of anatomy and physiology, functional training, circuit training, and behavioural training coaching, you’ll also need to develop marketing and sales skills for attracting and closing new deals with potential clients.
You need to choose a provider that starts by offering you a lot about the business skills that you’ll have to develop as a freelancer, so you’ll be able to run your business and expand it.
Let’s have a look at some of the extras that you should be considering…
1. Learn how to start your own PT business. Stepping away from fitness and jumping into a business requires a high level of flexibility and this is the skill that a serious training provider should be able to teach you.
To find out if your prospective training provider is a good fit for the business needs of a freelance personal trainer, the first factor you want to look at is the business course as part of the overall personal training course.
Here at Future Fit Training, we offer an extensive business course as part of the Level 3 Personal Training course.
2. Personal Training Insurance. While a training provider cannot legally provide insurance for your business, they should be able to advise you on which insurance service best fits your needs.
Injuries for any reason translate into a loss of profit, in the best case, and legal problems, in the worst scenario. This can become a larger and more expensive problem as your business is not protected.
3. Marketing and selling your services. Some providers will provide basic marketing and sales courses (that you can find online with a simple search) that will prepare the freelancer’s personal trainer to build his business.
You can have a look at the most important marketing and sales services in a fitness course with the Future Fit course in Building Your Fitness Business.
Whereas other training providers only publish blog posts on how to set up a fitness business, at Future Fit Training we went all in by developing an entire course within our Level 3 and Level 4 PT courses.
We might not match a business course from a business school, but our gym instructor and personal training courses do provide the basics to get our students started in marketing and sales, which also include soft attributes such as patience, confidence, empathy and resilience.
If you want to become a personal trainer for the sole purpose of working in a gym, you have some specific needs that you shouldn’t overlook.
While you most likely still need to have a basic knowledge of sales and marketing (even though your job doesn’t depend on it), you also need to conduct fitness assessments to establish clients’ fitness needs and have a recognized fitness qualification. For that reason, you are going to consider a unique set of factors.
1. Knowledge of gym equipment. Make sure that your clients use the correct equipment for their type of exercise and programs. If you are just starting in fitness, in this case, you are most likely to start with a Level 2 Gym Instruction qualification
2. Mastering interview preparation. There is a range of things to prepare before a job interview, which makes it easier to arrive prepared and give it your best shot. From industry tips to CV preparation and interview questions, you likely need those too.
3. Work experience. The best personal training course doesn’t only provide you with knowledge, but also with practical experience with real clients and real cases. You can then show off to potential employers that during your course you were able to teach and train several different clients.
Don’t take our word for it, check the 2000+ verified reviews our students have left on TrustPilot and judge for yourself. Here is an example of a review from a student who switched careers successfully and became a Personal Trainer.
The reason why we got these awards and these amazing reviews from happy students is that we support our students across the road, whether you are switching careers or starting for the first time, you can’t get it wrong with Future Fit.
Now that you understand your options and the factors, including why they matter so much, you should be able to select a personal training course that will give you the preparation that you need. We can assure the winners we have chosen are there because of what students have said, the reviews they have left, and the level of innovation and expertise involved in designing their courses.
Future Fit has been training personal trainers since 1993, that’s over 30 years of refining what a great PT course actually looks like. With practical workshops, real client experience, career support, and an exclusive job board, we’re built around getting you qualified and into work.
Future Fit has been training Personal Trainers since 1993. Take the next step with a provider you can trust.
Future Fit Training is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most respected PT course providers, having trained over 60,000 fitness professionals since 1993. Their Level 3 Personal Trainer course is Ofqual regulated, CIMSPA endorsed with enhancing status, and can be completed in as little as 2-3 months with flexible online and face-to-face study options.
Most Level 3 PT courses in the UK take between 2 and 6 months to complete, depending on the provider and study method. Future Fit’s Level 3 PT course can be completed in as little as 2–3 months studying part time, combining online learning with practical face-to-face workshops.
Personal trainer courses in the UK typically cost between £800 and £3,000 depending on the level and provider. Future Fit Training offers Level 3 PT courses with 0% finance available, meaning you can spread the cost with no interest added.
No formal qualifications are required to start a Level 3 Personal Trainer course in the UK. Most providers, including Future Fit, require you to be at least 16 years old and have a reasonable level of fitness. Some providers require a Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification first, which Future Fit also offers.
CIMSPA (the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity) is the UK’s professional body for the fitness industry. A CIMSPA-endorsed qualification is recognised by major gym chains including PureGym, David Lloyd, and Nuffield Health. Future Fit holds CIMSPA’s highest ‘Enhancing’ status, awarded only to providers with exceptional teaching standards.
Yes. Future Fit Training offers a blended learning approach, theory is studied online at your own pace, combined with practical face-to-face workshops at locations across the UK. This makes it possible to qualify as a personal trainer while working or studying around other commitments.
Newly qualified personal trainers in the UK typically earn between £20,000 and £28,000 in their first year. Established self-employed PTs with a strong client base can earn £35,000 to £60,000 per year. Specialising in areas like nutrition, sports massage, or strength and conditioning can significantly increase earning potential.
The most widely recognised PT qualifications in the UK are Level 3 qualifications that are Ofqual regulated and CIMSPA endorsed. Future Fit’s Level 3 Personal Trainer course meets both requirements and is accepted by all major UK gym chains.
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