How to Become a Personal Trainer

If you love the gym life and want to support people in their own personal training then becoming a personal trainer might be the ideal role for you. But what should you consider when looking to start a career in personal training?

 

What should you expect?

A Personal Trainer will work closely with their clients to develop and implement a programme of training exercises to help them to achieve a specific target.

This might be weight loss, toning or training for an event such as a marathon. You will be expected to lead a healthy lifestyle yourself enabling you to promote such a lifestyle to your clients.

You will oversee clients as they carry out their programme, you might supervise and lead individual or group exercise sessions and

 

What skills do you need?

As with all roles that involve working with people, there are some key personal skills that you will need as a personal trainer. These include:

– Patience and Understanding: These are essential skills when working with people

– Flexibility: You might need to be able to adapt a training programme based on your client’s circumstances such as injury or time pressures.

– Positive attitude: You will need to always present yourself in a positive manner. This will help to get the best response from the client that you are working with.

– Independence: Whether you are employed as a Personal Trainer at a gym or are working on a self-employed basis, you will have to be able to work alone in developing programmes and then on a one to one basis with your clients.

– Physical Fitness: You will be required to have a good level of physical fitness to help in promoting this to your client and to be able to work with clients on back to back training programmes throughout the day.

 

What qualifications and training do you need?

So, do you need a degree to be a personal trainer? The simple answer is no, however working towards a recognised qualification will not only equip you with the skills and training that you need but also provide you with experience and a great selling point when it comes to finding clients. There are lots of colleges that offer training courses.

A Level 2 Fitness Instructor course is a great entry point and stepping-stone for the Level 3 Personal Trainer Course. Contact your local college to see what courses they have available.

 

Investment

There are a range of training courses available at a range of prices, starting from just a few hundred pounds. There are some other costs to consider when becoming a personal trainer from business set up and marketing to equipment and clothing costs, so you will look professional.

You should also consider taking out specialist public liability insurance for personal trainers. Most gyms and fitness clubs insist on proof of insurance before you start working on the gym floor, therefore, it is important to ensure that you are protected against claims from members of the public or your clients.

 

Hours

Many of your sessions are likely to be one to one sessions, often with working professionals. As such your hours will be determined by your client’s availability. This might mean working evening and weekends. The hours can be quite long but you can fit these around any other commitments if you need to.

Becoming a personal trainer is a really rewarding role as you support clients in achieving their goals. There are opportunities to become a more specialised sports coach and ultimately become a gym manager if it is a career with progression opportunities that you are looking for. Consider the points above to understand what is involved in becoming a personal trainer.

About Protectivity

As well as Personal Trainer insurance and Gym Insurance we offer insurance to other leisure section entities such as Sports Clubs. Get your quote today by visiting our Sports Club Insurance page.

 

Get Personal Trainer Insurance from Protectivity

 

 

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date. 

Recent Blogs

What equipment do you need to start a pottery business in the UK Image

Crafters

What equipment do you need to start a pottery business in the UK

If you've ever found yourself daydreaming about making and selling your own handmade ceramics, you're not alone.

How much do roofers really make? Image

Trades

How much do roofers really make?

If you’re working in the construction industry, whether as a labourer, scaffolder, or another site-based trade,

10 mins read

Tech tips for craft businesses Image

Crafters

Tech tips for craft businesses

Running a craft business is a blend of creativity, dedication, and - let’s be honest - a fair bit of admin. Whe

Startup loans for small businesses in the UK Image

Starting a business

Startup loans for small businesses in the UK

Starting a small business is an exciting and ambitious step — but for many entrepreneurs, the first major hurdl

New rules for professional dog walkers in Royal Parks 2025 Image

Pet Business

New rules for professional dog walkers in Royal Parks 2025

From April 2025, new licensing rules and conduct standards have been introduced - and if you walk dogs, they may

How to teach yourself handyman skills Image

Trades

How to teach yourself handyman skills

Have you ever fixed a leaky tap, hung a shelf, or patched a hole in the wall and thought, “I could do this for

Pet Behaviour and Psychology for Pet Care Providers Image

Pet Business

Pet Behaviour and Psychology for Pet Care Providers

Whether you're running a doggy daycare, grooming service, or a pet sitting business, one of the most valuable ski

11 mins read

Event Budgeting – Tips for Event Organisers Image

Events

Event Budgeting – Tips for Event Organisers

For small to mid-scale event organisers, getting the budget right isn’t just about balancing the books - it’s

Sourcing unique materials for your crafts Image

Business

Sourcing unique materials for your crafts

If you're a craft maker, artist or craft business owner, you'll know that the materials you use are just as impor

10 mins read

How to groom different dog breeds Image

Pet Business

How to groom different dog breeds

Every dog is unique and so is their coat. Whether you're a first-time pet parent or a seasoned dog groomer, under

10 mins read

Simply find the insurance you need.