How to become a personal trainer
Facts checked
To become a personal trainer, you need a Level 3 personal training qualification, the one gyms ask for. You can take the Level 2 gym instructor course first and then the Level 3, or both in one course. Fitness trainer and fitness coach are other names for the same job.
How long it takes to become a personal trainer depends on how you study. A few providers teach the Level 2 and Level 3 together in eight to fourteen weeks. Part time or at college, it's more often six months to a year. A personal trainer apprenticeship with a gym takes about 15 months.
Most gym instructor and personal trainer courses on JobYay can be free if you qualify. Find out what you could do free near you.
Check what you can get freeIt takes about a minute. We will email you a link to confirm your account and save your results.Ways into personal training
Take a gym instructor and personal trainer course
This is the usual way in. You train with a college or a training provider, then apply to gyms.
You don't need any experience to start the Level 2, or a course that covers both levels. Gym instructors already have the Level 2, so they can go straight on to the Level 3.
You could do many of these courses free.
Check what you can get freeTrain in a gym as an apprentice
An apprenticeship is a job with training, so a gym or leisure club pays you while you learn. From April 2026 you earn at least £8 an hour, and the training costs you nothing.
The personal trainer apprenticeship is at Level 3 and takes about 15 months. It mostly suits people who already have the Level 2 and some experience of working in a gym.
Personal trainer qualifications
| Qualification | Level | How you take it | What it gets you | On JobYay | Cost to you |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 Certificate or Diploma in Gym Instructing | 2 | At a college or training provider, mostly in person. No experience needed. About 7 to 16 weeks part time at some colleges, or a college year at others. | Work as a gym instructor. You can then move on to a Level 3 in personal training. | 46 courses for adults | Check what you can get free |
| Level 3 Diploma or Certificate in Personal Training | 3 | Mostly in person at a college or training gym, with a few online or partly online. You'll usually need the Level 2 first. | Work as a personal trainer, employed or self-employed. If CIMSPA endorses your course, you can join as a personal trainer. | 73 courses for adults | Check what you can get free |
| Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training | 3 | No Level 2 needed. Usually a year at college. At some colleges, adults can take it on two evenings a week. A few providers fit it into 8 to 14 weeks, full time or at weekends. | Work as a gym instructor or a personal trainer, as it covers both. | 20 courses | Check what you can get free |
| BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Sport, Fitness and Personal Training | 3 | Two years full time at college, mostly for school leavers, usually with four or five GCSEs at grade 4 or higher. | When you finish, you can apply to join CIMSPA as a personal trainer, or go on to university. | 3 courses | Check what you can get free |
| Personal trainer apprenticeship | 3 | A paid job at a gym or leisure club for about 15 months. At least a fifth of your working hours are for learning. Mostly for people with the Level 2 and some gym experience. | You can join CIMSPA as a personal trainer once you pass the assessment at the end. | 2 vacancies | Nothing for the training |
You could do many of these courses free.
Check what you can get freeAfter your Level 3
Work for yourself or for a gym
Many personal trainers work for themselves, often renting space in a gym, and some are employed by a health club.
You'll need your Level 3, first aid with CPR and an enhanced DBS check. Some gyms also ask you to join CIMSPA, the professional body for sport and fitness. You can join after a Level 3 course it endorses, or after the apprenticeship.
Offer your clients more
Once you're working, short courses can teach you to run classes such as kettlebells, circuits or indoor cycling.
You could also specialise with a Level 4 course, such as strength and conditioning or nutrition.
Where personal training can lead
With more training, you could work with people recovering from illness or living with a long-term health condition. This is called exercise referral.
You could also teach yoga, pilates or group classes. With experience, some trainers go on to run a gym or leisure centre, and some set up their own fitness business.
Questions people ask
What qualifications do you need to be a personal trainer?
Gyms ask for a Level 3 personal training qualification. Most Level 3 courses want the Level 2 gym instructor qualification first, or you can take both in one course. The Level 2 lets you work as a gym instructor, and personal training itself is the Level 3.
How long does it take to become a personal trainer?
Anywhere from about two months to over a year, depending on how you study. A few providers run both levels together in eight to fourteen weeks, full time or at weekends. Part-time and college courses usually take six months to a year, and the apprenticeship about 15 months.
How much does it cost to become a personal trainer?
It depends on the provider and how you study. A fee isn't always shown, so ask the provider what you'd pay. Many courses can be free if you qualify, and apprentices don't pay for their training.
Are there free personal trainer courses?
Yes, many of the gym instructing and personal training courses on JobYay can be free. It depends on things such as your age, where you live, your income and whether you're working or on benefits. The apprenticeship is another way to train without paying, and a gym pays your wage.
Can you do a personal trainer course online?
Partly, but most courses on JobYay are taught in person, in a gym. A few providers teach online, or mix online study with sessions in person. Either way, you're assessed training a client, and some courses ask you to bring your own, such as a friend.
Do personal trainers need first aid?
Yes, gyms and insurers expect it. You'll need a first aid certificate that includes CPR. A one-day emergency first aid at work course covers this.
How much does a personal trainer earn?
It varies with how many clients you have and where you work. Self-employed trainers commonly charge about £20 to £60 a session, more in London, and pay their own costs such as gym rent. In October 2026, one large health club chain advertised part-time trainer jobs. Full time, that pay would come to about £29,000 to £39,000 a year, including earnings from sessions.
How do you start your own personal training business?
With your Level 3, you can work for yourself, often renting space in a gym or training clients at home or online. Building up clients takes time and some marketing, and the Level 3 covers finding clients and pricing your sessions.
You'll need public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and a first aid certificate. Once you earn more than £1,000 in a tax year, register with HMRC as self-employed.
What is a Level 4 personal trainer?
It's a qualified trainer who has taken a Level 4 course to go further, such as in advanced personal training or nutrition. You don't need a Level 4 to work as a personal trainer, because the Level 3 is what gyms ask for. Among the Level 4 courses, strength and conditioning asks for your Level 3 first, but the nutrition course doesn't.
Can you become a personal trainer at 16?
You can start training at 16. Colleges run full-time courses for school leavers, such as the two-year BTEC in sport, fitness and personal training. Apprenticeships start from 16, but the personal trainer one usually wants the Level 2 and some gym experience first.