JobsAndCareersWithJamesCaanAutumn2016 - 79

FOCUS :

LEISURE

If you're interested
in helping others

To be a Personal
Trainer you will need
excellent 'people' skills, an
outgoing personality and a
knowledge of how the body
works, as you will need to
talk to clients about their
fitness and health.

achieve their goals, a
career as a Personal
Trainer may be ideal

is typically expected for
this type of role. One of the
best known is the Level 2
certificate in fitness
instructing, which you can
study for through a college or
private training provider (try
activeiq.co.uk). This certificate has
four pathways - gym-based exercise,
water-based exercise, exercise to music
and physical activity for children
- enabling you to focus on your particular
interests or desired specialisms.
Alternatively, you could start out as an
Assistant Instructor at a gym or fitness
centre and compete work-based training
on the job to qualify. Typically, this would
be the Level 2 diploma in instructing
exercise and fitness.
Before applying for a college course,
contact local gyms and fitness centres to
find out what they require in terms of
entry qualifications for Fitness Instructor
roles. Remember that first aid, health and
safety, and coaching awards will also be
valued by employers, as will GCSEs
(A*-C) in maths and English, and a
GCSE or A-level in PE.

Be a... Personal Trainer
If you're someone who loves keeping fit
and you're interested in helping others
reach their fitness goals, then working
as a Personal Trainer could satisfy all
your career needs.

To become a Personal Trainer, your first
port of call should be getting qualified.
Make sure your qualification is accredited
by the Register of Exercise Professionals,
otherwise it may not be taken seriously by
prospective employers.
First, you'll need to complete a Level 2
qualification, such as a certificate in
fitness instructing/gym, a diploma in
health, fitness and exercise instruction or
a diploma in instructing exercise and
fitness, as a basis for your personal
training course. With that under your
belt, you can progress to take your Level
3 diploma in personal training.
This focuses on increasing your ability
to assess the needs of your clients and
recommend a training and diet
programme that will enable them to
achieve the results they are looking for.
The course also covers business skills,
such as how to run your own personal
training business.
Personal training courses are available
through some further education colleges
and many private training providers.
You will also need public liability
insurance and a first aid award.
Deciding whether you want to work on
a freelance, self-employed or employed
basis is vital when you're planning a
career as a Personal Trainer.
According to discovery.uk.com, 76% of
Personal Trainers are freelance and only
16% are employed on a full-time basis.

To learn more about what a Personal Trainer does on a day-to-day basis, visit
the National Careers website: nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

J O B S & C A R E E R S /// 0 7 9
http://activeiq.co.uk http://discovery.uk.com http://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
JobsAndCareersWithJamesCaanAutumn2016

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