Academy | Gym Instructing and Personal Training course

Hear from our PTs

Become a qualified PT

Benefits of joining

Accredited and CIMSPA-endorsed qualification
Blended learning experience - face to face and online
Industry-leading Academy with modern equipment, gym space and private strength & conditioning studio
World-class content developed and delivered by industry experts

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What can I teach?

Bring together the theory and practical knowledge learned on this course to deliver successful Personal Training that can go on to be taught
This course acts as a gateway to other fitness qualifications that will unlock opportunities to progress your career to Expert or Master Trainer within Virgin Active

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Job opportunities

Guaranteed interview/progression to Virgin Active's world-class leading PT model
Access to vacancies across all Virgin Active clubs
Our employed Personal Trainers can earn over £55,000 per year outside of London and over £80,000 per year in London, for less than 30 hours per week

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Why qualify as a Personal Trainer?

If you love meeting new people and have a passion for fitness, then this could be the best decision you've ever made. Our course in Gym Instructing and Personal Training will develop your skills and knowledge so that you can plan and deliver safe and effective exercise programmes. Learn the ins and outs of anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and how to successfully set up and manage a personal training business.

Why take your Personal Trainer qualification with the Virgin Active academy?

We live and breathe fitness. And because we love nothing more than helping our members live happily ever active, we've hired the absolute best in their field to help kick-off your career in the health and fitness industry.

The course covers everything from nutrition for exercise, to how to set up and manage a personal training business on a self-employed basis.

How will the course be assessed?

You will be assessed through a combination of practical demonstrations, your portfolio of evidence, and a multiple choice examination.

Our 12-week course is accredited by Active IQ and CIMSPA-endorsed, meaning you'll have a nationally recognised qualification to be able to start working as a Personal Trainer. We'll even introduce you to our club teams and we have live vacancies for you to apply to!

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Course breakdown

Cost: £1,950

We also offer both the Level 2 Fitness Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer courses separately.

Level 2 Fitness Instructor: 5 weeks - £750

Week 1: Welcome session - Academy and Virgin Brand history, Exercise Library, Virgin PT Career Progression, NASTY

Week 2: Face-to-face 1 - Rapport and Consultations, Group Inductions, Exercise Safety

Week 3: Face-to-face 2 - Duty of Care, Ethics, Programme Planning

Week 4: Face-to-face 3 - Theory and practical workshop

Week 5: L2 Assessment and LAP (portfolio) submission

Level 3 Personal Trainer: 7 weeks - £1,200

Week 6: Intro into L3- Case Study, Advanced Training Methods

Week 7: Face-to-face 1 - Fitness Appraisals and Testing

Week 8: Face-to-face 2 - Food Diary Analysis, Nutrition for Physical Activity

Week 9 Face-to-face 3 - Periodisation and Progressive Planning

Week 10: Face-to-face 4 - C- ME profiling and Business Acumen

Week 11: Face-to-face 5 - Consultations, Goal Setting and PT Workshop

Week 12: L3 Assessment and LAP (portfolio) submission

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Course dates

This course is currently not enrolling any new students but we hope to re-open this shortly. Please continue to use the Academy form and we will be in touch as soon as new dates become available.

Personal Trainer

Before you join, make sure...

You have a good level of physical fitness (this is a hands-on course with practical demonstrations involved!)
You have basic skills in communication (discussing, presenting, reading, writing)

Call 020 8164 6510

Back to courses

Level 2 & 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training