There are differences between the courses to qualify as a Level 2 Gym Instructor and an Exercise to Music Instructor. If you’re undecided about what direction to take, we’ll break down the differences between these courses and how you can choose the best one for you.

Contents:

• What Will I Learn On The ETM vs Gym Instructor Course?
• Can You Teach Group Classes with a Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification?
• What are the Job Prospects of an ETM vs Gym Instructor Course?
• Progression Opportunities for ETM vs Gym Instructor Courses

To get started in the health and fitness industry, you can do this with our Level 2 Fitness Instructor. This qualifies you to work in gyms and lead group fitness classes. Download our course prospectus to find out more about how you can begin your career today!

What Will I Learn On The ETM vs Gym Instructor Course?

Our Level 2 Gym Instructor Course provides you with the skills and knowledge required to build a foundation in the fitness industry. During this course, you’ll be taught to support gym members by studying a variety of topics such as anatomy, physiology, and training.

Our Level 2 Gym Instructor Course is made up of 6 modules to help you develop this knowledge, giving you a well rounded overview to become a fitness instructor successfully.

Although the Level 2 Exercise to Music Course also provides students with similar foundational knowledge, the Level 2 Gym Instructor has extra modules including ‘Learning the Business’. This helps you understand how to market yourself as an instructor, should you decide to work freelance.

This means you’ll not only be learning the fundamentals of gym instruction but how to develop your career beyond after graduating!

When studied full time, our Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification can be completed in as little as 2 weeks. Whereas our Exercise to Music Course is only studied via blended learning, with most students taking at least 6 weeks to complete the course (on average).

This means on the Level 2 Gym Instructor Course, you can get qualified and start earning quickly while also developing more knowledge and skills, compared to the Level 2 Exercise to Music Course.

The Level 2 Gym Instructor Course can also be studied entirely online, allowing you to work this course flexibly around your current job or family commitments.

Even better, the Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 2 Exercise to Music Qualifications are both the same price. This means you can get even more out of your studies without paying extra for the more valuable qualification, that will provide you with greater professional opportunities.

Check out our table below for a quick overview of how these courses compare to one another:

Can You Teach Group Classes with a Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification?

With a Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification, one of your main roles will be to lead group workout classes. For example, here’s a job ad posted on Indeed for a gym instructor with Beckwith Health Club:

Most employers will list this as a necessary part of the job, regardless of whether you work full-time or freelance. This is supported by the follow job ad for a part-time Fitness Instructor position at Million Dollar Fitness:

Should you decide to become self-employed and start your own business, you’ll also be fully qualified to plan and lead your own sessions.

An example of someone who did this comes from this LinkedIn profile below from Sally Williams, a self-employed fitness instructor based in Wales:

In short, yes once you’ve completed a Level 2 Gym Instructor course you’ll be fully qualified to teach group fitness classes – regardless of how you decide to work.

What are the Job Prospects of an ETM vs Gym Instructor Course?

Teaching Group Classes

With a Level 2 Exercise to Music Qualification, you can teach group fitness classes as either an employee with a gym, on a freelance basis, or even with your own business. However, a Level 2 Gym Instructor will qualify you to do the exact same role.

Although many hiring managers will accept applicants with either of these qualifications, having the latter opens up many more opportunities for employment. Most employed jobs would have more roles than just teaching classes as you’d also be expected to work on the gym floor.

Think of it this way, it’s more beneficial for a gym or fitness centre to have an employee who can not only teach Exercise to Music, but also a range of other gym classes too. The gym will have more of an advantage hiring someone who is not just limited to only teaching Exercise to Music classes but a range of fitness sessions if necessary.

For example, having a Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification will not just increase your chance of being employed by a gym, but also increase employment opportunities in other areas, such as the ones highlighted below:

Fitness Instructor

By qualifying with a Level 2 Gym Instructor, you can apply for jobs like the one posted below from Indeed:

As you can see, the ideal candidate for this position is someone who holds a Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification. This highlights how having this entry level qualification is ideal for pursuing a career in the fitness industry as it opens many more doors to apply for jobs such as this.

In this role (as previously mentioned) you’ll be able to lead classes, as well as hosting gym inductions, working on the floor and liaising with members.

If you have qualified with only a Level 2 Exercise to Music, you would likely be passed over when applying for this position as opposed to someone with a broader qualification.

Sport & Leisure Fitness Assistant

Having a Level 2 Gym Instructor does not just limit you to working as a fitness instructor. For example, here’s a job advertisement for a Sport & Leisure Fitness Assistant at the University of Bradford:

As the Level 2 Gym Instructor provides a broader foundation to build on in the industry, there are more job prospects with this type of qualification such as the one above, as you aren’t as limited to just one area of fitness or one specific job.

Sales & Fitness Advisor

With a Level 2 Gym Instructor, you can even apply for roles you may not have considered, such as this one:

Although this may not be the specific area of fitness you’d like to pursue, it highlights how much employment opportunities a Level 2 Gym Instructor can provide you with as opposed to limiting yourself to just the Level 2 Exercise to Music Qualification.

Progression Opportunities for ETM vs Gym Instructor Courses

Completing a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Qualification provides a much broader foundation which opens up more opportunities for future progression compared to only qualifying from a Level 2 Exercise to Music Course.

Check out our list of careers below to see how you can progress with these two qualifications and what ones are required for each role:

Personal Training

To become a personal trainer, you’ll need a Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification as this is an entry requirement to enrol on the Level 3 Personal Trainer Course. Having an ETM qualification is not enough to advance to the Level 3 Personal Trainer Course – meaning you’d have to take the fitness instructor course regardless!

A personal trainer is a certified individual who works on a 1-to-1 basis with a client by creating and delivering tailored training programmes to help them achieve their fitness goals. According to Indeed, the average salary of a personal trainer in the UK is £30,931.

As personal trainers can choose their type of employment, this makes it a popular career choice for those in the fitness industry. The different types of employment include:

• Contracted Employment
• Freelance
• Self-Employed

Having the opportunity to work freelance or be self employed means you can eventually choose your working hours and how many clients you train. This makes it a lucrative career as there is no limit to how many people you help!

Bootcamp Instructor

As most bootcamp instructors are self employed and run their own businesses, you can pursue this career with either a Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification or Level 2 Exercise to Music Qualification.

However, the Level 2 ETM Qualification does not include a ‘Learning the Business’ module like the Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification. This is a great advantage when looking to become self employed, especially if your goal is to start a fitness boot camp business.

Bootcamp Instructors work by running individual boot camp classes on a fixed day and time while others may run set programmes that run over a number of weeks.

These are group exercise programs that combine elements of cardiovascular training, strength training, and flexibility exercises. Bootcamps are usually intense and designed to provide a full-body workout in a short period of time.

Most bootcamp instructors will work freelance or be self employed, making it a lucrative career to pursue. However, to be successful, you will need to know how to effectively market your service and bring in attendees.

Specialist Fitness Classes

Another popular choice for career progression is to develop a niche by specialising in certain fitness classes.

Although you can undertake specialist fitness classes with both of these qualifications, our Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification comes with plenty of free Continuing Professional Development Courses (CPD). These include kettlebells, bodyweight training, and medicine ball training.

By completing these additional courses, you’ll gain a plethora of knowledge which you can use to help gym goers. You can also specialise in these kinds of classes and offer them if you develop your own service.

Exercise Referral

An exercise referral specialist is somebody who is qualified to create tailored fitness programmes for people that suffer with a chronic physical condition or illness.

This could mean that a patient has one or various conditions that could be improved with physical activity. Exercise referral specialists will take referrals from GPs, the NHS and private medical practitioners respectively.

To advance onto a Level 3 Exercise Referral Course with OriGym, you need to complete a Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification first. The Level 2 Exercise to Music Qualification doesn’t count towards this.

Level 4 Fitness Trainer

Becoming a Level 4 Fitness Trainer is an ideal way to become an expert in the health and fitness industry. With these qualifications, you’ll be able to focus on a specific group and target these clients specifically.

Here at OriGym, we offer Level 4 qualifications such as:

• Level 4 Lower Back Pain Management Course
• Level 4 Obesity and Weight Management Course
• Level 4 Diabetes Control & Weight Management Course

Developing a niche by completing any of the qualifications above is a great way to advance your career and progress in the fitness industry.

However, to enrol on these courses, you will need to have completed a Level 3 Personal Trainer Qualification. Remember, this can only be achieved if you’ve qualified as a Level 2 Gym Instructor.

You cannot enrol with just a Level 2 Exercise to Music Qualification. This means if you wanted to progress to Level 4, you’d have to complete additional courses first.

Nutrition Coach

Although you could pursue this career with either of the qualifications above, the Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification is ideal for expanding your service to a wider group of people. This is especially true if you work in a gym and spend a lot of time on the gym floor talking to those who regularly attend.

By doing this, you can increase the number of people you market your services to as opposed to limiting yourself to one specific role.

Nutrition coaches are exercise and nutrition professionals who are qualified to provide bespoke meal plans, advice and support to clients to make healthier choices in their food and drink consumption. The guidance is aimed at helping combine diet and exercise to help clients successfully achieve their goals.

Those who become a nutrition coach will often do this alongside their other jobs in the fitness industry, such as gym instructing, personal training, etc.

Before You Go!

Now you have a clear understanding of the differences between these courses and where they can lead you, it’s time to decide on the best one for you.

Our Level 2 Gym Instructor will give you the best way to get started in the industry and embark on a rewarding career. Download our course prospectus to read more about our courses and find the right one for you.

If you want to start working in the fitness industry, you may be wondering whether you should enrol on a Level 2 Gym Instructor course for free.

Whilst this may seem like a cost-effective option, a free gym instructor course doesn’t necessarily equate to high-quality training. In this article, you’ll learn why, as we discuss:

• Do Free Gym Instructor Courses Exist?
• Are Free Fitness Instructor Courses Regulated and Accredited?
• Will Completing a Free Course Improve My Job Prospects?
• Can You Get Insurance After Completing a Free Fitness Instructor Course?
• Free Gym Instructor Training Might Actually Not Be ‘Free’

You can get the professional training you need to stand out to employers with OriGym’s Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification.

If you would like to learn more about this course and many others, download our free course prospectus.

Do Free Gym Instructor Courses Exist?

This is a great question to help you develop your understanding of the free gym instructor courses that are available online.

The answer to this question is technically yes, but, there are many limitations to free or cheap fitness instructor courses. The main limitation is that these courses do not qualify you to work as a Level 2 Gym Instructor and are not recognised by employers. 

That said, a quick search for ‘Free fitness instructor courses’ online does generate results. One site that offers ‘Free Gym Instructor Courses & Training’ is Reeds Courses. Here, you can find free and low-priced courses for as little as £10: 

We can understand why you might be tempted to enrol on one of these courses because of their minimal costs.

But will these courses train you to the standards that can help you find employment within the fitness industry?

Let’s break one of them down so you can learn what you’ll be taught in exchange for your money. 

Reading the details of the ‘Gym Instructor Training Course-CPD Certified’, we learn that you’ll be required to complete 6 modules over 21 hours of study:

Whilst these modules can provide a broad overview of the skills you need as a gym instructor, they won’t teach the Key Fitness Instructor skills employers will look for.

If you compare this to OriGym’s Ofqual-regulated L2 Gym Instructor Course, for example, you’ll complete 8 modules over a minimum of 6 weeks.

Whilst on this course, you’ll learn about running gym-based sessions, alongside developing your understanding of the science of anatomy and physiology, and exercise.

The course requires you to pass three tests, with one requiring you to pass a physical assessment that demonstrates your ability to carry out gym-based inductions.

The Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification is a mandatory requirement to successfully get a position within the fitness industry that all employers will seek from applicants. 

Returning to the ‘Gym Instructor Training Course’ on Reed, you’ll notice a practical assessment, which is a component of the OriGym course, is not a feature of the course:

This probably explains why in the Q and A section the course is described as a ‘knowledge-based course’ that follows an ‘accredited curriculum’:

The answer from the Training Tale Team also suggests that the course is not an accredited course. 

This means that this course is not regulated by Ofqual or accredited by an awarding body such as Focus Awards. As a result, this course will not enable you to pursue a job or get insured as a fitness instructor. 

The lack of accreditation also means you cannot guarantee that this course will train you to the industry standards set out by Ofqual. 

So, if you end up enrolling on such a course, it’s important to recognise that you won’t gain an industry-recognised qualification that can help you start working as a gym instructor.

If you’re looking to become a fitness instructor in the UK, one of the free or cheap courses referenced above is not the way to do this.

Put simply, they aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.

Let’s explore in more detail what course regulation and accreditation mean when reviewing free gym instructor courses.

Are Free Fitness Instructor Courses Regulated and Accredited?

When you research free fitness instructor courses a common trend emerges; they lack regulation from Ofqual, which is why you won’t see Level 2 in front of them. 

But what is Ofqual regulation and why is it important for a gym instructor course to be accredited?

What is A Regulated Fitness Instructor Course?

Enrolling on an Ofqual-regulated qualification means it has been approved by this governing body and that it follows a set of criteria that ensures each student is trained in the fundamental skills relevant to that level.

You can see this with the modules you’ll study on the Ofqual-regulated Level 2 Gym Instructing Course on the Focus Awards website, which is OriGym’s awarding body:

 

If we return to Reed’s website and view the ‘Gym Instructor Training Course-CPD Certified course’, we can see that nowhere does it mention that it is Ofqual-regulated:

This is further reflected in the modules we mentioned earlier that teach different subjects than those that appear on the Ofqual-regulated qualification.

Should you decide to get a free fitness course certification, you can expect not to be trained to standards recognised within the fitness industry.

However, it can serve as an introductory course to understand some of the skills gym instructors need.

If you solely relied on this qualification, you will not be able to land employment as a gym instructor, since the course doesn’t train you to be a level 2 gym instructor and is not an Ofqual-regulated course.

Whilst making sure your gym instructor qualification is Ofqual-regulated, it’s equally important to make sure it’s properly accredited. 

Let’s examine why.

What Does An Endorsed Fitness Instructor Course Mean?

Another reason why free online courses don’t cost anything but also don’t help you to pursue this career is that they are not endorsed by CIMSPA. 

When a course is endorsed by CIMSPA, you can feel confident that your training meets the standards required to work in the fitness industry.

A stamp approval will appear on qualifications that are endorsed by CIMSPA which will indicate to employers that you have carried out training recognised to be among the highest standard of the fitness industry.

If you choose OriGym’s Level 2 Gym Instructor Course, you can feel rest assured that your qualification will be endorsed by CIMSPA and Ofqual regulated, and therefore fully employable compared to those who chose a free gym instructor course.

A free fitness instructor qualification will only provide you with knowledge training, which employers won’t be able to authenticate when you present this qualification to them, since Ofqual and CIMSPA’s logo won’t appear on it.

Will Completing Free Fitness Instructor Training Improve My Job Prospects?

As mentioned earlier, there is no such thing as a free level 2 fitness instructor course (online or in-person), the only free options are those that are general ‘fitness instructor training’ courses. Therefore, you may find it difficult to increase your job prospects with this type of qualification. 

This is because gym chains, independent studios, and leisure centres work closely with these professional bodies to ensure they only hire gym instructors who have been trained on a CIMSPA-endorsed and Ofqual-regulated qualification. 

As you can see from this job advert on Indeed Jobs, Edinburgh Leisure, is looking for Part-Time Gym Instructors who hold a CIMSPA-affiliated qualification:

If you were to see a Fitness Instructor job description online and apply for the position with a free certification, you’d find it extremely difficult to get invited for an interview and impossible to successfully get the job. 

Employers will see that the CIMSPA and Ofqual logos are missing from your qualification which signals to them you have not carried out the appropriate training.

It also has implications for you if you’re hoping to secure insurance with your free gym instructor qualification!

Can You Get Insurance After Completing a Free Fitness Instructor Course?

Many professions require people to have insurance and gym instructors are no different. 

If you’re hoping to get insurance with a free gym instructing qualification, things start to get complicated.

Insurance providers will require you to submit proof that you’re eligible to receive coverage from them and this requires you to hold an industry-recognised certification.

With a free gym instructor qualification, it’s likely not to be subject to the regulations and 

accreditation from governing bodies that allow it to be authenticated by insurance providers.

This will make it impossible for you to acquire insurance which will add to the difficulty a free qualification already brings you in the job market.

The reason for this is simple, employers will ask applicants to already have the appropriate coverage when applying for a position they have open, as demonstrated by this Fitness Instructor and Self-Employed Personal Trainer position in Tooting: 

So when you pursue a Level 2 Gym Instructing qualification, it’s important to make sure you enrol on an accredited course that makes you eligible to receive the insurance coverage you need and stops you from facing barriers to work in the industry.

Being able to secure the correct coverage makes you less vulnerable to high payouts if someone successfully claims you.

Free Level 2 Gym Instructor Courses Might Actually Not Be ‘Free’

When you enrol on a ‘Level 2’ Fitness Instructor course online for free, you might be surprised to learn that they might not be as free as you think they are.

This is because they might have surprise fees that you have not anticipated when agreeing to enrol on them:

• Resits– If you fail to pass any of your assessments on a free course, you may be subjected to additional fees to resit those assessments to pass. 
• Access to modules–You might be surprised to learn that many free courses limit your access to modules. This means you’ll have to pay extra to access those modules or ‘upgrade’ your course.
• Admin and certification costs– Some courses might appear to be free but actually come with hidden fees, usually ‘administration costs’. For example, you might be charged an admin fee to have your certificate posted to you. 

That’s why it’s important to research what you’ll get access to on a free course and compare it to a fully accredited L2 Gym Instructor qualification to see which offers the greatest value for money.

Before You Go   

After reading this article you’ll understand the limitations of enrolling for free qualifications and why you’ll never find a Level 2 gym instructor course for free.

Remember you can get the Ofqual-regulated and CIMSPA-endorsed training you need by studying a Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification with OriGym. Download our course prospectus to learn more!

To help you understand the role of a fitness instructor, we’ll provide you with guidance and information about the following topics:

• What Are The Responsibilities Of A Fitness Instructor?
• What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Fitness Instructor?
• Insurance Requirements Of A Fitness Instructor
• Salary Expectations Of A Fitness Instructor
• What Fitness Instructing Position You Can Apply For
• Additional Qualifications You Can Take To Improve Your Career Opportunities As A Fitness Instructor

Before we begin, did you know you can kickstart your career as a fitness instructor with a Level 2 Fitness Instructor? This gives you the best start into the fitness industry and is the first step if you’re looking to become a personal trainer.

Alternatively, you can learn about our full range of courses by downloading our FREE prospectus.

What Are The Responsibilities Of A Fitness Instructor?

When you read a fitness instructor job description, you’ll learn that your primary goal is to help people improve their physical health when you work in the fitness industry.

In this role, you’ll act as the first point of call for gym members, where you’ll be responsible for:

• Performing inductions- showing new members where changing facilities and fire exits are, where different equipment is situated and who the building’s first aider is.
• Assisting members with technique and equipment use- help members maintain correct posture and proper form.
• Keeping gym environments safe- provide frequent checks on equipment to make sure they’re functioning correctly and the floor is free from slippery surfaces and hazards
• Teaching group exercise classes- planning classes that you later deliver to several gym members at once.

Besides working on the gym floor, you may also be responsible for answering emails, contacting management for assistance during your shift and registering new members.

When you apply for fitness instructor positions, you’ll see these responsibilities listed on a fitness instructor job description (UK), such as this one from Let’s Get Healthy in Birkenhead:

It’s important to note that this position is not the same as working as a personal trainer, which requires a greater level of expertise.

For example, as a fitness instructor, you won’t be able to:

• Work with members 1-2-1.
• Write training programmes that reflect the needs of individual members.
• Perform medical assessments.
• Work with high-risk members.

Now that you have an understanding of a fitness instructor’s responsibilities, you’ll next need to know what qualifications you require to become one.

What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Fitness Instructor?

When reading the job description of a fitness instructor, you’ll notice that you’ll need a level 2 gym instructor qualification to apply for jobs, such as this position at Sefton Council:

A level 2 qualification in gym instructing is vital to your development as it can teach you a wide range of skills, including:

• Understanding human anatomy and physiology
• The principles of exercise and fitness
• How to reduce the risk of injury to people

When enrolling in this course, make sure it is endorsed by CIMSPA and regulated by Ofqual. Your instruction, as a result, will be of a professional standard and recognized by employers.

Insurance Requirements Of A Fitness Instructor

When you’re reading the job description of a fitness instructor, you’ll discover that most companies require you to have insurance to apply for their position.

There are three essential types of insurance you’ll need to consider securing policies for, including:

• Public liability
• Professional indemnity
• Personal accident

This is because some employers require you to have insurance coverage, whilst others may provide this for you- it’s important to check out the fitness instructor job description to see if you’ll need additional insurance or not.

At Our Parks Ltd, for instance, they require you to have public and professional liability insurance to apply for their fitness instructor vacancy:

If you’re not familiar with these types of insurance, we will provide you with further information to explain what each coverage provides you:

• Public liability insurance-provides coverage in the event a person is injured whilst under your supervision or property is damaged or lost owned by a third party.
• Professional indemnity insurance-covers you for claims of professional negligence that resulted in a person becoming injured or ill after following your advice.
• Equipment insurance-this will provide you with financial coverage for any treatments you require, following an injury at work.

There are plenty of insurance providers who can provide you with this coverage, including Markel Direct and Insure4sport.

If you would like to find out more about the different types of insurance available for fitness professionals, you can read about them in this article.

Now that you understand what fitness insurance you require to safely operate as a fitness instructor, you may be questioning what the earning potential of a fitness instructor is.

– – – –

If you’re enjoying this article, we think you’ll enjoy these ones too!

• How To Become A Fitness Instructor
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Salary Expectations Of A Fitness Instructor

When you’re reading each job description for a fitness instructor, you’ll notice that location and the type of role being offered will influence the salary you could earn.

If you want to know whether a gym that wishes to employ you is offering you a competitive salary, you’ll need to learn what the average salary of a fitness instructor is.

Glassdoor, for instance, indicates that the average salary of a fitness instructor in the United Kingdom is £23,196:

This number can vary depending on the region where you plan to work. A London fitness instructor can earn an average of £26,215, compared to £21,872 for a Birmingham instructor.

It’s important to note that depending on the role you undertake, you can earn up to £30,000, according to data held by Payscale:

This figure will reflect the type of establishment you work at, along with the qualifications and level of expertise you possess.

What Fitness Instructing Position You Can Apply For

Once you have your qualifications as a fitness instructor and secured your insurance, you’ll notice in a job description of a fitness instructor, there are different places you can work at, including:

• An employed position
• Freelance position
• Self-employed position

Let’s take a look at these employment types in more detail.

#1 Employed Position As A Fitness Instructor

One of the most traditional routes you can go down to get employed as a fitness instructor is to get a job working at a gym, typically with fixed hours per week.

For example, you could apply for this fitness instructor job at Sefton Council which requires a fitness instructor to work at their different fitness centres:

It’s important to note that these types of jobs will require you to work at various times, which is the case here, as the ideal candidate will need to be able to work evenings and weekends too.

Alternatively, you could work as a fitness instructor as part of your community or in a school environment.

For example, if you were looking to provide fitness services to young people, you might be interested in this job at The Birtenshaw Group:

Roles like this are a great opportunity to transform the health of the underprivileged or people with special needs.

#2 Freelance Positions As A Fitness Instructor

In this fitness class instructor job description, you’ll be responsible for planning and teaching classes.

You’ll also discover, as a result, that hours aren’t fixed, unlike an employed position. It will provide you with greater flexibility when choosing your hours of work which can complement the hours you decide to work at other gyms.

In this job description below from Our Parks, you can see the hours you’re required to work, including the requirement to work mornings, evenings and weekends depending on demand:

If you’re looking for control of your work schedule then working as a freelance member of staff might be a great option for you.

It’s a line of work you could undertake, particularly if you’re currently employed and are looking to boost your salary.

#3 Self-Employed Position

If the idea of working in a gym doesn’t appeal to you and you’re looking for alternatives to work as a fitness instructor, then you could seek self-employed work.

This fitness instructor job description would see you renting a private space, likely in a gym/ fitness studio, and arranging classes yourself as well as sourcing your own clients.

You’ll also need to make sure you have the relevant fitness insurance as covered in our insurance section above.

If you want to teach how you want and at hours that are convenient for you, being a self-employed fitness instructor is beneficial.

If you’d like more details on how to become self-employed, then there are steps you can follow in our article to become a fitness instructor with your own business!

Additional Qualifications You Can Take To Improve Your Career Opportunities As A Fitness Instructor

#1 Complete A Level 3 Personal Trainer Qualification To Become A Personal Trainer

After spending time working as a fitness instructor, you may want to advance your career by becoming a personal trainer.

In addition to carrying out your fitness instructing duties, it will enable you to engage with customers one-on-one and design customised training plans.

To apply for personal trainer positions, first, you will need to complete a level 3 personal training qualification– this is a necessity, as highlighted by this job advert from NMotion in London:

You’ll be able to earn more money as a PT, with the national average of a personal trainer in the UK reported to be £6,000 higher than a fitness instructor at li.

You can always maintain your role as a fitness instructor and become a personal trainer as a way to add another income stream!

#2 Complete CPD Qualifications To Offer Specialised Services

Completing CPD qualifications is a great way to increase your employment prospects in the fitness industry.

They can help further your knowledge of health and fitness in general and help you develop specialist skills to improve your fitness instructing income, such as:

• Group Training
• Kettlebell
• Circuit Training
• Boxing & Pad Work

As you can see from this job advert from Rise Community, CPD skills are highly sought after in the fitness job market:

Since you’ve developed skills in a specialist area, you’ll increase your chances of securing employment as employers will look to retain your skills for the betterment of their business.

Alternatively, you can use your CPD knowledge to launch your own business if you wish to become self-employed.

#3 Complete A Level 4 Nutritionist Qualification To Expand Your Skill Set

Completing a nutritionist course is a great way to advance your career in the fitness industry.

You’ll be able to marry your nutritionist knowledge with your experience as a fitness professional to help clients optimise their performance in the gym.

You can give recommendations for diets to help improve a person’s fitness levels and charge more for these additional, specialist services.

You can then create packages that you could sell online if you wish to become self-employed, such as those offered by Bare Nutrition:

This is a great qualification for you to complete at any stage of your fitness career as there are no prerequisites to enrol on the course.

Before You Go!

After reading this article we hope you have all the information you need to understand what’s included in a fitness instructor job description.

Remember, you can enrol on OriGym’s L2 Fitness Instructor to help kickstart your fitness instructor career.

You can also learn about our courses by downloading our course prospectus.

Becoming a fitness instructor is the first step that many take when starting a career in the health & fitness industry.

Our guide explains exactly how to become a fitness instructor in 5 simple steps.

Contents

• About Becoming a Fitness Instructor 
• Step 1: What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Fitness Instructor?
• Step 2: How to Find The Right Course 
• Step 3: Plan Your Career in The Industry
• Step 4: Get Fitness Instructor Insurance 
• Step 5: Upskill With Advanced Training!

Enquire about our Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course now or check out OriGym’s FREE prospectus for more information.

What To Know Before Becoming a Fitness Instructor

According to Glassdoor, fitness instructors earn between £15k-£37k a year, with the average fitness instructor salary estimated to be around £23,200.

When becoming a fitness instructor you will fulfil a variety of responsibilities, such as:

• Teaching of fitness classes
• Conducting gym inductions
• Keeping the gym & equipment clean
• Demonstrating how to use equipment

Your work schedule will likely be influenced by peak times at gyms – this can include mornings, evenings, and weekends.

Step One: What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Fitness Instructor?

To become a fitness instructor, you will need to obtain a Level 2 Gym Instructor Certificate.

This course provides vital knowledge and skills required to succeed in the industry, and is a requirement of both employers and insurance providers.

Some employers may list other requirements needed to become a fitness instructor, specifically the Level 3 Personal Training Qualification.

Many employers prefer candidates to hold this certification and some even specify it as a requirement.

With this in mind, it is worth completing a Personal Training Diploma, which combines both the Level 2 & 3 Qualifications at a discounted price.

You may not need the Level 3 PT certificate to become a fitness instructor, but you will need this qualification if you want to progress in your career by becoming a personal trainer.

Your chosen qualifications must be regulated by an Ofqual-approved awarding body, such as Focus Awards or Active IQ.

Ofqual is responsible for ensuring that every Level 2 Fitness Instructor receives the same level of vocational training.

The fitness instructor qualifications needed to become a fitness instructor must meet this criteria, should employers find out you hold an unregulated or fake certification you won’t be hired, and could even face legal consequences in specific instances.

You should also look for a course that is endorsed by CIMSPA, a professional body that works alongside course providers and awarding bodies to ensure that courses meet high standards. CIMSPA endorsement is a good indicator of a high quality course.

Step Two: Finding The Right Courses to Become a Fitness Instructor

The provider you choose to qualify with can have an influence on your studying experience and future career prospects.

When making this decision, you should consider:

What Study Methods Are Available?

Level 2 Fitness Instructor Courses can be taught in three methods, online, part-time, and full-time. This choice will affect how you study, here’s how it works at OriGym:

• Full-Time

Classroom learning environment, combining both practical and theoretical lessons

• Part-Time

Blended learning experience, combining in-person workshops and online study

• Online

Based entirely online, students qualify at their own pace using OriGym’s E-learning platform

What Post-Course Support is Available?

If a course provider offers post-course support and career advice, finding a job will be much easier.

At OriGym, we help graduates become gym instructors by offering CV analysis and distribution, in addition to interview prep! Even better yet, once your course is completed you’re guaranteed a job interview!

What Do Former Students Say?

Looking at independent review sites such as TrustPilot and Google Reviews can help. In doing so, you can read about the experiences of past and current students, and determine whether the provider is right for you.

For more tips, watch this YouTube video where we compare several vocational training course providers!

Step Three: Plan Your Career When Becoming a Gym Instructor

Once you know how to become a fitness instructor you need to thing about what capacity you want to work in. Your options are:

• Employed / Contracted
• Freelance
• Self-Employed

Employed / Contracted Work

When working on an employed basis you will be based in one primary location, such as a specific gym or fitness centre, working either part or full-time hours.

This is an ideal career pathway for newly qualified individuals who have just become a fitness instructor. In this position you will be able to earn a stable source of income, working in an environment that encourages your professional development.

Freelance Work

Alternatively, you may decide to work on a freelance basis. In this role you will still earn a fixed salary, but instead work at a variety of locations, with a much shorter work schedule.

This is because when you’re employed in this capacity you will only be expected to teach fitness classes, as and when the employer requires you. It’s very unlikely that you would need to fulfil any other duties.

Self-Employed Work

Contracted and freelance positions are ideal for some, but for others they can act as necessary steps to becoming a fitness instructor on a self-employed basis.

If you wish to learn how to become a gym class instructor on a self-employed basis or to take your service online, check out this article on how you can become an online fitness coach.

Step Four: Get Fitness Instructor Insurance

If you’re looking to become a fitness instructor you will also need to invest in insurance, prior to starting any job role.

For reference, if you become a fitness instructor in the UK you will be legally required to hold the following insurance policies (at a minimum).

• Public Liability Insurance – Offers legal protection in the event a class attendee is injured or falls ill under your supervision – e.g. they can claim their injury is due to your faulty equipment.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance – Will protect you in the event your teaching style is brought into question – e.g. a client blames their injury on the advice you provided.

This legal protection is vital when working freelance or on a self-employed basis, as without insurance as a fitness instructor you could face financial consequences and even jail time!

If you become a fitness instructor under contract you should still invest in this purchase too, as your employers’ chosen insurance provider may not cover all of the aforementioned areas.

Step Five – Upskill with Advanced Training

After becoming a fitness instructor, you may wish to progress onto other career opportunities once you have secured employment in this position.

This can be achieved through completing advanced training, which will ensure you’re qualified to offer these additional services. As a result, you will successfully attract a new demographic of clients and earn a higher wage as a result.

Some of the most popular advanced qualifications students pursue after becoming a gym instructor include:

Level 3 Personal Training

This course will qualify you to work with clients on a one-to-one basis, creating bespoke workout programmes for their specific goals. By upskilling with the Level 3 Qualification you can become a personal trainer in addition to completing your regular fitness instructor duties.

CPD Courses 

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses help you to develop a niche as a fitness instructor, in areas such as Body Weight Training as well as Business and Marketing.

These courses can help you to attract a specialised demographic while increasing the value of these services due to you being regarded as an expert in that particular area.

Level 4 Advanced Sports Nutrition

Develop the skills needed to offer nutrition coaching that will facilitate the goals of your customers, and increase the value of your fitness services.

Fitness Teaching & Assessing 

Become a Fitness Tutor and develop the necessary skills required to educate and assess aspiring students who are looking to enter the fitness industry.

FAQs

#1 – How Long Does It Take to Become a Fitness Instructor?

Qualifications to become a fitness instructor will differ in duration depending how you choose to study.

For example, as previously mentioned there are 3 study options available on the Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course, all of which will differ in length:

• Full-Time – On average completed in 4 weeks
• Part-Time – On average completed in 8 weeks
• Online – On average completed in 12 weeks (No deadlines associated with this study method, you can take as long as you require)

How long it takes to become a fitness instructor can also vary depending on your vocational training provider. The outline listed above refers to OriGym’s qualification; others may differ in length.

#2 – How Much Does Fitness Instructor Training Cost

Many aspiring fitness professionals wonder if they can become a fitness instructor for free? In short, the answer is no, as free/cheap qualifications won’t be recognised in the same regard as CIMSPA approved courses.

The cost of learning how to become a fitness instructor in the UK will vary from one provider to the next. For example, OriGym charges £649 on a flexible 0% interest payment plan – with no hidden fees and unlimited FREE exam resists.

When becoming a fitness instructor in the UK you could also choose to purchase the course as part of a package, such as the example below:

Purchasing one of these deals will work out cheaper than paying for multiple courses separately, as evident from the example above which can save you £748 respectively.

Ready to Kickstart Your Career in Fitness?

One of the UK’s most trusted education providers in the health and fitness industry, OriGym specialises in assisting aspiring and experienced fitness professionals in reaching their career goals.

Download our FREE course prospectus to learn more about all of our qualifications, or enquire about our Level 2 Fitness Instructor Qualification here!

There are many different gym instructor skills, qualities and requirements that you must possess in order to successfully work within the role. This definitive guide will break down each of these traits in detail, and explain how you can develop them.

If you’re looking to advance your pre-existing skills and qualities, a L2 Fitness Instructor qualification will strengthen your knowledge, and allow you to train individual clients alongside your regular classes.

You can also download our FREE course prospectus for more information on all of OriGym’s qualifications.

Requirements, Qualities, And Skills Needed For A Fitness Instructor Position

If you’re unsure of how exactly requirements, skills and qualities of a fitness instructor  differentiate from each other, let’s break them down:

• Requirement – These can be personal or professional, and will clearly be outlined as key components in order to be considered for a job role. E.g. Employers will only hire you if you hold certain qualifications.
• Skills – Physical traits or theoretical knowledge that can be acquired and developed through training.
• Qualities – Rooted in your personality, qualities define how you act as a fitness instructor. When applying for certain job roles, application processes will stress what kind of instructor they’re looking for through defining key character qualities – e.g. disciplined and empathetic.

With these definitions in mind, this article will focus on key qualities, requirements, and skills needed to be a gym instructor, using job ads to highlight how these traits can be applied in the workplace.

#1 – Fitness Instructor Skills & Qualities Must Be Developed Through Obtaining Further Qualifications 

The health and fitness industry is an incredibly competitive field, and for this reason, employers will only want to hire candidates who possess industry recognised qualifications. To start as a trainee fitness instructor and eventually advance to become a personal trainer, you’ll need the best qualifications.

If you’re a UK resident, your Level 2 fitness instructor qualification will be regulated by CIMSPA (The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity). 

As the professional development body for the sport and physical activity sector in the UK, CIMSPA aims to provide regulation across the entire industry. 

This is achieved through monitoring vocational training providers (such as OriGym) in order to ensure that everyone in the UK is working from the same syllabus.

Every CIMSPA recognised qualification will ensure that students develop an in-depth understanding of the principles of exercise. This will include:

• Creating a varied fitness class programme
• Understanding human anatomy and physiology, in relation to exercise
• Building sessions that include cardiovascular activities, and bodyweight movements. 

Obtaining a CIMSPA regulated qualification is a necessity for many employers, as it certifies the holder is working to the correct industry standard. This can be seen below, where the employer lists it among their employment requirements: 

Becoming a fitness instructor with a CIMSPA recognised qualification will therefore set you up for the rest of your career. 

Without this, employers may be hesitant to offer you a position, as the quality of your training will not be verified to the same standard as other fitness instructors across the UK.

#2 – Communication Skills Needed To Be A Fitness Instructor 

When discussing the requirements, skills and qualities of a fitness instructor, being a strong communicator is an absolute must if you wish to lead your exercise classes with intelligence and authority.

Communication will be an integral part of every class you lead, as you will need to use this skill to perform responsibilities such as:

• Welcoming the class to the class and offering a brief overview of what they can expect from the session.
• Explaining how to execute various exercise routines. 
• Provide valuable feedback and amendments to customers in attendance.

Your fitness instructor communication skills will develop over the course of your career, improving with the more experience you gain. With that being said, employers will still prioritise this trait when viewing candidates for job roles.

This can be seen below, where GRL clearly value good communication skills in their fitness instructors:

Remember, communication is not just about talking either, as you also need to be eagerly listening to fitness class attendees too. 

This can benefit both your sessions and overall performance in your job role, as if you listen to your customers feedback, you will be able to make changes and improvements.

Communication skills will also benefit fitness instructors outside their regular class time too. For example, through taking the time to develop and learn, you’ll be able to sharpen your selling ability as well, knowing exactly what potential customers want out of your sessions. 

#3 – The Importance Of Motivational Qualities In A Fitness Instructor 

Being able to motivate class attendees is arguably one of the most important skills and qualities of a fitness instructor. A good fitness instructor will be able to drive their members forward, with praise and encouragement to achieve their goals. 

When looking through job applications, you will notice that motivational fitness instructor skills are one of the most recurring features across the entire industry. 

This will be worded in a manner that stresses the importance of each individual customer, rather than the class as a whole, as so:

In these instances, the motivational qualities of a fitness instructor will come into play when offering clients personalised feedback. 

For example, if you see a member struggling with a certain aspect of the class you can approach them with modifications that make the exercise more accessible.

The motivational tactic of focusing on individual gym members ensures that no one feels left out or disheartened during the class. Instead, they will be able to continue working at their own pace, whilst still working towards their overall fitness goals. 

Note, not everyone will feel comfortable being ‘singled out’ in front of the entire class. For this reason, when providing feedback it may be worth approaching the customer personally to offer your guidance. 

If you are unable to motivate your customers they will simply associate negative connotations with your class, such as a lack of direction and the inability to hit their goals under your guidance.

Your initial Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification will offer a module on how to motivate your fitness members, but to take this knowledge further, enrol on a Level 3 personal training course, which will teach you how to interact with clients on a one-to-one basis.

#4 – Leadership Skills Needed For A Fitness Instructor Role 

Another example of vital gym instructor skills and qualities you’ll need to possess in order to be considered for a job role is a strong sense of leadership. 

This links closely with motivation, as you’ll need to use both of these traits to successfully guide your class through their workout plan.

Think about it this way. A good leader will always know how they can motivate each class member individually. Likewise, if you engage with your members in this manner they will look to you as someone they can trust.

Strong leadership skills are needed to be a fitness instructor in order to complete the following responsibilities:

• Public speaking in front of large groups.
• Offering explanations on how to perform specific workouts, and the benefits of those workouts.
• Listening to gym member’s feedback in order to make classes accessible for their needs.
• Selling gym members on the idea of signing up for your fitness classes

When analysing the skills and qualities of a fitness instructor, employment experts at Indeed support the claim that leadership skills are essential:

The leadership skills of a fitness instructor will develop over the course of your career, as with time comes additional knowledge and experience. 

The longer you operate in the role, the better you will become at leading classes and offering guidance to class attendees individually.

#5 – Creative Gym Instructor Skills and Qualities 

If you’re wondering ‘what skills do you need to be a fitness instructor?’, one of the most overlooked requirements needed to be successful in this role is creativity. 

This is a necessity, as you will need to consistently create exciting and diverse exercise routines for your customers. Failure to achieve this will result in repetitive classes, and your paying customers feeling bored and unfulfilled.

The importance of planning fun fitness classes is echoed in job vacancies, such as the following example from Kinesis Hub:

There are numerous ways that you can flex your creative group fitness instructor skills, with the most obvious being creating diverse routines that incorporate new workout methods. 

Through the implementation of new features, each class member will remain engaged with your sessions. 

One way you could do this is to focus on one specific body part per session. For example, one class may focus on legs and core, whereas the next will focus on upper body strength.

Creative gym instructor skills and qualities aren’t restricted to the delivery of your session either. You can display creativity in every possible aspect of your class, from the music you play, to the theme of your class.

#6 – Adaptable and Flexible Skills Needed to Be a Gym Instructor 

Throughout the course of this article you may have gathered that, as a fitness instructor, you’ll need to adapt at a moment’s notice. In order to be truly flexible, you must be willing to face whatever challenges are thrown at you.

Every gym member will be different, so you will need to be flexible with your approach to leading the sessions, to ensure everyone gets the most out of the class. 

We’ve already touched on this when discussing motivational qualities, but part of being flexible will include offering amendments to members who are struggling.

Adaptable fitness instructor characteristics can come into play when working with a variety of students, remember not everyone will be experts and whilst in this role you may be working with:

• Inexperienced Individuals
• Vulnerable groups – e.g. the elderly or disabled individuals 
• Those suffering from injuries 

When listing gym instructor skills and qualities they value, employers will typically stress the importance of adaptability by focusing on its relation to safety – e.g. the more flexible you are with your clients needs, the safer your class will be. This can be seen below in the following job ad:

Learning how to adapt your class for those with differing needs will happen over time, the more gym members you train the better you will get at creating alternative workouts. 

With that being said, advancing your academic knowledge will also benefit this process, as a Level 3 personal training certificate will specifically cover how to amend your training style to the consideration of those with unique needs. 

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If you enjoy learning about the skills and qualities needed for a fitness instructor role, these other OriGym articles may also be of interest:

• How To Become A Fitness Instructor
• What Makes a Good Fitness Instructor?
• How To Become A Personal Trainer 

#7 – Organisational Skills for a Fitness Instructor Role

When working in this role, you will likely have a busy day-to-day schedule, especially if you operate on a freelance basis and are required to travel from one location to another.

This is why organisational skills are needed to be a gym instructor, as you will need to ensure your daily routine runs as smoothly as possible.

As stated multiple times throughout this article, fitness instructors will have a variety of other responsibilities. With well-developed organisational skills you will be able to stay on top of each task, completing them to the best of your abilities. 

Most if not all employers will stress the importance of developing organisational skills for a fitness instructor role, like this one from Body Fitness Camp:

Think of it this way, would you want to hire someone who is always running late, or doesn’t make the effort to remember the class attendees names? Simply put, if you’re unorganised and dishevelled you won’t find much success in this job role.

This can be a tricky skill to develop naturally, but thankfully, you can now rely on technology to help maintain organisation throughout your work day. 

#8 – Energy & Commitment Are Fantastic Fitness Instructor Characteristics

Fitness instructor skills like energy and commitment are things your client will feed off for motivation during their classes. Having a positive and optimistic attitude is therefore key to helping the gym members reach their fitness goals.

Without these vital gym instructor skills and qualities, people who attend your class may become unmotivated, and eventually drop your class in favour of a competitor, a factor which could cost you and your employer money.

Employers will often prefer to hire fitness instructors who are passionate and engaged with their role, as evident from this example from Innovate Fitness & Wellbeing: 

It doesn’t matter how many gym members you see during the day – each one deserves your full attention and physical energy. By demonstrating this, they will mimic your behaviour and give the class their all in return.

Likewise, commitment is also one of the necessary skills needed for a gym instructor role, as this indicates to those in attendance how much you really care. 

Would you want to attend a fitness class where the instructor turns up late, and acts as if they don’t care?

Through demonstrating these gym instructor skills and qualities, you’ll be able to find success through the engagement of your class attendees. 

Ultimately, the more committed you are to bettering a customer’s life, the more committed they will be to attending your class.

#9 – A Positive Attitude & Approachable Personality Are Overlooked Fitness Instructing Skills

When discussing the ideal skills and qualities of a gym instructor many choose to prioritise traits that can be taught and learned over the course of their career, such as communication skills.

Whilst this isn’t necessarily a bad thing to do, it can often mean they overlook some of the most basic requirements needed to succeed in this role.

If you have a positive attitude and approachable personality, you will likely attract more gym members into your fitness classes. If you ignore these character traits, you may come across as an unapproachable individual, with attendance in class suffering as a result. 

An employer won’t want to hire a candidate who treats their paying customers negatively, and will thus stress the importance of having a positive attitude, as seen in this GLL add:

This is an example of fitness instructor characteristics that should come naturally to you, as you shouldn’t have to train in order to be positive and friendly to others. 

#10 – Emotional Intelligence Is Among The Key Fitness Instructor Characteristics

Many gym instructor skills and qualities often overlap and connect with one another, in order to make a well rounded instructor. Emotional intelligence is no different, and can relate back to having a positive attitude and approachable personality.

In this profession you will be working with a variety of individuals, each with differing:

• Personalities 
• Insecurities 
• Goals

The best gym instructors realise that not every member of their class is the same, and make an effort to understand their personal circumstances on an individual level. 

This is achieved by showing up to every session with an understanding outlook, and offering a line of communication to anyone who needs it.

Employers place a great deal of importance on empathetic skills and qualities of a fitness instructor, and will often describe it as being a customer-centric trait. 

For example, take a look at this advertisement from Marriott International who describe this skill as so:

Essentially, if you’re questioning ‘what skills does a fitness instructor need?’ emotional intelligence will allow you to understand when a member of your fitness class is feeling frustrated or unmotivated. 

As such, you will be able to approach them with emotional understanding, in order to offer your support. 

#11 – Confidence Is One of The Key Fitness Instructor Qualities Employers Look For

If you’re starting your new career as a gym instructor, it’s normal to feel intimidated by the road ahead. 

But you shouldn’t doubt your own abilities. Remember, you achieved a Level 2 fitness instructor qualification through hard work and determination, and you can succeed in this role with confidence in your own abilities.

Confidence is among this list of vital gym instructor skills and qualities, as without it you may become overwhelmed by the challenges of the day to day life of a fitness instructor.

How you display confidence will differ from person to person. Some may feel more at ease communicating with their class attendees, while others may be better suited to offering demonstrations.

Employers value confidence among employees, as these are individuals who will improve the overall experience for their customers. This is evident from the example below, where Be Military Fit states that they want to hire someone who is a confident communicator. 

Some people are born confident, and you can see this immediately in the way they speak, how they hold themselves, and the way they walk. Others will need to work on this over the course of their career, and while it may take some time but once you familiarise yourself with the position, you will naturally feel the confidence grow in you.

#12 – Resilience Is A Key Skill For A Gym Instructor 

Resilience is the ability to overcome, adjust to, and recover with ease from obstacles and changes. When discussing fitness instructing skills and qualities, resilience will help you triumph over whatever is thrown at you.

As a fitness instructor, your job is not always going to be easy. Each new day will bring a series of challenges, in addition to the entire industry being highly competitive as a whole. 

This is echoed by employers who will stress the need for resilience during job vacancies, signifying that they want a candidate who will always give their all. 

Through clearly demonstrating these gym instructor skills you will be able persevere through any challenge that comes your way, be it a disruptive customer, a busy workload, or just daily personal stresses.

Before You Go! 

Now that you have a clear understanding of core gym instructor skills and qualities, you will be able to pursue each of these examples in order to benefit your career, and understand 

Remember, a Level 2 Fitness Instructor can also help you to strengthen key skills and qualities you’ll need for the role, plus you’ll be fully qualified to train clients 1-on-1, and command a much higher wage.

OriGym’s course prospectus is also available to download, and details all the courses we offer.

If you’ve been looking to break into the booming fitness industry, you may be interested in becoming a trainee fitness instructor.

OriGym has curated this guide to give you all the information you could possibly need to get started!

Contents:

• What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Trainee Fitness Instructor
• The Skills You’ll Need To Succeed As A Trainee Gym Instructor
• Where Can I Apply For A Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship?
• How Much Do Trainee Fitness Instructors Get Paid?
• What Alternatives Are There To A Gym Instructor Apprenticeship?

If you’re set on taking the first steps of your career to eventually become a personal trainer, get started with OriGym’s industry-leading L2 Fitness Instructor qualification. We offer unlimited, 7-days-a-week support both during and after your course, as well as guaranteed post course interviews and a bespoke learning platform.

What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Trainee Fitness Instructor?

Before we fully dive in, it’s important to note that a trainee fitness instructor and an apprentice fitness instructor are the same things – it’s just a matter of semantics!

You become a trainee fitness instructor by observing and shadowing a fully qualified fitness instructor who has usually been teaching for at least two years. This allows you to experience and learn the roles of a gym instructor in an active environment.

Because this is an entry-level apprentice fitness instructor position, it offers a simple way to learn on the job whilst gaining practical experience.

A crucial piece of information to note at this point is that any trainee fitness instructor will be working towards, or have already completed, a Level 2 Gym Instructing course. This is the bare minimum necessary to work in any fitness setting.

You will also be expected to have a minimum level of GCSEs, for example, two or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D) or equivalent. These are the same qualifications you need to apply for a Level 2 course.

The Skills You’ll Need To Succeed As A Trainee Gym Instructor

We’ve just examined the roles of a trainee fitness instructor, as well as what you can expect to achieve, but it’s also important to be aware of the skills and traits that would make you an ideal candidate.

We’ve outlined a few of the key qualities you’ll need to possess to be a successful and forward-thinking beginner fitness instructor.

Successful Trainee Fitness Instructors Demonstrate Excellent Verbal Communication

Gym members are your business, so you need to understand them in order to succeed! You’ll need strong communication skills to build rapport and trust in order to help them reach their health and fitness goals. You also need to be able to motivate them when and where they need it.

Communication skills also go a long way in professional working relationships and marketing or recruitment efforts. Check out the job posting below that states ‘good written and communication skills are essential’.

The Best Apprentice Gym Instructor Is Reliable

This doesn’t just mean that you can be relied upon with your knowledge of form and posture corrections, but that you can keep appointments, be on time for work, and be organised and prepped for each day.

When you demonstrate reliability, you’re also showing your employer that you can be trusted to be a good representative of the gym when you do complete your fitness instructor apprenticeship. This job posting example below states a ‘dedicated approach to customer service’ is required.

Punctuality Is Key For Your Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship

Punctuality is about more than just arriving on time; it also means that you familiarise yourself with the class schedule so that you can greet gym members before classes and build rapport.

It also means understanding your shift patterns so that you can effectively communicate with your colleagues and other trainee fitness instructors when something changes. For example, if you’re off sick, you know who to contact to fix the situation as soon as possible.

See the example below, which states that to be a reliable instructor, ‘punctuality is of the utmost importance’.

Apprentice Fitness Instructor Jobs Require Empathy

Being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes is a key skill for a trainee gym instructor, as it helps you to sense when a client is feeling frustrated, disappointed, or unmotivated. It gives you the self-awareness to realise that just because you find it easy to train and eat healthily whilst avoiding temptation, not everyone does!

Another element of empathy is understanding your client’s needs in the moment, whether it be some tough love, words of wisdom, or even a hug. All of this can make a massive difference to your client’s motivation and longevity. 

See the example below, which looks for someone who can ‘provide motivation and support to customers’.

You Need Patience To Thrive As A Trainee Gym Instructor

Often, gym members are in a rush to achieve visible results, but this means their patience can dwindle into frustration fairly quickly. It is, of course, completely natural for your class members to want to see results as quickly as possible.

But it’s your job as an apprentice gym instructor to bring some calm and patience back into the proceedings. Be prepared to constantly remind your members that gradual, sustainable improvement is what they should be aiming for.

Check out the example job listing below, which lists patience as a required skill for the fitness instructor role.

Where Can I Apply For A Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship?

Once you’ve got your CV sorted (remember, you can demonstrate the skills above from work experience at school or from an event that occurred), it’s time to start looking for and applying for trainee gym instructor jobs! 

There are a few ways to go about this, primarily by searching on job boards or government websites. Job boards like Indeed and Glassdoor are great places to start, as well as the National Careers Service.

On job boards, you need to search for the term ‘trainee fitness instructor’ or ‘apprentice gym instructor’, and select the city or postcode where you are searching for open positions.

You have a number of other methods of refining your searches, such as the date posted, salary estimate, and education level.

Once you’ve found a posting that fits what you’re after, such as the above paid apprenticeship from Universal Fitness Fenton, it’s as simple as clicking ‘Apply Now’.

If you’d prefer to search on government websites such as GOV.UK, you’ll see a similar search system:

Use the same search terms as before, and select the maximum distance you’d be happy to travel to work. The GOV website even has an option for the apprenticeship gym instructor level you’re after, covering Intermediate, Advanced, Higher, and Degree, depending on your level of education.

Once you’ve found your ideal position, such as the above post from Bolton Arena for an Apprentice Health & Fitness Instructor, you’ll just need to sign in with your GOV account and apply.

How Much Do Trainee Fitness Instructors Get Paid?

Now that you know the skills you’ll need to gain a gym instructor apprenticeship and how to apply to your dream jobs, it’s time to dig into what you can expect to be paid.

Unfortunately, the answer may be a little disappointing, as fitness instructor apprenticeships (as with all apprenticeships) are capped by the National Minimum Wage.

This essentially means that the maximum rate per hour for those in their first year of being a trainee fitness instructor is £4.81, which cannot increase until after a year of being an apprentice fitness instructor.

After this first year, for those over the age of 23, this increases to be in line with the National Living Wage of £9.50. The table below explains how this increases incrementally as you get older, depending on your having completed the first year of your fitness instructor apprenticeship.

For instance, if you’re 19 after you’ve completed your first year as a trainee gym instructor, you’ll only be entitled to £6.83 per hour.

Compare this to the wage of a fitness instructor who qualified using a Level 2 Gym Instructor Course.

The average hourly wage for a fitness instructor, regardless of age, is £13.71. This wage can only increase, too, and you’ll be earning that amount immediately after you qualify, compared to the year of your apprenticeship, where you’ll only be earning £4.81.

This gulf in wage is often a deciding factor when it comes to choosing between a fitness instructor apprenticeship and completing a Level 2 Gym Instructor Training Course, but there are other points you might want to consider.

Once you have completed a Level 2 course, you can move away from the trainee fitness instructor jobs and search for jobs looking for a full qualification. Check out this job posting below that is offering £50,000 for a qualified fitness instructor.

Interested in learning more about the wages of a fitness instructor? OriGym’s comprehensive explanation of fitness instructor salaries fully explores what you’ll be earning and how you can earn even more.

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Once you’ve read this article, here are a couple more you might find useful:

• What Can A Level 2 Gym Instructor Do?
• How To Become A Fitness Instructor
• Key Fitness Instructor Skills, Qualities, and Requirements

What Alternatives Are There To A Gym Instructor Apprenticeship?

If apprentice fitness instructor jobs aren’t grabbing your attention, you can always look for different options. For example, you could gain a Level 2 Gym Instructor Course with a private training provider, such as ourselves. 

With this, you achieve the exact same level of qualification necessary to become a certified fitness instructor.

People often choose a fitness instructor course over a gym instructor apprenticeship because the entry requirements and the way you learn are very similar. There are no entry requirements beyond being aged 16 or over, and you’ll learn through practical elements.

Private training providers like OriGym even offer what is known as a Personal Trainer Diploma, which combines both the Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 personal Trainer course within one qualification. This is particularly useful for those interested in broadening their services and increasing their annual salary.

There are a few key aspects of a Level 2 Gym Instructor course that make it better than a fitness instructor apprenticeship, the most obvious of which is wage.

As mentioned previously, you’ll be earning £4.81 per hour as an apprentice in the UK, which equates to an annual salary of just £8,300. Compare that to the average salary of a qualified fitness instructor which is £13.71 per hour, or £25,000 per annum.

Along with this massive wage boost, there are a myriad of other benefits, such as getting qualified quicker. A gym instructor apprenticeship can take anywhere from 15 to 24 months to complete, during which you’ll be on the apprentice wage.

Completing a Level 2 vocational gym instructor course is also much quicker than completing a fitness instructor apprenticeship. With numerous study methods available, you can be fully qualified in as little as:

• Full-time students: 2 weeks
• Part-time students: 6 weeks
• Online students: 8 weeks

Another benefit of studying with a private training provider is that you’ll learn from industry experts that know the ins and outs of the industry. 

You’ll receive specialised training specific to the fitness industry as well as tons of useful resources that go beyond the bare minimum curriculum you may find in college.

Now that you know how to become a fitness instructor, there’s nothing stopping you! Get out there and start your new career!

Before You Go!

Whether you were looking for guidance on your future career, or were apprehensive about taking that first step into fitness, the aim with our guide was to clear up the misconceptions that often surround becoming a fitness instructor.

And regardless of whether you opt to become a trainee fitness instructor, or get started much quicker with our Level 2 gym instructor course, it’s important to choose the option that’s right for you.

Or if you’ve got your heart set on a lucrative fitness career, then the ideal option is OriGym’s L2 Fitness Instructor qualification. Learn more by downloading our FREE course prospectus!

If you’re thinking about becoming a fitness instructor, then you probably want to know what the average fitness instructor salary is in the UK.

Here at OriGym, we know that changing careers is a huge commitment, and certainly not a decision that you would make without knowing what to expect in terms of salary.

For that reason, we have compiled this guide, in which we have broken down the all-important question of “how much do fitness instructors make?” into the following sections.

Table of Contents

1. Average Fitness Instructor Salary: Does it Exist?
2. UK Fitness Instructor Salary vs PT Salary
3. Fitness Instructor Pay in Different Industries
4. How to Maximise Your Fitness Instructor Salary

Are you ready to kickstart a career in fitness? Enquire about our Personal Training Diploma today and you can combine your Level 2 & Level 3 Certifications.

Average Fitness Instructor Salary: Does It Exist?

Due to the huge number of variables and external factors that affect a fitness instructor’s salary, it is difficult to pinpoint an exact figure for the ‘average’ wage.

How much do fitness instructors get paid can vary

• Totaljobs: £18,579
• Glassdoor: £23,000
• Indeed: £33,942

These figures, however, are somewhat distorted as these websites calculate an average salary based on the jobs that are uploaded to their respective sites, failing to factor in the external influences that can affect the rate of pay for fitness instructors.

The fact that each of these sites shows a different average salary for the same role shows that they aren’t the most reliable source of information.

So, what factors do you need to consider when researching the average salary of a fitness instructor? Allow us to explain!

5 Factors That Influence the Average Gym Instructor Wage

#1 Location

Location is one of the biggest influences on salary, with the average wage for almost all jobs varying significantly up and down the UK. For example, whilst the average person in Liverpool takes home £28K a year, that goes up to £54K in London.

The fitness industry is no exception. The average fitness instructor salary in London is typically much higher than anywhere else in the UK with wages as high as £30 per hour.

Whilst this is partly due to the increased cost of living in London, the fact that there are plenty of prestigious venues based in London bumps this hourly rate up too.

For that same reason, being based in any city centre location can increase your potential earnings. Central locations tend to have a lot more demand for fitness instructors and tons more gyms than remote locations.

#2 Freelance Roles

Another influence on the salary of a fitness instructor that sites such as Payscale fail to consider is the fact that freelancers are among the highest-earning fitness instructors.

Because these sites base average wage on the jobs advertised on their sites, they completely ignore the freelance fitness instructor salary and the earnings of anybody who runs their own business.

Plenty of fitness professionals work on a freelance basis, for example, by holding group classes at local gyms. As a freelance fitness instructor, your salary is determined by your individual schedule, client base, and whether you need to pay rent to a gym or health club to use their facilities.

Highly successful fitness instructors can earn over 60k per year, if not more. Technically, as a freelancer, your income has no limits – the more work you do, the more money you’ll make.

#3 Independent Fitness Instructors

Freelancers aren’t the only people who can make higher-than-average salaries as fitness instructors. In fact, the highest rate of fitness instructor pay is almost certainly among those who run their own business.

Starting your own business does require a significant investment of time and effort – you’ll need to create sales and marketing strategies, for instance. However, having your own business means that the amount you can earn is unlimited.

Once again, these figures aren’t factored into the calculations made by job sites.

Interested in maximising your fitness instructor pay rate by starting your own business? Check out the OriGym article on the best fitness business ideas.

#4 Hours Worked

A further issue with the accuracy of the average pay for fitness instructors shown on jobsites is that the number of hours worked is not factored into their reports.

Because the figures are based on the salaries offered within their job adverts, and not calculated using the advertised gym instructor salary per hour, the overall average is dragged down by fixed-contract and part-time fitness instructor salary offers.

When looking at the average salaries on these sites, bear in mind that this average yearly salary might not reflect a full 35-40 hour working week.

You can get a better idea of the average wage by looking at the hourly rate offered by employers and multiplying that by the number of hours you expect to work.

#5 Only Considers Basic Salary

One final reason to take the average salaries you see online with a pinch of salt is that these figures are mainly a reflection of basic starting salaries and don’t account for commission or pay rises.

For an entry-level role, we’d say £19,000 to £23,000 is around the average fitness instructor annual salary, with roles in central or affluent areas easily exceeding that.

However, as in any industry, the more experience you gain as a fitness instructor, the more you should expect to earn. This is a prime example of the issue with using a job site as a source for average salaries, as the majority of these sources indicate an increase of only £1,000 per year for an extra 5-10 years of experience!

UK Fitness Instructor Salary vs PT Salary

If you’re unsure about the difference between a fitness instructor and a personal trainer, then this section should help break it down.

Qualifying as a fitness instructor is the first stage of a career in the fitness industry, and most fitness instructors go on to become a certified personal trainer. Simply put, if you want to progress your fitness career in a way that will significantly impact your salary, qualifying as a PT is essential.

The average entry-level salary for a PT is £22,584 (according to Payscale), which is immediately £5,469 more than the average starting salary for a gym instructor.

What’s more, thanks to the increased opportunities for career progression as a PT, there is much more room to improve on the gym instructor pay rate.

Why do personal trainers earn more than fitness instructors? The main difference between these roles is that a personal trainer is qualified to do everything that a fitness instructor does, plus they can create training plans that are tailored to individual clients and they’re qualified to hold 1-1 sessions.

Considering the fact that PTs hold a higher level of qualification and can offer more services than gym instructors, it only makes sense that they typically earn a little more.

Are you thinking about skipping straight to a lucrative PT wage? Read our article to find out more about the personal trainer salary specifically.

After completing a Level 3 Personal Trainer Course you can work as a PT in a wide variety of environments, with your salary rising as you gain experience and further fitness knowledge.

Having a Level 3 Qualification also allows you to move onto a specialised course, for example, a Level 4 Nutrition Qualification. Completing a Level 4 Course will see your salary rise even further by increasing the services that you can offer and making you an ‘expert’ in a specialised area.

Boosting your health and fitness instructor salary by completing further qualifications is something that we’ll discuss in more detail a little further on. But for now, let’s discuss who employs fitness instructors and how much they pay!

Fitness Instructor Pay in Different Industries

A little earlier on, we mentioned that it’s difficult to answer ‘how much does a fitness instructor earn?’ or define an ‘average’ wage as there are multiple factors that can influence earnings.

Aside from the points made above, one of the biggest factors affecting wages in the fitness industry is who your employer is and where you work.

Unsure how this can affect what you earn? Here’s what you need to know!

Leisure Centres

Working in a leisure centre is a great place to start your fitness career. Many of these jobs are funded and managed by the local council, they offer a varied working environment, and due to the general demand for these facilities, there is an added level of job security.

However, one thing to remember is that some of these higher-paying jobs may only be part-time or fixed-term contracts, and often require extra qualifications, like yoga, or spin instructing.

Working as a fitness instructor in a leisure centre full-time consists of various day-to-day activities and involves working with a wide range of clients, often including individuals visiting the facility as part of an exercise referral programme.

This kind of role typically pays anywhere between £22,000 and £24,000 a year, which reflects how much do fitness instructors make a year in these roles. This offers a great opportunity to get familiar with teaching classes and gain valuable experience in the industry.

Hotels

Many hotels these days have gyms that are accessible to the general public as well as guests. Most of the bigger and upmarket hotel brands employ fitness instructors to provide an added layer of customer service to enhance their client’s overall experience.

Unfortunately, there is huge variation in the average fitness instructor salary in UK hotels, with many only advertising hourly rates or not specifying salary at all.

Generally, the hourly rates all tend to be around £9.50 to £9.77, which roughly equates to £18,525 to £19,051 per annum. You’re probably thinking that’s not a lot of money, but it’s worth noting that the majority of hotels offer other bonuses on top of your wage, including discounted prices on rooms, free meals, uniform, and other perks.

If you’re just starting out in the fitness industry and looking for somewhere to get your foot in the door, a hotel gym is a great place to start out.

Cruise Ships

Whilst a lot of people take time off from their workouts during their holidays, some individuals actively search for fitness classes and group exercise opportunities, hence the need for fitness instructors onboard cruise ships.

There are even cruises that boldly promote their fitness facilities!

The benefits of being a fitness instructor on a cruise ship are huge, including:

• Worldwide travel
• Free accommodation and food
• Discounts on shopping, entertainment, and other facilities (such as spa treatments)
• Networking and meeting new people
• Opportunity for promotion – most cruise ships company invest a lot of time and money into their employees, meaning they’re more likely to promote internally

There are, however, a couple of drawbacks with this career option, the main issue being that the cruise ship fitness instructor salary is significantly lower than similar entry-level roles, and the only way to accurately find out the salary is to ask the cruise ship company directly.

Other disadvantages include long working hours, having minimal days off during cruises, not having a lot of personal space or sharing accommodation, and almost constant pressure to upsell.

This career path is not for the fainthearted, but it will provide a fantastic life experience and the chance to see the world! It’s definitely worth doing some research and making a few enquiries into what it’s like to work as a fitness instructor on a cruise ship.

Fitness Instructor Annual Salary In Universities

Not only do degrees such as ‘sports coaching’, ‘sport and exercise science’, and ‘sports performance’ require practical assessments and access to a gym and gym equipment for proper learning, but many universities also have on-site gyms and sports facilities for students.

This means that many Universities hire fitness instructors to maintain the gym floor and provide support to students.

The fitness instructor starting salary at universities is slightly more generous than other career paths. As shown in this job post from The University of Manchester, this position is advertising for a hybrid-remote position starting from £21,686 to £23,487 per annum.

A Level 3 Personal Training Qualification is an essential requirement for many university fitness instructor roles, so it’s worth investing in this qualification before fully committing to a role.

Salary For A Fitness Instructor Working In Gyms

Gyms might seem like the obvious answer when thinking about who hires fitness instructors, but unfortunately, the reality these days is that it’s becoming less common for gyms to hire fitness instructors.

This is because more and more gyms are opting to hire personal trainers and other fitness professionals who are at least Level 3 qualified, cutting out the need for Level 2 gym instructors.

This demand for Level 3 qualified fitness professionals means that the gyms that do hire fitness instructors usually only pay minimum wage.

David Lloyds and Total Fitness are two of the biggest gym brands in the UK that still hire fitness instructors at level 2, but they only offer minimum wage salaries. In addition to this, David Lloyd specifically hires group fitness instructors, so you may need experience in this or even an extra qualification to land even this job.

Understandably, this may put you off joining the industry altogether, but ultimately becoming a fitness instructor is the first step in your fitness career, meaning you won’t be on this salary forever.

Ways to Boost Your Gym Fitness Instructor Salary

Whilst the entry-level salary for a fitness instructor is on the lower end, there are a lot of opportunities for progression within a gym environment. Some of these include:

• Working at a Gym on a Freelance Basis – You might struggle to land a salaried fitness instructor job that pays more than minimum wage, but working for a gym on a freelance basis could open up the opportunity of an increased income. Some of the benefits of working as a freelance fitness instructor at a gym include a higher hourly wage, an element of flexibility over your hours and the classes you teach, and you aren’t required to recruit individuals for classes unlike instructors that start their own business.
• Assistant Gym/Fitness Manager – One way that a fitness instructor can progress in their career is to become an assistant gym manager. Whilst some fitness facilities only have one gym manager, there are plenty of facilities that employ one or two assistant managers – it really depends on the size of the venue! The wage is a good step up from a certified fitness instructor salary, averaging around £22,803. However, you’ll be much more likely to land this role if you have a level 3 PT qualification.

• Gym Manager – the vast majority of gyms, leisure centres, and hotels (as well as other fitness environments) have a team of fitness instructors and personal trainers, and therefore require a manager. This is the logical next step up from assistant gym manager, with an increase to an average salary of £30,657 per annum.
• Offer Additional Services – A further way to earn more as a fitness instructor in a gym is to complete additional or specialist qualifications. Whilst we’ve already touched on the fact that having a Level 3 certificate in Personal Training is almost essential, there are plenty of other further qualifications that can help to boost a fitness instructors income.

Want to find out more about the best qualifications to increase the salary of a gym instructor? Here goes…

How To Maximise Your Fitness Instructor Salary

A Level 2 Gym Instructor Course is essential to start out as a fitness instructor and it’s a great first step towards kick-starting a career in the industry. But, it doesn’t stop there! There are tons of further qualifications and certificates that you can achieve to advance your career, and as a result, earn more money.

Some workplaces, mainly gyms and health clubs, allow you to learn on the job and acquire more qualifications while you work – some will even pay for your courses!

As we’ve already touched on, the first logical step as a fitness instructor is a Level 3 Personal Trainer Course. This expands your knowledge of health and fitness and enables you to train clients in 1-on-1 sessions, tailor fitness programmes, offer general nutritional advice, gain a lot of new clients, and ultimately, earn a lot more money.

The difference between the fitness instructor wage and that of a PT is pretty significant, so in the long term, it’s definitely worth completing a CIMSPA accredited Personal Training Diploma.

Not only will this benefit you financially, but once you become a Level 3 Personal Trainer, your opportunities for progression open up even further as you can gain further qualifications.

Become a Sports Massage Therapist

There are multiple areas of the fitness industry that you can specialise in, one increasingly popular area being sports massage therapy (SMT).

Many gyms and health clubs hire sports massage therapists to treat their clients, but that isn’t the only way you can work as a sports massage therapist. SMT has benefits for a range of individuals, from casual gym-goers to professional athletes.

As more and more people recognise the benefits of sports massage therapy more fitness professionals are starting to offer this service either as a mobile business or as a side income from an independent SMT clinic.

Whilst you do need the Level 3 Sports Massage Therapy qualification, the average salary for a full-time sports massage therapist is £42,443 a year, so the course will quickly pay for itself!

Not only that, but unlike a lot of other advanced fitness qualifications, you don’t actually need a Level 3 PT qualification to get onto this course, so you could opt to pursue a career in SMT instead of taking the traditional route of becoming a personal trainer.

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Enjoying this article? Check out our 3 blog posts below to see how you can advance your career as a fitness instructor:

• How to Be a Successful Personal Trainer (UK)
• How to Become a CrossFit Coach
• 17 Career Change Ideas & How To Achieve Them

Qualify As An Exercise Referral Specialist

If you’re interested in specialising in another area of the health and fitness industry, you might want to look into qualifying as a Level 3 Exercise Referral Specialist.

A career in exercise referral involves working with patients who have been referred to you by a health or medical professional. The main role of an exercise referral specialist is to improve a patient’s health or well-being by designing and implementing an exercise program for that patient specifically.

Offer Nutrition Services To Increase Your Earnings

Level 4 courses are specialised qualifications that allow for progressive expertise in various health and fitness disciplines, for example, sports nutrition.

Completing a Nutritionist Course in the UK would allow you to specialise in nutrition and athletic performance.

With this qualification, you can boost your earnings by offering nutrition services, such as tailored meal planning, alongside working as a fitness instructor. If you enjoy this area of the industry, you could even go on to pursue a higher paying role by becoming a sports nutritionist or starting your own nutrition business!

Level 4 Qualifications

Nutrition isn’t the only area that you can specialise in, there is a whole range of Level 4 fitness qualifications that you can study, such as an Advanced qualification in Lower Back Pain Management or a Level 4 Obesity & Weight Management course.

Either of these courses will allow you to earn well above the average gym instructor salary by specialising in areas such as obesity prevention or training individuals with lower back conditions.

Achieving a level 4 qualification puts you in the top 10% of personal trainers in the UK, and increases your client base and wage prospects.

The more of an expert you become, the more you will be able to charge for your services, and the easier it will be for you to market yourself (or your business) as a high-end, quality service!

Specialise With CPD Training

Outside of committing to further Level 3 and 4 qualifications, another way to increase your earnings as a fitness instructor is to complete continuing professional development (CPD) courses.

If you aren’t ready to do a Level 4 course just yet, then CPD courses are a great way to set yourself apart from other fitness professionals.

Here at OriGym, we offer tons of accredited CPD courses, all of which will allow you to improve your knowledge of health and fitness in general, specialise in specific niches, and increase your fitness instructor income.

Conclusion

After reading through our article we hope that you now know enough about the average fitness instructor salary to decide whether this is the right job role for you.

We hope that our article has helped you to get a better idea of how much you can earn, and what you can do to boost your salary and progress into a rewarding and profitable career.

If all this information has inspired you to get qualified and join the fitness industry, we can certainly help you here at OriGym. We’ve got OriGym’s Level 2 Gym Instructor Course to get you ahead of the competition.

Find out everything you need to know about the range of courses we offer by downloading our FREE course prospectus.

Creative bootcamp ideas for personal trainers can help keep clients engaged, ensuring they enjoy their sessions and keep coming back for further training. 

In this article, we’ll discuss 11 personal training bootcamp ideas that any PT can implement to provide a unique experience for their clients.

But first, why not take your career to the next level to help clients even further with our Level 4 Sports Nutrition Course? Download OriGym’s course prospectus to learn more about all of the industry-leading qualifications we offer.

11 Bootcamp Ideas for Personal Trainers

Running bootcamps is a great way to get clients involved and make money as a personal trainer. Check out our 11 bootcamp ideas below and how you can get started!

#1 – “Extreme” Duck, Duck, Goose Is An Unusual Yet Effective Personal Training Bootcamp Game

Starting our list of the best bootcamp ideas for personal trainers is a twist on the famous playground game, Duck, Duck, Goose.

In this “extreme” variation, players will form a circle and begin to jog on the spot, while the individual in charge of selecting the ‘goose’ will begin to jog around the circle.

Once the goose has been selected, they’ll run clockwise around the circle, whilst the player who selected them begins to run in an anti-clockwise direction.

At the crossover point, the “goose” must try to block the player from reaching their spot in the circle. Depending on the group, you may want to enforce a ‘no physical contact’ rule or have rugby tags to signal a capture.

To make this personal training bootcamp game more fun for everyone involved, be sure to allow every player a chance to select a ‘Goose’. In doing so, you can guarantee that everyone engages with the game.

There are various reasons why we think this is one of the best bootcamp personal training games to implement into your class. For example:

• Requires minimal equipment (just rugby tags, if using)
• Small and large group sizes can take part
• Completed in all environments, such as training in the park, sports hall or gym

Another added benefit of ‘Extreme’ Duck, Duck, Goose is that bootcamp PTs can use the game at any point during the session, be it a warm-up, cool down, or mid section activity.

Plus, since it’s based on a classic childhood game, many participants will likely want to take part for a dose of nostalgia.

#2 – How To Incorporate Under/Over Ball Pass Into Bootcamp PT Sessions

Another example of some of the best bootcamp ideas for personal trainers is the Under/Over Ball Pass activity.

To do this, you will need enough participants to form smaller groups each made up of 4. Note, you should strive to have at least 3 groups, as this will motivate personal training clients through a sense of competition.

Each group forms a vertical line with players standing approximately 1 metre apart, please ensure that each participant begins in a half squat position.

The front player will hold a medicine ball (the weight decided by the bootcamp PT) and pass it over their head or under their legs. The player behind them will receive the ball and do the opposite movement as the player in front.

Once the ball reaches the final player, they’ll run to the front of the group and begin the sequence again. The first team to complete the sequence 3 times wins.

This is a highly motivational game for personal training bootcamps since it adds an element of competition into the session to keep participants captivated.

The difficulty of the activity can also be altered to accommodate the different fitness levels of those in attendance. Examples of how you could do this include:

• Increasing the weight of the medicine ball
• Increasing the number of group repetitions
• Adding an extra movement, such as the front player doing a burpee before passing the ball backwards

Adjusting the difficulty of the Under/Over Ball Pass is a great way of highlighting to clients just how much their fitness levels have improved. This will keep clients wanting to come back for more, as they will want to progress to the next level.

You could even keep the teams the same for your whole session to take the competition up a notch.

 

#3 –  Plank Rolls As A Personal Training Bootcamp Activity

If you’re after more PT bootcamp activities that attendees can do in teams, then Plank Rolls will be another great go-to.

To conduct this safely, each team must hold a plank position in a horizontal line approximately 1 metre away from each other.

With a medicine ball, players are to roll the ball from the first player down to the last. Once the ball reaches the last player, they must run to the front of the line, get into the plank position, and repeat the sequence.

Each player must run to the first position 3 times in order to secure the win for their team.

This is a great activity to pair with the previous game since it has similar rules yet works different areas of the body, thus offering your clients a full-body workout.

Alternatively, if you’re searching for bootcamp ideas for personal trainers’ warm-up routines, Plank Rolls will get your client’s muscles all fired up, ready for the session ahead.

Another reason to incorporate this workout into your bootcamp routines is that it can be conducted on a variety of surfaces. So, regardless of whether you lead classes outdoors or indoors, they shouldn’t be too strenuous for your clientele.

If conducting on harder surfaces like concrete, consider investing in some gloves or exercise mats to reduce scrapes and cuts on the hands.

Ultimately, when it comes to bootcamp personal training, Plank Rolls is easy to organise, and can act as an effective form of strength training, ensuring that your clients gain a beneficial workout experience.

#4 – Agility Runs For Your Personal Training Bootcamp Classes

Agility Runs test your client’s agility levels through short, explosive sets of sprinting, and much like the previous two entries on this list, this activity can also be conducted in teams.

This process is similar to the BEEP test, and begins with 4 cones being placed in a vertical line, about 3 metres apart from each other.

Participants will stand in front of these cones to form a starting line, when the race commences they will run to the first cone, and then back to the starting position.

Following this, they will run to the second cone and back to the starting position, before repeating the same sequence for the third and fourth cone. In order for a team to win, each player must complete the entire sequence at least once.

Agility is one of the key components of physical fitness and is tested by one’s ability to perform quick movements efficiently, all while maintaining proper posture. Someone with good agility can accelerate, decelerate, and reorient themselves quickly and safely.

As the name of the workout implies, Agility Runs can help a client improve agility, allowing clients to improve their posture and performance levels.

Furthermore, another added benefit of this workout is that it can be performed in a variety of environments with minimal equipment, as you only need cones or distinguishing markers.

This makes Agility Runs accessible to the masses, ensuring that everyone can do them regardless of their working budget.

#5 – Using Tag As A Personal Training Bootcamp Game

An often overlooked game that can be easily incorporated into your bootcamp PT sessions is tag, the playground game many of us were introduced to as children.

Doing 5-10 minutes of tag could function as a great warm-up or final push activity to end the class on a high note. The game can also be a great form of cardiovascular exercise, that will get your clients hearts pumping.

There are a few variations of tag that you could implement into your class to keep things interesting.

1. Have 1 person as the chaser and each person they tag also becomes a chaser until all players are tagged.
2. Have 2 teams, 1 of chasers and the others as runners and apply the same rules as above, ensuring that the runners must all be tagged.
3. Have 3 chasers and each time that they tag a player, they are frozen until another non-chaser frees them.

There are numerous reasons as to why you should incorporate tag into your bootcamp PT sessions, such as:

• It doesn’t require any equipment
• It’s suitable for small and large groups
• Helps new clients get to know others in a fun way
• Tests fitness, agility, and coordination

Tag is also an activity that can be played in all environments, meaning that regardless of where your bootcamp is hosted, you will still be able to host the game.

So, whether you want to use tag as a warm-up, final push activity, or as a bigger task in your class, it’s a great way to burn calories and improve cardiovascular fitness while having fun.

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If these Bootcamp Ideas for Personal Trainers has you feeling inspired, we’d recommend checking out these other OriGym articles:

• The Benefits Of Small Group Personal Training
• Group Fitness Class Themes: Tips and Examples
• How to Set Up A Fitness Class Sound System

#6 – How To Incorporate Mexican Waves Into Your Personal Training Bootcamp Routine

Another one of our favourite bootcamp ideas for personal trainers is a modified Mexican Wave. This activity is easy to set up and can easily adapt to include as much or as little equipment as you wish.

To successfully do a Mexican Wave, split the group into two teams, and stand them in parallel lines facing their opponents. If you have an odd number of clients, you could double up players.

Personal trainers should then shout an exercise that each team member should perform one by one. Players cannot begin the exercise until the person before them has completed it.

The first team to finish wins a point and the team with the most points at the end of 10 exercises wins.

Here are some examples of non-equipment bootcamp ideas for a personal trainer’s mexican wave workouts.:

• 3 x burpees
• 10 x high knees
• 5 x squat jumps
• 5 x broad jumps
• 20 x mountain climbers

As previously mentioned, this is a highly versatile exercise routine that can be customised to suit whatever class you’re teaching. For those of you who wish to incorporate equipment into your mexican wave, here are some example:

• 20 x high knee with skipping rope
• 10 x weighted hula hoop rotations
• 10 x swinging squats with low weight

If you want to use free weights for this activity, consider going for light ones to prevent injury, and guarantee that everyone can actually lift them.

We think that Mexican Wave is a great activity for personal training bootcamps as it allows your clients to experience some healthy competition while burning calories in a fun and invigorating way.

#7 – Fitness Dice Activities Can Help Inspire Bootcamp Ideas For Personal Trainers

A simple and straightforward way to get some bootcamp personal training ideas, is to use fitness dice.

Whilst somewhat of a novelty gift for personal trainers, these dice will typically be sold in packs of 2.

One will have different exercises written on each face, which will indicate what the client will actually perform, whilst the other dice will have numbers to show the number of reps needed to perform.

There are various ways that you could use your fitness dice in your personal training bootcamp sessions, for example:

• Warm-Up: Have each participant roll the dice once and everyone has to perform the exercises together.
• Main Activity: Split the class into two teams, each person in both teams rolls the dice twice and everyone must perform each exercise – The team that finishes first wins.

• Final Push: The PT rolls the dice 5 times and everyone is to perform the exercises as one final push.
• Cool-Down: Use yoga fitness blocks to stretch out the muscles yet in a fun and exciting way.

These are just a handful of ways that you could use fitness dice as a bootcamp PT. You can get as creative as possible and find your own unique way to incorporate the activities into your sessions.

#8 – What Is ‘Amazeballs’ And How Can You Work It Into Bootcamps as a PT

Amazeballs is yet another one of our favourite bootcamp ideas for personal trainers that can be performed at various points throughout a session.

For this game, you will need a marker pen, and collection of small balls, ideally something along the lines of wiffle or tennis balls.

Prior to the beginning of the bootcamp, use the marker pen to write different exercises and rep numbers on each ball. To play, all the balls should be scattered across a large area, the clients will then run around and pick them up.

Once a ball has been collected, the students will read what exercise and number of reps are written on the ball. They will then complete this workout as instructed, proceeding to throw the ball to another area for someone else to find.

Examples of exercises to write on these balls include:

• 20 x star jumps
• 20 x high knees
• 10 x broad jumps
• 10 x burpees

When incorporating this game into your personal training bootcamp routines, be sure to have more tennis/wiffle balls than participants. This will not only ensure that they’re relatively easy to find, but it will guarantee that participants always have something to do.

When hosting personal training bootcamp sessions, some environments will work better for playing Amazeballs. For example, in grassy areas the balls won’t roll away, remaining in place and making it easy for participants to find them.

Areas with laminate flooring won’t be suitable for Amazeballs, as the balls will roll away once they make contact with the ground.

#9 – Cone Flip Is One of The Most Adaptable Games for Personal Training Sessions

Another one of our favourite bootcamp ideas for personal trainers is Cone Flip.

For this activity, you need to have a set of at least 30 cones. This equipment will be set up in a large open space, with half the cones laying face down and the others facing upward.

Split your clients into two teams, one half will then try to turn the cone upwards, and the others will try to flip them downward. Each team will have 90 seconds to try to flip as many cones as possible in order to win the game.

Cone Flip is considered to be one of the best personal training bootcamp games because:

• Everyone can get involved regardless of fitness level/experience
• Requires minimal equipment
• Can be conducted in a variety of different environments – Parks, Gyms, Beaches, and Halls.

As with many of the games discussed so far, Cone Flip can be played as a warm-up, extra burn, or cool-down activity – it’s a highly versatile bootcamp idea that can work for a variety of trainers and clients alike.

For example, if you have larger groups, you could choose to incorporate more than just 30 cones to make things a little more challenging.

#10 – The Throw and Go Race Is a Multi-Purpose Activity To Include In Your Bootcamp As a PT

When on the search for creative bootcamp ideas for personal trainers, the Throw and Go Race is a great multi-purpose activity that can get everyone involved in a friendly competitive environment.

Throw and Go involves dividing the bootcamp group into 2 teams with each group having a medicine ball.

When the personal trainer shouts ‘Go’, the first player must chest-press the medicine ball forward, then run to pick it up, before throwing it again until they reach the finish line.

They must then pick up the ball and sprint back to the start point and hand the ball to the next team member. The first team to get all members across the finish line will win the game.

This is a fantastic full-body activity that will guarantee to improve your client’s upper body strength and fitness while burning copious calories.

It also provides a great opportunity for team collaboration and is therefore ideal for new clients who are keen to meet like-minded people in your class.

#11 – Hoarder Can Make Your Bootcamp PT Sessions Feel Competitive

Finishing up our list of the best bootcamp ideas for personal trainers is Hoarder. To play, participants must stand in a large circle and be at equal distance to a bucket of tennis balls in the centre.

The personal trainer will choose an exercise and rep number that each player is to perform. They will then select a number of players who they believe performed the best, to run into the circle and collect one ball from the bucket.

The game will continue until the bucket is empty, the player who retrieves the last ball will announce the end of the game to the rest of the group.

Once all the balls are collected, the player with the most tennis balls will be declared the game’s winner.

Here are some examples of exercises that you could have your clients perform whilst playing Hoarder:

• 10 x push-ups
• 10 x squats
• 5 x jumping squats
• 20 x high knees
• 20 x star jumps

Hoarder is an invigorating and heart-pumping activity and one we think your clients will thoroughly enjoy. It fuses healthy competition and a good calorie burn in one.

Before You Go!

These bootcamp ideas for personal trainers should help to keep your sessions fun and engaging for all those in attendance, and we’d encourage you to incorporate multiple examples into your sessions in order to find what works.

Remember, in order to gain more clients and help them further, you should develop a specialism. The best way to get started is with our Level 4 Sports Nutrition Course.

Alternatively, download our FREE prospectus in order to learn about every course OriGym has to offer.

If you want to figure out what makes a good fitness instructor, you’ll need a mixture of qualifications and qualities, all of which are broken down in this article.

Before we start, if you’re not already qualified, check out OriGym’s Level 2 Gym Instructor course. This is the first qualification you’ll need to launch your fitness career!

Alternatively, browse our downloadable course prospectus to see what other courses are available.

11 Qualities of a Good Group Fitness Instructor

#1 – How To Be A Good Gym Instructor: Be Punctual

As a fitness instructor, it’s important for you to be on time for everything you do, whether that’s inductions, tours, or working holistically with clients.

Even better, our advice would be to turn up early rather than just on time. If you’re there before any clients arrive, this will give you more time to set up and prepare.

Since part of your qualification will have touched on the importance of punctuality, and using it to motivate groups, this is an especially important quality for classes.

You need to be punctual to make a good first impression, but also to maintain mutual respect between yourself and members or class goers.

Your professional credibility, and amount of class participants, can all depend on your punctuality, which is why this is one of the most important parts of what makes a good fitness instructor.

Whole groups will be depending on you being timely when you’re running gym classes too, as they’ll be fitting them in around other workouts or commitments.

Showing up late or not starting the class on time will not only reflect badly on you as a professional, but it will also make it more difficult for you to ensure that members are engaged and enthusiastic during the class.

Failing to turn up on time will give both members and your employer the impression that you don’t have what it takes to be a good gym instructor, which could affect your reputation on the gym floor.

This has future ramifications too. Inductions and classes are a great way to network and secure potential future clients.

If you’re late, and get a bad reputation, you’ll lose those ties and hinder your career progression and prospects.

Want tips on how to progress? Check out our step by step guide on how to become a personal trainer!

#2 – What Makes A Good Fitness Instructor? They Are Flexible

As you’ll know, working in a gym means being adaptable. Most people fit their workouts around normal 9-5 working hours, which means being able to cater to the busiest times of the gym is part of what makes a good fitness instructor.

That’s why you need to be flexible in this role. You need to be able to make yourself available when clients and members are, as well as being willing to adapt to different schedules.

Not only will you need to be flexible in terms of working hours, but also in the way you manage your daily tasks as a fitness instructor.

Every day will be different, and you’ll often be tasked with switching between different roles, depending on where you’re needed.

If you’re flexible you’ll be able to adapt to changes in your schedule and unforeseen circumstances. You need to be prepared for any potential last-minute changes to classes and your schedule.

Having qualities like these will not only help you better adjust to the hours of work but also help you manage and multitask, to make the working day run more smoothly.

As you can see, this is something potential employers explicitly look for:

Having “a flexible approach to work” will make you an essential part of a gym, offering you the opportunity to pursue a dynamic profession with an exciting schedule.

It will also create opportunities for you to develop your role, and expand in your responsibilities. If you show yourself to be flexible from the get-go, your employer will trust you with a wider range of tasks.

Though there’s a difference between what a gym instructor can do, and what a personal trainer can do, if you’re adaptable and enthusiastic with your responsibilities, you will progress in no time!

#3 – Qualities of A Good Fitness Instructor: Professional

Just like any other career, you need to make sure you present yourself as a professional fitness instructor.

Ways that you display your professionalism include:

• Good hygiene
• Ensuring you look neat and tidy at all times
• Not being too personal with customers

You don’t want to be rude or abrupt with customers. Simultaneously, though, you don’t want to be overly friendly.

You can be warm and encouraging without necessarily being overfamiliar. You need to maintain some distance so as not to dismantle the trust and credibility you have as a fitness instructor.

For instance, it might help some people to share something about your own fitness journey and your own barriers when training.

However, you don’t want to include too much, if any, information about your personal life. Just discussing your relationship to fitness will help you to connect to clients whilst remaining professional.

Whether you’re newly qualified, or looking to move to a new facility, you should always make the effort to be professional in an interview. But it shouldn’t stop there, this is one of the qualities that you’ll need to illustrate throughout your career.

There’s a huge range of different fitness franchises and gyms you can work for, but they will all get their first impression of you from your level of professionalism.

#4 – How To Be A Good Group Fitness Instructor: Be Respectful

Extending from this, one of the key things to master as a fitness instructor is the art of being respectful.

This will be most significant when you’re helping people on the gym floor or helping to correct form in a class environment.

The benefits of group exercise classes, for a lot of people, is developing their fitness in a fun and motivating environment. This is why it’s so important for you to treat different issues delicately.

For instance, don’t call out somebody in a class or in front of other people. When correcting form, or helping somebody out, do so respecfully and privately so as not to embarrass them.

In both of these environments, it’s essential that you remember to maintain distance and always work in a way that ensures the client is comfortable.

You’ll either be giving verbal or physical instruction to people when they’re learning how to use equipment or looking to improve their form. It’s a good idea to check before, rather than assuming, which method the client would prefer.

These are all skills you can use to establish mutual respect and illustrate that you’re a professional.

#5 – A Good Gym Instructor is Passionate About Their Role

Out of all the things that make a successful fitness instructor, being passionate about fitness is right up there.

One of the main parts of succeeding is the ability to motivate people and get them pumped up prior to their workout or class.

So, if this is a skill that comes naturally to you, this will give you a professional edge, and it will allow you to encourage gym goers to make the most of their experience – which is pretty rewarding.

Part of your job will often be promoting services offered by the facility. Whether that’s other parts of the facility or classes that you run yourself, you’ll need to be passionate to champion these services.

Another element of your role could stray into social media management. As part of your administrative responsibilities you may be asked to contribute to the facility’s social media.

If you’re passionate, as well as flexible and professional, you could work your way up to this responsibility. If you know how to start a fitness Instagram, this can open further doors for you personally too!

As you can see, people now stipulate these traits in their job descriptions:

In general, this is not just what makes a good fitness instructor but it could contribute to your progression to personal training or other fitness specialisations.

Not everybody will want you to have marketing skills, but the more you can promote the gym the more of an asset you will be.

#6 – What Makes a Good Fitness Instructor? They’re Motivating!

Combined with passion, your ability to motivate people is paramount. During classes this is particularly important as you’ll need to be able to maintain engagement and keep your clients giving their all.

There’s nothing worse than a boring workout. Even when you have motivation tips and tricks it can be hard for people to remain focused and committed throughout their workout.

If you’re teaching a class you’ll need to be pushing people just that little bit harder, inspiring them to get the most out of classes.

You will also do this when you’re in the gym. A lot of people will be aware that they have limitations, but not exactly what they are, where they come from, or how to get over them.

What makes a good fitness instructor is being able to spot this on the gym floor, and giving some holistic advice to help people improve and motivate themselves further.

You won’t necessarily just be pushing people beyond their limits though. Part of motivation is to use long term SMART goals to encourage people to slow down and workout as safely as possible.

The best fitness instructor is one who is able to inspire the right mindset. Though you can’t design someone’s workout for them, you can inspire them and encourage them to be honest about their goals and capabilities.

#7 – Qualities of a Good Fitness Instructor: Knowledgeable

If you want to know how to be a good gym instructor, then you need to be knowledgeable. You want to show your clients that you’re clued up when it comes to all things fitness!

If you’re knowledgeable, and can display that you know what you’re talking about, this will immediately establish credibility and trust.

You’ll need to show your knowledge when you’re showing new clients the machines and equipment, as well as when offering advice on the gym floor and leading gym inductions.

You need to translate your knowledge quickly to your clients to establish a level of mutual respect, and make clients feel as though they can approach you with questions.

The most effective, if not the only, way to ensure that you have the knowledge needed to ensure you’re capable of fulfilling the role is to get qualified.

As you may already know, the only qualification you officially need to be a fitness instructor, or gym instructor, is a Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing.

You want to make sure that you’re completed accredited, regulated course, as this is something that employers will look out for.

From there you can choose from a specialties to expand your fitness instructor skills or advance to become a personal trainer.

In fact, a willingness to develop may be the key when applying for positions! A lot of job descriptions now explicitly want prospective employees who are working towards, or already hold, more advanced qualifications.

For instance, here the job description stipulates a desire to advance in your qualifications and, therefore, your career.

If you’re a dedicated learner, this will ensure that your career always has the potential to grow, adapt, and improve. It will also keep things fresh, keep you motivated, and in turn be translated to clients.

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If you’re interested in how you can begin your career and advance through the industry, check out these other articles from OriGym:

• How To Become A Fitness Instructor
• Key Fitness Instructor Skills, Qualities, and Requirements
• How to Become a Personal Trainer

#8 – What Makes A Good Gym Instructor? They’re Approachable

Just as you need to be professional with your clients by not being overly friendly, you don’t want to go too far the other way either. You need to ensure you’re approachable because you may not always be working one-to-one with clients, slowly building rapport.

As you’re not designing bespoke programmes like a personal trainer, your congeniality will be what makes you a good fitness instructor. You need to be a welcoming presence on the gym floor.

As much as you will often be keeping your eyes open for mistakes in form, opportunities for other support, and chances to further promote the services of the gym.

For the gym goer though, you’re predominently there to keep them motivated and answer questions such as what trainers to wear for weight training, or the best arm stretches to try.

You need to be warm and friendly as a fitness instructor. Then you’ll be able to encourage people to engage and improve.

This will often be one of the biggest stumbling blocks for people in the gym. It can be really intimidating asking for help at the best of times.

In which case, they’ll be even more reluctant if your body language doesn’t look open and approachable. Which takes us to the significance of displaying open communication.

#9 – Qualities of a Good Gym Instructor: Communicative

There are broadly thought to be four main types of communication in business: verbal, non-verbal, written, and visual. In the gym environment however, it will mostly be verbal and non-verbal skills that are needed.

To be a good fitness instructor you will need to make sure you’re able to articulate yourself well and give clear instructions.

This is a skill that, when developed, will help your approachability as well as your ability to communicate with clients.

You also need to make sure to develop good non-verbal communication skills. For a fitness instructor to be approachable, their body language needs to be relaxed and open.

The easiest way to display this behaviour is to keep your arms unfolded, relaxed by your sides, and make sure you look alert when you’re on the gym floor.

As much as you won’t be having long, in-depth conversations with clients, like personal trainers will,  it’s still really important that you’re able to properly communicate.

It’s also going to be important for the administrative side of things too! If you’re doing social media posts, or promoting particular offers and trainers, you’ll need to articulate the benefits naturally and efficiently.

This is why a lot of employers prioritise this in their person specifications:

That’s why the art of being communicative is important to master. This way you’ll be approachable for questions, you’ll be able to answer them as efficiently as possible, and help a wider range of people.

#10 – Being Organised Is One Of The Key Qualities Of A Good Group Fitness Instructor

Being organised is one of the most significant aspects of developing as a fitness instructor. It vital for all parts of your job since you’ll be required to manage many different responsibilities within the role.

This is a particulary important aspect for what you need to know to teach fitness classes since class members will be able to tell if you have failed to plan your class thoroughly, making the experience must less enjoybale and effective.

Organising and planning ahead of time also gives you the opportunity to be creative, will increase your own motivation, and help you to remain energised and on top of what you do.

Another reason it’s important to be organized is that it will help you to balance the different responsibilities of the job.

Looking at job descriptions, it’s clear that there’s a variety of different responsibilities within the role.

You’ll be expected to switch between them on a rotational basis, so knowing exactly what is expected of you, and when, is essential.

Having to manage social media and digital skills, with other fitness instructor responsibilities like inductions, cleaning, and scheduling, proves the importance of being organized.

#11 – A Good Fitness Instructor is Safe

As a fitness instructor you should be able to create a safe environment for yourself, your employees, and gym members.

Obviously part of your role will be to ensure that members are using machinery and equipment in a safe way, but you’ll also need to be safety conscious when it comes to carrying out risk assessments.

Though you won’t be required to maintain the machines themselves, you need to report any damages appropriately and be able to spot if they’re being misused by members.

Correcting form and posture when people are performing exercises either with or without equipment, and giving immediate advice to prevent injuries, are vital responsibilities of the role.

Getting a first aid qualification will give you the edge as well as some security in your role.

All gyms need one first aid trained member of staff to be in at all times. So, having this qualification could give you the edge in an interview and secure you a position.

Other benefits of having first aid include:

• More confidence that you’ll know what to do in an emergency situation
• Reassure members and ensure clients feel safe in your presence

Health and safety, therefore, is a prominent part of your job role. Many job descriptions include this in their list of responsibilities:

Your main priority in terms of safety will be the maintenance of the gym floor. This won’t just include ensuring gym etiquette standards are met by members, but also ensuring nothing has been left out.

If anything is in the wrong place, this can potentially become a hazard and causing an accident.

As you may know, people will tend to wipe down equipment after they’ve used it, but it’s still your job to check, and make sure everything is clean for the next person.

Looking to get qualified and start your career? You can find out more about the role of a gym instructor here!

#12 – How To Be A Good Fitness Instructor: Be Sensitive

Being sensitive is a big part of what makes a good fitness instructor. Having qualities that mean you’re understanding, kind, and thoughtful will all contribute to doing your job well

Especially when you’re giving gym inductions, you need to be conscious of the different levels, abilities, and knowledge gym-goers will have.

As you can see below, this is one of the essential requirements of the role, according to job descriptions. Potential employers often include sensitivity and understanding in their job descriptions:

If someone is new to training, or you’re meeting them for the first time, you’ll need to make a good first impression and make that person feel at ease around you.

You should be aware that health and fitness can often be a sensitive topic for some people who are working to improve themselves, and be conscious of any potential insecurities or barriers that people may have when starting their fitness journey.

Though it will be a personal trainer who tailors programmes to goals like weight loss, confidence building, and exercise referral, you still need to be aware of the sensitivity of these issues.

#13 What Makes A Good Fitness Instructor? Active Listening

Last but not least, active listening will show that you have great attention to detail and are considerate of every client’s different levels of knowledge.

Active listening is a method where you display clearly that you understand the person you’re listening to, and can display to them that you have paid full attention.

A great way to do this in the gym space is to be reflective. You can rephrase key points made by someone, in their induction, to show that you understand their specific needs and goals.

For example, someone might tell you:

“I’ve got some experience with strength training but I’m not sure what I can use to lose more weight”.

You could respond with:

“So you’ve done strength training before but maybe need to look a little more at cardio-focused workouts?”

That’s why this is one of the most essential aspects of what makes a good fitness instructor. It’s no good telling somebody what gym machines are best for beginners, if they’re a seasoned fitness enthusiast.

Essentially, you don’t want to condescend to those with plenty of experience, but you don’t want to intimidate people either.

You’ll need active listening when you’re in an interview. If you do progress and you’re answering questions in an interview, you’ll need to use these skills to display confidence and attentiveness.

If you’re a sensitive fitness instructor, this will improve your communication, make you more approachable, which will potentially make the gym environment safer as people feel able to report things to do and ask for help.

Before You Go!

Hopefully by now we’ve answered all of your questions about what makes a good fitness instructor.

To advance your career, the best place to start is a Level 2 Gym Instructor course. Most specialisations and niches will build from this level, creating more money, more clients, and a broader selection of facilities.

To see more of these potential career paths, you can download our free course prospectus to see what else is available!

Taking Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams can be an incredibly stressful process, but this article is designed to help ease those fears.

We’re going to dissect OriGym’s Level 2 Fitness Instructor course and its exam process, spanning topics such as:

• How Will I Be Tested During A Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam 
• Examples of Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam Questions 
• OriGym Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course Module Breakdown
• Career Routes for Level 2 Gym Instructors
• How Can I Progress Following My Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam?
• FAQ

But before we begin, if you want to enter the fitness industry take a look at OriGym’s Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course or download our FREE prospectus here.

How Will I Be Tested During a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam

Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams are entry-level qualifications that will help to launch your career in the fitness industry. Once you have attained this certification you will be able to work in gyms, sports clubs, and fitness centers.

OriGym’s Level 2 Fitness Instructor course is endorsed by CIMSPA and has been regulated by OFQUAL, certifying it as a professionally recognised certification.

Before we can elaborate upon how you will be examined on our course, we need to first discuss how our students can study with us, as this factor slightly influences how you are examined.

You have the choice of three study pathways: full-time, online or 50/50 blended learning.

Full-time Learning

By choosing to study with us full-time you will be on the gym floor every day, as well as learning theory from one of our designated, custom-built classrooms.

This course will run for 2 weeks and requires you to attend classroom sessions from 9 am-5:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Our team of experienced tutors will lead you through both these practical and theoretical sessions, where you will study in groups no larger than 12.

When choosing to study with us full-time you will be tested in the following ways:

• Multiple choice Open-Book online exam on anatomy and physiology – 70% required to pass
• Multiple choice Open-Book online exam on the principles of exercise and health – 70% required to pass
• Practical Assessment on delivering a gym-based induction –  Pass required 

Online & Blended Learning

Online Learning: Online learning is self-paced, meaning that you can take as long or as little as you wish to complete the program. Most providers, like OriGym, will give you a 2 year window to complete the course, which is more than enough time to work through the qualification.

While the course is delivered online, all OriGym students are still fully supported by our team of tutors who can be contacted by phone, email, or chatbox.

We advise all online students to utilise our award-nominated online learning platform. Here you will be able to find online learning resources such as Level 2 Fitness Instructor mock exams, e-books, PDFs, online lectures and training manuals.

With this study option, all exams and assessments are completed online, with the exception of the final practical assessment. This means that the online course is ideal for those with other commitments, as your physical attendance is only required for one assessment.

50/50 Blended Learning: Blended learning combines both in-person tuition and online studying. This is the most popular option that many OriGym students choose to study from as it perfectly balances learning from home and attending regular workshops, allowing students to graduate in as little as 6 weeks.

These workshops will be entirely focused on practical work and operate out of all our 12 UK locations. The classes will consist of a small number of other students, in order to ensure that you get the maximum out of each training day.

By studying with us online or through blended learning you can expect your Fitness Instructor exam to look a little different. Students can expect to participate in:

• Multiple choice Open-Book online exam on anatomy and physiology – 70% required to pass
• Multiple choice Open-Book online exam on the principles of exercise and health – 70% required to pass
• Practical Assessment on delivering a gym-based induction –  Pass required 

Whilst both theoretical elements stay the same, what changes when studying online or through blended learning is your Fitness Instructor Practical Exam.

Those who choose to study with us through these two methods must travel to the nearest OriGym venue in order to take their practical exam.

Regardless of what pathway you choose to study, all students will have access to our e-learning platform. By using this platform you can revise and prepare for your future by taking Level 2 Fitness Instructor mock exams.

By choosing to study with OriGym you can become a fully qualified Fitness Instructor in as little as 2 weeks. If this prospect sounds enticing please make an inquiry regarding enrollment on our Level 2 Fitness Instructor course here.

Examples of Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam Questions

You may have selected this article looking for Level 2 Fitness Instructor Mock Exam questions.

We are here to provide you with some examples of questions from past Anatomy and Physiology, and Principles of Exercise and Health exams.

The Level 2 Fitness Instructor Mock exams featured below will be presented in the form of multiple choice.

Level 2 Fitness Instructor Anatomy & Physiology Mock Exam

Level 2 Fitness Instructor Principles of Exercise & Health Exam Questions

We hope that our Level 2 Fitness Instructor Mock Exams have helped in your revision preparation. Remember to always revise thoroughly for all exams be they practical or theoretical. by using resources available on our e-learning platform.

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If you’re enjoying learning about Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exams we think you would be interested in reading these other OriGym articles:

• How to Become a Fitness Instructor 
• What is a Fitness Instructor? 
• What Makes a Good Fitness Instructor?

OriGym Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course Module Breakdown

If you’re looking to learn how to be an effective fitness instructor, you’ll need to have knowledge on a variety of topics such as:

• Which machines are best for which muscle groups
• How to confidently support large groups of people at once
• Anatomy & Physiology

At OriGym, these teachings will be split up into 6 modules, all of which will help you learn how to become a fitness instructor.

#1 – Motivating Groups and Individuals

Regardless of their existing skill level, everyone struggles with fitness motivation at some point.

As a Fitness Instructor, you should be looking to keep your clients both engaged with the training at hand, and motivated to push themselves towards their end goals. This can be a somewhat difficult task to perform, especially if you’re dealing with large groups for the first time.

Through studying this module you will learn fitness instructor skills, tips, and techniques that will assist you in teaching fitness classes that are both engaging and beneficial to the clients who participate in them.

#2 – Tailoring Training Sessions

The most important thing to remember when working as a fitness instructor is that every client is different.

Whilst two clients may share the same goal such as to lose weight, the process of getting each client to achieve said goal will differ. This can be influenced by a variety of factors such as a client’s motivation and existence skill level.

A good fitness instructor will know how to tailor workout sessions and classes to each individual client. Without the skills and knowledge that come with this role you simply won’t be able to sustain a career in this industry.

By learning how to develop this skill you will ensure that your client’s fitness experience is as fun and rewarding as possible, which in turn will positively influence your class attendance and client retention levels.

#3 – Human Anatomy & Physiology

This module is designed to teach you how the human body functions when exercising. This particular module will provide you with information on how to keep your client’s training programs safe and effective.

This is achieved through covering topics such as the heart and circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems.

This knowledge acquired in this module is particularly important as at the end of the course you will attend a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Anatomy & Physiology exam.

#4 – Principles of Exercise and Fitness

This is another module that will be a focus of your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams, so be sure to pay close attention.

As the name of the module implies, this topic will help you to develop an in-depth understanding of the principles of exercise. This includes learning about:

• Effective warm-up/cool-down exercises
• Cardiovascular activities
• Bodyweight and free-weight movements
• Resistance training benefits and ideas

As an aspiring Fitness Instructor, you will learn how to include each one of these teachings into your client’s workout plan. This will ensure that their program is both effective and varied, meaning that they won’t get bored of your teachings or become unsatisfied and drop out.

#5 – Health, Safety, and Welfare

Creating a safe environment for your clients is paramount when operating in a Fitness Instructor role. This is why during this module you will learn how to identify and control risk factors that may arise during your sessions/classes.

This module is particularly useful if you’re an aspiring instructor who wishes to work with specific demographics that require more assistance than able-bodied adults. This will include how to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.

Additionally, you will learn all about the current emergency procedures that exist within gyms and fitness environments.

#6 – Learning The Business

Any Level 2 Fitness instructor course that has been endorsed by CIMSPA and regulated by Ofqual must teach a business module. We would advise all aspiring instructors to be wary of courses that do not provide this module, as it could potentially mean they are not professionally recognised.

At OriGym we believe that it’s important to teach you about the business side of the fitness industry. It’s all well and good teaching you skills and knowledge, but if you don’t know how to transfer this into a career following your final fitness instructor exam, then the whole qualification would be worthless.

Whether you’re looking to start a fitness business from home or enter full-time employment at a gym, this particular module will help you to learn how to maximise your business potential.

This includes developing an understanding of advertising, marketing, and self-promotion essentials, all of which will be fundamental for maintaining a successful career within the fitness sector.

Career Routes for Level 2 Gym Instructors

Following your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams, you will be able to enter the fitness industry professionally. Be sure to put your education and training to good use, don’t squander your qualification by being lazy, as this will only result in a loss of your time and money.

Which career you decide to pursue is entirely up to you, if you require some assistance in this area we can provide you with a list of careers that we deem to be a suitable pathway to follow.

#1 – Fitness Instructor

A Fitness Instructor (also referred to as a Gym Instructor) is one of the most commonly seen faces in the gym and can be typically found on the gym floor.

The roles and responsibilities of a fitness instructor are the general day-to-day running, maintenance and oversight of the gym. In this role, you will ensure that everyone’s gym-going experience runs as smoothly and safely as possible.

This will require you to perform tasks such as:

Monitoring The Use of Gym Equipment

When working on the gym floor a fitness instructor will have to ensure that all the equipment is in working order and in its correct place.

While this sounds somewhat basic, completing this role ensures that gym operations run smoothly, as clients won’t have to perform activities such as carrying a kettlebell across the entire floor.

This responsibility also limits the possibility of an injury occurring, as clients won’t have to carry heavy equipment to a designated area. On top of this, keeping an organised gym floor also means that equipment is less likely to become damaged, as it will remain in its designated area.

General Gym Maintenance, Cleanliness, and Safety 

This responsibility links to the one given above, as working in this role you will be expected to take care of the gym itself as well as its customers.

We have already discussed that as part of your Level 2 Fitness Instructor course you will learn about basic safety procedures. This includes how to evacuate a gym in the event of an emergency and a basic understanding of the principles of exercise and health.

We can see how some of these responsibilities come into play in the PureGym job advertisement featured above. Which clearly states that they are looking for a candidate who will uphold the gym’s high standards of hygiene.

All gyms that are looking to employ a fitness instructor will expect you to take great care of both the gym itself as well as its clientele.

Correcting Serious Posture Mistakes 

This is where your Fitness Instructor Level 2 Exams come in handy, as when operating on the gym floor you will be required to correct any posture mistakes that could potentially hurt the gym’s client.

Easing the chances of injury is just one example of the benefits of good posture, but it can also help us to reach our desired fitness goal. Therefore, we can say that you can implement the knowledge acquired by your exams on the principles of health and fitness to your client’s benefit.

This correction process is usually only reserved for Personal Trainers, but that doesn’t mean that you should watch as a client struggles, be sure to help and intervene if this occurs on your shift.

Offering Informal Advice On A Variety of Topics 

When working as a Fitness Instructor, customers and clients will often approach you on the gym floor looking for advice on a variety of topics.

You will have to use your experience and knowledge to provide an answer to these queries and questions. If done correctly you will gain the trust of a client, solidifying yourself as someone they can turn to at later dates.

This advice can range from topics such as:

• Nutrition
• Sets and Reps
• Gear
• Ideas for Exercise Routines

Keep in mind that this advice can only be general. If you’re interested in dispensing official advice you will need to become a qualified Level 4 Sports Nutritionist.

#2 – Group Fitness Instructor

Alternatively, following your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exam you may choose to teach fitness classes either on a freelance or contracted basis.

Gyms across the country are always looking for qualified instructors to lead classes such as indoor cycling, HIIT and Zumba. Due to the wide variety of classes available, you can follow your passions and teach a form of exercise that you genuinely care about.

This is a mutually beneficial arrangement, as clients feed off the energy that is provided by the instructor. Meaning that if you’re passionate about the class they will be too.

Once you have completed your final Fitness Instructor Level 2 exam, you may choose to gain experience by completing additional courses before diving into this career.

Courses such as our online kettlebell course or medicine ball training is a great way to gain a deeper level of experience and get a feel for the specific classes you want to pursue. This also allows you to develop a niche and offer your services to a wider group of clients.

Leading classes can be a difficult skill to instantly master, but the additional knowledge and experience provided by courses like those mentioned above can make the process easier.

Acquiring additional knowledge and experience in niche subjects can greatly benefit your career, especially those who choose to pursue freelancing. This is because these qualifications will provide the opportunity to teach more classes.

This advertisement from Gold’s Gym in Harrow exemplifies why being a highly qualified Fitness Instructor will work to your advantage when operating as a freelancer.

By achieving multiple qualifications you can teach more classes, increasing your working hours and overall pay.

Using the example given above, let’s say every class runs for an hour. As a freelance Fitness Instructor, you could potentially earn £100.00 every day, just from teaching 4 of the proposed classes, which will equate to just 4 hours of your time.

At OriGym, we provide you with this additional knowledge through our range of CPD courses. By achieving any of these certifications, you can instantly better your chances of teaching multiple classes.

#3 – Exercise Referral Coach

If you’re interested in using the knowledge acquired from your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams and putting it towards further education, then it may interest you to pursue our Exercise Referral course.

You may have also seen this job role referred to as a ‘GP referral specialist’. This occupation involves working with patients who suffer from injuries and have been referred to your service by their GP.

In the simplest of terms, as an exercise referral coach, you will work alongside medical professionals to tailor workout programs that will benefit an injured client.

Using the knowledge acquired from your Level 2 Fitness Instructor Anatomy & Physiology exam will be paramount here. As it is vital that the exercise referral process is adhered to diligently, this includes:

• Personally assessing a client’s health and fitness in order to gain a better understanding of their condition.
• Doing additional research regarding the said condition in your spare time, should you be unfamiliar with it.
• Identifying an appropriate end goal for the client. This will help to determine short, medium, or long-term treatment.
• Perform regular check-ups in order to see how much progress the client has made.

By choosing to pursue this career path following your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exam you can set yourself up for a fulfilling career, working alongside organisations such as the NHS or local health centers.

Additionally, this career has the potential to be incredibly financially rewarding. This sentiment is further reflected by Glassdoor, who reports that the average salary of an Exercise Referral specialist can be anywhere between £20-40K a year.

How Can I Progress Following My Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam?

Once you have completed your final Fitness Instructor exam you may be questioning ‘what’s next?’.

We have already touched upon one of these progression options in our previous point. You could choose to pursue a Level 3 Exercise Referral Course, which would qualify you to work in the aforementioned job role.

Alternatively, you could progress onward and become a qualified Level 3 Personal Trainer. Many often confuse this job role with that of a Fitness Instructor, but in actuality, they are very different.

As a PT you will be interacting with clients on a one-to-one basis, ensuring that they are following a tailored fitness program suitable for their goals and current skill level.

Ultimately, a PT job position allows you to have a greater sense of influence over a client’s overall performance. This is due to the fact that you’re directly communicating and working with an individual, rather than a large group.

What’s more, with a personal training qualification you have the potential to earn more money. On average personal trainers will earn an average wage of £27,000 per year, whereas Fitness Instructors earn an average of £18,579.

However, just because you’re a qualified Personal Trainer does not mean you’ll neglect your responsibilities as a Fitness Instructor.

In fact, many gyms across the country hire applicants who are qualified to perform the responsibilities associated with both of these job roles, as seen in the Indeed application above.

Therefore, we can say that if you wish to advance your career further beyond just Fitness Instructing you need to gain your Level 3 Personal Training certification. This will provide you with the opportunity to apply for more job roles.

For this reason, it may be worthwhile to enroll in our Personal Training Diploma, a qualification which combines both our Level 2 Fitness Instructing and Level 3 Personal Training Course.

FAQ

Can I Be a Personal Trainer With a Level 2 Qualification

Following the completion of your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams, you will not be certified to operate as a Personal Trainer, You will only be qualified to operate in a fitness instructor capacity.

If you apply for roles on a contracted position you will be rejected for being unqualified to perform the obligations required of you.

However, should you try to get around the system with freelance work, you could face legal issues if it is found that you’re practicing Personal Training without the proper certifications.

This is largely due to the fact that you won’t be able to receive PT insurance coverage without direct proof that you are professionally qualified.

Insurance sites such as Insure4Sport provide trainers with Public Liability Coverage, which will cover legal costs should a member of the general public sue you or your business. This protects trainers against:

• A specific action is brought into question if a client is injured
• You personally become injured and have to miss work
• You require physio treatment for a severe injury
• Your personal equipment is stolen or damaged by clients

None of this will be accessible to you without holding a Level 3 Personal Training qualification. This means that, if a client sues you or your business, it will be down to you to financially support your legal case.

Instead, we can say that a Level 2 Qualification provides you with the opportunity to study Level 3 Personal Training, rather than working in the industry illegally.

#2 – What is a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Qualified to Do?

When questioning ‘what can a Level 2 Gym instructor do following their exam?’, there is no one straightforward answer. This is because there are a number of things that fitness instructors are qualified to do following their graduation.

Once you have received your certificate you will be officially qualified to:

• Encourage clients to join the gym or fitness center
• Identify issues relating to a client’s physical performance
• Understand how the human body works – The Heart and Circulatory, Respiratory and Digestive systems.
• Provide Advice on How a Client Can Progress
• Give Guidance on How Exercises Can Be Amended To Clients
• Lead Group Exercise Classes
• Perform Gym Inductions

This is just to name a few examples of the duties that you will be qualified to perform following the completion of your Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exam. If you wish to take on further responsibilities you will need to take the next step in your education and pursue a Level 3 PT certification.

Before You Go!

When faced with your Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams don’t panic – if you put in the time and effort to study you’ll be guaranteed to get the results you deserve.

Remember, if you’re struggling with the revision you can make use of the Level 2 Fitness Instructor mock exams that we have provided in this article, as well as the other resources on our e-learning platform.

If you wish to use our learning platform be sure to enroll on OriGym’s Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course. By doing so you will gain access to a wide range of past papers, online lectures. E-books and so much more.

Alternatively, check out this FREE prospectus and learn more about other courses that we provide.