Becoming a personal trainer

[G1ABB]

Any advice appreciated.

I want to help out a friend of the family as he is very interested in becoming a personal trainer. Sadly this isn't something I know much about, however I would like to pass on any useful advice if you can help. I can only say he looks the part and has great social skills which seems to be a good start. He doesn't have any relevant qualifications though. (just completed non relevant A levels but doesn't want to go to Uni).

Much appreciated.

(cross posted in Yorkshire). (we always win the most medals!)

[Ben Jk]

I work for an award winning national training provider and we deliver active leisure/fitness quals commercially as well as having some apprenticeships available.

https://www.lifetimetraining.co.uk/

[272BHP]

If he looks the part and sounds the part then he will have no problem becoming a personal trainer. Just pick up a relevant qualification and he is all set. Maybe after another 15-20 yrs experience he might even become a good one.

I don't mean to be flippant at all but I know a few really good personal trainers and not one of them is younger than 40 - there is a very good reason for that. This really is a profession where experience trumps all.

Good luck to him.

[Thankyou4calling]

You do not need any qualifications to be a personal trainer.

It’s not a regulated profession

Most have very poor knowledge of exercise techniques, nutrition and safety.

The most important attribute is marketing and sales skills plus the ability to motivate the clients you secure.

You won’t earn much.

[Ben Jk]

Thankyou4calling said:

You do not need any qualifications to be a personal trainer.

It’s not a regulated profession

Most have very poor knowledge of exercise techniques, nutrition and safety.

The most important attribute is marketing and sales skills plus the ability to motivate the clients you secure.

You won’t earn much.

Not sure how true the above is? If you want to work for someone else, such as one of the big gym companies you do need a qualification. If you work for yourself....maybe not but I’m not sure as it’s not my sector.

However, I know of PT’s and instructors who earn very good money however that is all relative because good money to me could be a pittance to others.

Edited by Ben Jk on Sunday 1st September 10:47

[anonymous-user]

Thankyou4calling said:

You do not need any qualifications to be a personal trainer.

It’s not a regulated profession

Most have very poor knowledge of exercise techniques, nutrition and safety.

The most important attribute is marketing and sales skills plus the ability to motivate the clients you secure.

You won’t earn much.

Tell that to my wife who has spent a fortune on gaining official qualifications, worked in a series of corporate gyms and is a qualified Spin, Pilates instructor and qualified sports masseur.

Always good to hear people speaking about things they know nothing about.

Your last sentence is correct though.

[Hoofy]

As above, you won't get work in a gym (which is where most PTers earn their money, not by training celebs for £200 an hour); you need to be REPS 3 qualified and have professional insurance (which you won't get without quals).

You also want insurance to avoid being sued and losing your house (or moving country!).

As for the OPer, you can do a 6 week intensive to get to REPS 3. It probably costs around £2k.

Edited by Hoofy on Sunday 1st September 10:56

[Thankyou4calling]

Ben Jk said:

Not sure how true the above is? If you want to work for someone else, such as one of the big gym companies you do need a qualification. If you work for yourself....maybe not but I’m not sure as it’s not my sector.

However, I know of PT’s and instructors who earn very good money however that is all relative because good money to me could be a pittance to others.

Edited by Ben Jk on Sunday 1st September 10:47

As I said, you need no qualifications whatsoever.

As a previous Group Operations Director and current multiple site facility owner of health clubs I respectfully state I know what I’m talking about.

Edited by Thankyou4calling on Sunday 1st September 11:15

[Countdown]

Thankyou4calling said:

As I said, you need no qualifications whatsoever.

Well, arguably you don't need any qualifications to work as an Accountant (and you could probably still earn £20k-£30k) but it's easier and better-paid if you DO have them. .

To the OP - I think the biggest challenge would be to pick up (and retain) a decent stable of clients.

[ambuletz]

here's how people become a successfull personal trainer in 2019

1- take roids, get muscular.
2- have a social media account and show your progress
3- make videos of you lifting/working out
4- get sponsored by a suppliment company
5- make fitness advice videos, they don't have to be right, or accurate. people will believe anything because they see your muscles
6- make your own protein/suppliment brand and clothing line, start selling it
7- after you're popular, create a 'custom' training programme and sell it to people for £50-200.


throughout all of the above never tell people you aren't natural. also the custom training programmes are far from custom, the advice is all generic and vauge. all that doesnt matter because people these days believe in fake naturals and photoshopped pictures more than knowledge.

[Sten.]

It's such a wide ranging 'profession'. The bloke at my local council leisure centre shows people how to operate the machines and has 'personal trainer' on his name badge. A friend of mine is a very successful self employed personal trainer with a large client base and has built up his business over many years. Very different things.

[popeyewhite]

Hoofy said:

.... you need to be REPS 3 qualified ..

Actually you don't Hoofy. There are no governing bodies in the exercise and sport realm to which membership is mandatory. REPs is viewed by many I know in the profession with suspicion and as a quick way for a self-regulated and self-promoting organisation to make money through memberships. It may well be the case now that some gyms require REPs membership for any health professional to work there, but this is blind ignorance and a result of swallowing the REPs self-publicised baloney. Insurance isn't a legal requirement, though obviously advantageous to both the professional and the client.

Edited by popeyewhite on Sunday 1st September 13:29

[Ben Jk]

Thankyou4calling said:

Ben Jk said:

Not sure how true the above is? If you want to work for someone else, such as one of the big gym companies you do need a qualification. If you work for yourself....maybe not but I’m not sure as it’s not my sector.

However, I know of PT’s and instructors who earn very good money however that is all relative because good money to me could be a pittance to others.

Edited by Ben Jk on Sunday 1st September 10:47

As I said, you need no qualifications whatsoever.

As a previous Group Operations Director and current multiple site facility owner of health clubs I respectfully state I know what I’m talking about.

Edited by Thankyou4calling on Sunday 1st September 11:15

As a multiple site facility owner of health clubs, would you allow a PT to work in your multiple site health clubs with no qualifications?

[So]

G1ABB said:

Any advice appreciated.

I want to help out a friend of the family as he is very interested in becoming a personal trainer. Sadly this isn't something I know much about, however I would like to pass on any useful advice if you can help. I can only say he looks the part and has great social skills which seems to be a good start. He doesn't have any relevant qualifications though. (just completed non relevant A levels but doesn't want to go to Uni).

Much appreciated.

(cross posted in Yorkshire). (we always win the most medals!)

Only the most successful PTs I know come close to scratching a living at it. My last PT was a truly experienced and talented guy but had to give it up and go mending the roads because it wasn't paying his (extremely modest) mortgage.Another PT I know quite well is the top or joint top earner at the gym where he works. He has told me that he will sooner or later need a proper job.

So, brutally honest advice: Forget it.

[popeyewhite]

Ben Jk said:

Thankyou4calling said:

Ben Jk said:

Not sure how true the above is? If you want to work for someone else, such as one of the big gym companies you do need a qualification. If you work for yourself....maybe not but I’m not sure as it’s not my sector.

However, I know of PT’s and instructors who earn very good money however that is all relative because good money to me could be a pittance to others.

Edited by Ben Jk on Sunday 1st September 10:47

As I said, you need no qualifications whatsoever.

As a previous Group Operations Director and current multiple site facility owner of health clubs I respectfully state I know what I’m talking about.

Edited by Thankyou4calling on Sunday 1st September 11:15

As a multiple site facility owner of health clubs, would you allow a PT to work in your multiple site health clubs with no qualifications?

Experience is by far the most important qualification.

[Thankyou4calling]

Ben Jk said:

As a multiple site facility owner of health clubs, would you allow a PT to work in your multiple site health clubs with no qualifications?

100% yes

Personality, sales, marketing, customer service skills and the ability to motivate are key.

Qualifications are very easy to obtain, a one day course can get you a PT qualification.

[fiju]

Someone I went to school with became a PT. I was thinking about signing up for private lessons for extra gains. He quoted me £30 an hour. I left him to it.

I've also heard that PT's work really unsociable hours and earn peanuts. That's all i'd need to hear to put me off it.

I guess it's like becoming a 'make up artist' that a bunch of women seem to want to do as it's easy. No actual qualifications required, you just need to write 'MUA' next to your name on facebook and market yourself on instagram. Easy as that. I doubt you'd be able to live off it though. Again, unsociable hours, and frequency of work would vary.

[Hoofy]

popeyewhite said:

Hoofy said:

.... you need to be REPS 3 qualified ..

Actually you don't Hoofy. There are no governing bodies in the exercise and sport realm to which membership is mandatory. REPs is viewed by many I know in the profession with suspicion and as a quick way for a self-regulated and self-promoting organisation to make money through memberships. It may well be the case now that some gyms require REPs membership for any health professional to work there, but this is blind ignorance and a result of swallowing the REPs self-publicised baloney. Insurance isn't a legal requirement, though obviously advantageous to both the professional and the client.

Edited by popeyewhite on Sunday 1st September 13:29

As I say, if you want insurance, you probably need the REPS 3 qual. I didn't say it was a legal requirement. It was my requirement to not have to sell up and leave the country if a client sues me.

[Hoofy]

Thankyou4calling said:

Ben Jk said:

As a multiple site facility owner of health clubs, would you allow a PT to work in your multiple site health clubs with no qualifications?

100% yes

Personality, sales, marketing, customer service skills and the ability to motivate are key.

Qualifications are very easy to obtain, a one day course can get you a PT qualification.

I've never heard that course. I swore I heard about a 2 week thing but 1 day??

[popeyewhite]

Hoofy said:

As I say, if you want insurance, you probably need the REPS 3 qual.

Nope, I have full liability and indemnity - never been near REPs, and neither have any of the instructors I know. We are all insured though, obviously.

Hoofy said:

I didn't say it was a legal requirement. It was my requirement to not have to sell up and leave the country if a client sues me.

Not sure what you mean, sorry!

ETA If you mean having insurance is a good idea then yes, very much so.