Personal Trainer Qualifications?

[RossiT]

My girlfriend is looking into doing a personal trainer/gym instructor course to level 3 or 4.

It seems there are various qualifications which cover the same thing, NVQ level 3, YMCA level 3, REP level 4 etc.

Does anyone know which one is the most respected or have anymore advice?

Thanks

[balders118]

Okay...

The usual route is to do level 2 gym instructor and level 3 personal trainer NVQ's. Different companies provide these, YMCA is one.. generally the best is considered to be premier IMO. Level 4 NVQ involves specialixing in an area such as obesity, and again comapnies like YMCA and premier offer these.

REPS is the Register of Exercise Proffesionals. This is not the same as the NVQ's. Once you ahve done your NVQ to level 2,3 or 4 you can send off your qualifications to REPS and they will award you with REPS level 2,3 or 4. This is a good thing to have as you can get insurance through them too, and most companies will expect a PT to be REPS registered. You can also get higher REPs levels without doing an NVQ. For example I have NVQ level 2 gym instructorm, but I also have a 2.1 degree in sports science. REPs consider this to put me at REPS level 3, without having to do level 3 NVQ.

Understand?

Chris

[goldblum]

YMCA or NVQ

REPS is a company run for profit.It is not legal prerequisite to register with REPS.

Level 2 Gym Ins,Level 3 PT are the ones to go for.

As with Balders really..

Edited by goldblum on Thursday 19th August 22:54

[GMJ]

I'd recommend Premier for the PT course.

[Slagathore]

I'd look in to doing a sports massage qualification aswell. Premier should be able to offer that?

Can make a fair bit doing them, and you only really need to do 2 or 3 to make a fair bit extra each week.