How Long Does It Take to Become Personal Trainer

As a personal training course provider, 'how long does it take to become a personal trainer?' is one of the most common questions that we get asked by people who are considering a career in the fitness industry.

It seems like a pretty simple question, and it's definitely an important one. After all, if you're wanting to pursue a personal training career, you'll need to have an idea of when you can get started! So, how long does it take to become a qualified personal trainer? Truthfully, the answer isn't as straightforward as you'd like to think.

Simply put, it all depends on how long it takes you to gain your Level 3 qualification. However, the amount of time this takes depends on a number of different factors, all of which we'll weigh up shortly.

To give you a better idea of how long it would take you to become a fully qualified personal trainer, this article has covered:

• Where to start?
• What is the average time to complete a PT course?
• Other factors that affect how long it takes to become a personal trainer
• What should I look for in a course provider?

When we're finished, you'll have all the answers to the important questions that you didn't even know you had. So, what are you waiting for?

Before we get started, why not enquire for our personal training diploma to kick-start your career in the fitness industry. Or, download a FREE course prospectus for more information.

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How Long Does It Take to Become A Qualified Personal Trainer: Where to Start?

If you're asking, 'how long does it take to become a personal trainer UK?', you need to start by considering the education and qualifications that you already have.

When we're talking about qualifications, your starting point will play a big role in how long it takes you to fully qualify as a personal trainer.

So, the first thing that you should know is that to work as a qualified PT, you'll need to hold a Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification .

In order to be able to complete a Level 3 Personal Training course, you will need to first complete a Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing .

If you're already qualified as a Level 2 gym instructor, you're one step closer to becoming a qualified PT. You'll be able to go straight onto a Level 3 course, which means you could get qualified in half of the time it would take somebody starting from scratch (depending on the type of course that you choose, but more on that shortly!).

Nevertheless, you're by no means at a disadvantage if you don't have a Level 2 qualification in the bag already.

Completing your Level 2 as a separate qualification isn't entirely necessary as any decent provider will offer training packages that include both Level 2 and Level 3 courses, also known as a Personal Training Diploma .

Another thing to consider in terms of your starting point is your current education status. 'How does it take to become a personal trainer?' is completely dependent on how long it takes you to pass your Level 3 Qualification in Personal Training.

Whilst the courses are entry-level qualifications, meaning you don't need any specific GCSE's, or A-Levels, etc. to get on to the course, you'll naturally be at an advantage if you've studied a similar subject beforehand.

What we mean is, somebody with a degree in Sports Science will likely get through the course content fairly quickly compared to somebody who's never completed any relevant qualifications.

Obviously, there's more to getting qualified than working through the course – you need to pass the assessment in order to gain the qualification.

If you have previous education in the general area of sport and fitness, you'll have a better chance of passing your assessment first time.

Whilst we can't answer exactly 'How Long to Become A Personal Trainer?' we could say that if you have previously studied sport and fitness you'll more than likely pass the first time, speeding up the process!

However, any good training provider will have a high pass rate (here at our OriGym, ours is 98%), so it's really not that big of a deal if you're starting from scratch.

Basically, anybody with a passion for fitness and the motivation to succeed in this industry will be able to complete the necessary courses to qualify as a PT.

How long will it take to become a Level 3 personal trainer? The next section will give you more of an idea of an expected time frame, so keep reading!

Download your "Day in the Life of a Personal Trainer" Guide:

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What's it really like?

How Long Does It Take to Become A Personal Trainer: Averages Explained

Having a Level 2 fitness qualification or previous education experience that's relevant to the world of health and fitness, can speed up the process of completing your Level 3 PT course. But, how long does it take to become certified as a personal trainer? We hear you ask.

The biggest factor that will determine how long it takes you to qualify is the type of course that you choose.

When we talk about the different types of PT courses, we're referring to these three main study options:

#1 Full-time

#2 Part-time

#3 Online

If you're asking, 'how long does it take to become a personal trainer UK?' as somebody completely new to the fitness industry, the average time for completing your Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications (also known as a personal training diploma) for each study method are as follows:

Level 2 & Level 3 Personal Training Diploma

Full-time: 4 weeks

Part-time: 12 weeks

Online: 16 weeks

These averages are based on completing a Level 2 & Level 3 Personal Training Diploma. As we mentioned earlier, if you already hold a Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing, then you will only need to complete a Level 3 Personal Trainer course .

In that case, you're roughly halfway to becoming a fully qualified personal trainer, and the average times you can expect to take to get qualified as a PT are as follows:

Level 3 Qualification – How Long Does It Take To Become A Level 3 Personal Trainer?

Full-time: 2 weeks

Part-time: 6 weeks

Online: 8 weeks

Of course, these are only averages. We've based these numbers on the time it typically takes our students to complete each of these courses, but they're not set in stone.

Some people can complete the online level 3 course, for example, in less than 8 weeks. But equally, there are others who choose to take a lot longer. It all depends on a number of individual factors, which we'll talk you through a little further on in this post.

But before we get into that, the type of course that you choose will have the biggest impact on how long it takes you to qualify and will massively influence your study experience.

To help you to decide on which is the best study method for you, we've gone into more detail on each of the main modes of study (all three are available with OriGym), just below.

Check out this OriGym guide to find out how hard it is to become a personal trainer!

Full-time Courses

A full-time course is often referred to as a 'fast track' course. It probably goes without saying, but this is the fastest way to get qualified.

Typically, a full-time course is a pretty intense way to study, your course will run over 4 weeks (2 weeks for Level 2, and 2 weeks for Level 3).

You'll be expected to attend a training centre Monday to Friday from around 9 am until 5 pm, and the course will combine classroom-based theory sessions with gym-based practical learning, taught by experienced fitness tutors.

At the end of each of the two-week periods, you'll have the opportunity to take your assessment. Provided you pass the exam the first time around, you can be fully qualified in just 4 weeks with this option!

Pros of A Full-time Course

The best thing about opting for a full-time course is that this is the quickest way to get qualified as a personal trainer.

Not only that, but you'll also benefit from knowing about when you'll be qualified. The pass rate for OriGym's full-time course is 95%, so once you've chosen a start date for your course, you can be fairly confident that you'll be fully qualified 4 weeks from that date.

Knowing roughly when you'll be qualified as a personal trainer is a huge advantage as it means that you can plan your next career move and start to apply for a job to start once the course is over.

Even if you do fail a theoretical or practical assessment during the 4 week course, OriGym offers all full-time students plenty of opportunities to resit exams before the end of the course.

If you do find yourself among the small percentage of students that don't pass within the 4 weeks that the course is running, there really is no need to worry as you can move straight onto OriGym's part-time or online course to continue your studies.

Another advantage of choosing a full-time or 'fasttrack' personal trainer course, is that you'll benefit from face to face learning as you'll be taught by fitness tutors who can answer your questions in real time.

This is a huge advantage because it completely cuts out any time that would be spent waiting around for feedback if you chose a different study method. Not only that, but it means that you can have real discussions with experienced tutors, as well as your fellow students!

That leads us to the next advantage – you'll get to meet like-minded people! You'll study alongside others who share your goal of working as a Level 3 personal trainer.

Your fellow students will be people who are equally as passionate about all things fitness, you'll learn with them and possibly even from them! One of the best things about this mode of study is that you'll have the support of other students, who are in the exact same position as you.

Finally, all of your studying will take place in a classroom or on the gym floor – there is no independent learning outside of the set study hours. This means that there are no self-taught aspects, which is a huge benefit for anybody who struggles with independent studying.

You can learn how to become a part-time personal trainer here!

Cons of A Full-time Course

Clearly there are a lot of benefits to studying full-time, especially if your main aim is to get qualified as quickly as possible!

There's no doubt that with the average person taking 4 weeks to qualify, full-time is the quickest course to choose. Nevertheless, there are a couple of things to consider.

Firstly, having 4 consecutive weeks free isn't always realistic for most people, especially those who work full-time or have a family to look after.

If you are fortunate enough to have the time off, then the start dates for the course are always determined by the course provider, which means they might not fit with your free time.

Not only that, but the dates that do suit your schedule may not have availability. A lot of the time full-time courses get fully booked, and so there can be a lot of planning required to find a time that works for both you and the course provider.

Finally, you'll also have to look into whether the course is held at a location that is convenient for you. Because the course is a pretty intense way of studying, your attendance is vital. For that reason, finding a location that is accessible is absolutely essential!

If you don't live that close to a major city, you might struggle to find a location to study at. If that's the case, it's worth considering choosing a part-time or online course instead.

Become a Personal Trainer with OriGym!

• Qualify & start earning in just 2 weeks
• Study full-time, part-time or online
• REPS & CIMSPA Accredited

From just£999

Learn more

Part-time Personal Trainer Courses

Part-time courses typically involve a mixture of online studying and practical workshops, making this a more flexible mode of study compared to a full-time course, without compromising the benefits of practical studying.

Studying part-time is a brilliant option for anybody who has existing commitments which mean that they can't attend a full-time course.

As an example of the structure of a part-time personal trainer course, we'll briefly explain how we do things here at OriGym:

Basically, students on our part-time courses can attend unlimited practical workshops which are held on a weekend. Alongside that, they have access to theoretical content on our award-nominated online learning platform.

The qualification is then assessed with online multiple-choice exams, coursework, and practical assessments.

Because part-time personal trainer courses involve online content and unlimited practical workshops, there are no restrictions when it comes to how long it will take you to complete the course - it's entirely self-paced.

As mentioned above, our average part-time student takes as little as 12 weeks to complete the qualification. But, how long it takes you to become a qualified personal trainer is down to you as an individual, as well as the other factors that we have highlighted a little further on.

Pros of A Part-time Course

Many people would say that a part-time personal trainer course has the best of both worlds because it combines self-led online learning and practical-based workshops.

Workshops run every weekend, which means there's no waiting around for start dates. The best thing about the practical workshops? You can attend as many as you like!

What's more, is that the workshops are taught by experienced personal training tutors, who you are free to chat with and ask any questions that you might have about your course or career prospects.

There is no set schedule for the practical workshops, so if you aren't free one weekend, that's completely fine, your attendance isn't compulsory like it is with the full-time course.

At the workshops, you'll meet other students who are also studying on the part-time course, allowing you to get to know people in your industry and make friends with people who share the same interests as you!

In addition to the workshops, you'll work independently using an online learning platform. This is a huge benefit as it means that you can learn at entirely your own pace without any pressure to meet deadlines or keep up with a fast-paced course.

Once we're done here, check out these recommended blog posts:

• How much does a personal trainer course cost?
• 5 step guide to becoming a personal trainer
• OriGym Guide: Personal trainer salary

Cons of A Part-time Course

Whilst some people benefit from being able to learn at their own speed, not everyone has the self-motivation to work independently.

Some people need structure and will keep putting off work when there aren't any deadlines to miss. If you're one of those people, then a full-time course might be a better option for you.

Another con of a part-time course is that 'how long does it take to become a personal trainer?' isn't quite as clear with this course option. It all depends on a number of factors, mainly whether you get the work done and how soon you can book onto an assessment day!

Whilst the workshops aren't compulsory, they are a brilliant way to learn, and the benefits of taking full advantage of these classes are undeniable. Nevertheless, because they only run on weekends, not everyone will always be able to attend them.

Not only that, this course has the same issue as the full-time course – finding a good location! Workshops are held up and down the country, but that doesn't mean that there will be one conveniently close to you.

Whether it's because of work or other commitments on the weekend, or not having a training centre nearby, the part-time course isn't for you if you can't make the workshops. If that is the case, then studying online might be a better option!

How Long Does It Take To Become A Certified Personal Trainer Online?

Finally, online courses are another way that you can study for a personal training qualification.

With an online personal trainer course, you can study completely online, working around your existing commitments, without the stress of coursework deadlines or having to physically attend a class.

This option is fully flexible, making it the best way to study if you prefer to learn entirely at your own pace. But don't worry, you won't be entirely alone! You'll still have access to the support of qualified fitness tutors, either over the phone or via email, if you ever get stuck or need feedback.

If you like the sound of working online, why not check out our guide to becoming an online personal trainer!

The only time your physical presence is required is for the final practical assessment. This means that if you pass your assessment first time, then you'll only have to attend a test centre for one day of the entire Level 3 course.

Again, the average time it takes to become a certified personal trainer with our online course is 16 weeks.

But, even more so than with the part-time course, this time frame can be shortened or lengthened all depending on things that only you can control. For example, how quickly you want to pass, or how many hours a week you choose to dedicate to studying.

For more info on the things that you need to consider when thinking about 'how long does it take to become a personal trainer UK?' check out the section below 'Other Factors to Consider'. But first, have a read of our list of the pros and cons of online courses.

Pros of An Online Course

There are tons of benefits of online courses, mainly centring around the fact that they are a convenient and flexible way to study.

On this course, you can work completely at your own pace, in your own time, and from the comfort of your own home – or wherever you find that you work best. Better yet, there's no commuting or having to rearrange your schedule around studying.

Although the course is online based, you'll still have access to the support of experienced fitness tutors, who you can chat with via email or over the phone.

Another pro is that the costs of online personal training courses are generally cheaper than other course options. Not only are the course fees lower, but there are also financial benefits associated with having no travel costs, not having to take any time off work, or having to fork out for childcare fees.

Finally, our favourite thing about online courses is that you can study alongside your career to develop your skillset and enhance your employability!

For example, once you're working as a qualified Level 3 personal trainer, you could study a Level 4 qualification online and open up opportunities for progression into a more niche area, like nutrition or lower back pain management.

Become a Personal Trainer with OriGym!

• Qualify & start earning in just 2 weeks
• Study full-time, part-time or online
• REPS & CIMSPA Accredited

From just£999

Learn more

Cons of An Online Course

Online courses are a great way to exercise your self-motivation and time management skills, however, if you are lacking any of these qualities then you may struggle with this type of studying.

Not everybody finds it easy to get stuff done when there isn't a deadline looming, and so the lack of structure that comes with an online course isn't always a good thing for some people.

Unlike the full-time course, it's not set in stone when you'll qualify. Mainly, the time it takes you to get your level 3 qualification depends on how quickly you get through the course content.

However, there are things out of your control, such as waiting on feedback or results from your course provider, which could mean that it takes you longer to qualify than you might like.

So, How Long Does It Take to Become A Personal Trainer?

Now that we've explained the structure of the different course options, and weighed up their pros and cons, you should have more of an idea of how long it takes to become a level 3 personal trainer.

Obviously, you should take these averages with a pinch of salt because there are a ton of different things that can speed up or slow down the process of gaining the relevant qualifications, all of which are discussed just below!

Do you have what it takes to be successful in this career? These are the top skills that personal trainers need.

Download Our "Day in the Life of a Personal Trainer" Guide

What's it really like?

How Long to Become A Personal Trainer? Other Factors to Consider

When it comes to you getting qualified as a personal trainer, there's more to it than simply the type of course that you choose.

Pretty much everybody who wants to know 'how long does it take to become a personal trainer in the UK' is starting their career in the fitness industry in a completely individual situation.

So, if you want a good idea of how long it will be before you're working as a personal trainer, don't just go off the averages, be sure to add the factors below into the equation.

The factors and personal circumstances that play the most significant role in how long it takes you to complete the course are:

• Whether you do the work
• How much free time you have
• Your level of self-discipline
• How you use the resources
• Whether you pass first time
• The course provider you choose

Below, we've explained more about how these factors will affect the amount of time it will take you to get qualified. Have a read because these are the most important things to consider!

Whether You Do the Work

One thing that too many people forget when comparing the best personal trainer courses is that paying to enrol onto a personal trainer course does not equate to paying for a personal trainer qualification.

Wondering what we mean by this? Well, what we're trying to say is that the answer to 'how long does it take to become a personal trainer?' is not the 5 minutes that you'll spend having a quick phone call with the enrolment team and setting-up a payment plan.

You have to actually do the work (and pass the course) to get qualified. A good course provider will offer plenty of learning resources and support throughout your studies, but they won't do the work for you!

If you want to know 'how long does it take to become a Level 3 personal trainer' but you don't have the intention of putting the work in, you'll be waiting a while for that level 3 certificate!

If you don't get the work done, it will take you a long time to get qualified. If you do, then you'll fly through the course and be well on your way to working as a personal trainer – it's that simple!

How Much Free Time You Have

If you're lucky enough to have the free time to study on a full-time course, then you'll take a fraction of the time to qualify compared to most people.

However, for most of us, studying full-time isn't really an option, and so self-paced courses (like our part-time or online options) are a more suitable alternative.

The benefit of self-paced courses is that you can choose how much time you want to dedicate to the course. However, one piece of advice we will emphasise is to be reasonable when planning out your studies. Allow room for some pieces of coursework to take a little longer than expected, and consider that you might need to resit an exam or resubmit a piece of coursework.

How much free time you have, how much of that time you choose to dedicate to your studies, and how well you juggle all of your responsibilities will have a huge impact on how long or how quickly you get through the content and get the coursework done.

Naturally, the more of your free time you spend studying, the more you'll speed up the process of getting qualified.

Your Level of Self-Discipline

Obviously, to get your personal trainer certification, you need to do the work and dedicate some of your free time to spend on your studies. So, if you're serious about getting qualified, then you need to get your head in the game.

You can allocate all the time in the world to getting your coursework done, but you need to put the effort in, stay motivated, and exercise some serious self-discipline so that habits of procrastination don't creep in.

Procrastination is a term used to describe any behaviours that you use to put off doing something that you need to do.

For example, if you find yourself suddenly motivated to clean the entire house, sitting on your phone for longer than usual, or making another snack, then you're procrastinating, and you need to stop!

Research studies, for example this study by Kim & Seo (2015) , have shown that procrastination is negatively correlated with your academic performance! It's safe to say that the more you procrastinate, the more time you will add to 'how long do you have to study to become a personal trainer'.

So put your phone on airplane mode, switch off the TV, get your head down, and do the work!

How You Use the Resources

When it comes to doing the work for your personal trainer course, a good training provider should provide plenty of different resources so that you can find a way of learning that works for you.

Taking full advantage of the range of learning resources available to you and putting in the time and effort to work through the content is the best way to get through this qualification.

Let's be realistic, you can't complain that it's taking you longer to get qualified than you expected if you haven't logged onto the online learning platform, or if you've submitted a piece of coursework without putting in the effort to make sure that it's of a high quality.

If you want to get your Level 3 personal trainer certification, you'll need to do more than the bare minimum!

Our advice is to go to the workshops, get in contact with the tutors and listen to their feedback, and generally be proactive when it comes to studying. If you do those things, getting qualified in a reasonable amount of time will be a breeze.

Whether You Pass First Time

Unfortunately, things don't always go to plan and it's not guaranteed that you'll pass all of your assessments on your first attempt.

Whilst pass rates are pretty high, they're not quite 100%. Not everyone passes the first time, and while we'd always encourage you to stay positive going into any exam, this is just something to have in the back of your mind.

Finding the time to attend an assessment day, re-booking resits, and everything else that goes into taking your exams, all takes time. Sometimes there'll be factors outside of your control, like the availability of assessment days, which could delay you getting qualified.

But it's not all doom and gloom! As long as you go into the exam properly prepared, then passing shouldn't really be a problem.

The Course Provider You Choose

Finally, the course provider that you choose will also have a significant impact on how long it takes to qualify as a personal trainer.

In order for your qualifications to be worth having, you need to look out for a course that is accredited by CIMSPA and regulated by an Ofqual approved governing body.

Having a qualification that is accredited by CIMSPA and regulated by a governing body, for example Focus Awards, shows your employer and your clients that you are trained to the appropriate level needed to fulfill the role of a personal trainer.

You can read all about the various personal trainer levels in this OriGym Guide .

Outside of that, there are other ways that your choice of course provider can affect how long it takes to become a personal trainer, keep reading because we've outlined them all just below!

What Should I Consider When Looking for A Course Provider?

When it comes to accredited and regulated personal training qualifications, the course content doesn't really differ between training providers. That's because recognised course providers follow a general curriculum outlined by an Ofqual-approved awarding body, such as Focus Awards .

The main difference between course providers are:

• How many times you can resit exams
• The resources available
• How quickly they mark your work
• How long you have to complete the course
• Post course support available

Any of the above admin issues can add time on to how long it takes to become a personal trainer, putting your career plans on hold.

Obviously, this is the exact opposite of what you want, so read below for the main things to consider when choosing a course provider (especially if you want to qualify quickly!).

How Many Times You Can Resit Exams

In the event that you fail to pass an exam, you'll obviously want to re-sit the assessment. Afterall, it would be silly to let all of the time and money that you've put into the course go to waste!

If you're concerned about not passing the first time, ask your potential training provider about the procedure for re-sitting your exams.

Some providers will offer you unlimited resits as part of the course package whilst others will have a standard charge for every time you want to re-sit an assessment.

Not only that, but different providers have different availability for assessment dates. If you're in a hurry to get qualified, it's worth asking the course provider about the next available dates for any practical assessments.

Our advice is to plan ahead and book in advance! Nobody wants to be prepared for an exam and then have to wait around for a place on an assessment day to appear.

Download Our "Day in the Life of a Personal Trainer" Guide

What's it really like?

The Resources Available

The quality of the course you choose in terms of the resources and student support available is something that will either add to the time it takes you to qualify or speed up the process!

When choosing the right course for you, have a look at the learning resources they offer. If you learn best in a practical setting, then a part-time course with plenty of workshops is probably a better option than a completely online course.

When you're enquiring about the course, ask about what student support is available from the tutor team. For example, you'll want to know how you can get in contact with them, when, and how often.

If the help and advice of the tutors is only available Monday to Friday from 9-5, and you work the same shift pattern, then you'll struggle to get through the content – adding time on to 'how long does it take to become a personal trainer' for you.

Fortunately, OriGym tutors are available during business hours, as well as on evenings and weekends! So, if you study with us, you can get in touch with an experienced fitness tutor over the phone, via email, or through our instant chatbox service 7 days a week!

Once we're done here, head over to this ultimate guide to marketing strategies for personal trainers.

How Quickly They Mark Your Work

It doesn't matter how quickly you get through the coursework, if the course provider isn't efficient in getting your results and feedback back to you, then there will be delays to you getting qualified.

When you're enquiring for a course, ask the enrolment team about the turnaround time for coursework feedback.

The longer this process takes, the longer it will be until you can get started with your new career – so choose your training provider wisely!

How Long You Have to Complete the Course

Another important thing to ask before signing up for a personal trainer course is how long you have to complete the qualification.

This is especially useful if you're planning on taking your time, for example studying alongside existing family or work commitments.

Even if you want to know how to become a personal trainer as quickly as possible, sometimes things come up that might put a pause on these plans. If that's the case, you'll be grateful if you've chosen a course that allows you to take your time with your studies.

Post Course Support Available

It's safe to say that since you're here looking for information on how long it takes to get qualified as a personal trainer, you're fairly serious about getting a job as a personal trainer.

Assuming that this is the case, you need to think about how long it will take you to get a personal training job once you're qualified. Even though getting a job is your end goal, you need to have employability in mind right from the beginning.

Outside of course accreditation, the level of post course support offered by a training provider can determine how and where you find a job.

So, look for a provider that has a good reputation amongst, and relationships with, companies in the industry. For example, here at OriGym we have partnerships with businesses such as JD Gyms, Sports Direct Fitness, and Pure Gym.

These partnerships allow us to help students to land interviews with big gym brands, in fact, we even offer guaranteed interviews as part of our free post course support service. If that wasn't enough, our post course support team can even guide you through the application process to boost your opportunity for employment even further.

As well as helping you to land job interviews, any good course provider will also have a team of experienced fitness professionals who can pass on what they've learned from their time in the industry to their students.

This can include sales techniques to show off in an interview, or tips and tricks for a good fitness business plan if you're wanting to start your own personal training business .

Look out for courses that offer more than just the qualification as post course support is arguably just as important!

Before You Go!

Hopefully by now you have a rough idea of how long it will take you to get qualified as a personal trainer!

All things considered, working in the fitness industry is a brilliant career choice. So, if you think this is the right path for you, why not enquire about one of our Personal Training Courses now .

If you want to learn more about the range of courses that we offer here at OriGym, you can download our latest online course prospectus here .

References

Kim, K. and Seo, E. H. (2015). The relationship between procrastination and academic performance: A meta-analysis. Personality and Individual Differences . 82, pp. 26-33.

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How Long Does It Take to Become Personal Trainer

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