Investing in your continued professional development is a vital part of being a successful business owner. Once you’ve qualified as a level 2 fitness instructor, you may be looking around for the best online personal trainer courses available to you.
We’ve compiled a list of the top ten courses worth checking out if you want to study online to become a level 3 personal trainer.
1. Premier Global NASM
Premier Global is one of the leading educators for health and fitness professionals in the UK. They come together with NASM to become Premiere Global NASM and keep contributing to the education and professional development of fitness professionals. The marriage of the two providers guarantees globally recognised qualifications and promising career paths to in-person and online personal trainers alike.
Premier Global NASM were the first course provider to go fully online and create by far the most developed online learning platform with significant development and investment way before COVID. All their personal training education packages include L2 Gym Instructor and L3 Personal Trainer certificates, live digital interactive lectures, virtual learning lab tutor support, digital assessments and the OPT Model for programming. If you're already a personal trainer and want to enrol onto CPD courses, they offer a wide range of courses from nutrition certificates, pre and postnatal specialist to online coaching and business courses.
Premier Global NASM were the first course provider to go fully online and create by far the most developed online learning platform with significant development and investment way before COVID. All their personal training education packages include L2 Gym Instructor and L3 Personal Trainer certificates, live digital interactive lectures, virtual learning lab tutor support, digital assessments and the OPT Model for programming. If you're already a personal trainer and want to enrol onto CPD courses, they offer a wide range of courses from nutrition certificates, pre and postnatal specialist to online coaching and business courses.
2. The Training Room
The Training Room offers remote learning through the dedicated e-learning portal. The flexible approach to studying allows people to pass their qualification within an average of six months. Modules include:
Prices of the course are available upon enquiry, but they do advertise a “buy now, pay later” option.
- Anatomy And Physiology For Health And Exercise
- Applying The Principals Of Nutrition To A Physical Activity Programme
- How To Programme Personal Training With Clients
- Delivering Personal Training Sessions
Prices of the course are available upon enquiry, but they do advertise a “buy now, pay later” option.
3. Future Fit Training
Level 3 Personal Training course provides thorough training in industry expectations and standards, providing you with the skills required to hit the ground running as either an employed or self-employed Personal Trainer. This qualification includes a variety of assessment methods, including a portfolio, online multiple-choice quizzes, and a real-world case study. The practical assessments are held face to face in one of over 40 locations across the UK.
The CIMSPA endorsed courses also covers everything needed for the Level 2 Gym Instructor certification, enabling students to hit the ground running for a fitness career even if they have no prior experience or qualifications. The Future Fit Training qualification offers a range of payment options, including paid in full, 0% finance, paying a deposit and then paying the balance off at a later date and the unique and welcomed option of paying as you learn, including paid in full, 0% finance, paying a deposit and then paying the balance off at a later date and a welcome but quite an unusual option of paying as you learn.
The CIMSPA endorsed courses also covers everything needed for the Level 2 Gym Instructor certification, enabling students to hit the ground running for a fitness career even if they have no prior experience or qualifications. The Future Fit Training qualification offers a range of payment options, including paid in full, 0% finance, paying a deposit and then paying the balance off at a later date and the unique and welcomed option of paying as you learn, including paid in full, 0% finance, paying a deposit and then paying the balance off at a later date and a welcome but quite an unusual option of paying as you learn.
4. HFE Training
This course allows you to secure your place with a deposit of £100, and offers the option of a 6-month payment plan. If you’re able to pay in full, a small 5% discount is offered. Their bespoke “Learner Engagement System” e-learning platform offers bespoke training manuals, lectures delivered in an engaging self-directed video format, and demonstrations of the safe and correct ways to perform exercises. All the theory exams are performed online, and people usually take between 6 and 8 weeks to complete the course.
5. OriGym
The level 3 PT qualification from OriGym is offered online through their e-learning platform called the “Student Zone”. They are particularly proud of the variety of learning materials they provide for students, including e-books, and manuals, interactive learning, including quizzes that were nominated for an award, pre-recorded online lectures and videos for demonstration and guidance purposes. On average, students take around 10 weeks to complete this CIMSPA recognised qualification. Priced at £1199 this isn’t the cheapest option available, but student satisfaction rates are high.
6. Diverse Trainers
The personal training qualification with Diverse Trainers is delivered via a personalised e-learning platform. Every client gets a lack of resources, access to a dedicated student support team, support calls and includes a CPD resource called “Super 6”. After signing up, you’ll receive your resources and an initial welcome call. After that, you’ll get access to the digital training content which will equip you to complete your coursework. Any issues can be discussed with the tutor team on the catch-up calls. There are some basic requirements, like industry experience, and a practical assessment before you’ll receive your certification. Most people complete the study in between 4 to 6 weeks and all the content can be managed through at-home study. The course is available to pay in full at £599 and Diverse Trainers offer 0% finance options.
7. Study Active
The level 3 personal training course by Study Active is accessible online using a “blended learning” approach, meaning they utilise a range of teaching and learning methodologies. E-learning is paired with webinars, dedicated tutorial time where there are opportunities to ask questions, practical sessions and round the clock support. The flexible course is self directed, allowing you to study at your own time and to accommodate other commitments you may have. There’s a 0% interest option for partial payments, or you could pay in full at a price of £899. Interestingly, they will also beat any like for like quote by any other service provider.
8. Learn Direct
The personal training qualification from Learn Direct offers one of the most comprehensive module selection options of all the courses researched. You’d expect to cover anatomy, exercise physiology and kinesiology, as well as writing and prescribing training programmes.
However this course goes much further, digging into some really useful elements, such as the psychology of fitness, sales and marketing, business plans and much more. These areas, particularly the business related areas, are often neglected on the majority of L3 qualifications and this could be a real asset to the aspiring training looking to create a long term, sustainable business. With incredible flexible pay monthly options which allow someone to get started for as little as £35 per month, or a significant discount of 40% if you can pay in full (total price currently £359.99) this certification is definitely worth considering.
However this course goes much further, digging into some really useful elements, such as the psychology of fitness, sales and marketing, business plans and much more. These areas, particularly the business related areas, are often neglected on the majority of L3 qualifications and this could be a real asset to the aspiring training looking to create a long term, sustainable business. With incredible flexible pay monthly options which allow someone to get started for as little as £35 per month, or a significant discount of 40% if you can pay in full (total price currently £359.99) this certification is definitely worth considering.
9. The Fitness Group
The Fitness Group have recently dropping their pricing from £1995 to £1495 which still keeps them among the more expensive options on this list, but there is absolute freedom about when you start studying. There’s no waiting for a given date for a given intake of students to hit a certain size before you can get started. The process for getting started is simple. Once you entrol the learner support team will reach out, delivering a welcome call and explaining your next steps. You’ll be introduced to your personal learning support coach and get assigned a tutor - both of whom you’ll be able to contact directly. Once the learning portion of the course begins, you’ll have access to live lectures, e-learning and coursework, all conducted from the comfort and safety of your own home. If you can’t make the lectures live - don’t worry. They get recorded and you can keep access and rewatch as part of your learning process.
10. Open Study College
The Open Study College level 3 qualification is one of the most cost effective options at just £379.00 for the paid in full option. It offers total freedom over when you start, and they estimate it will take around 100 hours of self directed study to complete the qualification. This removes the pressure of deadlines, and gives enough space to manage other responsibilities alongside your studying commitments. This is a fantastic starting point, but upon completion of the course you will have obtained a Certificate of Achievement from ABC Awards and Certa Awards and a Learner Unit Summary. You are not receiving an accredited qualification covered by Ofqual, but for people curious about expanding their understanding of running a personal training business without committing themselves financially to an accredited course, this could be a good option for some.
+1 BONUS. Train Fitness
Train Fitness run a distance learning option where you can study at home for you level 3 qualification. Prices start from £699 and are fully recognised qualifications both nationally in the Uk with CIMSPA and REPS and internationally by the ACSM and ACE. The remote learning package offers the ultimate in flexibility for someone aspiring to transition into a career as a personal trainer. Even the practical elements of the exam can be assessed virtually!
Conclusion
The content of a level 3 personal training qualification is required to meet a basic standard in order to pass accreditation. There will be certain modules that every qualification will contain in order to meet the requirements of Ofqual. The decision of which course will be right for you will rest with a couple of other factors.
First, whether the learning is entirely self directed and open ended in duration or if aspects of it are performed live with tutors which will push you towards completing the course in a set time frame. There’s likely to be one option which suits your lifestyle better than others.
Secondly, whether continued professional development courses (such as kettlebells, indoor cycling, or boxing and padwork) are included. Some courses will offer these as add ons, some will offer credits that can be put towards further CPD and some will have nothing additional on offer. Relatedly, some courses will offer additional modules in training specific populations, or give vital business advice that some personal trainers are without upon qualifying. Those are the things which may allow you to make a real success of your personal training business, and even cater to a given niche at an early stage in your career.
Finally, it may be important to you that you have a flexible payment option, or that you want to be certified by a particular national or international governing body. Whatever your particular personal requirements, there’s enough flexibility in all these online personal trainer courses to meet demands. Any assessments can be done online or in person as required, although the testing centres for face to face assessments are based in major cities, they can be quite far from rural areas and should be selected carefully.
First, whether the learning is entirely self directed and open ended in duration or if aspects of it are performed live with tutors which will push you towards completing the course in a set time frame. There’s likely to be one option which suits your lifestyle better than others.
Secondly, whether continued professional development courses (such as kettlebells, indoor cycling, or boxing and padwork) are included. Some courses will offer these as add ons, some will offer credits that can be put towards further CPD and some will have nothing additional on offer. Relatedly, some courses will offer additional modules in training specific populations, or give vital business advice that some personal trainers are without upon qualifying. Those are the things which may allow you to make a real success of your personal training business, and even cater to a given niche at an early stage in your career.
Finally, it may be important to you that you have a flexible payment option, or that you want to be certified by a particular national or international governing body. Whatever your particular personal requirements, there’s enough flexibility in all these online personal trainer courses to meet demands. Any assessments can be done online or in person as required, although the testing centres for face to face assessments are based in major cities, they can be quite far from rural areas and should be selected carefully.
