Level 3 Diploma Specialist in Gym Instructing and Personal Training (RQF)
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- Original price was: £1,649.00.£989.00Current price is: £989.00.
- 1 year
- Awarded by 'Focus Awards'
- 646Guided Learning Hours
- 930 Hours Total Qualification Time
- Qualification Number: 603/7653/3
- 93 Credits
- Self-study Online
- Ofqual Regulated Qualification
Course Overview
Become a Fitness Specialist
Seeking a dual pathway to the fitness industry? The Level 3 Diploma Specialist in Gym Instructing and Personal Training is a comprehensive course, combining personal training and gym instructing skills into a single specialist qualification. Regulated by Ofqual, this Level 3 diploma prepares you to work as a personal trainer and gym instructor, ensuring you are equipped with key skills and knowledge.
This personal training course offers foundational knowledge in Level 2 before progressing to advanced skills in Level 3. The training is designed for aspiring fitness professionals, those seeking a dual qualification, fitness enthusiasts, gym members passionate about fitness, and career changers with no prior experience. Once you’re qualified, you can pursue a career as a gym-based personal trainer, fitness centre instructor, health club personal trainer, outdoor fitness instructor, and group training instructor. If you’re seeking to set up your own personal training business, you will find this qualification beneficial. You will learn to deliver one-on-one personal training sessions, establish a client base, and work independently in various fitness settings.
This personal training qualification is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), a professional body for the sports and fitness sector in the UK and Ireland. You are awarded a credential accepted by private fitness centres, leading gym chains, and insurance providers. This course provides a strong foundation to progress to specific Focus Awards Level 4 qualifications including the Certificate in Nutrition for Weight Management, Certificate for Advanced Personal Trainers, and Certificate in Delivering Physical Activity for Mental Health. With more experience, you can pursue a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, sports and nutrition, or a related field.
To be successful in the Level 3 personal trainer course, you need to complete a portfolio of your work and engage in practical demonstrations. This combines essential theory and hands-on training to offer a clear pathway to the fitness industry. You need to be 16 years of age to enrol, and no previous experience is needed. You will be awarded UCAS points, which can be used to support a university application.
We provide highly qualified tutors to support and assist you throughout the course, ensuring you have the guidance to establish yourself as a successful personal trainer and gym instructor.
Complete the Personal Training Course with South London College
Affordable Prices
Our competitive pricing on our courses is beneficial, backed by our Price Match guarantee.
Expertly Crafted E-Learning Content
We provide expertly designed and development course materials.
Dedicated Personal Tutor
A personal tutor and key account manager are available to support you.
Flexible Learning
You can fit your studies around a flexible schedule.
12 Months Access
Our online learning portal can be accessed for up to 12 months.
Boost Your Skills and Employability
Plan and instruct personal training and gym instructing sessions for clients.
Friendly Customer Support
We offer a friendly customer support team to answer your questions.
Instructor-led Virtual Discussions
You can engage in instructor-led virtual group discussions (blended learning experience).
Interest-free instalment plan
Interest-free instalment payment plans are offered for your convenience.
What Will I Learn?
Use the key principles of anatomy, physiology, and nutrition and how it relates to personal training.
Develop the skills to evaluate your clients’ fitness levels and identify their training goals.
Plan and deliver safe and effective gym-based sessions.
Create personalised training programmes for your clients.
Key Features
High quality e-learning study materials.
Tutorials/materials from the industry leading experts.
24/7 Access to the Learning Portal.
Benefit of applying TOTUM Discount Card.
Recognised Accredited Qualification.
Excellent customer service and administrative support.
Flexible Payment Plans to Suit Your Budget
Are you worried about the cost? Do not be! Select the payment plan that best fits your needs and begin your online learning journey now.
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Support
Once you enrol with us, we offer you full learner support. We want to see you succeed in your professional goals. We provide complete access to a personal tutor who is an expert in their field.
Your tutor will assess your work, give you the required feedback, and help you improve throughout your time at SLC.
Our professional support team is available to answer any of your questions. You can contact us at any time; we are only a click away.
| Course Highlights |
Excited but unsure? We’re just a call away! |
| Learning Outcomes |
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| Who is this Course For? | The course is suitable for those who want to become qualified in the fitness industry Â
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| Certification | Once you complete this course, you will be awarded the Level 3 Diploma Specialist in Gym Instructing and Personal Training by Focus Awards and regulated by Ofqual. |
| Career Progression | Your Future in Fitness Starts HereÂ
Completing the Level 3 Diploma Specialist in Gym Instructing and Personal Training opens the door to exciting career opportunities in the health and fitness sector. Once qualified, you can work in commercial gyms, sports clubs, leisure centres, private studios, or as a self-employed instructor. With experience, you may progress into areas like fitness education or even online coaching. Here are some job prospects you can pursue along with the average salary scale (Source: UK Glassdoor). Â
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| Entry Requirements |
Not sure if this course is for you? Speak to an advisor today! |
| Average Completion Timeframe | The Level 3 Diploma Specialist in Gym Instructing and Personal Training requires 646 GLH. You can complete this course in just a few months or take up to a year; it’s flexible to suit your schedule. Most learners finish within 6-9 months, but if you have more time to study or relevant experience, you may complete it sooner. We offer full support for up to 12 months, so you can work at a pace that’s right for you. |
| Method of Assessment | To earn this Level 3 Diploma, you must submit written assignments, a portfolio of your work, and a practical assessment. Importantly, this course does not have an exam. This is how you will be evaluated during your course.Â
If you have any questions about the assessment process, please click the ‘Enquire Now’ button. |
| Academic Progression | Upon completing this Level 3 diploma Specialist, you can progress to the following. Â
A possible next step of Academic Progression Pathway:Â Â
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| Regulated by | OFQUALÂ
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is a non-ministerial government department that regulates qualifications, exams, and assessments in England. Ofqual ensures that all qualifications offered by recognised awarding organisations meet national standards, so you can trust that any Ofqual-regulated certificate is high quality and widely recognised by employers and universities. RQF The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) is a system used in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales to categorise and regulate qualifications by level and size. The RQF has 9 levels, starting from beginner level to advanced level. The purpose of RQF is to make it easier for learners and employers to understand what each qualification level means.  |
South London College
South London College – Excellence in Education Begins Here
South London College is an established online provider in the United Kingdom. We are dedicated to providing our students with an outstanding educational experience. As a highly regarded platform, we ensure our learners receive life-changing opportunities to achieve their personal and professional goals. Here’s the best opportunity to enrol for the Level 3 Diploma Specialist in Gym Instructing and Personal Training with us.
Awarding Organisation
Focus Awards
Focus Awards is based in the United Kingdom and is regulated by Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation), CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland, and Qualifications Wales. This is an established awarding organisation that specialises in developing and awarding a wide range of nationally recognised qualifications. Their mission is to deliver high-quality and accessible qualifications. Focus Awards was established in 2011 and works with approved training centres to ensure learners receive relevant and modern training and assessment.
Verify this OrganisationCourse Curriculum
Unit 01Â
Principles of health and wellbeing for exercise, fitness and health
- Understand the effects of exercise on the body
- Understand the components of fitness
- Understand how to apply the principles and variables of fitness to an exercise programme
- Understand the exercise contraindications and key safety guidelines for special populations
- Understand how to safely monitor exercise intensity
- Understand the health benefits of physical activity
- Understand the importance of healthy eating
Unit 02Â
Anatomy, physiology and kinesiology for exercise and health
- Understand the structure and function of the circulatory system
- Understand the structure and function of the respiratory system
- Understand the structure and function of the skeleton
- Understand joints in the skeletonÂ
- Understand the muscular and fascial system
- Understand the life-course of the musculoskeletal system and its implications for exercise for special populations
- Understand energy systems and their relation to exercise
- Understand the nervous system and its relation to exercise
- Understand the structure and function of the digestive system
Unit 03Â
Know how to support clients lifestyle management and enhance client motivation for exercise and physical activity
- Understand how to form effective working relationships with clients
- Understand how to address barriers to exercise/physical activity that clients experience
- Understand how to support clients to adhere to exercise/physical activity
- Understand how to provide on-going customer service to clients
- Understand how to maximise the customer experience
- Understand professionalism within the industry
Unit 04Â
Principles of professional practice and health and safety in a fitness environment
- Understand emergency procedures in a fitness environment
- Understand health and safety requirements in a fitness environment
- Understand how to control risks in a fitness environment
- Understand how to safeguard children and vulnerable adults
Unit 05Â
Planning professional practice with effective consultations and assessments for gym-based exercise sessions
- Understand how to collect client information to plan gym-based exercise
- Understand how to use client information to plan gym-based exercise
- Understand how to plan gym- based exercise with clients
- Be able to collect and use client information to plan a gym-based exercise programme
- Be able to plan a safe and effective gym-based exercise programme with clients
- Be able to create plans to enhance business
Unit 06Â
Instructing professional practice and effective exercise supervision in gym- based exercise sessions
- Understand how to provide gym- based exercise
- Be able to prepare self and equipment for gym-based exercise
- Be able to prepare clients for gym-based exercise
- Be able to instruct gym-based exercise
- Be able to supervise clients undertaking gym-based exercise
- Be able to bring a gym-based exercise session to an end
- Be able to reflect on providing gym-based exercise
- Be able to support clients taking part in gym-based exercise
Unit 07Â
Anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology for exercise and health
- Understand the heart and circulatory system and its relation to exercise and health
- Understand the musculoskeletal system and its relation to exercise
- Understand postural and core  stabilityÂ
- Understand the nervous system and its relation to exercise
- Understand the endocrine system and its relation to exercise and health
- Understand energy systems and their relation to exercise
- Understand structure and function of the skeleton
Unit 08Â
Applying nutritional principles to personal training
- Understand the principles of nutrition
- Understand key guidelines in relation to nutrition
- Understand nationally recommended practice in relation to providing nutritional advice
- Understand the relationship between nutrition and physical activity
- Understand how to collect information relating to nutrition
- Understand how to use nutritional information
- Understand the principles of nutritional goal setting with clients
- Be able to collect and analyse nutritional information
- Be able to apply the principles of nutrition to a physical activity programme
Unit 09Â
Planning exercise programme design for personal training clients
- Understand how to prepare personal training programmes
- Understand the importance of long term behaviour change for personal training
- Understand the principles of collecting information to plan a personal training programme
- Understand how to screen clients prior to a personal training programme
- Understand how to identify personal training goals with clients
- Understand how to plan a personal training programme with clients
- Understand how to adapt a personal training programme with clients
- Be able to collect information about clients
- Be able to agree goals with clientsÂ
- Be able to plan a personal training programme with clients
- Be able to manage a personal training programme
- Be able to review progress with clients
- Be able to adapt a personal training programme with clients
- Be able to design and deliver group personal training sessions
Unit 10Â
Delivering exercise programmes for personal training sessions
- Understand how to instruct exercise during personal training sessions
- Understand how to adapt exercise to meet client needs during personal training sessions
- Understand a range of different protocols and tools
- Understand how to review personal training sessions with clients
- Be able to plan and prepare personal training sessions
- Be able to prepare clients for personal training sessions
- Be able to instruct and adapt planned exercises
- Be able to bring exercise sessions to an end
- Be able to reflect on providing personal training sessions
Unit 11Â
Business acumen and the use of information technology for a personal trainer
- Understand the use of information technology to support personal training
- Understand the process of business planning
- Be able to understand the process for business development
- Understand the financial aspects of starting a personal training business
- Be able to develop a marketing strategy for a personal training business
Unit 12Â
Planning circuit sessions
- Understand what a circuit session is
- Understand the different types of circuit sessions used for different types of clients
- Understand methods used to motivate clients in a circuit session
- Understand the safety considerations for a circuit session
Unit 13Â
Delivering circuit sessions
- Prepare to deliver a circuit session
- Deliver a safe and effective circuit session
- Deliver a safe and effective ending to the circuit session
Unit 14Â
Planning Outdoor Fitness
- Understand planning group exercise sessions in the outdoor environment
- Know the health and safety considerations when training outdoors
- Know the set up for conducting group exercise sessions in the outdoor environment
- Know the different types of outdoor training sessions
Unit 15Â
Delivering Outdoor Fitness
- Be able to plan and instruct the different body weight exercises for training outdoors
- Be able to plan and instruct different free weight exercises for training outdoors
- Be able to plan and instruct different resistance band exercises for training outdoors
- Be able to plan and instruct the different Gym stick exercises for training outdoors
- Be able to plan and instruct the different stability ball exercises for training outdoors
- Be able to plan and instruct flexibility training for training outdoors
- Be able to plan and instruct using different uses of the outdoor environment when training outdoors
- Be able to programme and deliver outdoor sessions
- Be able to plan a structured outdoor training session
- Know how to market outdoor training sessions
Unit 16Â
Collecting information for sports conditioning programming
- Know how to collect information f or sports conditioning programming
Unit 17Â
Analysing sporting activities for sports conditioning
- Be able to analyse sporting activities for sports conditioning
Unit 18Â
Planning sports conditioning events and activities
- Be able to analyse sporting activities for sports conditioning
Unit 19Â
Planning exercise referral programmes with patients
- Understand how to prepare for exercise referral programmes
- Understand the importance of long term behaviour change for exercise referral patients
- Understand the principles of collecting information to plan an exercise referral programme
- Understand how to identify health related fitness goals with exercise referral patients
- Understand how to plan an exercise referral programme with patients
- Understand how to adapt an exercise referral programme with patients
- Be able to collect information about exercise referral patients
- Be able to agree goals with exercise referral patients
- Be able to plan an exercise referral programme with exercise referral patients
- Be able to manage an exercise referral programme with patients
- Be able to review progress with exercise referral patients
- Be able to adapt an exercise referral programme with patients
Unit 20Â
Understanding Medical Conditions for Exercise Referral
- Understand the clinical features of medical conditions relevant to exercise referral programmes
- Know the accepted methods for treatment and management of medical conditions relevant to exercise referral programmes
- Understand the relationship between exercise and specified exercise referral medical conditions
- Understand how to programme safe, effective exercise programmes for patients with specified exercise referral medical conditions
Unit 21Â
Professional Practice for Exercise Referral Instructors
- Understand the role and importance of exercise referral and related policies and key documents
- Understand roles and responsibilities within an exercise referral scheme
- Understand the current healthcare systems in the UK
- Understand the exercise referral process
- Understand the principles and procedures of record keeping
- Understand the concept of a patient centred approach
- Understand how to monitor a successful exercise referral scheme
- Understand the principles of risk stratification in exercise referral
Unit 22Â
Instructing exercise with referred patients
- Understand how to instruct exercise to exercise referral patients
- Understand how to adapt exercise to meet the needs of exercise referral patient
- Understand how to review exercise referral sessions with patients
- Be able to prepare resources for the exercise referral sessions
- Be able to prepare patients for exercise referral sessions
- Be able to instruct and adapt planned exercises to exercise referral patients
- Be able to bring exercise referral sessions to an end
- Be able to review exercise referral sessions
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FAQ's
This qualification combines both gym instructing and personal training skills, preparing you for a career in the fitness industry.
It is ideal for those seeking to establish a career in fitness.
South London College offers a high-quality, supportive learning environment with experienced tutors, industry-recognised qualifications, and flexible learning options suited to individual needs.
Yes, South London College provides excellent customer service, offering ongoing support to students throughout their educational journey.
You can work as a gym instructor with Level 2 and with Level 3 you can design tailored personal training programmes and one-on-one sessions with clients.
It is not recommended that you be employed to take this course.
This qualification can lead to a personal trainer, gym instructor, and fitness instructor, to list some job titles.
Yes, this course is available online, allowing you the flexibility to study at your own pace and convenience.
You will be assessed on written assignments and practical demonstrations. For more information on the assessment process, contact our support team.
Yes, this Level 3 personal trainer course is widely recognised by employers and professional bodies alike.
No previous experience is required to enrol for this course.
Yes, this course provides a solid foundation for anyone looking to switch careers.
Yes, this level 3 diploma specialist is regulated by Ofqual, the UK’s official qualifications regulator, meaning it meets national education standards.
Some of the topics covered include principles of health and wellbeing, support for clients’ lifestyle, health and safety in a fitness environment, nutritional principles, use of information technology, and more.
Yes, this course is suitable for beginners as it includes both Level 2 and 3 learning.
Yes, South London College offers its learners an instalment plan. For further information, you can contact our support team.
Yes, this course is assessed on a pass/fail basis.
Visit the South London College official website and register for the Level 3 Diploma Specialist in Gym Instructing and in Personal Training. You will receive your login information to access our learning portal.
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare you with the skills and knowledge to work as a gym instructor and personal trainer.
You can complete this course within 6-9 months.
Good course materials
I received course materials of good quality that were easy to understand. Well-organised course.
Dual training
I decided to take this course with South London College because it offers a two-course combination, both personal training and gym instructing.
Recommended
This course is recommended to those who aspire to work in the fitness industry. It covers everything you need.