The Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training trains learners to a professionally competent level, enabling them to prescribe, plan and deliver safe but effective exercise programmes, and to develop their skills and knowledge to allow the learner to pursue a career in personal training. During the qualification learners will cover:

· Anatomy and physiology, functional kinesiology and concepts and components of fitness.

· Nutrition for exercise, health and fitness.

· Lifestyle and medical factors that affect wellbeing.

· Analysis of client information using the most accepted techniques.

· Assessment of a client’s current health and fitness status.

· Planning and conducting of physical activity sessions, within a variety of environments using multiple resources.

· Client consultations using the most accepted methods and providing strategies for successful behaviour change.

· Communication skills to effectively build successful relationships with their clients and other health care professionals.

· Legal and professional requirements for personal training.

· How to set up and manage a personal training business on a self-employed basis if they wish to.

· How to manage, evaluate and improve own performance.

Some experience of gym-based exercises, including free weights, is highly recommended.

The course requires physical exertion and individual participation is essential; therefore, a degree of physical fitness is necessary.

There is also an element of communication (discussing, presenting, reading and writing) involved and learners should have basic skills in communication pitched at level 2.