Start Date
- September 2026, Full Time, Day
What You Will Study
The UK fitness industry continues to show strong, resilient growth, with membership reaching 11.5 million and revenues rising to £5.7 billion. The sector is increasingly driven by preventative healthcare, with gyms, PTs and wellness professionals playing a central role in supporting public health, reducing long term illness and boosting national wellbeing.
This makes now a fantastic time to enter the industry, with demand high for well trained instructors and personal trainers who can deliver evidence based, client centred programmes.
Why choose this course and Easton College?
- CIMSPA aligned from start to finish - both qualifications meet CIMSPA professional standards, confirming full industry recognition and ensuring your skills match employer expectations.
- Expert industry lecturers - our lecturers include practising personal trainers, strength coaches, exercise scientists and fitness specialists who bring real world practice into the classroom.
- Outstanding facilities - you will train in Easton’s specialist fitness and performance environments, including a functional fitness gym ideal for learning movement coaching and functional training delivery, a main gym equipped with resistance machines, free weights and cardio stations, studios perfect for teaching, client consultations and practical coaching and a performance lab used for fitness testing, biomechanical analysis and applied exercise science assessments.
These facilities give you a real work place environment, matching YMCA’s requirement for authentic practical assessment settings.
Entry Requirements
- You must be aged 18 or over
- You need to achieve Grade 4 (or equivalent) in English language and maths
- You need to have previously studied a Level 3 qualification or equivalent such as A Levels
- If you are 19+ please check funding eligibility with our Student Finance Team.
How You Will Be Assessed
Assessment follows the YMCA’s client journey model, progressing step by step through practical and theoretical checkpoints.
Examples include:
- Health screening and risk stratification case studies and professional discussion
- Gym inductions, equipment teaching, safety checks and client supervision assessments
- Full client consultation, including health testing and SMART goal setting
- Session planning, delivery and evaluation for both gym based and PT sessions
- Outdoor training planning and delivery (Level 3)
- Development of a 12 week progressive PT programme
- Nutrition case study and analysis (within scope)
- Final showcase presentation and professional discussion on business planning
Assessment is Pass/Refer, matching YMCA Awards requirements. Qualifications are external quality assured by YMCA.
Course Progression
This course, alongside your previous studies, may provide you with the option to consider university routes (check university entry requirements).
You can choose to progress onto our BSc (Hons) Sport, Health and Exercise Science degree at our Easton campus through City College Norwich Higher Education.
Where Your Course Can Take You
This course prepares you for direct entry into gym instructor roles, personal trainer (1:1 and small groups), online coach or hybrid coach, freelance/self employed PT or health club, leisure centre or boutique fitness roles.
You could also progress into specialist qualifications such as Exercise Referral Level 3, Kettlebell Instruction Level 2 or Indoor Cycling or Circuit Training Level 2 specialist awards.
Fees
If you are a UK or home fee status student and aged 18 on the 31st August before the start of your course, tuition fees are free. If you are aged 19 and over fees may be payable.
There will be costs for uniform approximately £100 and trips associated with your course TBC.
Financial support could be available depending on your circumstances.
Please check our Finance pages for fee information and any financial help that may be available.
