Course
Gym Instructing and Personal Training (Combined)
This course is for anyone who wants to qualify as a personal trainer that doesn’t currently have any qualifications in gym or fitness instructing.
This course is one qualification that combines the units from the Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing and the Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training.
This qualification is accredited by the renowned awarding organisation NCFE. Once qualified, you'll be able to take your certificate to any employer and offer your services with confidence that you've got the competency needed for the job of gym instructor and / or personal trainer.
All our qualifications are recognised by Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
Next Course Dates
- Sheffield - Start Date: 23rd May 2026
- Sheffield - Start Date: 1st Aug 2026
- Sheffield - Start Date: 23rd Sep 2026
- Sheffield - Start Date: 17th Oct 2026
Cost: £1,995.00
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Course Summary
This course gives you the skills and knowledge to deliver one-to-one training, conduct assessments, offer nutritional advice and provide progressive programming to a range of individual clients.
This qualification allows you to register with CIMPSA, where you will be placed on a directory and will be able to access further CPD training.
"Doing this course meant I was able to get my career up and running, confident that I have the knowledge to train people safely"
How You're Taught
In total, the course runs for 15 days (six days for Level 2 and nine days for Level 3). Each day starts at 9am and finishes at 5pm - it is essential that you attend all of the days to achieve the qualification.
Level 2 Gym Instructing
This part of the course runs over six days, usually delivered over three weekends, although we do sometimes offer midweek courses too (typically on Wednesdays and Thursdays for three weeks).
Level 3 Personal Trainer
The practical part of the course runs over nine days, usually delivered over four and a half weekends (not always consecutive). We do sometimes offer midweek courses, again on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Assessments are intergrated throughout the course so that you don't have to complete them all at the end.
Assessment
There are a number of different assessments which we integrate throughout the course - some are theory-based and some are practical. The assessments are all specifically designed to check your knowledge and skills across are range of the courses units.
Here is the list of assessments:
1. Written workbooks
2. Session planning and programming
3. Case studies
4. Observations
An observation assesses the learner’s competence, skills and behaviour through the application of knowledge in a practical setting.
If we don’t observe something that is required, we can ask questions to support the assessment, The focus of the questioning will be on the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are assessed within the observation and in particular on criteria that the learner was unable to demonstrate competence in due to them not occurring naturally.
This assessment is a valid way to assess your knowledge, skills and behaviours in a real-life context, and suitably prepares the learner for the role and demands of a fgym instructor. Observations are either pass or refer against set criteria.
Feedback will be provided both verbally and in written format to support the assessment decision.
Progression
Once you have successfully completed this qualification, you can provide one-to-one training in an unsupervised environment, giving you the opportunity to start your own PT business, delivering training in-person or online. Alternatively, you could apply for Personal Training jobs at any fitness facility.
You may also wish to further your knowledge and skills in other areas, such as: Level 4 Nutrition, Level 3 Exercise Referral, Level 3 Performance Massage, Level 4 Sports Massage, Level 4 Strength and Conditioning and/or Level 3 Teaching Pilates.
You may even wish to complete a more specialist Level 2 qualification, such as: Circuit Training, Group Indoor Cycling, Kettlebell Training, Suspended Movement Training and/or Children's Fitness.
Entry Requirement
You must be 16 years+ to enrol on this qualification. If you are due to turn 16 before the end of the course, please get in touch to check your eligibility.
There are no prerequisite qualification requirements for this course.
Some experience of gym-based exercises, including free weights, is recommended.
The course requires physical exertion and individual participation is important; therefore, a degree of physical fitness is necessary.
There is an element of communication (discussing, presenting, reading and writing) involved and learners should have basic skills in communication at level 2.
Some level of IT Skill is also desired; some assessments are completed online using a device. We can support you with this throughout the course.
Modules
Anatomy and Physiology for Exercise (T/617/4001)
Maximising the Customer Experience in a Gym Environment (A/617/4002)
Supporting Client Health and Well-Being (D/617/4008)
Conducting Client Consultations and Gym Inductions (F/617/4003)
Planning and Reviewing Gym-Based Exercise Programmes (R/617/4006)
Instructing and Supervising Gym-Based Exercise Programmes (Y/617/4007)
Applied Anatomy and Physiology for Activity, Health and Fitness (D/617/1707)
Client Motivation and Lifestyle Management (H/617/1708)
Programming Personal Training Sessions (K/617/1709)
Delivering Personal Training Sessions (D/617/1710)
Nutrition to Support a Physical Activity Programme (H/617/1711)
Business Acumen for Personal Trainers (K/617/1712)
We use a blending teaching approach in an inclusive and supportive learning environment; we often cover multiple units in each session. The knowledge and skills learned will provide you with a holistic and rounded skillset, which will enable you to support clients to meet their training and lifestyle goals.
Fees & Funding
The fee for this course is £1995.00
A £100 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place.
You can pay for this course yourself (self-funded) either in full or over a maximum of 6 interest-free monthly instalments (using an Envisage Payment Plan).
If you aged 19 or above, you may be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan. More information about this is available in the "Payment and Funding" section of the website.
If somebody else is paying for the course on your behalf (e.g. your employer or another organisation), please select "Invoice" at the payment section of your booking and we will be in touch for more information about this.
How to Apply
Click the "Book Now" button on this screen.
You'll be taken to a booking details page where you will need to provide your personal information and choose your preferred payment method.
Payment methods include:
- Pay for your course
- £100.00 deposit, then pay the remainder before you start
- Or pay in full now
- Envisage Payment Plan
- Arrange a payment plan with us so that you can spread the payments over a maximum of 6 monthly instalments.
- 19+ Advanced Learner Loan
- You'll not be charged anything at this stage and a member of our team will contact you to arrange a loan sign-up.
- Invoice
- Is your employer or another organisation paying for the course for you? If so, choose "Invoice" and you'll not be charged anything up front, we'll then contact you for further details.
If you have any questions about booking a course with us, please get in touch.
FAQs
It is in your best interest to attend as much of your course as you can. However, if you do need to miss a day or two, don't worry, we will help you to catch-up. We will send you the work that you miss over email or you may even be able to pop in to our office so that we can go through the missing bits with you. All that we ask is that you notify us of your absence as soon as you can so that support can be put in place. If you miss a large chunk of your course, we may transfer you onto a later course so that you are able to attend as many days as possible.
Each day starts at 9am and finishes at 5pm at the latest. Sometimes you may finish a little earlier, but you will bever leave before 4pm as there is so much content to get through. Please arrive for 8.45am each day so that we can start on time.
Yes - this course is available on the Advanced Learner Loan scheme. When you get to the payment section of your booking, select "Advanced Learner Loan" and you will not be charged. A member of our team will then contact you to discuss the next steps. For more information about this payment method, click on the "Payment and Funding" tab and then "19+ Advanced Learner Loans".
- Wear clothing and footwear suitable for exercise
- Notepad and pen
- Food and drink (microwave and refrigeration facilities are available)
- Electronic device (phone, tablet or laptop) as some assessments are online
Yes, designated lunch breaks are provided. We advise that you bring lunch with you to save you having to leave the venue during your lunch break. Microwave and refrigeration facilities are available.
Click on the "Book Now" button above and all of the course dates will come up for you to view. Don't worry, you will not be booked onto the course at this stage.
It is recommended (but not a requirememnt) that you complete the Online Anatomy & Physiology Workbook BEFORE you start your course. Instructions to access and complete this task will be emailed to you upon booking this course.
No - this is the entry level qualification that you need to work in the fitness industry. Once you have this qualification, you can then progress to a range of other fitness qualifications.
Most tasks are completed on-course, however, we do set home-study tasks on all of our courses. These typically take 2-3 hours per week.
This is currently a 14 day course (9am - 5pm each day), 5 days for Level 2 Gym Instructing and 9 days for Level 3 Personal Training, but will change to a 15 day course as of 01/08/2026, 6 days for Level 2 Gym Instructing and 9 days for Level 3 Personal Training.
We provide learner support on all our courses, including access to our learning portal, tutor guidance and study help (email, phone or in-person) to ensure you succeed in your qualification.
Yes — you may transfer your place to a future course (under certain conditions). Please contact us in advance to discuss your situation.
The £100 deposit is non-refundable, but in many cases it can be transferred to a future course date if you notify us in advance (specific terms apply).
Simply go to the course page you’re interested in, click “Book Now”, fill in your details, choose your payment method and pay the deposit (or full fee). We’ll then confirm your booking and send further info about the course date, venue and pre-study work.
Call us on 0114 223 5650 or email info@envisagetraininf.co.uk. Our office address is: English Institute of Sport, Coleridge Road, Sheffield, S9 5DA.
Yes, parking is available and free of charge. If the carpark is full, you can park across the road at Ice Sheffield - again, free of charge.