Take the next step in your fitness career and qualify to work one-to-one with clients as a personal trainer, building a business on your own terms.
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This course builds on your foundational fitness knowledge and prepares you for work as a qualified Personal Trainer. It combines theory, practical coaching and client-focused planning to give you the skills and confidence to work independently or in gym settings. You’ll learn in a professional environment with expert tutors and outstanding facilities.
You’ll deepen your understanding of anatomy, physiology and nutrition, while learning how to assess client needs, set achievable goals and design progressive training plans. The course also covers client communication, behaviour change, and how to build and manage a successful PT business.
After completing this course, you’ll be fully qualified to work as a Personal Trainer in gyms, studios, or freelance. It also opens doors to specialisation in areas like Pre/Post Natal, Strength & Conditioning, or Exercise Referral.
Delivered part-time, this course blends face-to-face practical workshops, guided learning, and independent study. You’ll complete a mix of written coursework, practical assessments and client-based programming tasks, all supported by experienced tutors.
This Level 3 Diploma builds directly on your gym or fitness instructing qualification, developing the deeper knowledge and practical skills needed to design and deliver one-to-one personal training programmes.
Competence Development Academy holds an exclusive training partnership with Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club, and your practical sessions take place in the performance gym at Robin Park Leisure Centre - the same space used by Wigan Warriors players. Training in a genuine elite-level environment gives you a level of confidence and professionalism that's hard to replicate elsewhere. Our tutors are working personal trainers with real industry experience, so what they teach you is grounded in what actually happens in the job.
The Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training is a commercial course and is not eligible for government funding, so it's available on a self-funded basis. The standard course fee is £1,250, but if you pay in full you'll save £75, bringing the cost down to £1,175. We know that paying everything upfront isn't always practical though - so we offer three ways to spread the cost. Have a look through the options below and choose whichever works best for your circumstances.
Personal trainers typically charge £30-£50 per session - many graduates recover the full course fee within their first month of paid client work, and go on to build a stable, repeat client base.