How Long Does It Take To Become A Personal Trainer? (2024)

How Long Does It Take To Get Qualified as a Personal Trainer?

To work as a PT in the UK, you will need the following qualifications:

• Level 2 Gym Instructor, and
• Level 3 Personal Trainer

If you already have a Level 2 qualification, you can go straight onto the Level 3 course, and qualify as a PT quicker than somebody starting from scratch!

If you don’t have any fitness qualifications, the quickest (and cheapest) way to complete both theLevel 2 and 3 courses is by studying aPersonal Training Diploma.

Check out our guide to becoming a personal trainer hereor keep reading to learn exactly how long it takes to get qualified!

How Long Do You Have To Study To Become A Personal Trainer: Study Methods Explained

One of the main factors that determines how long it takes to become a personal trainer is the type of study method you choose.

As we have said, a Personal Training Diploma can take as little as 4 weeks. But this figure can be longer or shorter depending on your study method:

How Long To Become A Personal Trainer With A Full-Time Course?

Full-time simply means that you attend the course in one of our physical course locations, 9-5, Monday to Friday.

This is the quickest option to become certified as a personal trainer!

The average completion time for our full-time Level 3 personal training course is 2 weeks, and 4 weeks for our full-time Personal Training Diploma.

You’ll also benefit from face-to-face learning with tutors, so your questions may be answered quicker than online.

However, you will have to set aside a chunk of time to attend a full-time course, making it the least flexible option if you have other commitments.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Personal Trainer With An Online Course?

An online course means that you complete all of the course online, without any in-person workshops or classroom learning.

The average time to complete our online Level 3 personal training course is 8 weeks, or 16 weeks for our online Personal Training Diploma.

This is the most flexible option, as you can learn completely at your own pace. You could therefore complete the course quicker than the average times above!

Plus, you will still have access to our tutor support team 7 days a week for any questions you have during the course.

However, if you struggle with self-motivation, you may prefer the structure of a full-time course.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Personal Trainer With A Part-Time Course?

A part-time course involves a combination of practical in-person workshops and online learning modules.

The average completion time for our part-time Level 3 personal trainer course is 6 weeks, and 12 weeks for our part-time Personal Training Diploma.

Part-time courses provide the best of both worlds, combining the benefits of face-to-face learning with the flexibility of online study at your own pace.

How Long Does It Take To Become Certified As A Personal Trainer? Other Factors To Consider

The study method is not the only factor to consider when wondering ‘how long does it take to become a qualified personal trainer?’

There are lots of personal factors and circ*mstances that will vary from each individual person, which we will explore in detail below!

#1- Whether You Do The Work

It may sound obvious, but the more time and effort you are willing to put into the course, the quicker you will complete it!

This is particularly true for the online and part-time study options where there is a large element of independent study.

But you’re never completely alone! Here at OriGym, we have a team of expert tutors on hand to help you with any questions you have on the course.

#2- How Much Free Time You Have

Another factor to consider when wondering how long to become a personal trainer is how much free time you have.

If you have the time to set aside for a full-time course, you will be able to complete the course quickly.

Whereas if you take a part-time or online course, you may take longer if you don’t have the free time to commit to self-study.

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#3- Your Level Of Self-Discipline

Another major factor that will impact the answer to ‘how long does it take to become certified as a personal trainer?’ is how much self-discipline you have.

Again, this is particularly important if you are studying online or part-time, as you will need to be very self-motivated, not procrastinate or get distracted by other things!

The more self-discipline and determination you have, the quicker you will complete the course.

#4- Your Existing Knowledge

Your existing knowledge of health and fitness is an important thing to consider when asking ‘how long do you have to study to become a personal trainer?’

For example, if you have a degree or even an A-Level in a related topic such as Sports Science, you will already have a strong foundation of knowledge to start your course from.

You will therefore already be familiar with a lot of the course content, so you’ll likely complete it more quickly than someone completely new to the subject.

#5- How You Use The Resources

A good course provider such as OriGym will provide students with a range of high quality learning resources to help you complete the course.

However, it is up to you whether you take advantage of them!

You will therefore complete the course quicker if you go to the practical workshops, use the E-learning platform and speak to your tutors for help and advice.

#6- Whether You Pass First Time

With a 98% average pass rate on our Level 3 personal training course, the chances of you passing first time are pretty high.

However, not everything goes to plan and passing first time is not guaranteed!

If you have to retake your assessment, then you will need to account for the time to re-book your assessment according to availability. This will naturally mean it takes longer for you to qualify.

#7- The Course Provider You Choose

Finally, when wondering ‘how long does it take to become a personal trainer?’, your course provider is an important factor to consider.

The main thing to look out for is that the course is endorsed by CIMSPA and regulated by Ofqual.

This ensures that your course is recognised by employers, making it easier and quicker for you to find your first PT job!

Check out our guide to what is CIMSPA for more information on why this is so important.

Choosing The Right Course Provider Impacts How Long It Takes To Become A Personal Trainer

As we have said, choosing a reputable and accredited course provider can really change the answer to ‘how long does it take to become a personal trainer in the UK?’

We have a whole guide comparing the best personal training courses in the UK.

But here are some of the key factors you should consider if you want to become a personal trainer quickly!

#1- How Many Times You Can Resit Exams

As we have said, you may not always pass your assessment the first time.

Some course providers will have a limited number of resit opportunities, and even charge for every resit.

Many also have limited availability for assessment dates, so you may have to wait a while before you can resit.

However, here at OriGym, we offer unlimited free resits to students and always have a wide range of assessment dates and locations available, meaning that you can qualify faster!

#2- The Resources Available

If you’re wondering how long do you have to study to become a personal trainer, high-quality learning resources and support makes a huge difference!

For example, look for a course provider that offers a consistent amount of tutor support, and when this is available.

At OriGym, our tutor support is available 7 days a week, during working hours, evenings and weekends, via phone, email or chatbox.

This means that you can get help wherever and however you need it, speeding up the process of completing the course!

#3- Turnaround Time For Assessments

Another thing that can impact how long does it take to become a qualified personal trainer is how quickly tutors mark your work.

No matter how quickly you complete your coursework, if tutors are slow in giving you feedback and results, it will delay the time it takes you to qualify.

When you’re enquiring for a course, you should therefore ask about the turnaround time for coursework feedback.

#4- How Long You Have to Complete The Work

How long you have to complete the course is another thing to enquire about when choosing a course provider.

This is especially important if you’re planning on taking an online or part-time course alongside existing family or work commitments.

At OriGym, we give our students 2 years to complete the course. So even if you want to qualify fast, you have the flexibility if other things get in the way!

#5- Post-Course Support

If you’re asking ‘how long does it take to become a personal trainer?’, the support you get after the course is another crucial factor.

A legitimate course provider will ensure you know what to do with your personal training qualification, following graduation. This is achieved through offering career support that helps you land a job in a time-efficient manner.

For example, here at OriGym, our post-course support services include:

• CV analysis and distribution
• Mock job interviews
• Free business and marketing tips
• A guaranteed interview with our many partner gyms across the UK

These services have helped 92% of our students quickly land job roles following the completion of their Personal Training qualification.

Kickstart Your Personal Training Career With OriGym

We hope you now have a clear answer to the question, ‘how long does it take to become a personal trainer in the UK?’Kickstart your PT career with OriGym’s industry-leading personal training courses.

Remember, OriGym is the best course provider for getting you qualified fast- without sacrificing high-quality training!Enquire today, or download our free course prospectus for more information.