YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner)

Course information

This qualification is specifically for learners holding a Level 2 qualification in Gym Instruction or equivalent who are aspiring to progress to an exciting and highly rewarding career as a professional Personal Trainer on an employed or self-employed basis. This qualification is mapped directly to The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) professional standards for a Personal Trainer and is your next step to a career as a Personal Trainer in less than five months!

This course combines elements of both practical and theoretical learning where you will have the opportunity to apply the theory of personal training in our on-campus sports hall, fully equipped gym and elements of outdoor personal training on one of our many green outdoor areas or 3G pitch.

Our industry-experienced lecturers are all fully qualified and practicing professionals themselves and will guide you every step of the way, enabling you to progress towards a career as a Personal Trainer. You’ll be learning everything industry requires from designing bespoke personal fitness programmes, experiencing the latest training methods and how to effectively implement them with clients as well as developing your own communication skills. In addition, you will be carrying out personal fitness assessments as well as learning the tools required to provide nutritional advice and how to support a client’s physical activity programme. In essence, you’ll be developing all of the essential skills you need to start your journey towards a career as a Personal Trainer.

This diploma is all about you growing as a Personal Trainer by effectively knowing how the body works, to successfully planning and delivering your very own Personal Training sessions. Our highly-skilled and motivated staff have a wealth of knowledge and experience and are here to give you the very best start to your career.

What You Will Learn

This two-term course provides you with the underpinning knowledge and understanding to progress on to employment in Personal Training, continue with your studies or progress to Higher Education.

The Diploma in Personal Training is a vocational course combining the theory of such modules as anatomy & physiology and nutrition with more practical learning when designing and executing effective Personal Training sessions for a range of clients in different environments.

Entry Requirements

The learner should hold the Level 2 Certificate in Gym instructing or equivalent. The qualification is aimed at learners aged 16 and over.

Work Experience

We have excellent links with local employers, providing amazing work experience and volunteering opportunities in the Evolve Gym at Cornwall College. Learners are able to enter the AoC WorldSkills UK Fitness Trainer Competition, which challenges aspiring fitness professionals’ skills on industry-driven criteria – developed by a team of professional technical experts, and allowing you to demonstrate that you may have more to give prospective employers and clients than just your qualification. Our learners have demonstrated that they are second to none by winning the highly acclaimed gold medal in the AoC WorldSkills UK Fitness Trainer Competition.

Assessment

The YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner) is assessed through internal and external assessment.

You will be provided with a Learner Assessment Record which will document your progress through an assessment workbook, multiple choice theory papers (externally set), formative and summative practical observation and a portfolio of evidence.

Progression

Many of our students have gone on to employment further afield for David Lloyd premier clubs, Steiner Cruise ships, Champneys and Warner Holidays. This course will allow you to progress to more advanced courses such as our higher education provision (FdSc Sport, Health & Fitness) or to specialise in Exercise Referral, working with clients with specific controlled medical conditions.

Alternatively you may progress on to any of the YMCA Awards Level 4 Certificates such as: Programming Physical Activity for Individuals with Low Back Pain; Sports Massage Therapy; Weight Management for Individuals with Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus and/or Metabolic Syndrome.

Cornwall College St Austell

Cornwall College St Austell

Set at the top of St Austell, with incredible views over the bay, our campus boasts ground-breaking facilities and exceptional student spaces. The Keay Theatre area plays host to our famous Altitude Dance Academy and performing arts, while our award-winning student restaurant Cloisters is recognised as one of the best in the country. Brand new electric vehicle training labs set within our modern construction and engineering buildings showcase just some of the incredible opportunities for people in St Austell and beyond.

Read more on the exciting developments at St Austell & Camborne

Find out more about our St Austell campus

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