Fitness instructor
Also called Gym instructor, group training instructor.
Fitness instructors organise exercise programmes to improve people's health and fitness.
- Potential salary
- £21,000 starter to £27,000 experienced per year
- Typical hours
- 35 to 37. Working pattern: evenings / weekends as customers demand.
- Career area
- Hospitality, sport and fitness
- Where they might work
- You could work in the community, at a school, at a health centre or in a park. Your working environment may be physically demanding.
- A typical task
- assess people's fitness and create personal exercise programmes
- Subjects that may help
- No subjects listed.
- Typical route
- No university route listed.
- Interest area used here
- Helping and teaching
What you might do
- assess people's fitness and create personal exercise programmes
- demonstrate activities, exercise machines and weights
- help people exercise safely and give advice on having a healthy lifestyle
- lead group exercise classes
- update client records
- follow health and safety guidelines and maintain equipment
Could this suit me?
Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.
- a desire to help people
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to teach and motivate people
- customer service skills
- physical fitness and endurance
- physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
More skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- sensitivity and understanding
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Routes into this career
University courses that could lead to this career
These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.
- Physiotherapy
Related, but not enough on its own. Fitness instruction does not require this degree.
- Sport and exercise science
Alternative route. A degree is not required. Industry fitness qualifications are the common route.
- Sports Coaching
Alternative route. Fitness instruction usually has its own certificates.
- Sports Therapy
Alternative route. Exercise knowledge can transfer. Fitness certificates are separate.
Apprenticeship or vocational route
- You can do a recognised qualification in gym instructing or fitness instructing.
- You could do a Leisure Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, or a Community Activator Coach Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, to give you some of the skills needed for this role.
- You could work as a leisure centre assistant and do part-time fitness qualifications on the job, which would allow you to apply for jobs as an instructor.
Other routes
- You can do qualifications through private training companies who offer specialist courses like: fitness instruction; group based training; gym instructing.
- You could train in a similar role as a physical training instructor in the armed forces.
- You can find out more from the: Royal Air Force; Royal Navy; Army.
Career progression
- You could: take further training to become a personal trainer; take a course so you can teach extra activities; become a senior instructor or manager; start your own fitness club.
Registration and requirements
have insurance
have a first aid certificate
pass enhanced background checks
Subjects that may help
No subjects listed.
No school subjects or grades listed.