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Diploma in Personal Training (Gym Based)

  • Qualification Name: Diploma in Personal Training (Gym-Based Exercise)
  • Prerequisite: none
  • Delivery Type: Blended & Online
  • Duration: 12 Months
  • Outcomes: Personal Trainer

 Programme Overview

This qualification is aimed at learners wishing to become a Personal Trainer, but who do not already hold the pre-requisite of Level 2 Fitness Instructing (Gym-Based Exercise). In addition to the planning and instructing of both Gym Based and Personal Training programmes, learners will cover; Anatomy and physiology (at levels 2 and 3); Health, safety and welfare in a fitness environment; Principles of exercise, fitness and health; How to support clients who take part in exercise and physical activity and the Application of the principles of nutrition within a physical activity programme.

Learners will cover:

Knowledge and understanding relating to the qualification:

  • anatomy and physiology including:
    - the heart and circulatory system
    - the musculoskeletal system
    - postural and core stability
    - the nervous, endocrine and energy systems and their relation to exercise and health
  • how to maintain health, safety and welfare in a variety of fitness environments, including the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults
  • how to programme safe and effective exercise for a range of clients, the health benefits of physical activity and the importance of healthy eating
  • how to communicate with clients effectively, and motivate clients to adhere to an exercise programme
  • how to apply the principles of nutrition to support client goals as part of an exercise and physical activity programme
  • how to design, manage, and adapt a gym based exercise and personal training programme with apparently healthy adults of all ages
  • how to deliver exercise and physical activity as part of a programme for apparently healthy adults of all ages

  • Personal Trainer (Gym) Course Overview +

  • Course Content +

    The YMCA Diploma in Personal Training (Gym-Based) will give you the knowledge and skills you need to plan and instruct gym and personal training sessions for healthy adults of all ages. The course totals xx credits and xxx guided learning hours. You'll have 15 months to complete the course.

    The first half of the course will teach you about the principles of fitness and health, anatomy and physiology for exercise, and how to plan and instruct exercise in a gym in preparation for moving to the second part of the course.

    The second part of the course will build on these key skills and develop your knowledge further, teaching you to create a personal training programme for clients, apply the principles of nutrition to a fitness programme, and deliver personal training sessions.

    In total you'll study 10 units:

     Anatomy and physiology for exercise
     Health, safety and welfare in a fitness environment
     Principles of exercise, fitness and health
     How to support clients who take part in exercise and physical activity
     Planning gym-based exercise
     Instructing gym-based exercise
     Anatomy and physiology for exercise and health
     Applying the principles of nutrition to a physical activity programme
     Programming personal training with clients
     Delivering personal training sessions

    They key topics you'll cover are:

     The heart and circulatory system
     The respiratory system
     The structure and function of the skeleton
     The musculoskeletal system
     Postural and core stability
     The nervous system
     Energy systems and their relation to exercise
     How to maintain health, safety and welfare in a variety of fitness environments
     The health benefits of physical activity and the importance of healthy eating
     How to communicate with and motivate your clients effectively
     How to programme safe and effective exercise for a range of clients
     How to apply the principles of nutrition to support your clients' goals 
     How to design, manage, and adapt a programme for healthy adults of all ages
     How to deliver exercise and physical activity as part of a programme for healthy adults

  • Who is it for? +

    This course is perfect for you if you have no prior qualifications in the fitness industry and want to pursue a career as a personal trainer.

    You can use this qualification to progress to further or higher education within health, fitness and wellness. For more information, see the 'Further Education' section. You should be over 16 and have a reasonable level of fitness and gym experience. Good written and verbal communication skills are recommended. If English is your second language, you’ll need an IELTS 6.5 or ESOL Level 2 (or equivalent).

    If you don’t have this, we’ll review your case on an individual basis. If you have any disabilities which you believe may impact your studies or assessments, please inform your Career Advisor before enrolment so that we can advise you on whether reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate your needs.

  • How does it work? +

     How You'll Learn

    This course is online and fully flexible, so you don't need to attend any workshops, classrooms, or exam centres.

    You'll access all your course materials through the Student Profile, our online learning environment that you can access at any time, from anywhere that has an internet connection.

    Your course materials have been specially designed for distance learning by fitness experts, and you can work through them at your own pace.

     Assessment

    You'll be assessed through multiple choice exams, worksheets, and practical assessments.

    All the written assessments are online, giving you the freedom to sit your exams at a time that suits you, from the comfort of your own home.

    For practical assessments, you'll film yourself delivering gym sessions at your local gym, where you’ll demonstrate what you've learnt by instructing your gym buddy. You’ll then upload these videos to our Student Community to be assessed by your tutor.

    To make life easy, you’ll be able to use our dedicated app to upload the video straight from your phone or tablet. Our Student Community will also provide you with an easy-to-use e-portfolio of all your videos, giving you a useful overview of your progress throughout the course.

     Unlimited Support

    You’ll be assigned an expert academic tutor who'll be with you from enrolment to graduation. Their support is unlimited and you can contact them by phone, email or via the Student Community.

    They’ll answer any questions you have about coursework, study materials, assessments and exams, and help you work through any part of the course you’re stuck with. They’ll also give you test papers and mock exams to ensure you’re ready to pass your exams. All your papers will be marked and given constructive feedback so you know exactly what your strengths are and what you can improve.

    Our dedicated student support team will be on hand to assist you with administrative tasks, using the Student Profile, and any other non-academic queries you may have.

  • Career Path +

    Once you've completed this course, you'll be fully qualified to work as a personal trainer within a gym.

    You could work as a personal trainer or fitness instructor in a variety of locations, including:

     Gyms
     Health clubs
     Leisure centres
     Community centres
     Schools

    However, you don't need to wait until you've completed the full combined course to start working in fitness. After you've completed the first half of the course, you are qualified to work as a gym instructor.

  • Further Education +

    After completing both Levels of this qualification, you could move on to a variety of courses, such as:

     Apprenticeship in Exercise and Fitness
     YMCA Awards Level 3 Award in Business Skills for the Fitness Professional 
     Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral

  • What will I need? +

    To complete this course, you'll need access to the resources below. You'll need to provide evidence of this before you enrol.

    Technology

     A computer or laptop with internet to access, complete and submit coursework
     A webcam and microphone in order to sit online exams
     A tablet, smartphone or camera to video and submit practical assessment
     A printer and scanner to print relevant documents and be able to scan into the system

    Practical Element

     Access to a gym to practice the physical element of course and complete final practical assessment
     Authorisation to film within the gym so you can complete this assessment
     A 'gym buddy' (who can access your gym) to participate in the physical element

    During the first half of the course, you'll also need a mentor to be within the area while you're filming your practical assessments. This can be your ‘gym buddy’, a member of gym staff, or a personal trainer.

  • How will I learn and be assessed? +

    The benefit of completing this course with us is that all of our assessments are completed at a time that suits you, giving you full flexibility. It also means that you don’t have to attempt them until you feel ready, as opposed to us dictating when and where you should undergo assessment.

     Multiple Choice Theory Paper

    We use an E-proctor site that allows you to sit the theory papers under ‘exam conditions’ from the comfort of your own home, at a time that suits you. You will be directed to a designated website to use to sit your multiple choice exam. The whole exam process will be recorded using your webcam. At the beginning of the exam you will go through some security checks, select the appropriate examination paper and record your exam session (using your webcam) within the designated time. Upon completion, you will be given a provisional grade, which will be confirmed once your recorded session has been assessed to ensure that you adhered to the exam guidelines.

     Submission of Workbooks

    You will be required to complete a number of worksheets. The questions are designed to check your competency and understanding of the course content. In order to achieve an overall pass in each worksheet, you will need to provide satisfactory answers to all questions. If your tutor feels you have not demonstrated sufficient knowledge in any section of the worksheet, you will be required to re-submit the work, you can review your material to find out the answers to the questions although the answers do need to be written in your own words.

    Please note: The worksheets will be completed, saved and submitted for assessment online through your Online Profile.

     Case Study

    You will be required to build a client profile. You will need to complete all elements, which will be based on specific information gathered from working with your gym participant. You will then build a programme specific to that person’s needs, carry it out over a period of time, and then evaluate the results. This case study will be completed in your own time and does not require to be completed under ‘exam conditions’.

     Practical Sessions

    You will be required to record yourself delivering practical instruction sessions as specified in the course syllabus. For each practical element, the gym session must take place in one session, but should be split into smaller video clips (to allow for easy upload & assessment). By allowing you to complete the session in this way, it means you can carry out the session at a time that suits you. You can use a mobile phone or tablet to record and upload your recordings (via wifi to avoid data charges).

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