What qualifications do I need to be a fitness instructor?

Now’s the time to become a fitness instructor. According to ukactive, there were around 11.5m gym or leisure facility members and a total UK income £5,686m for the fitness industry in 2024. 

However, if you’re looking to join this thriving industry, it can be difficult to know where to begin. If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering what qualifications you need to be a fitness instructor, why you need them, and where you can get qualified. 

We answer your questions below in our simple guide to fitness instructor qualifications.

Table of contents

1. What qualifications do you need to be a fitness instructor?

2. Are there any other qualifications you need to be a fitness instructor?

3. How can you advance your career as a fitness instructor?

What qualifications do you need to be a fitness instructor?  

If you want to work as a fitness instructor in a gym or leisure centre, you’ll need to have taken a Level 2 Gym Instructor course.

This course is the essential stepping stone to advance into personal training. It’s recognised by CIMSPA, ensuring your qualification is widely accepted by employers across the UK fitness industry.

When you take this qualification, you’ll be taught online and in person by tutors with at least two years’ experience in the fitness industry.

You’ll learn the essential knowledge and skills required to instruct and evaluate clients in a gym or health club environment. You’ll also learn how to develop safe, bespoke programmes to suit their needs.

Gyms often enforce a minimum qualification requirement to work there as a fitness instructor. So, your job prospects may be limited if you don’t have this qualification. On top of this, your clients could ask what qualifications you have, and if you don’t have any, they may look elsewhere.

So, getting the Level 2 Gym Instructor course is essential to kickstarting your career as a fitness instructor.

There are no entry requirements for this qualification, but you need to be at least 16 years old to enrol on the course. It’s also recommended that you regularly attend the gym.

Are there any other qualifications you need to be a fitness instructor?

Although there aren’t any other qualifications you’re legally required to hold as a fitness instructor, there are many qualifications that could give you an advantage.

These qualifications must be recognised by a UK governing body – this is a key condition of fitness instructor insurance through Insure4Sport. Ideally, you want a qualification that’s regulated by Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation), the government regulator for vocational and academic qualifications in England.

Ofqual regulates the award of NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) and RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework) qualifications in England. It also sets the criteria that all colleges and training providers need to adhere to in order to meet the requirements of a regulated qualification.

In summary, for a fitness education programme to be classed as a ‘qualification’, it needs to be regulated by Ofqual.

But how do you know if a course is regulated by Ofqual? You can easily check by looking for the logos of one of these awarding bodies on the training provider’s website:

• NCFE
• Active IQ
• Focus Awards
• YMCA Awards

These awarding bodies provide Ofqual-regulated Level 2 (and higher) courses, ensuring your qualification meets professional standards.

When you receive your certificate, it’ll bear the logo of both the awarding body and Ofqual. Think of it as a professional stamp of approval that shows your qualification is recognised and trusted.

How can you advance your career as a fitness instructor?

As we said above, a Level 2 Gym Instructor Course is the minimum qualification required to work as a fitness instructor in a gym or leisure centre. This means you’ll be able to create and instruct fitness classes and routines either on a freelance basis or as an employee.

However, if you want to take your training further and expand your skillset as a fitness instructor, the next step is to get more advanced fitness qualifications. Here are some examples of advanced training courses you could enrol in – all of which are available from Ofqual-regulated awarding bodies:

• Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training
• Level 3 Personal Trainer Course
• Level 4 Personal Training Course

If you enrol at a college to take a Level 3 course, you’ll likely need 4 or 5 GCSEs graded C or above, plus a Level 2 qualification. If you’re interested in qualifying as a PT, here's our guide on how to become a personal trainer.

You now know which qualifications a fitness instructor needs. You should also have a clear idea of the opportunities that await you after qualifying. Good luck!

Specialist fitness instructor insurance through Insure4Sport

Before you go, you may want to consider specialist fitness instructor insurance once you qualify. 

Fitness instructor insurance through Insure4Sport includes up to £10 million of Public Liability, which can financially protect you if one of your clients claims against you for an injury they suffer during one of your sessions.

You can also cover your equipment against loss, theft, and damage, and take out personal accident cover in case you get injured while training. Get an online quote in minutes.