Not all fitness education providers are created equal. Follow these tips to get the one that’s right for you.
There’s no shortage of fitness education providers on the market. With the UK’s health and wellness industry worth a staggering £12 billion, more people than ever are thinking of obtaining qualifications that allow them to work as personal trainers, and the market is more than willing to provide education providers that allow that dream to become a reality.
For people looking for information on how to become a personal trainer, the issue isn’t finding a fitness education provider. The issue is finding the right one. As with all things, not all fitness education providers are created equal. In this post, we’ll outline some easy-to-follow tips for ensuring you work with the one that’s right for you.
Why It’s Important to Choose the Correct Fitness Education Provider
At first glance, all fitness education providers can appear to be more or less the same. But that’s not the case. Some are worthy of your time and money, and others aren’t.
The reason it’s worthwhile seeking out the right one is that your decision will have a direct impact on your future success as a personal trainer. Working with an education provider is about much more than just obtaining a piece of paper that allows you to work in the fitness industry. It should also give you the tools and educational platform that allows you to offer real value to your clients. And that’s the only way you can build up a solid client base and develop a successful business.
Key Considerations When Choosing Your Fitness Education Provider
As we said, there’s a sea of options in the fitness education provider market. Finding the one that’s right for you is a process, but a worthwhile one — after all, it’s your future that you’re investing in. While there’s no way to guarantee that you’ll end up with the perfect selection, there are certain things you can do that’ll increase your chances.
Keep the below considerations in mind when looking at your options, and you’ll be on the path towards making the right decision.
Do they Have Experience?
The recent surge in the popularity of fitness education has led to an influx of new providers. Yet, while a provider’s lack of experience doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re not worthy of your time, effort, and money, it should raise some eyebrows. There just won’t be enough information to determine whether they’re a brilliant new upstart in the industry, or if they’re just trying to take advantage of market conditions.
Experience counts for a lot in most industries, and that’s especially true in the fitness industry, when safety, knowledge, and effective teaching are paramount. If the company has decades of experience under its belt, then you can have confidence that you’re in safe hands.
What Type of Learning Do They Provide?
There’s more than one way to get your fitness coach qualifications. Some people prefer to have an intense, immersive learning experience. Others, such as people who are studying for their qualifications while also working full time, like to take things a little more slowly. A good fitness education provider should provide a variety of learning methods, including full-time, part-time, and online study.
If you’re looking for in-person full-time or part-time study, then location proximity will be a factor. The more successful fitness education providers have locations all over the UK, which helps to keep travel time to a minimum.
Do They Offer More Than Fitness Education?
You’ll be signing up for a course with a fitness education provider primarily to get the skills you need to offer your services to the public. But the best providers go beyond that. As well as providing the education you need to excel in your chosen area, they’ll also provide students with the business skills they need to be successful in the competitive health and wellness market. Some companies even arrange job interviews. While this type of support may not be the primary consideration when selecting a fitness education provider, knowing that you’ll receive solid and practical career advice and guidance can make your decision process much more straightforward.
The Experience of Other Graduates
Unless you’re selecting a brand new fitness education provider, which we don’t recommend, then you can use the experience of previous students as a way to help narrow down your choices and make a decision.
If previous graduates make repeated complaints about the course or the company, then steer clear; your experience may not be like that, but when there are so many fitness education providers that have five-star feedback from students, why take the chance? In addition to reading about ex-students’ experience of the course itself, read up on what they did after they received their qualification. Did they find satisfying, fulfilling work in their chosen field?
What’s the Examination Process Like?
At the end of the course, you should walk away with a qualification that allows you to work in your chosen field. The process of getting that qualification varies from provider to provider, so it’s important to check what it involves ahead of time. For example, do they get you ready for your exam by providing mock tests? Do they allow students to resit examinations if they fail?
Ask Questions and Make Sure You Feel Comfortable
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions directly to the fitness education provider. You’re making a considerable investment in your future career, so if there’s anything you want to know before you agree to sign up, then do so. A good fitness education provider will be happy to answer any questions that you may have, and should also make you feel welcome and comfortable from the very beginning.
Final Thoughts
Deciding to become a personal trainer, sports massage therapist, or sports nutritionist is exciting, but it’s only the first step. To be successful, you’ll need to have solid, recognised qualifications under your belt. Take the tips that we’ve outlined above onboard, and you’ll be on your way towards working with a fitness education provider that will play a key role in making your career dreams come true.
