- CIMSPA Accredited
- 0% Interest Free Payment Plans
- Guaranteed Post Course Interviews
- Qualified Tutors & Assessors
Become a Gym Instructor (Level 3)
Start a new and exciting career as a fitness instructor
The gym instructor qualification is also known as a certificate in fitness instructing is the entry-level qualification to beginning a lucrative career in the fitness sector and is the necessary certification prior to becoming a personal trainer.
You will qualify with all the fundamental and advanced skills and knowledge in anatomy and physiology, principles of training and delivering effective workout programmes tailored to your client’s goals and needs.
OriGym's gym instructing course is accredited by Focus Awards and is internationally recognised, thus it can be taken anywhere across the globe. Additionally, as with all OriGym's fitness qualifications, the level 3 gym instructor course is recognised by REPs (UK) and CIMSPA.
Learn the way that suits your lifestyle and personal preferences by studying for a personal training course online, part-time or on a full basis and become fully qualified in as little as two weeks!
As soon as you have qualified, you will be able to apply for careers as a fitness instructor in a gym, health club and Leisure Centres. With OriGym's extensive partnerships in Ireland and the UK, we will do the heavy lifting for you.
Enquire to find out more on the Level 3 Fitness Instructor certification by reaching out using the enquiry form or downloading our latest prospectus.
None
Part Time, Online
6 Weeks (Part Time)
10 Weeks (Online - Average)
REPs (UK), CIMSPA
Make an enquiry about this course
Available Packages
Gold Personal Trainer Course Package
- Level 3 Certificate in Fitness Instructing
- Level 4 Diploma in Personal Training
- From:
- €1,549.00
- €2,554.00
- Suspension Training CPD
- Kettlebells CPD
- Boxing & Pad Work CPD
- Circuits CPD
- Group Training CPD
- Strength & Conditioning CPD
- From:
- €1,549.00
- €2,554.00
Master Personal Trainer & Nutrition Specialist
- Level 3 Certificate in Fitness Instructing
- Level 4 Diploma in Personal Training
- Level 4 Diploma in Exercise Referral
- Level 5 Nutrition in Weight Management & Athletic Performance
- From:
- €2,399.00
- €3,996.00
- Business & Marketing CPD
- Medicine Ball Training CPD
- Hydration for Sport CPD
- Body Weight Training CPD
- Advanced Training Systems CPD
- Advanced Periodisation Training CPD
- From:
- €2,399.00
- €3,996.00
The importance of health and fitness in Ireland and across the world has grown rapidly year on year for the past 3 decades and according to the Europe Active, over 500,000 people are members at 710 health and fitness clubs in Ireland, which is equivalent to 10.5% of the total population. This in turn has created a huge need for quality gym instructors to fill vacancies and generated opportunities to start a prosperous career as a freelance fitness professional.
Becoming a gym instructor is fun, rewarding and allows you to engage with people from different backgrounds, helping them strive towards their own personal fitness goals. Gym members need guidance, expertise and motivation from educated and passionate fitness instructors to help them down their own personal fitness journey.
Who is the fitness instructor course for?
If you have an interest in sport, fitness or want to share your own fitness knowledge with others, completing the gym instructing qualification could be a great career move for you. There are no pre-requisites required to embark on your own journey into the fitness industry.
The role covers a broad range of responsibilities, ranging from conducting health assessments and gym inductions through to delivering personalised fitness programmes and classes. Make a great living from a career you truly care about and see how much you can earn by reviewing OriGym's fitness career salary guide.
The Qualification
OriGym has qualified over 30,000 fitness professionals across the UK and Ireland and our Level 3 Gym Instructor course has been specifically designed to meet and surpass both government guidelines and external accreditations to help you understand and implement skills to becoming an expert trainer. You will be able to work in any fitness environment with confidence that you will be able to plan and deliver engaging workouts to a high standard.
OriGym's fitness instructor course is for those with a desire to work in gyms, fitness centres and health clubs and is the mandatory stepping stone to progressing your career into personal training. The fitness instructor qualification is the required certificate to enable you to work within these establishments and is the first step to starting a new and exciting career in the fitness sector.
The gym instructor course has been written and developed by a team of leading fitness experts and qualified teachers to meet the requirements of a modern day instructor. This qualification is Internationally applicable, accredited by Focus Awards and recognised by CIMSPA (Chartered Institute of Management of Sport and Physical Activity), so you know you're in safe hands with your training.
Course Information
Study Methods: Full-Time (Classroom Learning), Part-Time (Online & Practical Workshops) or Online Only (eLearning Platform) course.
Course Length:
- Full-time Classroom Learning - 2 weeks
- Part-Time and Online Learning - You get up to 2 years to complete the gym instructor course, but the national average is 8 weeks.
Entry Requirements: You must be a minimum of 16 years old to enrol onto the fitness instructor course. Outside of that, you do not need to hold any other qualifications to start your gym instructor course.
Cost: From €699
What You’ll Qualify With
The Level 3 fitness instructor certificate is regulated by Ofqual, accredited by Focus Awards and recognised by REPs (UK) and CIMSPA. On successful completion of this course, you will qualify with:
- Entry to the REPs(UK) register.
- 10 CIMSPA points
- Focus Awards Level 3 Certificate in Fitness Instructing
Payment Options
Spread the cost with flexible and manageable payments on a 0% interest basis up to 12 months.
Find out more by downloading our latest prospectus here.
What You’ll Learn
To be an effective gym instructor, you’ll need to know more than which machines are best for which muscle groups. To help gym members with confidence, you’ll need expertise across a variety of topics covering anatomy, training, and psychology.
OriGym’s Level 3 Gym Instructor qualification is designed to help you develop the exact knowledge you’ll need to succeed, covering topics including:
Motivating Groups and Individuals
It’s very easy for individuals new to fitness to lost confidence and motivation, and even experienced exercise fanatics can feel like they’ve hit a wall sometimes. You will learn all about how to train clients in a way that keeps them both engaged by the content of your training and motivated to keep pushing themselves to new heights.
Tailoring Training Sessions
Everybody is different, and goals can vary widely from client to client. This course will train you in successfully tailoring your training programs to each individual, assuring their experience is as fun and rewarding as possible.
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Understanding how the body works is fundamental to successful training. This course will provide you with the necessary knowledge to keep your training plans safe and effective, covering the heart and circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems.
Training Structure
This course will make sure your training structure is well planned with practical scenarios and workouts, thereby ensuring your clients meet their goals in a safe, structured and enjoyable manner.
Principles of Exercise and Fitness
You’ll develop an in-depth understanding of the principles of exercise, including effective warm-up/cool-down exercises, cardiovascular activities, bodyweight and free-weight movements, and resistance training concepts, how to instruct them, and how they all fit into an effective, varied training plan.
Health, Safety and Welfare
Safety is paramount in fitness environments, as such you’ll learn how to identify and control risk factors, how to appropriately safeguard children and vulnerable adults, and emergency procedures in a gym or fitness environment.
Learning the Business
How does a successful fitness instructor market themselves? How do they maximise business opportunities? This course will help you develop a great understanding of advertising, marketing and promotion, which is fundamental for a successful career within the fitness sector.
How You’ll Be Assessed
To complete your health and fitness course and qualify as a gym instructor, you will need to pass a series of assessments, both theory and practical. These assessments vary slightly on how they are delivered and what is required to pass depending on the learning method you decide to pursue:
Online & Part-Time Personal Trainer Course Assessments
With the online or part-time gym instructing course you will have to complete two online theory assessments and the online coursework modules. Finally, you will book your practical assessment at one of OriGym's 3 assessment centres in Ireland where you will deliver your gym instructing programme using another student as your model:
- Multiple choice open-book online exam on anatomy and physiology - 90% pass required
- Multiple choice open-book online paper on principles of exercise and health - 90% pass required
- Practical Assessment on delivering a gym-based induction – Pass required
OriGym prides itself on offering the best possible support for our students, which is why we open 7 days per week to online and part-time students so we're here to support you when you're learning.
Full-Time Course Assessments
Full-time students will complete all examinations on-site and face-to-face:
- Multiple choice open-book online exam on anatomy and physiology- 70% pass required
- Multiple choice open-book online paper on principles of exercise and health - 70% pass required
- Practical Assessment on delivering a gym-based induction – Pass required
All full-time students will receive help and assessment guidance from multiple tutors, who are all certified teachers, assessors and fitness instructors in their own right to make the assessments as stress as possible.
Study Options
At OriGym we do not believe in one fixed way that you should undertake a gym instructing course. We are all individuals, we have different commitments outside of the course and learn in different ways, thus we have created three study methods for you to pick from so you can find the ideal learning style for your requirements:
Online Gym Instructor Course
Utilising our innovative, award-nominated online learning platform, you can choose to learn the fitness instructing certification online in the comfort of your home or on your commute to work. This learning method is ideal if you have a lot of commitments outside of the course or are not situated near a training venue.
With the online fitness instructing course you can start learning the same day you enrol and start working through the online interactive modules immediately or in a timeframe that suits you. You will use the interactive platform, which has videos, interactive graphics, e-learning, eBooks, quizzes and assignments that have been custom-built to facilitates your learning.
You will be required to complete 20 hours of practical shadowing with an EREPS certified instructor, which you will upload your evidence of completion to the e-learning platform. To fully complete your certificate in gym instructing you will also attend your final practical assessment at one of 3 National assessment centres in either Dublin, Cork or Limerick, which is booked via the e-learning platform.
You will get 7 days per week support from our dedicated e-tutor team, who you can contact either by phone or email who are all qualified personal trainers, teachers and assessors.
Part-Time Fitness Instructor Course
The part-time gym instructor course is probably our most popular learning option as it beautifully combines online learning with practical based workshops.
These practical based workshops run every week on weekends out of our three National assessment centres in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. All workshops are delivered in small groups of no more than 12 students per group to enhance your learning experience and give you ample time to get 1-2-1 feedback from our expert tutors.
Similar to the online delivery, you can start the part-time fitness instructor course immediately and then book your practical workshops via our bookings platform and you can attend as many or as little workshops as you choose
Intensive Gym Instructor Course
The intensive fitness instructor course is a 2-week course, which is taught in a classroom-based setting from 9 am - 5:30 pm with homework assignments ready for the next day of teaching.
OriGym offers intensive fitness instructor courses from our flagship venue in Dublin, which has state of the art facilities, a dedicated learning space for theoretical work and a great range of fixed, functional and cardio-based equipment for your training needs.
On the full-time course, you will get to work in small groups and interact daily with other students and OriGym tutors face to face and really get immersed with the course. Full-time courses are fun, engaging and very practically focused with getting on the gym floor and applying the theory to a practical environment every day. You will get access to multiple tutors who are all qualified teachers and experts within their own rights within this field who will help and support you as well as giving you extra time for 1-2-1 help when required.
For anyone looking to qualify and break into a fitness career as soon as possible, the full-time learning option is ideal.
Careers & Progression
Once you have completed your Level 3 Fitness Instructor course you will qualify with a internationally recongised qualification and be able to start applying for gym instructing roles within Ireland's largest gym chains.
Careers Support
Unlike many other providers and colleges, your relationship with OriGym is not just restricted to completing the course. We want to ensure you have the best possible chance of gaining employment right after qualifying to help kick start your career in the right way!
We have worked relentlessly to develop a network of gym chains, health clubs and private studios across Ireland that we can help you get in front of with minimal fuss, saving you time and energy.
We will help you construct your CV and distribute it in your area to various corporate partners to help you get the ball rolling with interviews. We can assist with interview preparation and have crested useful resources on our platform around starting a successful career as a gym instructor as well as templates and guidance that you will get free access to.
Who employs Fitness Instructors?
Fitness Instructors are hired mainly by gyms and health clubs to deliver pre-set programmes and inductions for clients. There is more you can utilise your gym instructing certification for than you might think. Other potential employers consist of schools, event management and insurance companies. Additionally, you can use your gym instructing qualification to conduct group-based fitness classes, boot camps and more.
Progression Routes
After graduating from your Level 3 fitness instructor qualification there a variety of different routes you can explore to enhance career earnings.
The most popular route for most gym instructors is to progress onto becoming a personal trainer. The Level 4 Certificate in Personal Training will open doors to working with clients freelance on a 1-2-1 basis and avenues with many more gyms that exclusively hire level 3 trainers.
If you already know you’d like to become a Personal Trainer, our Diploma in Personal Training combines both the Level 3 Fitness Instructor and Level 4 Personal Trainer awards!
Other avenues worth exploring is the Level 4 Sports Massage Course or Level 4 Exercise Referral qualification which you can enrol onto to expand your client base within special populations or offer a new service to your existing client base.
OriGym also offers an exciting range of both practical and online fitness CPDs that you can purchase once you have ascertained the Level 3 Gym qualification. These CPDs are like extra modules that enable you to develop skills in particular disciplines of fitness such as strength and conditioning, boxing and pad work and group exercise amongst many others.
Alumni Benefits
OriGym has created a valuable student alumnus, which has a series of benefits for once you complete your fitness instructing qualification. The alumni have discounts from brands, fitness-related services and products that you will find useful when taking your first steps into the fitness industry. Discounts are available on gym clothing, fitness software, meal plans, supplements, insurance and much, much more that you can utilise as soon as you qualify.
OriGym is proud to qualify 7,000 fitness professionals each year across Ireland and the UK. We have been nominated for multiple awards including “Training provider of the Year” in 2017 and 2018 in addition to being a finalist for "The Most Innovative Provider" at the Active Training Awards.
OriGym also is a Trustpilot partner, the largest and most trustworthy review platform in the world to showcase hundreds of genuinely satisfied customers.
OriGym is also an IS9001 certified business which means our systems and processes have been external certified and only a few training providers in the world have this accolade.
Additionally, OriGym has partnerships with some of the biggest gym chains in Ireland and the UK including JD Gyms, Sports Direct and DW Fitness First, helping to place over 90% of graduates into work within weeks of qualifying. Additionally, we run the academies for these companies as well as partnerships with the MOD (Ministry of Defence) and QMU University all whom trust OriGym with their training, so you know you can too.
At OriGym we believe in making affordable training available to all. We do not apply or include fees for exams, re-sits, registrations, certifying or apply admin fees that are rife with our competitors. Additionally, we own many of our own training centres, thus cutting out venue hire costs that other providers place upon their students enabling us to offer the most cost-effective courses in Ireland.
Yes, OriGym has supported many students in the past and present that have some form of physical disability. We deliberately partner with gyms and venues that have disabled access to not disadvantage such students.
OriGym will determine at point of enrolment the extent of your physical capabilities to ensure the course is a good fit for you. If we do not deem the course a good fit, we have the right to decline the enrolment on the grounds of being in the student’s best interests.
OriGym prides itself on not just being a course provider but offering a comprehensive post course support programme that is unrivalled by any competitor both in Ireland and Internationally.
As soon as you complete your course, OriGym's recruitment team will arrange a career consultation with you, help you construct your CV, giving you templates to work with and then manual review it for you and providing feedback to ensure its spot on.
Then we will distribute your CV in accordance to your post code to secure interviews whether that being for gym instructing, personal training or sports massage positions. OriGym has the largest network of corporate partners in Ireland and can guarantee interviews at most of them.
We will even provide you with interview support over the phone or email in addition to giving you some useful resources that you can use that will help you during the interview process.
Take full advantage of OriGym's extensive alumni, which allows you to get exclusive discounts on gym equipment, clothing, supplements and more.
If you enrol onto a online or part-time course you will learn via OriGym's interactive e-learning platform which is fully custom built to give you the best possible learning experience. All resources are produced from scratch which includes videos, quizzes, assignments, eBooks, PDF downloads and downloadable booklets. You can book to speak to a qualified tutor over email or phone, 7 days per week if you have a query or just need some guidance, that's what they are here for.
When attending a full-time course, you will learn through a combination of hardback material for your leaner achievement portfolio and have some access to the learning portal for supporting resources. Full time courses are taught by qualified teachers, assessors and fitness professionals to guide you through the course, face to face.
The Level 3 Gym instructor certification is an entry level therefore you do not need any prior educational background to enrol onto this course. You must be 16 years old and above to enrol.
The Level 3 Qualification in Gym Instructing is regulated by Ofqual and accredited by Focus Awards, whom qualify thousands of fitness professionals in Ireland and Internationally. Additionally, OriGym's training is recongised by REPs (UK) and CIMSPA (Chartered Institute of Management of Sport and Physical Activity) meaning you can take your qualifications anywhere in the world.
Course durations can vary depending on the learning method you decide to go for. The Full-time gym instructor certification takes 2 weeks to complete, whereas the online and part-time options are dependent on you as an individual. The National average takes around 8 weeks to qualify.
The Level 3 gym instructing certificate covers all the essentials to becoming a gym instructor of the highest ilk including, anatomy and physiology, principles of exercise and health, training systems, goal setting, programming and more.
The course is designed to give you all the skills required to start a successful career as a fitness professional such as how to build rapport and motivate clients, health and safety and how to conduct group sessions. You can find put more on specific topics by clicking "What You'll learn" tab on this page.
You can complete your Level 3 gym instructing course through three means, online, part-time or full-time classroom learning.
Students completing the gym instructing course online will complete their qualifications through OriGym's e-learning platform, which consists of videos, interactive learning resources, quizzes and assignments. Online students must complete 20 hours of practical shadowing with a IREPs or ERPEs personal trainer which needs to be documented and uploaded to the platform. Additionally, there is a practical assessment which will need to be competed at one of 3 National Assessment Centres in Dublin, Limerick or Cork.
Students whom opt of the part-time fitness instructing course will study through blended learning, learning via the online platform for theory and then attend weekly workshops for the practical components.
Students that decide to learn via classroom on OriGym's full time intensive gym instructing course will study for two weeks, from Monday to Friday 9am - 5:30pm at OriGym's flagship centre in Dublin.
UNRIVALLED CAREER SUPPORT
Join hundreds of our qualified fitness instructors working with leading Irish and international gym brands.
OriGym guarantees post-course interviews with leading gym brands, securing your dream gym instructor job after graduation.
Free CV analysis, 1-to-1 interview preparation, and expert career advice equip you for ongoing success.
Hundreds of exclusive discounts including supplements, clothing & insurance to help you excel as a fitness instructor.
Testimonials
Angel Howarth
Fitness Influencer & Personal TrainerAmazing Course & Career
After having a long-term passion for fitness and having built up her fitness Instagram page (@angfitpt) following to nearly 60k, Angel was getting messages constantly regarding her routines and workout posts. She decided to enrol onto OriGym's Personal Training Diploma and since has also started her Advanced Nutrition Qualification to offer her followers expert, qualified advice.
Before I started the course, I was a lover of the gym, but unsure where I wanted to take my career. I was at university studying something I couldn’t see myself doing. That was until I found OriGym. I wanted to do the course so I could learn more about a passion of mine and eventually turn it into a career. I wanted the knowledge to turn my passion into my day to day life. I am now going to start working in a gym as a personal trainer, building my own business and hopefully continue to study around the subject too. I’m excited for what the future holds!
Ramnik Sembi
Founder of Ramnik Personal TrainingInvaluable practical experience!
Before OriGym Ramnik was facing redundancy after a 10-year career. With an existing interest in health and fitness, Ramnik knew a role helping others to reach their goals would suit his personality and ambition. Searching online, he signed up to the Level 3 Gym Instructor and Level 4 Personal Trainer course.
I absolutely made the right decision to choose OriGym! I’m very grateful for their continued support and their amazing tutors. They are really encouraging, helping to build your confidence to succeed. OriGym’s approach to flexibility encouraged me to study in my own time through online assessments and tutorials. Perfect for a busy parent juggling responsibilities.
My career since has gone from strength to strength. I set up my own brand whilst studying, creating a home-based studio where I train my clients. I also work as a Group Fitness Instructor, have set up my own HIIT fitness event and work with local academies encouraging children to enjoy exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Sue Evans
Fitness Instructor & Personal TrainerI love my new career!
Before joining OriGym, Sue worked in a gym as a Membership Sales Advisor. Many new members asked if Sue would be willing to train them, but as she wasn't qualified, she had to keep turning them down. Researching several companies, Sue enrolled on OriGym's Personal Training Diploma and has never looked back!
I researched many fitness courses but kept coming back to OriGym. I felt a good vibe from the team and the owners Luke and Steph are friendly & down to earth. I loved how involved they were in the courses! The course itself was AMAZING! The staff and teachers were fantastic, I really felt that they cared about me and my progress, going above and beyond what I had ever expected from them.
I’m now a confident Personal Trainer working for an international gym chain. The future looks so bright for me; I’m even enquiring about doing a season on a Cruise ship as part of the Royal Caribbean fitness team! OriGym has helped to make my dreams come true.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
You can pay in affordable monthly instalments with 0% finance available and we will not ask for guarantors.
Payment plans designed to be flexible and convenient for you, meaning you can focus on enjoying your course!
Our gym instructor courses start from just 699 Euros with guaranteed interviews and strong potential earnings after.
