Introduction
Getting your career as a personal trainer off to a good start with the right certification is key to a successful career. With more options available than ever, people can often be blindsided by price cuts and the advertising of subpar education, and pass off on better structured, multilayered education, taught by true industry experienced professionals, which ultimately leads to a far better return on investment.
This article will break down the differences between the former type (most level 3 personal trainer courses), and the latter type (PFCA Certified Personal Trainer), to help you make a more informed decision. To start though with some context, CPT is our combined level 2 and level 3 personal trainer course. With no previous experience or qualifications required, it provides the full package to getting your career in personal training started. It’s a fully online course, providing you with the flexibility to learn from home, wherever you are. Now, let’s get into why you should choose it over other personal training courses.
Personal Trainer Course Curriculum Focus: Practicality vs Theory
The PFCA Certified Personal Trainer Course is designed with a hands on and practical approach, focusing on real world application, with a steer away from tick box style education which is commonly seen with other personal training courses. With CPT, we emphasise the skills that personal trainers genuinely need in day to day work, from building the most effective and specific training plans to developing better relationships with clients. As with all of our personal training courses, students of ours gain insights and skills which go beyond just theoretical knowledge, helping them to become better prepared for this constantly evolving industry.
Compare this to most traditional level 3 courses, which often lean heavily on theory with standardised materials which are designed to meet government criteria. Whilst these courses do cover fundamental knowledge, they can often leave personal trainers feeling underprepared for the day to day and specific encounters that they have with clients. We often hear graduates from other courses citing areas such as business acumen and real life practical problem solving as gaps in their knowledge, both of which are key for a successful career in personal training.
Mentor Led vs Self Directed Learning
One of the main features that we pride ourselves on with CPT is its mentor led education model. Our students learn alongside industry professionals, with access to over 30 years of combined experience. This more structured approach allows our students to ask questions and receive tailored, specific guidance throughout the course. Furthermore, with CPT you’ll become part of a community and support network of other qualified graduates and our team, providing ongoing assistance and support after you’ve qualified. This ultimately ensures that personal trainer graduating with CPT have a reliable source of advice and continued mentorship.
Whereas CPT is mentor led, other level 3 courses are more often self directed, delivered through online modules with limited live interaction. This does offer the benefit of flexibility, but it comes with the cost of lack of student support. With this style of minimal mentorship, again, graduates can feel unprepared for real life scenarios with clients.
Business and Career Support
Our Certified Personal Trainer Course includes business specific content, designed to help trainers start and grow their businesses. With client acquisition and retention strategies which will help you get more personal training clients, and even personal branding advice, the course addresses the key aspects of entrepreneurship which are not just overlooked in other qualifications, but are instrumental to success as a self employed personal trainer. In an ever growing competitive market, there is a faster growing need for PTs to have the business acumen to stand out. Whilst you’re here, be sure to check out our personal training business accelerator course, GROW.
This forms a stark comparison with other PT courses, which do not address the business side of personal training. Many courses will teach you the basics of creating working plans, but ultimately leave you high and dry when it comes to securing clients and establishing a sustainable business.
International Recognition
The Certified Personal Trainer course is fully accredited by CIMSPA, and internationally recognised, which opens the doors for our graduates to work abroad. The qualification also opens the door to access the personal training insurance you need. Whilst other personal training courses may be recognised in the UK, more often than not they don’t hold the same weight internationally, meaning PTs can face challenges when it comes to working abroad or getting the right level of insurance coverage.
Timeline Driven
Certified Personal Trainer follows a set start and end date. This highly structured approach creates accountability for our students, and ensures that they stay on track to complete the course within a reasonable timeframe. Whilst we do have a set start and end date, the course’s accessible education times allow our students to balance their studies with other commitments, making it suitable for anyone. Whilst other courses having open ended timelines may seem like a convenient benefit, we often hear about them leading to low completion rate and a lack of urgency. Without the right structure in place, students can often delay their entry into the industry.
Transparent Pricing with Payment Options
CPT offers simple and transparent pricing with accessible payment plans. We make the value clear from the beginning which allows prospective students to budget properly. Conversely, other courses often have variable pricing and hidden fees, with limited payment options. Our proposition is to provide an equal value in the education we provide with the cost of the course.
Ongoing Support in Community
As we touched on earlier, following qualification from Certified Personal Trainer, graduates will become part of a wider community and support system. We encourage our new personal trainers to connect with peers, share experiences and seek/provide guidance to others, to avoid the common mistakes of new personal trainers. We often see new trainers from other courses being left to navigate the industry on their own, limiting their immediate and long term career growth. When you enter CPT with us, your learning and growth doesn’t stop at qualification. You’ll be set up and supported for a career which promises growth in skills, knowledge and your business.
Conclusion
So, to conclude, why choose Certified Personal Trainer over other level 3 courses? CPT offers you with a time tested blend of practical education and business support, setting you up for a long and successful career in personal training. We provide an unmatched combination of mentorship, education on running a business and practical skill development, all accumulated within our structured curriculum. Join the next generation of leaders in the fitness industry today.