So You Want To Be A PT?

Discover if you’ve got what it takes to become a personal trainer, and how to train, with expert advice from the pros

- Joanna Ebsworth

Thinking about a career change? If you’re passionate about fitness and fancy getting paid to do what you love, becoming a personal trainer could be a dream come true. Just ask Davina McCall, 50, who’s training to become fully qualified in 2019. But, with insiders warning the PT industry is becoming overcrowded, do you have what’s needed to stand out from the rest and turn your hobby into a flourishing business? And how and where can you train? We’ve done the legwork for you…

ARE YOU CUT OUT TO BE TRAINER?

It’s not just about knowing how to do the plank properly – PTs need lots of different skills

BE ORGANISED

‘Organisational skills are key,’ says Kira Mahal, CEO of Motivate PT (motivatept.co. uk). ‘Can you stay on top of bookings, texts and emails while maintaining an up-todate diary recording notes on clients after every training session? And it’s vital to be punctual and reliable.’

BE A MOTIVATOR

‘A can-do, positive attitude (even when you’re tired) is another must,’ says Mahal. ‘Clients turn to PTs when they want motivation and results – it’s your job to get the best out of them! If you’re grumpy, not looking after your own health or not making sessions fun, you’re doing yourself and your clients an injustice.’

BE A GOOD COMMUNICATOR

You’ll need strong communication skills so you can adapt to each client, read their personality and converse accordingly. ‘You also need to engage with challenges your clients face, whether physical, mental, emotional, nutritional, spiritual, social or medical,’ says Jim Bryant, head of education at Bluestone College (bluestone.as.uk).