Level 3 Diploma Personal Trainer Course
Gain the knowledge, skills and qualifications you need to start your career as a Personal Trainer.
£1699 · Payment plans available
Course Dates:
Choose one Gym course + one PT Course
Gym Course Weekends - Choose one
12-13 December 2026
30-31 January 2027
17-18 April 2027
PT Course - Choose one
Option 1:
Weekend 1: 13-14 March 2027
Weekend 2: 17-18 April 2027
Option 2:
Weekend 1: 12 - 13 June 2027
Weekend 2: 10 - 11 July 2027
Course Overview
The Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training is our complete pathway from Level 2 Gym Instructor to qualified Personal Trainer.
You’ll complete both your Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer qualifications, developing the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to work with clients and build your career in fitness.
The Level 2 qualification gives you the essential foundations of fitness instruction before you progress to Level 3, where you'll develop your skills in client assessment, programme design, coaching, nutrition, behaviour change and Personal Training.
Your qualifications are awarded through Focus Awards, an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation, and recognised by CIMSPA.
When you enrol, you’ll get instant and lifetime access to your online learning resources, allowing you to start studying straight away and work at your own pace.
You’ll then attend 6 full days of face-to-face training at our Milton Keynes Academy, giving you plenty of opportunity to learn, practise and develop your skills with expert tutor support.
This gives you a complete route from starting your fitness education to becoming a qualified Personal Trainer, with the knowledge, practical experience and confidence to start your career in fitness.
Click the 3-Step guide below to explore your course journey.
We're Here to Help You Get Started
Whether you enrol online or over the phone, we’ll make sure you know exactly what happens next.
Once you enrol, we’ll get you set up with your online learning and arrange a friendly orientation call to help you get started.
Have a question before you enrol? Click Contact Us below and choose a date and time that works for you. We’ll give you a call and talk everything through.
Start Your Career as a Personal Trainer
Since 2012, Parallel Coaching has helped thousands of learners gain the qualifications, knowledge and confidence to build their careers in fitness.
We’re committed to supporting you throughout your course, so you don’t just finish with a qualification, you finish feeling ready to put what you’ve learned into practice.
By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to work as a qualified Personal Trainer, design personalised training programmes, coach clients effectively and support them towards their goals.
You’ll also develop skills in nutrition, behaviour change, advanced training systems and fitness business, giving you a well-rounded foundation for starting your career as a Personal Trainer.
And when you graduate, we'll provide a personal reference to support your next step into the fitness industry.
A Recognised Qualification
Awarded by Focus Awards and regulated by Ofqual, with CIMSPA recognition.
You'll Get 8 Certificates As Part Of Your Level 3 Diploma Course.
3x Level 2 Certificates
1️⃣ Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instruction
2️⃣ Certificate in Group Based Gym Inductions
3️⃣ Certificate in Client Consultations
5x Level 3 Certificates
1️⃣ Focus Awards Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training
2️⃣ Certificate In Nutrition & Weight Management
3️⃣ Certificate in Advanced Training Systems
4️⃣ Certificate For Training In Different Environments
5️⃣ Certificate in Business Management
Entry Requirements
No prior qualifications are required. You simply need to be aged 16 or over.
The Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification is the first step in the Diploma Course and the prerequisite to progress on to the Level 3 Personal Trainer Course.
What will you learn
Level 2 — Build Your Foundations
At Level 2 Gym Instructor, you’ll develop the foundations of fitness instruction in a safe, supportive environment. You’ll explore anatomy, exercise principles and safe gym-based training, while learning how to support clients and maintain a safe training environment.
You’ll also learn how to conduct client consultations, set goals and turn them into practical training plans. By the end of Level 2, you’ll have the knowledge and practical skills to confidently deliver your first gym-based sessions.
Level 3 — Develop Your PT Skills
At Level 3 Personal Trainer, you’ll build on your Level 2 knowledge and develop the skills to assess clients, set meaningful goals, design personalised programmes and coach effectively.
You’ll also develop your understanding of nutrition, behaviour change, periodisation and different training systems, while strengthening your coaching, communication and client-management skills.
Across your 6 days of face-to-face training, you’ll put your learning into practice, developing the confidence and practical skills to work with clients and start your career as a qualified Personal Trainer.
How You'll Study
Your Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training combines flexible online study with 6 days of practical face-to-face training at our Milton Keynes Academy.
You'll get instant and lifetime access to the Parallel Coaching Academy, your online learning portal where you'll find everything you need for both your Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer studies.
Our interactive tutorials are designed to make learning clear, engaging and easy to follow. You can study at home, at work or wherever suits you, with many resources available to download for offline learning, including MP4 videos, MP3 audio and printable resources.
As a guide, allow around 2–4 hours of study each week. There are no strict weekly deadlines, so you can work through your learning around work, family and your other commitments.
You'll complete your Level 2 studies first, building your foundations before progressing to the Level 3 Personal Trainer content. Your practical training and coursework are structured to give you time to learn, practise and consolidate your knowledge at each stage.
You can complete your coursework online or print your resources and work through them by hand... whatever suits the way you learn best.
Your 6-Day Practical Training
Your Diploma includes 6 full days of face-to-face training at our Milton Keynes Academy, taking you from the foundations of gym instruction through to confident Personal Trainer coaching.
Your Level 2 training comes first, where you'll develop your practical gym instruction and coaching skills.
You'll then progress to 4 days of Level 3 Personal Trainer training across two weekends, building on your knowledge with more advanced coaching, programming and client skills.
Around 80–90% of your practical training is hands-on. You'll practise with real equipment, coach exercises, work through client scenarios and receive feedback from your tutor.
You don't need to be super-fit. This isn't a test of your fitness... it's about learning how to coach other people.
Across all 6 days, you'll have plenty of opportunities to learn, practise, ask questions and build confidence, so you leave ready to put your qualification into practice.
How you'll be assessed
No exams. Your assessments are completed through coursework and practical tasks.
The course is divided into clear, manageable units, with your assessments contained within your Learner Achievement Portfolio.
You’ll complete a combination of written coursework and practical assessments, with clear guidance and support throughout.
Your practical assessments take place during your 6-day face-to-face training, where you’ll demonstrate your skills in a supportive, real-world environment.
Depending on when you enrol, you can complete some coursework before your practical training or finish it afterwards.
And if you need to redo an assessment, there are no additional assessment fees.
Everything You Need to Get Qualified
Level 3 Diploma
In Personal Training
Starting with the L2 Gym Instructor Course:
✔ Prerequisites: (16+ years)
✔ 3x Level 2 Certificates
1️⃣ Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instruction
2️⃣ Certificate in Group Based Gym Inductions
3️⃣ Certificate in Client Consultations
Plus...
✔ 2 days of face-to-face attendance in our Milton Keynes Academy
✔ Level 2 Anatomy & Physiology Bootcamp
✔ Level 2 Muscle Flashcards
✔ Level 2 Muscle Memory Sprint
✔ FITPRO Start-Up Kit
Once you’ve completed your Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification, you can progress to the Level 3 Personal Trainer Course.
You don't have to attend the next available Level 3 course. You can choose a later date that works better around your work, family and other commitments.
Depending on when you enrol, you can complete your home study before or after your practical training. Most learners spend around 4–6 weeks preparing, studying for approximately 2–4 hours per week.
This gives you time to build your knowledge and confidence, so you arrive at your practical training ready to learn, practise and make the most of your time in our Milton Keynes Academy.
Want to discuss the best course dates for you? Call us on 07513 735700 and we'll be happy to help.
Level 3 Personal Trainer:
✔ Prerequisites:
Level 2 Gym Instructor
✔ 5x Level 3 Certificates
1️⃣ Focus Awards Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training
2️⃣ Certificate In Nutrition & Weight Management
3️⃣ Certificate in Advanced Training Systems
4️⃣ Certificate For Training In Different Environments
5️⃣ Certificate in Business Management
Plus...
✔ 4 days face-to face attendance in our Milton Keynes Academy
✔ Fitness Business Kick-Starter
✔ Squat Assessment Bootcamp
✔ FIT-Progressions
✔ L3 Anatomy & Physiology Bootcamp
✔ L3 Nutrition Bootcamp
✔ L3 Muscle Memory Sprint
✔ L3 Muscle Memory Flashcards
✔ FITPRO Start-Up Kit
✔ Next step Career Consultation
✔ 24/7 Student Support
Ready to Get Started?
6 Attendance days in Milton Keynes
Choose one Gym course + one PT Course
Gym Course Weekends - Choose one
12-13 December 2026
30-31 January 2027
17-18 April 2027
PT Course - Choose one
Option 1:
Weekend 1: 13 - 14 March 2027
Weekend 2: 17 - 18 April 2027
Option 2:
Weekend 1: 12 - 13 June 2027
Weekend 2: 10 - 11 July 2027
Full Course Cost: £1699.00
Payment plans available
Have a question before enrolling?
Our #1 Priority Is Your Happiness.
This means we stand by our course 100%.
No questions asked. No ifs, no ands, no buts. If you have a problem, we’ll help solve it.
Whether that means helping you overcome a learning hurdle, providing 1-to-1 revision coaching, or, where appropriate, arranging a refund, we’ll do whatever we reasonably can to put things right.
We're here to help. Happiness. Guaranteed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Pay in full: £1699 today, with no further course payments.
Payment plan: £145 today, followed by 11 automatic monthly payments of £145 on the same date each month.
Want to discuss the payment plan before enrolling? Call us on 07513 735700.
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