Diploma in Exercise and Fitness Gym Instructor
2
MONTHS
By completing this qualification, learners will meet industry requirements to become a Gym Instructor, as set out within the CIMSPA professional standard.
The purpose of this qualification is to enable learners to:
Maintain health, safety, and hygiene in the gym-based environment.
Supervise and support clients in a gym-based environment.
Plan, deliver and evaluate gym-based exercise programmes.
Completing this qualification allows learners to access jobs instructing gym-based exercise sessions.
Entry Requirements
Learners must be aged 16 plus. Ideally they should have some experience of gym-based exercises as participation in a variety of gym-based practical sessions will be required throughout the qualification. Learners should also have communication skills pitched at level 2 which can be developed during the course.
Qualification Structure
Learners will cover underpinning knowledge and skills for exercise and fitness instructors including:
Fundamentals of anatomy and physiology for exercise and fitness professionals
Providing a positive customer experience to exercise and fitness participants
Principles of physical activity, exercise, and training approaches to develop fitness and health
Health screening, risk stratification and scope of practice
Health awareness and lifestyle management
Learners will also cover knowledge and skills related to supporting clients in a gym environment, including:
Consultation, assessment and induction processes in a gym-based environment
Maintaining safety and hygiene in the gym-based environment
Using client information to plan gym-based exercise
Principles for planning and designing gym-based exercise for a range of clients
Delivering gym-based exercise sessions
Reviewing sessions and reflecting on practice
Assessment
Questions and answers
Worksheets
Information resources
Applied case studies
Exercise induction portfolio
Session planning documents
Observation of practical skills
Evaluation documents
Location
*As this is a Practical based qualification you will need to be available to travel to our offices in Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland for practical tutorials and assessments.
Resources Included
Access to Course Platform
Digital Manual (Access for 1 Year)
*We include access to a digital manual for 1 year – After this time, you can purchase an extension for the digital manual if needed
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**You do have the option to purchase a physical manual (at an additional cost) at the checkout if you wish
***We do not include a physical manual to keep the course cost at a minimum
Accreditation
Guided Learning Hours (GLH): 202
Total Qualification Time (TQT): 393
Certificate
On Completion you will receive a Digital Certificate directly from the board
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*You do have the option to purchase a physical copy of your certificate (at an additional cost) from the board (Instructions will be included in the digital certificate email when you are certified)
**We do not include a physical copy due to the board going “digital-first” and also to keep the course cost at a minimum
Course Dates
| START DATE – September 14th 2026
*Dates Below are for One Full Course |
|---|
| September 14th (Face to Face) |
| September 16th, 18th, 21st, 23rd, 25th (ALL LIVE Online) |
| October 5th, 7th, 9th, 19th, 21st, 23rd (ALL Face to Face) |
| 5.30-9.30pm each day |
Diploma in Exercise and Fitness: Gym Instructor
£645.00
By completing this qualification, learners will meet industry requirements to become a Gym Instructor, as set out within the CIMSPA professional standard.
