How to become a fitness and wellbeing instructor
Official title: Fitness and wellbeing instructors
Also called: Instructor, Fitness coach, Gym instructor, Yoga instructor, Fitness trainer, Zumba instructor, Fitness consultant, Tai chi instructor, Fitness instructor, Pilates instructor, Aerobics instructor, Keep fit instructor
Fitness and wellbeing instructors deliver training in a range of fitness activities, including weight training, yoga, Pilates, personal training and other forms of exercise at private health and fitness centres, local authority run sports and leisure centres, other public and community establishments, and in private homes.
Main tasks
- Assesses the fitness levels of clients
- Devises programmes of training appropriate to the needs of clients with varying levels of strength, fitness and ability
- Demonstrates and leads fitness activities and supervises exercise classes
- Ensures that clients do not injure themselves through over exertion or using incorrect training techniques
- Plans and monitors personal fitness schedules
- Understands the health and safety aspects of different forms of exercise and ensures that any statutory requirements are met
How to become one
There are no formal academic requirements. Entrants must, however, possess coaching qualifications recognised by the appropriate governing body. Applicants to coaching courses must normally be over 18 years old and hold a first-aid certificate. Background checks including a DBS check are required for those working with children.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Personal trainer (level 3). England. Typically 15 months. Skills England standard ST0302.
- University: Science degrees, Offered by 27 universities in the UK
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £27,273 a year The middle half earn £23,596 to null.
- About 68,500 people work in this job now, and about 76,100 are projected by 2035. (+11.1%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a fitness and wellbeing instructor?
There are no formal academic requirements. Entrants must, however, possess coaching qualifications recognised by the appropriate governing body. Applicants to coaching courses must normally be over 18 years old and hold a first-aid certificate. Background checks including a DBS check are required for those working with children.
How much does a fitness and wellbeing instructor earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £27,273 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a fitness and wellbeing instructor a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2035, from about 68,500 to about 76,100 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a fitness and wellbeing instructor?
Not always. 40% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Science degrees; Personal trainer (level 3).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.