YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Exercise and Fitness Instructing, and Personal Training (Practitioner) (603/3504/X)
Through completion of this qualification, learners will meet industry requirements for awareness and/or implementation of safeguarding procedures for adults and adults at risk, as set out within CIMSPA’s professional standard.

YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Exercise and Fitness Instructing, and Personal Training (Practitioner)
Qualifications Type
Occupational Entry
Occupational qualifications provide the knowledge and skills to meet industry minimum standards of deployment for a particular role. This can support learners in getting their first job within the sector, or add additional roles to their existing scope of practice.
Qualification Number (QN)
603/3504/X
Availability
Operational start date – 3 September 2018
Operational end date – 31 July 2026
Certification end date – 31 July 2028
Entry Requirements
Assessments
Endorsement


Overview
By completing this qualification, learners will meet industry requirements to become a Personal Trainer, as set out within the CIMSPA professional standard. Learners will also complete additional content to expand their scope of practice, enabling them to either build in the use of portable equipment or work with larger groups.
The purpose of these qualifications is to enable learners to coach clients towards their health and fitness goals. Learners will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to plan and deliver creative and personalised exercise programmes, provide nutritional advice and support clients with their overall lifestyle management.
Completing this qualification will provide learners with access to CIMSPA Practitioner membership, the industry prerequisite to access self-employed and employed personal trainer roles.
Qualification Details
Our Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner) in Indoor and Outdoor Environments (603/3505/1) supports enable learners to become a Personal Training with no prior learning and additional scope to build in the use of portable equipment or work with larger groups.
Learners will cover:
Learners completing the Kettlebell and Suspended Movement Training pathway will also:
Learners completing the Group Exercise pathway will also cover:
To achieve the YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner) in Indoor and Outdoor Environments, learners need to achieve 13 mandatory units and 2 optional units. The Kettlebells and Suspended Movement pathway has 34 assessment tasks. The Group Exercise pathway has 32 assessment tasks.
Assessments include:
You can find further information on these assessments in the qualification syllabus and/or learner assessment record, which are available for centres to download from Y-Connect.
Our Level 2 Certificate in Group Exercise Instructing can lead to employment as a group exercise instructor.
This qualification can also lead to further training at the same or higher levels including:
Mandatory units
| Unit title | eLearning | Manual |
| Anatomy and physiology for exercise and fitness instructors (K/616/7823) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Providing a positive customer experience in the exercise environment (M/616/7824) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Lifestyle management and health awareness (K/616/7949) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Gym-based programme planning and preparation (D/616/7950) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Gym-based programme delivery and professional instruction (H/616/7951) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Applied Anatomy and Physiology (A/616/4747) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Promoting wellness through client motivation and interaction (J/616/4749) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Bespoke exercise programme design (F/616/4751) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Customised exercise programme instruction and communication techniques (J/616/4752) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Nutrition to support physical activity (L/616/4753) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Business acumen for a successful Personal Training Practice (Y/616/4755) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Exercise Programming for Sports Conditioning (K/503/0502) | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Planning and Delivering Group Exercise Sessions in the Outdoor Environment (K/502/8524) | ❌ | ✔️ |
Kettlebells and Suspended Movement Pathway
| Unit title | eLearning | Manual |
| Plan and deliver kettlebell training (A/618/6490) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Plan and deliver suspended movement training (F/618/6491) | ❌ | ❌ |
Group Exercise Pathway
| Unit title | eLearning | Manual |
| Plan and deliver group circuit training (R/618/6382) | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Plan and deliver group exercise to music – freestyle (Y/618/6383) | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Plan and deliver group fitness walking (D/618/6384) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Plan and deliver group indoor cycling (H/618/6385) | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Plan and deliver group step exercise to music (K/618/6386) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Plan and deliver group studio resistance training (M/618/6387) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Plan and deliver group water-based exercise (F/618/6393) | ❌ | ❌ |
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