YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Exercise and Fitness Instructing, and Personal Training (Practitioner) (603/3504/X)

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:

• All learners will cover:
  • Anatomy and physiology required when exercise programming and design for a range of clients.
  • Importance of professionalism, customer service, effective communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Knowledge and understanding of commonly occurring medically controlled diseases and health conditions.
  • Health and safety requirements for the exercise environment.
  • How to gather and analyse client information and establish their current health and fitness status.
  • Planning and instructing gym-based exercise.
  • How to design and deliver a health and fitness programme suitable to an individual’s specific goals and level of fitness.
  • How to plan and conduct physical activity sessions within a variety of environments.
  • How to provide nutritional advice for physical activity based on a client’s needs.
  • How to prepare for employment, as a personal trainer, on either an employed or self- employed basis.
• Learners completing the Kettlebell and Suspended Movement Training pathway will also:
  • Plan, prepare and instruct kettlebell exercise sessions, making the activities imaginative, progressive and effective
  • Lead suspended movement training exercise sessions, making the activities imaginative, progressive and effective
• Learners completing the Group Exercise pathway will also cover:
  • The skills and knowledge required to plan and deliver group exercise sessions with apparently healthy adults.

To achieve the YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner) in Indoor and Outdoor Environments (603/3505/1), 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.

• Multiple choice theory tests:
  • Anatomy and physiology for exercise and fitness instructors (K/616/7823)
  • Applied anatomy and physiology unit (A/616/4747)
  • Nutrition to support physical activity unit (L/616/4753)
• Assessment workbooks:
  • 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)
  • 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 Personal Trainers (Y/616/4755)
• Personal Training showcase portfolio
  • Observed consultation
  • programming, delivery and review
  • Summative delivery and self-evaluation
  • Nutritional consultation
  • Business project
• Learner log
• Worksheets:
  • Gym-based programme planning and preparation (D/616/7950)
  • Kettlebell and Suspended Movement Training pathway:
    • Plan and deliver kettlebell training (A/618/6490)
    • Plan and deliver suspended movement training (F/618/6491)
  • Group Exercise pathway:
    • Principles of planning and delivering group exercise (L/618/6381) knowledge questions
    • Plan and deliver group exercise discipline specific knowledge questions, for one of:
      • 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)
• Planning/programming documents
  • Programming for client documents
  • Programming from case studies
  • Exercise programming for sports conditioning (K/503/0502)
  • Planning and delivering group exercise sessions in the outdoor environment (K/502/8524)
• Kettlebell and Suspended Movement Training pathway:
  • Plan and deliver kettlebell training (A/618/6490)
  • Plan and deliver suspended movement training (F/618/6491)
• Group Exercise pathway:
  • Discipline specific planning task for one of:
    • 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)
• Observation of practical skills and evaluation:
  • On-course practical delivery of specific gym-based exercise
  • Observation of consultation and summative gym-based delivery
  • Planning and delivering group exercise sessions in the outdoor environment (K/502/8524)
  • Kettlebell and Suspended Movement Training pathway:
    • Plan and deliver kettlebell training (A/618/6490)
    • Plan and deliver suspended movement training (F/618/6491)
• Group Exercise pathway:
  • Discipline specific observation of a complete group exercise sessions for one of:
    • 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)
• Professional discussion/knowledge questions
  • Exercise programming for sports conditioning (K/503/0502)
  • Planning and delivering group exercise sessions in the outdoor environment (K/502/8524)

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:

• YMCA Level 2 Award in Group Exercise Instructing (603/7151/1) (in further disciplines)
• YMCA Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing (603/2767/4)
• YMCA Level 2 Certificate in the Foundations of Strength and Conditioning (Trainer) (603/3413/7)
• YMCA Level 2 Award in Engaging Children Aged 0-5 in Sport and Physical Activity (603/7218/7)
• YMCA Level 2 Award in Engaging Children and Young People in Sport and Physical Activity (603/7216/3)
• YMCA Level 3 Apprenticeship in Personal Training
• YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training (Practitioner) (603/2921/X)
• YMCA Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (603/1902/1)
• YMCA Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work (603/1903/3)
• YMCA Level 3 Award in Business Skills for the Fitness Professional (600/1146/4)
• YMCA Level 3 Award in Instructing Outdoor Fitness (600/1144/0)
• YMCA Level 3 Award in Sports Conditioning (600/1145/2)
• YMCA Level 3 Award in Programming and Supervising Exercise with Disabled Clients (600/5681/2)
• YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates (Practitioner) (603/3855/6)
• YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga (Practitioner) (603/3617/1)
• YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Performance Massage (610/0701/8)

Mandatory units

Kettlebells and Suspended Movement Pathway

Group Exercise Pathway

For more information on resource and resource bundle pricing