• YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner) in Indoor and Outdoor Environments (603/3505/1)

    This qualification allows learners to further expand their scope of practice to either build in the use of portable equipment or work with larger groups.

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    YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner) in Indoor and Outdoor Environments

    Qualifications Type

    Occupational Entry

    | What does this mean?

    X

    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)

    603/3505/1

    Qualification size

    GLH: 307 / TQT: 483

    | What does this mean?

    X

    Total Qualification Time (TQT)

    This is an estimate of the total amount of time, measured in hours that a learner would reasonably need to be able to show the level of achievement necessary for the award of a qualification.

    Total Qualification Time is made up of the following two elements:

    The number of hours which an awarding organisation has assigned to a qualification for guided learning (see below)
    An estimate of the number of hours a learner will reasonably be likely to spend in preparation, study or any other form of participation in education or training – including assessment – which takes place as directed by (but not under the immediate guidance or supervision of) a lecturer, supervisor, tutor or other appropriate provider of education or training.

    Guided Learning Hours (GLH)

    This is:

    Face to face delivery (learning delivered by a lecturer, supervisor, tutor or other appropriate member of the training team)
    eLearning with a lecturer, teacher or tutor present/available in real-time (the learner and tutor can be either remote or in the same physical place during eLearning)
    Invigilated assessment (external tests sat under controlled or open-book conditions)
    Internal assessment carried out by the learner with a lecturer, teacher or tutor present/available in real time (the learner and tutor can be either remote or in the same physical place during assessment).

    This is not unsupervised learning such as:

    eLearning that the learner carries out unsupervised and with no real time support from a lecturer, teacher or tutor
    Assessment internally carried out by the learner without a lecturer, teacher or tutor present/available in real time (for example, completing a Learner Assessment Record (LAR) at home)
    Any additional further study, revision and training activities that the learner does unsupervised to support their learning.

    Availability

    Operational start date – 3 September 2018

    Operational end date – 31 July 2026

    Certification end date – 31 July 2028

    Latest version of qualification –

    Entry Requirements

    Aged 16+
    YMCA Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing or equivalent

    Assessments

    Multiple choice theory tests
    Assessment workbooks
    Personal Training showcase portfolio
    Learner log
    Worksheets
    Planning/programming documents
    Observation of practical skills and evaluation
    Professional discussion/knowledge questions

    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 this qualification 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 Gym Instructors to upskill to become Personal Trainers with additional scope to build in the use of portable equipment or work with larger groups. Learners will cover:

    Mandatory units

    Applied Anatomy and Physiology
    Promoting wellness through client motivation and interaction
    Bespoke exercise programme design
    Customised exercise programme instruction and communication techniques
    Nutrition to support physical activity
    Business acumen for a successful Personal Training Practice
    Planning and Delivering Group Exercise Sessions in the Outdoor Environment
    Exercise Programming for Sports Conditioning

    Pathway 1

    Plan and deliver kettlebell training 
    Plan and deliver suspended movement training

    Pathway 2

    Principles of planning and delivering group exercise 
    Plan and deliver group session (for chosen discipline)

    To achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner), Outdoor Exercise and Sports Conditioning (603/3510/5), learners need to achieve 8 mandatory units and 2 optional units. The Kettlebells and Suspended Movement pathway has 25 assessment tasks. The Group Exercise pathway has 23 assessment tasks.

    • Multiple choice theory tests:
      • Applied anatomy and physiology unit (A/616/4747)
      • Nutrition to support physical activity unit (L/616/4753)
    • Assessment workbooks:
      • 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:
      • 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
      • 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:
      • 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 YMCA Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training (Practitioner) in Indoor and Outdoor Environments provides learners with access to CIMSPA Practitioner membership, the industry prerequisite to access self-employed and employed personal trainer roles.

    This qualification can also lead to further training to expand the learners’ scope of practice, including:

    • YMCA Level 2 Award in Group Exercise Instructing (603/7151/1) (in additional disciplines)
    • 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 Award in Supporting Participation in Physical Activity: Older adults (600/5879/1)
    • YMCA Level 3 Award in Supporting Participation in Physical Activity: Disability and Impairment (610/1559/3)
    • YMCA Level 3 Award in Supporting Participation in Physical Activity: Perinatal (610/0829/1)
    • YMCA Level 3 Apprenticeship in Personal Training
    • 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 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)
    UNUnit titleeLearningManual
    A/616/4747Applied Anatomy and Physiology✔️✔️
    J/616/4749Promoting wellness through client motivation and interaction✔️✔️
    F/616/4751Bespoke exercise programme design✔️✔️
    J/616/4752Customised exercise programme instruction and communication techniques✔️✔️
    L/616/4753Nutrition to support physical activity✔️✔️
    Y/616/4755Business acumen for a successful Personal Training Practice✔️✔️
    K/503/0502Exercise Programming for Sports Conditioning❌✔️
    K/502/8524Planning and Delivering Group Exercise Sessions in the Outdoor Environment❌✔️
    A/618/6490Plan and deliver kettlebell training❌❌
    F/618/6491Plan and deliver suspended movement training❌❌
    L/618/6381Principles of planning and delivering group exercise❌✔️
    R/618/6382Plan and deliver group circuit training❌✔️
    Y/618/6383Plan and deliver group exercise to music – freestyle❌✔️
    D/618/6384Plan and deliver group fitness walking❌❌
    H/618/6385Plan and deliver group indoor cycling❌✔️
    K/618/6386Plan and deliver group step exercise to music❌❌
    M/618/6387Plan and deliver group studio resistance training❌❌
    F/618/6393Plan and deliver group water-based exercise❌❌

    For more information on resource and resource bundle pricing

    Visit our Fees page

    Benefits of YMCA Awards endorsement

    Realise extra value from existing, non-regulated training programmes

    Evidence high standards of teaching, resources and support

    Learn from our experts to reach your ongoing development ambitions

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