Personal training · Choosing
How to choose a personal trainer: qualifications, red flags and the questions that sort them
Two trainers on the same floor can be worth £30 and £150 an hour. The qualifications that mean something, the ones that do not, what a first session should look like, and the signs to walk away.
Updated September 2026 · Prices and facilities are illustrative and need verification
Qualifications, translated
| Credential | What it is | Means | Needed for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 Gym Instructor | Entry qualification | Can supervise a gym floor | Not enough to train you one-to-one |
| Level 3 Personal Trainer | Industry minimum for PT | Can programme and coach healthy adults | Every PT; check it exists |
| Level 4 (Exercise Referral, Low Back Pain, Obesity and Diabetes, Older Adults) | Specialist | Can work with referred or clinical populations | Rehab, medical conditions, over-60s |
| Degree in Sport Science / Strength and Conditioning | Academic | Understands the why | Performance goals |
| UKSCA accredited S&C coach | Professional accreditation | Coaches athletes | Serious strength or sport |
| CIMSPA membership | Professional register | Insured, CPD, standards | Reassurance, not a guarantee |
| Pre and postnatal qualification | Specialist CPD | Safe programming in pregnancy and after | Anyone pregnant or within a year of birth |
| Instagram following | Marketing | Nothing about coaching | Nothing |
UK framework as of 2026; CIMSPA maintains the professional standards.
What a first session should look like
A conversation about goals, history, injuries and the week you actually have. Movement screening: a squat, a hinge, a push, a pull, something overhead. Then a light session that tests, not punishes. If you cannot walk the next day after an assessment, the trainer has shown off rather than assessed.
Red flags
Selling a block before the first session. No written programme. The same workout every week. Nutrition advice beyond the basics without a qualification (meal plans are a dietitian’s job). Supplements for sale. Phone in hand during your set. Promising a result in a timeframe.
Green flags
Asks more than tells in the first hour. Explains why each exercise is there. Gives you homework for your solo sessions. Trains people like you, and can say so. Tracks something (load, reps, measurements) and shows you the trend. Says “I don’t know, I’ll find out” at least once.
Matching goal to trainer
Strength: someone who lifts and can talk about periodisation. Fat loss: someone who talks about habits and a sustainable deficit, not detoxes. Rehab: Level 4 or a physio-led route. Running: a coach, not a PT. Older adults, pregnancy, medical conditions: the relevant Level 4 or CPD, non-negotiable. Our PT prices page covers what to pay.
FAQs
Common questions
What qualification should a personal trainer have?
Level 3 Personal Training as a minimum, with CIMSPA membership and insurance. Level 4 for any medical condition, rehab or older-adult work.
Should I buy a block of PT sessions?
Not before a paid single session. After that, blocks of five to ten with a written programme and a review are reasonable value.