Top 3 Certified Personal Training Courses (Ranked!)

Top 3 Certified Personal Training Courses (Ranked!)

Want to get ahead in the personal training industry? Then, you need a personal training course to gain the requisite certification. 

There is a huge market in the fitness industry because more people are becoming health-conscious and setting fitness goals for themselves (like weight loss, strength training, cardio fitness, and overall health improvement). 

To help them reach their fitness goals, these people (especially those paying top-dollar) turn to experts who have acquired the requisite training and certification (as opposed to self-acclaimed fitness professionals).

Thus, taking personal training courses and getting certified will help you advance your fitness career and attract top-dollar-paying clients.

But what are the top certified personal training courses?

The top three certified personal training courses in Australia right now are Certificate IV in Fitness course, Certificate III in Fitness course, and Complete Personal Training course.

This article will examine why these courses are the best for anyone looking to become recognised as a fitness professional and uncover more career opportunities in the fitness industry.

The top three personal training qualifications in Australia right now are:

1. Certificate IV in Fitness

The Certificate IV in Fitness course is a nationally recognised qualification in Australia that is perfect for anyone looking to become a Personal Trainer or start a personal training business.

Some topics covered in the Certificate IV Fitness course are:

• Use exercise science principles in fitness instruction.
• Develop and instruct personalised exercise programs (for diverse people).
• Assess client movements and provide exercise advice.
• Support healthy eating for individual fitness clients.
• Research and develop business plans and market new business ventures.
• Establish and manage client relationships and maintain professional practice for fitness instruction.

Thus, completing the Certificate IV in Fitness course will set you apart in the fitness industry.

It qualifies you to design and instruct personalised exercise sessions for different categories of clients (older adults, adolescents, clients with specific medical conditions/ concerns, etc.) and in different environments (one-on-one or group training). 

You’ll also learn how to provide clients with specialised nutrition advice to help them reach their fitness goals.

In addition to these, the course also equips you with the fundamentals of operating your own personal training business.

Course outcome

Upon completing this course, you will be issued a SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness by the Australian Institute of Personal Training (with registered training organisation number: 32363). The certification qualifies you as a Personal Trainer.

You can aspire to run your own personal training business or work as a:

• Fitness instructor (Gym)
• Personal trainer
• Outdoor trainer
• Personal training coordinator or manager 

Entry requirements

The Certificate IV in Fitness course is a mid-level program requiring evidence of prior learning or experience before enrolling. It requires having Certificate III in Fitness or related qualification.

2. Certificate III in Fitness

The Certificate III in Fitness course is a nationally recognised qualification in Australia that is excellent for anyone looking to become a Gym Instructor or Group Exercise Instructor.

The course will equip you with everything you need to enter the fitness industry, from the principles of anatomy and physiology to how to develop and instruct exercise programs.

The course covers topics like:

• Plan and instruct group exercise sessions.
• Develop and instruct gym-based exercise programs for individual fitness clients.
• Maintain sports, fitness, and recreational facilities.
• Complete client fitness assessments.
• Assess client movement and provide exercise advice.
• Provide First Aid and participate in workplace health and safety.
• Use anatomy and physiology knowledge to support safe and effective exercise.
• Provide healthy eating information.

Thus, the course equips you to work in a gymnasium. You’ll learn everything you need to succeed as a gym instructor (from developing and instructing gym-based programs to maintaining fitness facilities and everything in between).

Course outcome

Upon completing the Certificate III in Fitness course, you’ll be issued a SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness by the Australian Institute of Personal Training. This qualifies you as a Group Exercise Instructor or Gym Instructor.

It also makes you a qualified First Aider. With the certification, you can work anywhere in Australia. It also gives you a strong pathway to continue your study and enhance your career opportunities in the fitness industry. This is because Certificate III in Fitness qualifies you for Certificate IV in Fitness program.

Entry requirement

Certificate III in Fitness is an entry-level course designed for people that don’t have previous qualifications in fitness. You only need to have two years of experience in any role that requires the use of written documentation and communication.

3. Complete Personal Training Course

The Complete Personal Training Course is excellent for anyone who wants to become a personal trainer from scratch.

It combines Certificate III in Fitness and Certificate IV in Fitness courses. So, people taking the Complete Personal Training Course will graduate with two nationally recognised qualifications to help them zoom from the ground straight to the stars in the fitness industry.

Thus, the Complete Personal Training Course covers topics from Certificate III in Fitness and Certificate IV in Fitness courses. These include:

• Complete pre-exercise screening 
• Plan and group exercise sessions 
• Provide First Aid
• Develop and Instruct gym-based exercise programs for individual clients
• Assess client movement and provide exercise advice
• Maintain sports, fitness, and recreation facilities
• Organise personal work priorities
• Develop and instruct personalised exercise programs for body composition goals, older clients, and adolescent clients
• Plan and instruct online exercise sessions
• Research and develop business plans and market new business ventures
• Provide healthy eating information

Course outcome

Upon completing the Complete Personal Training Course, you’ll be issued Certificate III in Fitness and Certificate IV in Fitness by the Australian Institute of Personal Training. These qualify you to be a Group Exercise Instructor or a Personal Trainer. 

You can use your skills and knowledge to find employment in gymnasiums across Australia, work as a personal trainer, or start and grow your own small fitness business.

Entry requirement

The Complete Personal Training Course lets you start from scratch, so there are no fancy qualifications to enroll. You only need two years of industry experience in a role that requires written documentation and communication.

Other alternatives to the top three Personal Training Qualification

Related courses that enable you to find employment in and around the fitness industry include:

Certificate II in Sport and Recreation

Certificate II in Sport and Recreation is an entry-level qualification that is good for anyone looking to become a Gym receptionist or work in similar roles in fitness centres, recreation centres, and sporting grounds.

The course teaches you how to plan and conduct sport recreation sessions. Topics covered include:

• Organise and complete daily work activities.
• Assist with activity sessions.
• Participate in workplace health and safety.
• Provide First Aid.

The Certificate II in Sports and Recreation is a nationally-recognised certification. Upon graduating, you can find work anywhere across Australia as a:

• Gym receptionist 
• Sport and Recreation Officer
• Sports Coach
• Swimming instructor

Performance Personal Trainer Coach Level 1

The Performance PT Coach Level 1 Course is one of the short courses (typically three days) designed to give Personal Trainers additional knowledge to help them thrive.

The Performance PT Coach Level 1 course helps you provide more value as a Personal Trainer and create better results with our clients.

Topics covered by the course are:

• Conducting the initial consultation.
• Structural balance assessment for all populations.
• Corrective exercise prescription.
• Fundamental of program design.
• Mastering exercise techniques.

With these subjects, you’ll be able to connect with clients better, prescribe effective programs for prehab and rehab concerns for all clients, and design diet programs safely and effectively. 

You’ll be able to set your clients up from their initial consultation and assessment all the way to coaching them to achieve their fitness/ health goals.

With the Performance PT Coach Level 1 certificate, you can aspire to find work as a Personal Trainer, Fitness Coach, or Strength Coach.

Performance Nutrition Coach Level 1

The Performance Nutrition Coach Level 1 course is excellent for anyone looking to become an evidence-based nutrition coach.

It teaches the fundamentals of nutritional sciences, equipping you with the skills and knowledge to design scientifically-grounded nutrition plans to help clients reach their fitness goals.

Topics in the Performance Nutrition Coach Level 1 course include:

• The art of nutrition coaching
• The fundamentals of macronutrients
• Understanding micronutrients
• Popular nutrition systems and nutritional periodisation
• Building your nutrition coaching business

You’ll learn everything about using nutrition to fuel fitness/ health goals, from the science behind nutrients to how to structure diets over different time periods to maximise goals.

In addition to learning to design and instruct nutrition programs as a “trainer,” you’ll also learn how to branch out to start and grow a nutrition coaching business.

Strength System International Certification Level 1

The Strength System Level 1 is an international qualification excellent for anyone who wants to become a Strength Coach.

It is one of the best strength and conditioning programs in the world. It’ll teach you a lot about strength training, focusing on program design, periodisation, and recovery. It’ll cover all the basics of strength training and saunter into some serious lifts.

The topics covered in the strength and conditioning course include:

• Assessing structural balance for strength development
• Technique fundamentals for the key lifts (how to move under load)
• Principles of periodisation for strength development
• Principles of recovery for strength development
• Nutrition for sports performance

The Strength System Level 1 course qualifies you to be a Strength Coach or a Strength-focused Personal Trainer. It’ll open up opportunities to work with athletes in various sports, including football, basketball, rugby, powerlifting, weightlifting, judo, boxing, MMA, and more.

Complete Strength System International Certification 

The Complete Strength System International Certification Course is excellent for anyone looking to become an expert Strength Coach.

The course combines the three levels of the Strength System course – Strength System Level 1, Strength System Level 2, and Strength System Level 3. Thus, the Complete Strength System Course will teach you everything you need to know about strength training.

For example, while Level 1 focuses on periodisation and recovery, the complete certification covers more topics, including

• The biomechanics of strength development.
• Assess clients accurately and prescribe corrective exercises.
• Programming for different clients.
• Principles of program design for strength.
• Apply structural balance to the upper and lower extremities.
• Apply enhanced program design.
• Understand the future of strength and conditioning.
• Peak athletes to ensure they progress safely.

The Complete Strength Systme course qualifies you as an Expert Strength Coach. You can seek employment in gymnasiums or start your own business to help clients get stronger, move faster, and look better.

Diploma in Sports and Recreation Management

The Diploma in Sports and Recreation Management program is designed for anyone wanting to step up into a managerial position in an elite sports complex.

The program is excellent for anyone with a passion for fitness and business. It imparts the skills and knowledge to run a successful fitness centre.

The Diploma in Sports and Recreation Management covers topics that include:

• Manage meetings.
• Provide quality service.
• Develop and review a business plan.
• Support the recruitment, selection, and induction of staff.
• Manage human resource services, operational plan, finances, risk, etc.
• Manage work health and safety.

Thus, you’ll learn everything about coordinating client service activities, developing marketing strategies, obtaining sponsorships, managing organisational risks, and more.

Upon graduating, you can aspire to work anywhere in Australia in roles like Center Manager, Facility Manager, Program Manager, Competition Manager, or Executive Officer.

Takeaway: Take Certified Personal Training Programs and advance your career in the fitness industry

To get ahead in your fitness career in Australia, you need to take a certified personal training course. This will position you as a fitness expert and make high-paying clients turn to you to help them achieve their fitness/health goals.

The top Personal Training certification programs in Australia right now are Certificate IV in Fitness course, Certificate III in Fitness course, and Complete Personal Training course.

However, simply taking the best courses is not enough. For the best learning outcome, you need to learn with a leading provider of fitness courses. This is where Career Progress comes in!

As Australia’s foremost education marketplace, Career Progress connects individuals looking to further their education with the right course for them (delivered by the best institutions). 

The top three Personal Training certification courses in Australia right now are listed in Career Progress by Australia’s leading provider of fitness services – the Australian Institute of Personal Trainers (AIPT).

AIPT caters to all learning styles and offers flexible study options to suit everyone’s schedules. It delivers the theory components of the courses through its online learning management system and holds practical components in authentic gym campuses. 

It provides access to the best Fitness Instructors and a dedicated team of Support Officers to make your education as easy as possible. It has an extensive industry network of employers/ fitness professionals to make finding work easy after graduation.

The institute has been producing high-calibre leaders in the fitness industry for 20+ years. Want to be the next? Register for an AIPT-taught Personal Training course today!