Fitness instructor
Lead people in exercise activities, advise them on healthy eating and motivate them to get fitter and healthier.
Also known as: health and fitness instructor
About the job
What it's like
You would lead people in exercise activities and advise them on healthy eating. You’d motivate and inspire them to get fitter and healthier.
You’d organise group and individual exercise programmes for your clients. You could offer a range of activities or specialise in a particular one, such as:
keep fit
aquacise (exercise in water)
weight training
yoga
pilates
You might also work with specific groups of people such as older adults, children, people with disabilities or people referred by doctors.
You would:
assess a person’s fitness and ask them about their goals
show people the health club facilities
demonstrate exercise activities
show people how to use exercise machines and free weights properly
make sure people exercise safely and effectively
lead group exercise classes, like circuit training, aerobics or spinning
create personal exercise programmes
advise people about healthy eating and lifestyles
You’d be outgoing and friendly to encourage people, who may not be used to exercise, to enjoy it and keep on coming to the training sessions.
As well as being healthy and fit yourself, you’d know about nutrition and healthy diets. A responsible attitude to health and safety is important.
In small health and fitness clubs you may carry out routine duties, such as working at reception and the swimming pool, and doing health and safety checks.
Hours
As a full-time fitness instructor, you would usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, often on a shift or rota basis covering early mornings, evenings and weekends. Many instructors work part-time or freelance (self-employed).
Environment
You could work in gyms, health clubs or leisure centres. If you are self-employed, you may also run classes in places like school halls or community centres.
Travel
If you run classes in the community you you will need to travel locally.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- fitness training
- marketing
- gym instruction
- spa management
- key performance indicators (kpis)
- group exercise instruction
- lifeguarding
- working with children
- bodypump (les mills)
- general data protection regulation (gdpr)
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- empathising
- building relationships
- verbal communication
- listening
- developing a plan
- time management
- mentoring
- coaching
- positive attitude
- resilience
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Science
PE (Physical education)
Health and Food Technology (Home economics)
You'd need a Level 2 qualification for a fitness instructor, endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). This qualification may be gym or group-based, and a fitness instructor may wish to achieve both. Many fitness instructors go on to study a Level 3 Personal Training qualification.
You can study through college or a private training provider. There are also work-based routes such as an apprenticeship. You can find out more about apprenticeships at Apprenticeships.scot.
It's important to choose a CIMSPA endorsed education provider for any course studied. You can check providers on the CIMSPA partner directory.
Some fitness instructors may have a relevant sport, fitness or coaching HNC/HND or a degree, but this is not mandatory.
To study for a degree in sports science, you’d likely need either:
at least 4 Highers at BBBC
at least 3 Advanced Highers at ABB
a relevant HNC or HND
Some courses have stricter entry requirements. They may also need qualifications in Maths, science subjects or PE.
If you want to expand on your skills and knowledge, additional qualifications you can study include:
Level 3 Personal Training
Level 3 Supporting Clients with Long-term Conditions
Level 3 Pre and Post Natal Exercise
Level 3 Pilates
Level 3 Yoga
You may also want to become a member of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) as a Personal Trainer Practitioner.
You could also find volunteering opportunities in a fitness or sports to gain experience skills. Visit Volunteer Scotland to find opportunities local to you.
Some fitness instructors may need to hold a First Aid Certificate, which includes a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) element
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