Before you decide which personal trainer course provider to grace with your business and money, it is first important that you decide how you wish to study your course. There are three different ways in which these courses can be delivered:

1. In the workplace- these personal trainer courses are typically delivered as an NVQ or apprenticeship, and include lots of work-based learning, and on the job training. While these courses may include some assessments, most PT courses delivered in this style involve lots of portfolio building and interviews with an assessor.

2. Blended Learning- these personal trainer courses are usually delivered with a period of pre-course distance learning before the practical element of the training is delivered face to face.

 This is perhaps the most common style of courses because the independent home-study helps to keep the cost of the training down. If you are already in work, and can't afford to take time off, this style of personal trainer course can be incredibly useful because there are many UK-based providers of courses delivering the practical training exclusively at weekends.

3. Direct delivery- these personal training courses are usually delivered entirely face to face and will include a great deal of classroom work. With subjects like anatomy and physiology at the heart of a personal trainer's role, directly delivered personal trainer courses involve as a minimum 4-6 weeks of classroom work. This method of delivery is common in colleges which deliver PT courses, and among private providers of qualifications. Directly delivered courses are certainly not the cheapest route to becoming a fully qualified PT!

Once you have decided how you would like to study, and what your budget is, you can then start the process of selecting which provider is right for you. Clearly the course price, location, dates and credibility of the company are going to play a key role in which company or college to go with. Be sure however not to fall into many of the pitfalls. A few are listed below for your convenience:

Cheapest isn't always best- often providers pitch the course at a low price and lock you in to dates, with no options to change if you need to

Ask about re-assessment charges- if you were unfortunate enough to refer or fail part of your personal trainer course, ask how much the company will charge you to re-assess you. This is usually a hidden cost!

Avoid guaranteed Interviews- this is the biggest scam of all. A guaranteed interview is usually for a position in self-employed capacity. That's right; they charge you to work there! If you have just finished your PT course, the last thing you need is to be paying £500.00 per month rent when you are trying to learn your trade and get your business up and running.

Get qualified- make sure that the personal trainer courses you are considering leads to a nationally recognised qualification, and is certificated through a leading awarding body (Central YMCA Qualifications or Active IQ). Don't worry about the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) CPD points, if the personal trainer courses are certificated through an awarding body, they will automatically be endorsed by REPs.

Finally, ask about. Speak with the PTs in your gym, and ask which company they trained with or if they can recommend any good personal trainer courses. Don't rush in to anything; collect all the information you need so that you can make an informed decisio