Although Personal Training qualifications have been around for decades, the concept of studying to become a PT online is still one that is quite new.
The question many people often ask, is how can you possibly learn all the skills via online study? The answer is – it CAN be done! You just have to make sure you consider the following things when looking to complete a fitness qualification online:
Education Provider:
Choosing a credible education company to study with is critical to ensuring you’re getting the best learning possible. Don’t just look for the cheapest option out there. Most of the time they are charging you less, it means that the quality of their course is not as good.
Although you may need to pay a little more, you’ll get much more out of it. Not just in the skills & knowledge that you learn, but also in the connections you make and the outcomes once you graduate.
Course Content & Materials:
In addition to our point above, choosing a quality education provider will usually mean that the content of the course and the tools in which you have access to are usually superior. For example, what are the topics being covered? Do they just look at the skills of a PT, or do they provide you with further in-depth knowledge such as anatomy, exercise science, nutrition and business/marketing. It’s about getting a good amount of knowledge in a lot of areas, helping you become a more well-rounded fitness professional.
The other element to this point is the platform and system that is used to deliver the qualification. Is it easy to use? Does it allow you to study on the go? For example, is the content delivered via large amounts of text on a page, or is it easily-digestible in videos, podcasts and presentations? Everyone learns differently and it’s important that you have access to your course materials in the best method that works for you.
At AFA Asia, we not only deliver our course via our Learning Management System, but the content is also accessible via our purpose-built mobile app, which means you can study from any time, from anywhere in the world.
Support Options:
This is another critical point. Will you be left to study on your own, or will you be supported every step of your learning journey? It’s no good signing up to a qualification if you don’t know what to do, and no one is there to help you. You MUST have your questions and queries answered to ensure you can progress in your studies and fully understand the concepts you’re learning.
Great support comes in the form of online chat systems or the ability to email someone and get a response within 48 hours. Or even being a part of a Facebook or WhatsApp Group with your fellow students so you can help each other overcome any barriers.
Practical Learning Components:
Studying online and learning all of the content is one thing, having the opportunity to go out and put that into practice is just as important. That’s why you should look for a course that has some type of Practical Placement or Work Experience, where you can be mentored by someone who in the fitness industry and build your own network.
Practical learning is where you’ll be able to apply your learning on real people, with real fitness goals, getting real results. Not only is this rewarding for any clients you engage with, but this is where you’ll start to see your work really pay off. Plus, you’ll learn things about yourself that you never knew and allows you to see what being a PT is really like.
Genuine Career Outcomes:
Finally, is this qualification going to lead you into a job? Are you going graduate ready to enter the industry and with all the required knowledge to become a successful PT. These are the questions you need to make sure are answered. You want to choose an education provider that has a genuine pathway into a career.
At the Australian Fitness Academy, we have helped thousands of people start their careers in the fitness industry. It’s the number one thing we’re proud about as an organisation. We’ve partnered with gyms across the world to help deliver our Practical Placement Program, and this often leads to students getting employment opportunities at the fitness centres where they completed their work experience.
The bottom line is to do your research when deciding to study an online fitness qualification. Know exactly what you’re getting yourself into and whether you will be provided with the right content, a quality learning platform, support along the way and real outcomes upon graduating.