Have you recently decided to pursue a career in fitness but are unsure whether you should attend in person, or online?

Being such a practical career, you understand the benefits of face-to-face, hands-on learning, but the flexibility that comes with online learning just seems too good to pass up.

Well, that’s why we are going to discuss the pros and cons of an online personal training course versus an in-person course and take a closer look at all the aspects to help you make an informed choice for your education. 

Online Personal Trainer Course Pros & Cons

First up, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of studying how to become a personal trainer online to determine whether this model suits your needs. 

Pros	Cons
Flexibility	Technology Issues
Accessibility	Distractions
Always Online	Less Practical

Pros

Flexibility

One of the biggest draws to online learning is flexibility. Many of our online students juggle full-time work, family, and life in general, and getting to campus between business hours is simply not feasible.

Studying their personal training course online affords them the flexibility to fit their study into their schedule. 

This means that they no longer need to wait until life slows down, they can start now and get the ball moving on your fitness career.  

Accessibility

Online personal training courses offer greater accessibility, providing access to those who cannot make on-campus courses.

This is particularly helpful for participants who live in remote areas and don’t have the means of traveling to campus. Studying online allows them to pursue their passion by easily jumping online to begin their coursework while making it easy to contact their teachers. 

Always Online

When we say online personal training course, we mean online all the time! One of the best things about studying online is that your resources will be readily available to browse and revise whenever you want.

From reading material and presentations to videos and assessments, your coursework will always just be a few clicks away so that you can keep on top of your studies.

Cons

Technology Issues

During online study, technology can be your greatest asset and biggest liability. While it offers greater flexibility and allows you to study anywhere it can cause issues that can lead to headaches during your course.

We offer an incredible service through our online portal, however, in our experience, students may still encounter issues including poor connectivity and device faults.

These small faults can break those lines of communication, which can disrupt the online learning process. 

Distractions

One of the big downfalls of studying online is distractions. Many people sign up online because it fits their schedule, however, just because they have blocked out a time to study doesn’t mean the world around them stops. 

Sure, logging in on time and participating in the class by asking questions, watching videos, and engaging with your teacher is great, but let’s face it, if you are at home there is a greater chance that someone will disrupt your study than if you were on campus.

Less Practical

Studying fitness online sadly offers a far less practical approach. When you study personal training online you miss out on those face-to-face practical demonstrations that simulate real exercise instruction.

While these may be fine for book learners, those who prefer a more hands-on approach may miss some of those key points and cues that help turn a good exercise into a great one.   

In-Person Fitness Course Pros & Cons

The in-person training course means more time out of your day, however, there is a huge upside to being in the classroom and being present with your lecturers and peers.

Below is the list of pros and cons for choosing an in-person course and why you might want to be on campus to study your fitness course. 

Pros	Cons
Expert Insights	Less Accessible
Peer Interaction/Networking	Time-Consuming
Hands-On Experience
Fewer Distractions

Pros

Expert Insights

Getting into campus and performing your course face-to-face is a great way to get expert insights from your teachers and mentors.

Don’t get us wrong, the information detailed via online course is excellent, but when you are in class, things like body language, technical cues, training nuances, and anecdotes have that little extra weight to them, enriching your learning experience.

Hands-On Experience

An on-campus course offers more hands-on experience. While our online courses have excellent video demonstrations, lectures, and resources, there is nothing quite like seeing and experiencing your lessons in person.

Being face-to-face allows you to ask questions, view the movements, and see instructions in a way that just can’t be replicated through a screen.

Peer Interaction/Networking

One of the best things about coming to campus is that you can engage with your peers!

While the goal is to get qualified and get working, the journey to becoming a personal trainer is just as important and exciting as the destination.

When you come into class you will be sharing your learning experience with other students, collaborating, making friendships, and forging networks that will help establish yourself in the industry.  

Fewer Distractions

In-person courses mean fewer distractions. Coming into a class takes a great deal of time and commitment, however, when you are there you are locked in and focused on your lectures.

Being in the classroom with your teacher and peers allows you to engage, share ideas, and immerse yourself in the coursework, improving your focus and your ability to learn.    

Cons 

Less Accessible

Face-to-face personal training courses are great for getting involved and engaging with your peers, however, they are less accessible.

For those who live in big cities or close to campus this may not be an issue, but for anyone living in remote or rural areas coming into class just may not be possible.

Time-Consuming

Besides being less accessible, getting to campus can be incredibly time-consuming. While many students are close to campus the idea of driving in, or jumping on public transport just isn’t doable. 

For some, the idea of getting into class for hands-on, face-to-face experience is what they envisage for their course experience, however, family life, full-time work, and other commitments make it difficult to justify. 

The Verdict

So, if you are still a little unsure which form of study is for you, here are our recommendations.

Online

Online personal training courses are suitable for those who are self-starters, who require flexibility, or live remotely. 

While they may miss out on those practical sessions that provide them with a valuable learning experience, the online model makes pursuing a career in health and fitness achievable. 

On-Campus

Face-to-face personal training courses are for those who enjoy an on-campus, practical environment and learn by doing. 

Studying on campus allows educators to share professional insight, training nuances, and helpful cues that would otherwise be missed when following a ready-recorded online resource.

Both forms of study are viable options for anyone looking to start their career in fitness and the choice ultimately comes down to your circumstances and personal preferences. 

If you are still on the fence about which form of study best suits your needs, why not speak to one of our helpful staff for more information?