As the demand for health and fitness-based careers continues to increase, more options are becoming available for the average person to switch jobs. In order to be hired by any reputable gym, you must attain your personal training qualifications. If you’ve already started doing your research to make that happen, you would have noticed that there are plenty of RTO’s offering both online and offline courses. Is one truly better than the other? Let’s look at the pros and cons of both online and offline PT courses to help you make your decision.
Campus-based PT Courses
Offline fitness certifications are ideal for those people who thrive in the classroom setting. If you are able to dedicate time to attending a campus, offline PT courses are an ideal way of attaining your certification. Depending on your availability, you can get your certification in as little as two to three months.
Pros of Campus-based PT Courses:
Face-to-Face Learning
The best part about in-person PT courses is that the instructor is right there with you, allowing you to raise concerns or questions.
Active Peer Group
You won’t be the only one attending one of these programs. In fact, you may quickly realize that you have a lot in common with your peers, allowing you to make friends and study partners.
Networking Opportunities
Since you will be studying in the classroom setting, this allows you a perfect opportunity to start networking. You will be able to talk with your instructors and peers about job openings, apprenticeships, and specialized course offerings.
More Likely to Succeed
Having to attend an actual classroom setting aligns you with success. You’re more likely to finish the program and attain your certification if you have a structured environment and lesson plan like you’ll find on campus.
Cons of Campus / In-Person PT Courses:
Distance of the Campus
High-quality in-person PT courses are amazing, but the reality is that these programs may not be close to home. The way you can make it work is by trying to schedule all of your classes into fewer days per week as opposed to attending each day per week.
Cost of the PT Course
Cost will always be a factor when it comes to getting certified. Since you will be attending an actual campus with live instructors, an in-person fitness certification is going to cost more than an online course. On average, the price for the Cert III component is $3,200 AUD and the Cert IV portion is $3,000 AUD. Most campus-based schools offer financial assistance that you can take advantage of without the worry of going broke.
Fixed Times for Attendance
Just like at a university campus, some classes may not be flexible with time. If you have prior obligations during class time, this can quickly become an issue with getting your certification. The solution to this is to reach out and talk with the campus administrator. See what can be done. Whether that is taking evening courses or simply trying to change your personal schedule until you get your certification.
Learning Abilities
The classroom isn’t for everyone, especially if you have a learning preference. If you are someone who prefers to read and soak in the information before application, then you may feel outside of your comfort zone in the campus setting. The way to get around this is simply to ask questions and reach out to your instructor. The teachers are there to help you so ask them to slow down if you’re feeling left behind.
Online PT Courses / Online Portal study platform:
Online-based companies provide the course through an online platform. You’ll have between 6 to 12 months to complete the assessments, depending on the company. Study is self-paced and you can attain your certification in as little as a couple of months if you smash it. You can normally buy course extensions to extend the length of the course, should you need to take longer.
Pros of Online Courses:
Convenience
The best thing about online-based PT programs is the convenience that comes with it. You get to learn at your own pace without feeling rushed. If you are constantly on-the-go due to work, school, or travel, online-based PT programs are going to be perfect for you. You’re able to bring the classroom with you wherever you go.
Allows More Time to Absorb Information
One of the most common complaints of the short-term classroom experience is that there isn’t enough time to memorize all of the information. This is going to happen in any field and it’s something that can be remedied once you learn it on the job. However, many people feel more comfortable by having the chance to memorize the information over a longer span of time. Having 6 to 12 months to study ensures you will know the textbook front to back.
Price of the Program
Since no physical classroom is needed and you don’t have to worry about hiring actual instructors, the cost of an online-based PT course is going to be very cost-effective. In fact, many online programs offer combination packages of the Cert III and Cert IV at a discount.
Cons of Online Courses:
You Are Responsible for YOU
Getting an online certification for personal training requires an immense amount of self-discipline. You have to teach yourself the material, ensure that you understand the subject, and be consistent with reviewing. That means you must set aside time to study while fighting away the temptations of friends, social media and Netflix. There are easy ways around this issue. First, create a detailed weekly schedule, where you schedule study time. Dedicate this time each week to studying until it becomes an automatic habit. You can also pair up with a friend who is also in the same program to ensure you keep one another on track.
Missing the Classroom Element
When you sign up for an online personal training course, you do so knowing that you will be the teacher. While many people have an incredible amount of success with these certifications, not having an instructor in eye shot can be disheartening at times. Online courses do have online classrooms and meetings. They also offer the option to work with a coach/mentor.
Learning Ability
If you are a hands-on learner that needs access to someone who can constantly answer your questions, you may find the online PT course a bit frustrating. The solution to this problem is to either join an apprenticeship or join the online community that your certification offers. All certifications provide you with an online community to ask questions and chat with others who are taking the same course.
Missing Out on Networking Opportunities
One of the great things about in-person PT courses is that it gives you a chance to network with your fellow trainers. In the fitness industry, knowing the right person can help you with getting a job, a client, or a business. Although online certification removes the classroom element, you can still connect with others. As mentioned above, attend practice days, join the online community work with a coach/mentor. This allows you to network with professionals and your peers.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both offline and online training courses are an effective way to learn and attain your certification. One is not necessarily better than the other in terms of quality; rather, it is a matter of which is personally better for you.
Work Situation
- If you work a full-time job, an online course will be more convenient and fit better with your schedule.
- If you work part-time or if you’re unemployed, an in-person PT course may be better for you.
Home Location
- If you live within a city centre, an in-person fitness certification may be ideal.
- If you live out of the city, you may want to consider an online PT course.
Budget
- If you have a strict budget, then you may opt for online fitness certification.
Discipline
- If you are very self-disciplined, then an online PT course is going to be perfect.
- If you require a strict schedule and regimented program, then you may want an in-person PT course.
Learning Preference
- If you like to go at your own pace when learning something new, an online PT course will be a good match.
- If you enjoy moving at a prescribed pace, then sign up with an in-person fitness certification.
Access to Peers
- If you want instant studying and networking opportunities with your peers, then you are going to want an in-person PT course.
- If you don’t mind an online community and working with a coach/mentor, then an on-line fitness certification will be perfect for you.
If you’re looking for an elite quality certified personal training program that allows you to learn at YOUR own pace while being able to ask questions to professional instructors, look no further than Fit Education. Try an exclusive free demo of our program. Read More
PT Courses & Certification Online
Looking For Awesome Online PT Courses?
Then we’re delighted to let you know you just found them! At Fit Education we have a long history of training and assessing students as they forge their own path as personal trainers. We offer in-depth courses that provide our students with more than enough knowledge in health and fitness to qualify for their dream position. After qualification we offer support in finding work throughout our wide network of professional health and fitness contacts, we also provide invaluable retraining to instructors and teachers to help them stay on top of the very latest research and best practices.
Help Others To Take Control Of Their Health And Happiness
It’s a sad fact that more and more Australians are leading increasingly unhealthy lives. Although this may be an unpleasant reality for the taxpayers who foot the cost of increased medical demands, it also provides a ripe opportunity for personal trainers. Each day of an unhealthy lifestyle is one day closer to someone deciding to take ownership of their personal health; this means that for those in health and fitness business is booming and it’s only going to get busier. According to research conducted by Deakin University, nearly half of Australian men and around thirty per cent of women are overweight with obesity affecting roughly twenty per cent on both sides of the gender divide. For anyone who has ever considered getting into personal training as a career, now is the most promising time in recent history to take that leap.
How To Get PT Certified
In order to practice as a professional pt, there are specific skills and competencies that must be acquired. Certificate 3 and 4 in fitness are the bedrock of becoming a personal trainer in Australia as they cover the necessary knowledge and skills required to perform the job effectively. On top of this, all qualified fitness and health professionals must hold a current first aid and CPR accreditation. At Fit Education you can study all of the above courses either in a classroom environment or online at your own pace. Most of our courses can be completed within twelve months or less; however, that is completely dependent on your preferred study method, schedule and commitment level. Fit Education uses state of the art platform Cloud Assess. Check out Gemma completing her online study here.
Become A PT Your Own Way
Never before has it been easier or more fitting to step into the professional fitness industry and make a noticeable difference in the lives of others. Most of our students are working in a different industry while studying to become PTs alongside their job. When studying online, you have access to your course twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to allow you to fit study in around your busy schedule. Whether you prefer to study on campus or online one of our pt courses is the perfect way to shift your career in a positive health and fitness direction. Why not call us or check out our website today for more information about our course, enrolling and assessment. You won’t regret it!
Where to Access Australia’s Best Online PT Courses
The problem with the Internet is that no matter what you are looking for there are countless different results to sift through. While this may seem like a good thing on first glance, the reality is that out of all of those options that you may consider when you are looking for professional online PT courses in Australia, only a handful will deliver the kind of education and qualification that will benefit you in the long run. The good news is that the ones who afford their students the greatest chance of success will quickly come to the fore, which is what has led you here.
At Fit Education, we lead the health and fitness industry with regards to providing educational courses that empower those that wish to engage with this major growth industry professionally. Our nationally accredited courses have been designed by those who have considerable practical experience across a range of different applications working with elite athletes. If you have a passion for fitness and want to gain an education that is both theoretical and practical, then this is the best place to be.
We create job-ready graduates. Our flexible approach to education makes it possible for anyone in Australia to engage with an educational program that will enhance their knowledge and consequently fill them with the confidence and self-belief that is necessary to survive and thrive in business. Personal trainers are in high demand and there are a lot of them already out there. As such, we work hard to afford you every chance of success.
Benefiting Your Clients’ Health and Bank Account Balances
You might be looking for PT courses to boost your existing knowledge and enhance the foundations that are already in place with more in-depth learning so that you can bring something new to the market. Many of our past students identified areas or nice specialisations that they believed were not being properly catered to, which gave them a unique selling point when they started to work independently.
However, it is always worth keeping one thing in mind that all clients will be attracted to. Money makes the world go around, but the price of different services and conveniences can change dramatically with the assistance of a great personal trainer. We are, of course, talking about the price of health insurance premiums.
A person who is unhealthy or inactive places their body at a greater degree of risk with regards to developing diseases. No insurance company will charge favourable rates to someone that is at risk of a heart condition. The general public often fails to recognise that their health has a direct impact on the rates that they have to pay.
As such, an investment in you as a personal trainer is one that not only will result in fantastic physical and mental returns but can transform how they are assessed and help them to spend less on their insurance.
Here at Fit Education, we consider our role in your education as one that should equip you with the best theoretical and practical knowledge that you would expect to find on superior PT courses. However, we also recognise the importance of instilling a business mindset, since this will be essential to sustaining your business and, as evidenced above, it can provide you with new ways to approach how you market your service and appeal to your target market.
So, if you are keen to engage with online PT courses, browse the fantastic options accessible immediately here at Fit Education and if there is anything you need help with reach out to our helpful support staff. We look forward to taking your learning to the next level soon.
