How to become a group fitness instructor

The fitness industry is constantly developing and growing, with new career options appearing all the time. To create a fantastic new career, you need to select a job (or combination of roles!) that suits your skills set, personality, financial goals, current lifestyle and position, as well as looking at your career path. This post is the first in a series taking a deep dive into each career choice so you can choose the best path for you. I'll be sharing honest information on the benefits and drawbacks of each career choice, your expected pay, training and start up costs and whether your personality fits the job role. For an even more in depth guide, download my free e-book "how to become a group fitness instructor"

Minimum qualification needed

- Level 2 Gym Instructor

- Level 2 Exercise to Music

- Certificate in the specific class you want to teach (Zumba, BodyPump, Group Cycling)

Necessary start up costs

- Qualification: between £550 and £750

- Public Liability Insurance: between £50 and £80

- Membership to REPS or CIMPSA: £30 per year

Average pay per hour

- Between £30-40 per hour in London

- Between £20 - £25 outside of London

Day to day running costs

- Potential monthly/quarterly music subscriptions (depending on what you choose to teach), such as Zumba or Les Mills

- Batteries for microphones: ~£10 a month

- Petrol/ Transport to gyms: up to £400 a month

- Microphone windshields: £3-5 whenever replacements are needed

- Aux cables: £3-5 whenever replacements are needed

- Microphone belt: £18-£30 whenever replacements are needed

- Personal microphone system (if required): between £80-£200

- Hall hire costs if you choose to run classes in a village/church hall: between £100-300 a month

Benefits of being a group fitness instructor

- Low barrier to entry

- Impact the lives of lots of people at the same time

- Make a positive impact on people's health and fitness

- Endless possibilities of classes you can teach

- Get to "perform"

- Opportunity to freelance and build your own schedule

- Easy to pick up additional work

- Lots of possible places to work - gyms, corporate clients, run your own classes, parks, online

- In control of your earnings

- Flexible working hours

- Work around children or a 9-5 day job

- Can be done as a full time or part time job really easily

- Keep fit whilst working

Drawbacks to being a group fitness instructor:

- Can be physically demanding

- Classes may be taken off a timetable if they don't perform well

- Lots of time spent learning choreography or making new routines

- Sporadic working hours

- Long days

- Pay varies widely between clubs and geographical locations

- Not always financially rewarded for undertaking more CPD

You would be a good group fitness instructor if:

- Have lots of energy

- Are enthusiastic

- Enjoy performing or feel comfortable talking in front of crowds

- Have a good memory

- Are motivated

- Enjoy training and exercise

- Enjoy leading a team

- Don't mind being the centre of attention

- Enjoy attending group fitness classes yourself

Career progression:

- Become a group exercise manager

- Open your own fitness centre or specialised studio

- Become a tutor or assessor

- Become an Internal Quality Assurer

- Work as a master trainer/coach for fitness programmes

- Train as a personal trainer

- Train as a sports coach

If you want to learn more about careers in the fitness industry as a whole, sign up to our free course "how to kickstart your fitness career in less than 60 minutes"

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