Fitness qualifications in the UK better than the ones in Ireland

amanonamission

I have heard in the past the personal training/fitness qualifications such as the NCEL and NTC are not that great and do not teach up to date fitness information and the qualifications in the UK such as www.premierglobal.co.uk are much better and much more recognised by employers.

I mean I don't think you even need a fitness qualification in ireland to work in a gym and most instructors are clueless about developing a programme and dont know much regarding nutrition either.

I have been thinking of changing careers for the past few months and I am quite fit and healthy and I do know a fair bit from my own personal reading but I am not sure what to do regarding qualification.

On one hand I could go with ww.ntc.ie which would allow me to stay in my current job as the course is offered at the weekends and it costs about 2k

On the other hand im thinking of going with www.eifitness.co.uk, this would mean quiting my job and going over to spain for 6 weeks to study fulltime, it also costs 6k which is alot more than www.ntc.ie but that includes accomodation. And they also guarntee you a job with fitness first in the uk.

I am leaning towards the 2nd option because I have heard its the best personal training qualification you can get and is recognised world wide plus they really focus on trying to give you the business skills to succeed and offer continuous support once your finished.

However it is a big risk in this current climate, I would appreciate opinions on this

amanonamission

I would apreciate some feedback on this if possible please.thanks

Colm_OReilly

I think your success in this field will depend less on the qualification you have and more on your work ethic, business savvy and personality/contacts.

The qualification is really just the first step/barrier to entry. After that, continuing education, new courses, contacts, experiments (and positive results) with clients are what build a career.

celestial

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

I think your success in this field will depend less on the qualification you have and more on your work ethic, business savvy and personality/contacts.

The qualification is really just the first step/barrier to entry. After that, continuing education, new courses, contacts, experiments (and positive results) with clients are what build a career.

Couldn't agree more with this.

OP, what you have to think about is that there is NO official regulating body for fitness qualifications in Europe (the EHFA are getting there I think but I don't think they are classed as official yet, anyway). This means that the qualification (provided it is of reasonable standard) is of far less importance than the points Colm raises above.

The NTC course is a good course - a perfect springboard and foundation, but the real work starts after the course finishes!

It is also the only EHFA level 4 course in Ireland, as opposed to other Irish courses which are EHFA level 3 (or below).

Yapamillias

I did the premier course in England and it was brilliant (havent done the NCEF etc so i cant compare). There is an open day where some of the larger fitness names come in and sell their brand to you. Its pretty easy to get a job over in the UK or Northern Ireland with that qualification, unfortunately dont expect many Irish gyms to recognise the qualification as much. Maybe its just the gyms I used to work in. Once you get your foot in the door, as Colm said, (no matter what qualification) its got nothing to do with your certification...fat loss, muscle gain, etc respond to a good program...and LOADS of enthuasim

RacoonQueen

On one hand I agree with Colm. The qualification is really just to get you in the door. Most of the things you learn, you learn through experience, reading, your own gym work, experimenting and extra courses. It's up to each person to make the most of their fitness qualifications. On the other, the course I did could do with some MAJOR improvements. I think it was our tutor though more so than the actual course.

amanonamission

Yapamillias wrote: »

I did the premier course in England and it was brilliant (havent done the NCEF etc so i cant compare). There is an open day where some of the larger fitness names come in and sell their brand to you. Its pretty easy to get a job over in the UK or Northern Ireland with that qualification, unfortunately dont expect many Irish gyms to recognise the qualification as much. Maybe its just the gyms I used to work in. Once you get your foot in the door, as Colm said, (no matter what qualification) its got nothing to do with your certification...fat loss, muscle gain, etc respond to a good program...and LOADS of enthuasim

I had considered doing the premier global qualifciation as well but its very expensive and it would have been another 5k or so for living expenses in london if I went over.

Saying that it does seem to be the most popular course of its type in the uk.

I would like to know what kind of job did you get after qualifying, was it hard to get work,are you working in ireland or the uk, are you a personal trainer now or just a fitness instructor, whats the money like.


Thanks again

celestial

Hey mate,

The topic comes up now and again on here, and probably the best thread you will ever read on it is here - you'll be glad of the read...! Will give you some food for thought.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055021424