Health, Exercise and Fitness Instruction Level 2

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  • Start Date: 01/09/2026
  • Course is for: School Leaver
  • Course Length: 1 Year
  • Funding Support Funding Support:
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This course will prepare you for work in the health and fitness industry.

This course is a pre requisite for the Level 3 Personal Training for Health, Fitness and Performance course, which will again provide you with the tools to make a successful career in Personal Training.

You will follow a study programme which includes tutorials, academy, career days, and personal social development and depending on GCSE results English and maths, all running alongside the main programme of course.

You will complete a relevant and meaningful work placement of 30 hours within the industry which will allow you to become more work ready and help get you ahead in the jobs market.

Course content

This course will prepare you for work in the health and fitness industry. You will study:

  • Anatomy and physiology covering the heart and circulatory system, the respiratory system, structure and function of the skeleton, musculoskeletal system, postural and core stability, the nervous and energy systems and their relation to exercise
  • How to maintain health, safety and welfare in a variety of fitness environments, including the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults
  • How to communicate with clients effectively and motivate clients to adhere to an exercise programme
  • Employment law, industry-specific legislation and procedures
  • The subsectors that make up the active leisure and learning sector
  • An understanding of the principles of customer service
  • An understanding of the benefits of a balanced diet and its contribution to a healthy lifestyle
  • How to plan and prepare group exercise sessions
  • How to programme a variety of safe and effective exercise sessions for a range of clients
  • How to instruct a variety of exercise sessions

You will also study:

  • Level 2 Instructing Circuits
  • Level 2 Instructing Kettlebells
  • Planning and designing health and fitness activity for children
  • Deliver a health and fitness activity for children

You will also study English and maths if you don’t already have a grade 4 or above in either of these subjects. The final part of your study programme is a fitness industry work placement.

Sport academies

You’ll have the opportunity to join one of our eight sport academies, where you will get:

  • Up to 4.5 hours of professional training each week, access to competitions and specialist
    sport academy coaches
  • Free access to physiotherapy assessments and treatment*
  • The opportunity to compete in local, national and international competitions
  • A personalised training and development programme
  • Access to some of the best facilities in the country with two 11-a-side 4G football pitches, sports science and medicine facilities, a performance lab, an aerobics studio and a superb 83m long athletics hall.

If you prefer not to join a sports academy you will become a member of our fitness academy group which takes part in and leads fitness activities at the Academy for Sport.

*subject to screening process

Required Entry Qualifications

Three GCSEs at 4 or above.

  • Course work
  • Two multiple choice exams in anatomy and principles of exercise
  • Practical demonstration assessment
  • Portfolio work

Our teachers are ambitious, talented and passionate about making your experience at college the very best it can be.

They have up to date industry experience to share with you and the energy and enthusiasm to help you to get where you need to be.

After the course you can progress onto a Level 3 course such as:

  • Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training
  • Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral for Specified Controlled Certificate in Personal Training
  • Level 3 Award in Programming and Supervising Exercise with Disabled Clients
  • Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga
  • Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates

Whatever support you need, we’re here for you and will make sure you get the most out of your time at college.

We have expert teams in place to look after every single one of our students.

Our specialist teams can help with:

  • Learning difficulties
  • Physical and sensory disabilities
  • Dyslexia, dyspraxia, neurodiversity or other specific learning difficulties
  • Mental health and well being
  • Exam access arrangements
  • Money, finance and bursary advice
  • Careers advice, job and university applications

See here for more information, pop into one of our enrolment events, call us on 0191 490 4627.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A QUALIFICATION IN HEALTH, EXERCISE AND FITNESS INSTRUCTION LEVEL 2?

  • Fitness and Wellbeing Instructors
  • Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials
  • Leisure and Sports Managers and Proprietors

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Psychology: Knowledge of human behaviour and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioural and affective disorders.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Median Salary
£19,441

Average Qualifications
Level 3 NVQ; A Levels

Find Out More

Knowledge

Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Psychology: Knowledge of human behaviour and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioural and affective disorders.

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Median Salary
£11,354

Average Qualifications
Level 3 NVQ; A Levels

Find Out More

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Personnel and Human Resources: Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labour relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Median Salary
£25,662

Average Qualifications
Level 3 NVQ; A Levels

Find Out More

Pathways

Sport, Leisure and Recreation
People in these occupations manage and participate in sporting events, provide physical training and coaching, and coordinate leisure and recreation activities.

Skills

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
View More About This Career

Skills

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
View More About This Career

Skills

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
View More About This Career
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JOIN OUR SPORTS ACADEMIES

Eight specialist sport academies, all offering first class training, coaching and playing opportunities for everyone, regardless of what you study.

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Bridging The Gap: Let’s Talk Talent

Thursday 11 June 2026

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Enrolment Event

Monday 15 June 2026

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School Leaver Course Guide 2026/2027

View or download our course guide for 16-18 year olds.

View Here
Gateshead College School leaver guide_26-27