If you’re someone who is passionate about teaching fitness classes and in particular BODYPUMP, you’re in the right place.
We're going to show you how you can become a body pump class instructor, what qualifications are needed, how much you can earn, cost involved, modules covered and how to get started.
Before you can qualify and become a BODYPUMP Instructor, you need one of two qualifications.
You either need to complete a Level 2 in Fitness Instructing qualification or a Level 2 in Exercise to Music certificate.
See here this BODYPUMP instructor job posted by David Lloyds where they are looking for someone that has either the Level 2 ETM or Level 2 Fitness Instructing, as well as the BODYPUMP Instructor qualification:
My advice would be to get the Level 2 in Fitness Instructing as it opens more doors within the health and fitness sector than the Exercise to Music course.
For example, if you wanted to progress into offering one to one personal training or complete a more advanced Level 4 course, you will need the Level 2 in Fitness Instructing as a prerequisite requirement.
Find out below how to pick a high quality training provider before to undertake your Level 2 with before moving onto complete your BODYPUMP qualification.
You need an accredited course that is both Ofqual regulated and CIMSPA recognised. Ofqual is the regulator of all vocational courses, which is run by the government, whilst CIMSPA is a private accreditor that recognises training excellence.
Always check neutral review sites such as Trustpilot or Review Centre for what previous customers have had today about the service, quality of the teaching and learning materials. Look at the total number of reviews as well as the overall score.
Training Provider OriGym has the most reviews and the highest 5 star percentage of reviews on Trustpilot for example:
Another tell, tell sign for a high quality training provider is whether their training has been recognised by third parties in terms of awards or accolades:
The main award in the Fitness sector is the British Fitness Awards, but there are others like the Active Training Awards and the National Fitness Awards.
Training Provider OriGym are the current British Fitness Awards Training provider of the Year.
Everyone needs help, support and guidance when completing their fitness instructing qualification.
How much, in what format and when that support is offered is going to play a key role in how you get qualified.
Some cheap online course providers only provide email support and can take days to get back to you, but that is why they’re cheap.
Whilst others will have service and customer experience at the forefront of their agenda where they offer email, phone, chat box and video calls so that you can get the help and support you really need.
If you’re going to be studying the course on evenings and weekends, you should also take a look at the company's opening hours. Most providers only open Monday - Friday - 9am - 5:30pm, but what happens if you need support on the evening or the weekend?
This is where more customer focused providers offer 7 days per week tutor support as they understand this is when the majority of their learner base will be studying the course and may require assistance:
You might not think this matters too much, but you want to opt for a company that has at least 5 years worth of trading behind it.
This demonstrates that the company has a proven track record of success, is customer focused and most importantly, that your investment is safe.
A training provider called Fit Learn entered the industry a few years ago offering fitness Instructing courses for less than half the price of the next competitor.
Unfortunately, this was a scam and left hundreds of people without their qualifications and out of hundreds of pounds and the two individuals running the "provider" ended up being jailed (see below).
If they had checked how long the company had been running though, they might have realised that giving their money over to a company with less than12 months worth of trade is a huge risk:
All top quality training providers will have demo videos of their e-learning platforms and resources as they want to show off their course structure and materials to you:
The quality of the learning material and how that material is presented to you will play a huge part in your overall experience. You might prefer more audio based content or be someone who likes a hardback manual that you can make notes on.
Active Careers has Partnered with UK Training Provider of the Year, OriGym. All OriGym courses are CIMSPA recognised and they have the highest reviews on Trustpilot of any training company in the UK
Les Mills is both the creator and trademark owner of BODYPUMP. Les Mills is a New Zealand based company that operates globally and they are the only provider where you gain your BODYPUMP qualification.
Only with this qualification will you be able to legitimately deliver BODYPUMP classes within a gym or as a freelance class instructor.
You can become a BODYPUMP Instructor via completing their training online or via attending one of their designated venues.
Les Mills charges £425 as their standard price for your training, which is the same for both in-person and online.
They do however offer an early bird registration price of £380 and a full registration price of £470 if you are looking to jump on a course last minute:
In order to become a BODYPUMP Teacher you will have to firstly book onto the course, complete the pre-work requirements, attend the initial training and then submit a video of you teaching a class in order to pass.
Below we have outlined everything that is covered in the course, what you will learn and what you will need to do to get started:
To become a BODYPUMP Instructor, 3 weeks prior to training commencing you will be expected to learn two tracks that they send you, which you will have to film yourself doing and then submit to your relevant assessor.
You will also be expected to complete the tasks and watch the training videos illustrated within the BODYPUMP Instructor handbook and will have a 1 hour video call with your designated trainer who will outline the pre-work requirements and provide help and support.
It is highly recommended that you also attend as many BODYPUMP classes as you can via licensed instructor and continue to practice the tracks they have sent you so that you’re well versed ahead of the initial training.
The training is primarily designed for fitness professionals already familiar with class structures and delivery and that are physically capable as the training is fairly strenuous.
What you Need for The Initial Training
You will need to bring food and water as this is not provided for you.
Notepad and pen for note taking
Multiple change of clothes as you will be exercising throughout the day
A device to access your digital training materials and your homework such as your phone, ipad or laptop
You will need to bring headphones too
If you’re doing the online training, you will need all of the above plus a device that has a stable internet connection, a camera and microphone that works.
Although you will spend most of the day learning the choreographed movements, you will also learn:
Why exercises are executed in a particular way
How to make the class enjoyable, engaging and effective for class attendees
The benefits of classes to its attendees
How to interpret, understand and learn choreography
How to keep class attendees safe
How to perform the exercises and identify correct exercise form
The course is very practically oriented, but also addresses the theoretical components via group discussions and lectures.
In order to qualify as a BODYPUMP Instructor you will need to film yourself teaching a live class where you demonstrate competency across the three main areas; Coaching, technique and Choreography.
You will be guided by your trainer on the requirements of the video submission, but see below what you will need to via our checklist:
You must film with a 45 degree angle
Try and use a smart phone or tablet
Avoid using Go Pros or laptops as the quality
Perform a sound test prior to filming
Ensure the lights are turned on
Use a mp4 or MOV. file format as this is compatible with Les Mill’s Training platform
Do not edit the video or start and stop when filming
At least 5 participants are visible in the video
Submit your video within 60 days of the initial training
Once you have submitted your video for assessment, it normally takes 14 days to become a certified BODYPUMP Instructor and you will then need to upload your certificate to Les Mills Connect, which is a platform created by Les Mills that can connect you to employers and employers to you.
Once you have become a certified BODYPUMP Instructor, Les Mills will keep you updated with the latest Choreography, music and provide you with marketing material and guides on how to become a great class instructor.
It is strongly advised that upon completion of your training that you download the Les Mills autoship app via either Google Play or App store as this will “autoship” your latest workouts and music via the app.
Autoship costs 35 New Zealand dollars per class, which equates to £15.98. You will have to pay this every quarter when a new release is administered.
If you already have or were planning on adding other Les Mills based qualifications to your arsenal, you will have to pay for those releases too.
You can freeze your autoship membership for up to 6 months, before payments will automatically renew.
Les Mills offers all their instructors under their remit the opportunity to get their class evaluated and gain feedback from a Les Mills assessor to which they assign you a Level to recognise your work.
A grade review costs 70 New Zealand dollars, which equates to £31.95:
There is a couple of ways you can start working as a BODYPUMP Instructor in the UK:
If you want to find companies that hire BODYPUMP Instructors then a good starting point is a site like ours. We are a fitness exclusive jobs board, where you can find everything from Class Instructing positions from some of the biggest names in the fitness industry such as JD Gyms and Pure Gym through to small studios and Leisure Centres:
You can become a freelance class instructor, teaching BODYPUMP classes from different gyms in your area.
Due to the large scale of gym operators that offer BODYPUMP classes there is plenty of classes running at different times of the day.
You can use Les Mill's venue finder and filter by BODYPUMP Classes to find gyms in your area that you can approach to see if they need classes covered:
You can progress your career in a few different directions or combine multiple routes together.
Les Mills is a group exercise specific provider that offers a huge range of other classes that you might enjoy teaching such as BODYCOMBAT, BODYATTACK or BODYSTEP:
Offering a variety of classes will make you more employable to gyms that offer a series of different classes on their timetable.
Additionally, you will be able to find more classes to teach if you're equipped in multiple disciplines as sometimes gyms offer one type of Les Mills class but not another.
Lastly you can look at classes out of Les Mill's remit, such as zumba, spin, hyrox or circuits.
An ambition for some is to become a Les Mills BODYPUMP Trainer or assessor.
When you undergo your training, the individual conducting the training and the person who marks your video submission is an assessor.
Les Mills does not promote these types of roles anywhere other than via their own website as they always promote from within their repertoire of qualified instructors.
A Les Mills BODYPUMP Trainer though is someone who helps deliver the content of the training on Initial Training days, they are their to help aspiring instructors realise their potential and help educate them on the core pillars of Les Mill's classes.
If you want to add 1-2-1 client training as an extra string to your bow then adding the Level 3 in Personal Training is a great way of adding an extra income stream to fill gaps in your schedule.
You can offer personal training online or deliver extra face to face sessions at the gym you're teaching at or via the comfort of your own home.
You can become a class studio manager or co-ordinator where you will drive the attendance figures of classes in a gym and help market the classes to attract new customers.
You will decide which classes are on the timetable and at what times as well as overseeing the hiring of new instructors and report on class retention figures and sales.
If you enjoy the management aspect of the role, then you can further progress your career by becoming a gym manager and working your way up to roles such as National Group Exercise Manager
To become a BODYPUMP Instructor, you need a Level 2 in either ETM or Fitness Instructing, then navigate to Les Mills and complete your BODYPUMP initial training the best way that suits your needs. Film and submit your class against their guidelines and then start applying for jobs or offering your own classes.