Most personal training courses are just ticket-collecting exercises. The Edinburgh PT Academy 10-Week Certification is built for people who want to truly understand the human body, coach clients to real lasting results, and build a career that does not burn out after two years.
In 10 Saturdays you will complete 40 hours of hands-on studio practice, work through a built-in business school, and graduate with a CIMSPA-approved, Ofqual-regulated qualification — plus a guaranteed job interview with Edinburgh’s top gym partners.
Next intake: February 28th · Every Saturday 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Maximum 10 students per cohort.
This is not just a qualification. Everything below is included in your investment — no hidden extras, no upsells.
What Is Included
- 40 hours of hands-on studio practice with real clients
- 10 Saturday workshops covering every core personal training topic
- CIMSPA-approved and Ofqual-regulated professional qualification
- Built-in business school — marketing, legal, finance, and client management
- Monthly mentorship calls with James McKeen (22 years of industry experience)
- Direct trainer shadowing opportunities throughout the course
- Lifetime access to the online portal and all course resources
- Guaranteed job interview with Edinburgh gym partners on completion
Learning Outcomes
By the end of 10 weeks you will have the knowledge, practical skill, and business foundation to work professionally as a personal trainer from day one.
- How to assess every client using advanced movement and postural analysis
- The Big 5 movement patterns — Squat, Hinge, Push, Pull, Single Leg — with setup cues, regressions and progressions
- How to design fat loss, muscle gain, and athletic performance programmes backed by real science
- Nutrition fundamentals — macronutrients, energy balance, BMR calculations, and practical nutrition coaching
- How to coach special populations including injured, neurodivergent, and menopausal clients
- How to run a profitable PT business — marketing, legal obligations, cash flow, and client retention
- How to use technology, scheduling apps, and automation to serve more clients efficiently
Features
- 40 hours of hands-on studio practice — not just online theory
- Built-in business school included at no extra cost
- CIMSPA and Ofqual approved — recognised by every gym in the UK
- Maximum 10 students per cohort — direct 1-to-1 mentorship
- Guaranteed job interview with Edinburgh gym partners on completion
- 0% finance via Klarna — pay in 3 monthly instalments
Target audiences
- Anyone passionate about fitness who wants to turn it into a career
- Working professionals who need a course that fits around their week
- Existing PTs who want a higher-level CIMSPA qualification
- People who want real studio hours, not just online theory
- Neurodivergent learners who need flexible, supported study
Requirements
- No prior personal training experience required
- Must be available every Saturday 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM for 10 weeks
- Must be based in or able to travel to Edinburgh
- A genuine passion for health, fitness, and helping others
The 10 Workshops
You will attend 10 practical Saturday workshops. Each one builds on the last so that by week 10 you are confident, competent, and ready to work professionally as a personal trainer.
- Week 1 — Assessment & Foundations: Posture, movement analysis, identifying deviations, and client intake consultations.
- Week 2 — Mobility & Flexibility: Core stability vs core strength, joint function, skeletal structure, and corrective exercise protocols.
- Week 3 — The Big 5 Movements: Squat, Hinge, Push, Pull, Single Leg — setup cues, common faults, regressions and progressions.
- Week 4 — Fat Loss Programming: Energy systems, energy balance, BMR calculations, and how to design effective fat loss programmes.
- Week 5 — Hypertrophy & Muscle Gain: Muscle fibre mechanics, progressive overload strategies, and proven hypertrophy programming.
- Week 6 — Athletic Performance: Conditioning science, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and sport-specific programming.
- Week 7 — Nutrition Fundamentals: Macronutrients, micronutrients, food label reading, balanced plate design, and real-world nutrition coaching.
- Week 8 — Client Consultations: Role plays, case study analysis, and coaching special populations — injured, neurodivergent, and menopausal clients.
- Week 9 — Programme Design: Exercise prescription, periodisation, corrective exercise programming, and building complete programmes for any goal.
- Week 10 — Business & Career Launch: Marketing, legal obligations, cash flow, job placement support, and your full career roadmap.
Investment & Payment Options
Pay in Full: £1,850 — single secure payment via Stripe.
Pay via Klarna: 3 x £616.67 — 0% APR interest-free credit. Must be 18+ and a UK resident.
Representative Example: 0% APR. Total credit: £1,850. Total payable: £1,850 (3 monthly payments of £616.67). McKeen Performance & Education Ltd acts as a credit broker, not a lender.
Refund Policy
You have a 14-day cooling-off period from the date of purchase. Full refund if no course materials have been accessed.
Edinburgh Personal Training Academy. Trading name of McKeen Performance & Education Ltd. Company No. SC875112. Course Location: F45 West Edinburgh House, Pentland Gait Business Park, 597 Calder Road, Currie, Edinburgh EH11 4HJ.
Curriculum
- 10 Sections
- 0 Lessons
- 10 Weeks
- Week 1 — Assessment & FoundationsClient intake consultation process. Advanced postural assessment. Identifying movement deviations. How to meet every client exactly where they are.0
- Week 2 — Mobility & FlexibilityCore stability vs core strength. Joint function and range of motion. Skeletal structure. Corrective exercise protocols for common mobility restrictions.0
- Week 3 — The Big 5 MovementsSquat, Hinge, Push, Pull, Single Leg. Setup and execution cues. Common faults and real-time corrections. Regressions and progressions for every client level.0
- Week 4 — Fat Loss ProgrammingEnergy systems science. Energy balance and BMR calculations. Designing effective fat loss programmes. What the research actually says about fat loss.0
- Week 5 — Hypertrophy & Muscle GainMuscle fibre mechanics. Nervous system control. Progressive overload strategies. Programming for muscle gain in beginners, intermediates, and advanced clients.0
- Week 6 — Athletic PerformanceConditioning science and effective intensity. Cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Endocrine responses to training. Sport-specific programme design.0
- Week 7 — Nutrition FundamentalsMacronutrients and micronutrients. Digestive system basics. Food label reading. Building a balanced nutrition plan for any client goal.0
- Week 8 — Client ConsultationsConsultation role plays. Real case study analysis. Coaching special populations — injured, neurodivergent, older adults, menopausal clients. Building long-term client trust.0
- Week 9 — Programme DesignExercise prescription and periodisation. Corrective exercise programming. Building complete 12-week programmes for fat loss, muscle gain, and performance goals.0
- Week 10 — Business & Career LaunchMarketing your PT business. Legal obligations and insurance. Cash flow and pricing your services. Job placement support and your guaranteed interview with Edinburgh gym partners.0
FAQs
Instructor
James McKeen has 22 years of experience in the fitness industry and has personally trained and assessed over 50 fitness professionals. He established the Edinburgh PT Academy because he saw a gap — too many trainers focused on quick fixes, not enough focused on longevity and real health transformation.
James was mentored by Charles Poliquin, one of the world's leading transformation coaches. He holds qualifications in Conditioning (8 Weeks Out Specialist), Sports Massage Therapy, Precision Nutrition (PN Master Coach), Behaviour Change and Habit Formation, and Menopause Coaching.
"With 22 years of experience in the fitness industry, I've seen what works and what doesn't. I started this Academy to train PTs who deliver real, lasting results for their clients."
