Frequently Asked Questions
& all the answers you need
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About FitAsylum
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Fitasylum is a small, independent training provider, not a national corporate chain.
We’re also government-approved and one of the few in the country that doesn’t outsource its government funding contract. That means we take full responsibility for your learning, from start to finish.
Unlike some providers, it’s us, not a college we’ve passed you onto, who’ll be inspected by Ofsted. We’re accountable, approachable, accessible and committed to giving you the real support you need to succeed.
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We deliver our courses in real gyms and training venues across the North West, giving you a proper, professional environment to learn in, not just online modules.
Our main hubs are:
Manchester – Holiday Inn at the Trafford Centre (Sports Massage)
Liverpool– Seaforth/Litherland (Personal Training) and Kirkby/Knowsley (Sports Massage)
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Our tutors are experienced fitness and sports massage professionals who’ve been where you are. They’re not just teachers, they’re still very active in the industry with years of hands-on experience. You’ll learn from:
David – Personal Training tutor, specialising in gym instructing and PT development.
Nathan – Sports Massage tutor, with a strong background in Sports Therapy and client care.
Zac – Qualified in both PT and Sports Massage, delivering Manchester-based courses.
Amy - Is a Sports massage therapist with years of industry and teaching experience.
Because we’re small and independent, your tutors will know you by name and guide you personally, with real support every step of the way.
Courses & Qualifications
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We specialise in health, fitness, and wellbeing qualifications designed to get you job-ready. Our current courses include:
Level 3 Gym Instructing & Personal Training– become a fully qualified PT with no previous experience.
Level 3 Sports Massage Therapy – start working with clients straight away.
Level 3 Personal Trainer Top-Up – for those who already have a gym instructing qualification.
Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy – advance your skills to work with more complex clients.
Level 3 Exercise Referral – be insured to train individuals who have got certain medical conditions like diabetes
Level 2 Gym Instructor - For those looking to work in gyms and deliver group classes only
Each course is blended learning, meaning you’ll study at home and attend practical, hands-on classroom days.
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Our courses aren’t designed as quick online fixes. We believe proper learning takes time, practice, and face-to-face guidance. That’s why all our programmes include in-person classroom days every fortnight, giving you hands-on experience with real people and real equipment. This approach ensures you graduate confident, competent, and ready to work — not just with a certificate on paper.
Level 3 Gym Instructing & Personal Training – around 24 weeks.
Level 3 Sports Massage Therapy – around 24 weeks.
Level 3 PT Top-Up – typically 18 weeks.
Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy – around 16 weeks.
Level 3 Exercise Referral - around 16 weeks
Level 2 Gym Instructing - 6 weeks
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Yes, all our qualifications are nationally recognised and awarded by Active IQ, one of the UK’s leading awarding organisations in health and fitness. Their certificates also travel extremely well, so if you’re looking to work abroad one day, they're the ones for you.
Our certificates also recognised by CIMSPA, the professional body for the fitness industry. This means when you qualify with us, you’ll hold the same standard of qualification as you would with any large provider, the difference is, you’ll get it with more personal support and accountability from a smaller, independent team.
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You don’t need any prior qualifications for our entry-level courses:
Level 2 Gym Instructing
Level 3 Gym Instructing & Personal Training
Level 3 Sports Massage Therapy
For other courses like the Level 3 PT Top-Up or Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy, you’ll need a relevant Level 2 or Level 3 qualification first. This ensures you’ve got the right foundation before moving up.
Funding & Payments
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Yes. Most of our courses can be fully or partially funded through the Advanced Learner Loan (subject to eligibility).
This means you don’t need to pay upfront, and you’ll only repay once you’re earning above the repayment threshold. For entry-level courses like the Level 2 Gym Instructing, funding may not be available, but we’ll always guide you through your options.
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The Advanced Learner Loan is a government scheme that covers your course fees. Here’s how it works:
You apply online through the Student Loans Company.
The loan is paid directly to Fitasylum, so you don’t need to worry about the admin.
You only start repaying when you earn over £27,000 a year (current threshold).
If your income drops below that, repayments pause.
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We hold our own Advanced Learner Loan contract, which means we’re subject to the same quality inspections as colleges, despite being a small, independent provider. That includes regular checks from Ofsted, the Education & Skills Funding Agency, Active IQ and CIMSPA.
This level of scrutiny ensures our courses meet the highest standards, giving you confidence that your training is not only government-approved, but also closely monitored for quality.
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The only discount we offer is for self-funded students who pay in full.
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Yes. If you’re currently serving or a veteran, you may be eligible for ELCAS (Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Services). This Ministry of Defence scheme can fully or partially cover the cost of your course. We’re an approved ELCAS training provider and can guide you through the application process.
Enrolment Process
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It starts with a quick online application form on our website.
From there, we’ll send you an automated email with a link to our registration form. Fill that out and your enrolment process begins.
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On average, the full process (application, assessments, and loan approval) can take around 6 days. Your official enrolment is then completed when you attend your first classroom day.
Support For Students
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You won’t be left on your own.
Our tutors are here to give you extra guidance in class and outside of class to answer questions. We also provide access to resources and learning materials to help you practise at home.
Because our groups are small, you’ll get more 1-to-1 support than you would with a large college.
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We don’t deliver Maths and English tuition ourselves, but you will have access to BKSB. A platform so that you can practice and develop those areas if you wish. We will also offer feedback on your coursework to help you, should you need it.
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Yes. We regularly support learners with dyslexia, ADHD, and other additional needs. Let us know on your application form, and our team will work with you to make adjustments, whether that’s extra time for assessments, different learning materials, or extra tutor check-ins.
Career & Progression
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Yes. While we can’t guarantee employment, we do give you the tools to get started, including CV support, interview prep, and business planning guidance. Many of our graduates go straight into work at gyms, clinics, or set up as self-employed.
Because our tutors still work in the industry, they can share real insight and connections that can help open doors.
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Absolutely. Once you’ve completed a Level 3, you can move on to advanced courses to expand your skills. For example:
Level 3 PT graduates can progress into Exercise Referral or add a Sports Massage qualification.
Level 3 Sports Massage graduates can step up to Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy.
We’ll always give you advice on the best next step depending on your goals.
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Your options depend on the course you choose:
Personal Training graduates often work in gyms, start their own PT business, or branch into online coaching.
Sports Massage graduates can work with athletes, in clinics, or run a self-employed practice.
Many combine the two, offering both PT and massage, to maximise income and client reach or to specialise in rehabilitation.
Going to university. Some people use these courses to build up their knowledge before going to university to study subjects sports science, sports therapy and physiotherapy.
Whichever route you choose, our focus is making sure you leave with the skills, confidence, and support to succeed.
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Yes! Our Level 3 qualifications are recognised on the UCAS Tariff, meaning they can contribute UCAS points towards a university application.
L3 Gym Instructing and Personal Training has a combined total of 39 UCAS points
L3 Sports Massage will give you 24 UCAS points
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Yes. Once you’ve successfully completed your qualification, your tutor can provide a formal reference to support your university application on top of UCAS points you’ll earn from completing.