Advance your fitness career with our Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral. Learn from industry-experienced tutors, study online at your own pace, and gain the practical skills and confidence to plan, deliver, and monitor safe, effective exercise referral programmes for clients with common medical conditions.
£899 finance - £49.94/monthly
Develop the essential skills to plan, deliver, and evaluate safe and effective exercise referral programmes with confidence. Throughout this Level 3 Exercise Referral course, you’ll learn how to assess client needs, design personalised exercise plans, adapt activities for a variety of medical conditions, motivate and support clients, and ensure every programme is safe, effective, and results-driven.
Qualify as a Level 3 Exercise Referral Instructor in just 4-6 weeks. Study online flexibly, with up to 2 years to complete the course at your own pace.
You must hold a Level 3 Personal Training qualification or equivalent. This course is designed for qualified personal trainers who wish to specialise in exercise referral for clients with medical conditions.
Our Diploma Exercise Referral Course provides you with the knowledge and practical skills to design, deliver, and monitor exercise programmes for clients with medical conditions or special needs.
Unit 1: Planning Exercise Referral Programmes with Patients
Unit 2: Understanding Medical Conditions for Exercise Referral
Unit 3: Professional Practice for Exercise Referral Instructors
Unit 4: Instructing Exercise with Referred Patients
Unit 5: Anatomy and Physiology for Exercise and Health
Unit 6: Applying the Principles of Nutrition to a Physical Activity Programme
Coursework: Complete written assignments to demonstrate your understanding of exercise referral principles, anatomy, physiology, and safe practice.
Practical Video: Submit a recorded practical session showing your ability to instruct, monitor, and support clients safely and effectively.
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Become a fully qualified Level 3 Exercise Referral Instructor. Learn from experienced tutors, gain the knowledge and practical skills to plan, deliver, and evaluate safe, effective, and tailored exercise programmes for clients with medical conditions, and build a rewarding career helping participants improve their health, fitness, and overall wellbeing.
Qualified exercise referral instructors in the UK typically earn around £20,000-£30,000 per year, or £18-£25+ per hour for freelance or part-time work. With a Level 3 Exercise Referral qualification, earning potential increases, especially if you specialise, run tailored referral programmes, or work across gyms, studios, and online.
You can work in gyms, fitness studios, healthcare or rehabilitation centres, or operate independently as a self-employed exercise referral instructor. Many graduates also combine one-to-one client sessions with group programmes, run multi-week referral or rehabilitation courses, or specialise in areas such as mobility, strength, or functional fitness to help participants improve health, confidence, and overall wellbeing.
This qualification opens doors to roles as an exercise referral instructor, rehabilitation coach, or freelance fitness professional. You could specialise in areas such as personalised programme planning, delivering one-to-one or small-group sessions, monitoring client progress, running multi-week referral programmes, or designing exercise sessions tailored to clients with medical conditions and varying abilities.
Work full-time or part-time, freelance or employed in gyms, healthcare or rehabilitation centres, community facilities, or online. Many exercise referral instructors create flexible schedules, combining one-to-one client sessions, small-group programmes, and multi-week referral courses. With the right setup, you can build a working pattern that fits your lifestyle while helping clients improve health, mobility, strength, and overall wellbeing.
Our expert tutors have extensive experience delivering fitness and exercise referral qualifications both online and in person. Speak to one of our friendly advisors today to find out how you can start your journey as a qualified exercise referral instructor.
Join thousands of learners who have gained fitness and instructor qualifications and launched rewarding careers in gyms, healthcare and rehabilitation centres, community facilities, and online.
Book your course online or call us now on 01772 509143.
You’ll receive a fully recognised Level 3 Award certificate, equipping you to plan, deliver, and supervise safe, effective, and tailored exercise programmes for clients with medical conditions or specific referral needs.
You need to hold a Level 2 Gym Instructor or equivalent fitness qualification. This ensures you have the foundational knowledge and practical experience to safely work with clients in an exercise referral setting.
With extensive experience in fitness and instructor training, Diverse Trainers is one of the UK’s leading providers of CPD and specialist exercise qualifications. Our courses are nationally recognised, and thousands of graduates have successfully launched careers in gyms, rehabilitation centres, healthcare settings, and online.
The course is flexible and can be completed online at your own pace. Most learners qualify within 4-6 weeks, but you have up to 2 years to finish, allowing you to fit study around work, family, or other commitments.
The course includes 6 core units:
Unit 1: Principles of Exercise Referral
Unit 2: Anatomy and Physiology for Exercise Referral
Unit 3: Medical Conditions and Contraindications
Unit 4: Designing Exercise Programmes for Special Populations
Unit 5: Monitoring, Reviewing, and Evaluating Exercise Programmes
Unit 6: Professional Practice in Exercise Referral
Yes, the Level 3 Award is nationally recognised. Graduates can work in gyms, fitness and rehabilitation centres, healthcare settings, or freelance as exercise referral instructors. Many combine this qualification with one-to-one sessions, group programmes, or multi-week referral courses.
You’ll receive full support from expert tutors, access to an interactive online platform, video demonstrations, downloadable study materials, and guidance throughout your learning journey.
Yes, we offer flexible payment plans and instalment options, making it easy to start your training without delay. Contact our team for current offers.
Yes. After completing this award, you can progress to further professional development through other courses at Diverse Trainers. Many graduates go on to take additional CPD modules or specialist fitness qualifications such as Level 3 Personal Trainer, Sports Massage, Pilates, Strength & Conditioning, or other training pathways available on our site.
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