Careers
Physical education lends itself to a range of careers in sports and fitness as well as other industries that you may not have considered before. For example, did you know that many nutritionists, physical therapists and chiropractors have a degree in PE?
Some careers that you could consider doing with PE include:
- Sports science
- PE teacher
- Physiotherapist
- Professional sportsperson
- Sports coach/consultant
- Sports policy at local and national level
- Diet and fitness instructor
- Personal trainer
TYPES OF CAREERS IN THE SPORT INDUSTRY
The physical fitness and good teamwork which come from an interest in physical education and playing sports can be useful in many different careers including leisure, sport and tourism, construction, education and training, armed forces, security and uniformed services, management, as well as animals, agriculture, plants and land.
PERSONAL TRAINER - What does a personal trainer do?
Personal trainers talk to clients to find out about their fitness level and health history. They would then:
- set realistic short-term and long-term goals and plan programmes for reaching them
- educate, motivate and coach clients to help them follow their programmes safely and effectively
- give clients advice on health, nutrition and lifestyle changes
- help clients with their workouts
- check and record clients' progress, using methods such as measuring heart rate and body-fat levels
In some cases you might work full-time as a gym instructor and do personal training outside your normal hours of work.
What do I need to do to become a personal trainer?
To become a personal trainer you would normally be an experienced fitness instructor with a recognised qualification, such as:
- Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing – Gym
- Level 2 Diploma in Health, Fitness, and Exercise Instruction
- Level 2 Diploma in Instructing Exercise and Fitness
You can take further qualifications specific to this career, which include:
- Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training
- Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training
Fitness instructor and personal trainer courses are widely available through colleges and private training providers.
Membership of a professional organisation, such as the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) or National Register of Personal Trainers (NRPT) is also a good way to demonstrate your competence and skills and can help to improve your career prospects.
If you are already a qualified fitness instructor, you could take the Level 3 Award in Conversion of Advanced Fitness Instructor to Personal Trainer Status. This allows you to change your membership status on the REPs to Personal Trainer.
To work as a personal trainer you must also have public liability insurance and a first aid award. This must include a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation certificate (CPR). Professional bodies can advise on this as well as tax, insurance and self-employment issues.
Vocational route
Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing – Gym
Level 2 Diploma in Health, Fitness, and Exercise Instruction
Level 2 Diploma in Instructing Exercise and Fitness
Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training
Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training
PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER – What does a teacher do?
Secondary school teachers teach children from the ages of 11 to 18. You will plan lessons and assess work based on standards set out in the curriculum (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have their own specific curriculum requirements). Communication skills and excellent literacy and numeracy skills are essential for this role.
What do I need to do to become a secondary school teacher?
To teach in a UK state school, you will need to a have a degree, and a recognised teaching qualification. There are a number of routes you can take to become a secondary school teacher.
You could follow an undergraduate Initial Teacher Education or Training (ITET) programme, such as a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree. This is generally a popular route for prospective primary school teachers, but some universities do offer secondary-level BEd programmes for some specialisms.
Alternatively, you could do a degree – this could be in a subject you wish to specialise in like maths, science, or English – then take a postgraduate teacher training programme, such as a PGCE or PGDE. You must have a degree in the subject you have chosen to teach (or a closely related one).
To get into university, you will need to have completed courses like GCSEs, Nationals, A levels, Highers, the International Baccalaureate, or Cambridge Pre-Us. You will also need to pass a police criminal records, or Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Essential qualifications
- Undergraduate education degree
- OR undergraduate degree AND a PGCE/PGDE
- DBS or police records check
SPORTS COACH – What is a sports coach?
Sports coaches train and coach amateur and professional athletes. You could be working one-on-one with an individual in sports like tennis, gymnastics or boxing, or you could be working with a group of people like a football, netball or rugby team.
As a sports coach, you’ll ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of the athletes you work with. You’ll make sure they can perform to the best of their abilities in competitions. You’ll need to be physically fit and understand all the rules of your chosen sport.
What do I need to do to become a sports coach?
To become a sports coach, you will need to have a coaching qualification that is recognised by the governing body for your sport.
If you're interested in taking a higher education qualification in sports science it would be helpful to take a science-related subject at A level. Check entry requirements with universities.
Relevant level 3 vocational courses (eg BTEC National Diploma science or sports and exercise science) are acceptable for some sports science degrees. Check with universities.
Essential qualifications
- Coaching qualification (see the website for the governing body of your sport for details)
Desirable qualifications
- Sports science degree
Other careers and info:
Follow this link to see some real-life sports careers options and testimonials from students studying sport at university:
https://kmpf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/284-22-KMPF-A5-sports-brochure-v6-FINAL.pdf