ELCAS personal trainer courses, built for military life

Turn your service into a career in fitness. Your Enhanced Learning Credits cover up to 80% of a nationally recognised qualification, you study flexibly around deployment, resettlement or civvy life, and our dedicated ELCAS coordinator handles the paperwork.

  • ELCAS Approved (No. 10278)
  • Armed Forces Covenant Signatory
  • CIMSPA Endorsed, Ofqual Regulated
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What ELCAS funding means for you

The Enhanced Learning Credits scheme is an MOD initiative that helps serving personnel and service leavers pay for higher level learning. Here is the short version.
80%

Covered by your ELC

ELCAS pays up to 80% of your course fee directly. You never handle that part of the money.

20%

Your contribution

You pay the remaining 20%. On our most popular course that is £271.60 for a full Level 3 personal training qualification.

£0

Hidden costs

ELCAS pricing is fixed. No sales gimmicks, no online-only discounts that quietly disappear, and the price you see on this page is the price you pay.

Am I eligible? You are likely to qualify if:

  • You are serving in the British Armed Forces, or have left within your ELC claim window
  • You registered for the ELC scheme and have accrued enough qualifying service
  • You have unclaimed ELC instalments remaining (most people have three)
  • Your chosen course is Level 3 or above, which all of ours are

Not sure? That is completely normal, the rules have plenty of small print. Send us your details and our ELCAS coordinator will check for you, no obligation.

Built for people who serve

We have supported serving personnel and veterans into fitness careers for years. Here is what that experience looks like in practice.
Approved ELCAS provider
Fitness career specialists
Study anywhere
Covenant signatory
Transition support

Home of Premier Global

Study Active are official custodians of the Premier Global brand, widely known as the gold standard for military resettlement training in the health and fitness sector. Today we continue that legacy of trust and integrity, serving those who served.

Discipline. Fitness. Leadership. You already have what this career takes.

The Armed Forces build exactly the qualities that make outstanding personal trainers. Hear how service leavers have used their ELCAS funding to retrain with Study Active, and what their week looks like now.

Our ELCAS approved personal trainer courses

Personal training is what most of our ELCAS students come for, and it is where we specialise. Your credits work just as hard on the nutrition and specialist courses below, too. Every course is Level 3 or above, nationally recognised and approved for ELCAS funding. Tap any course for full details, no need to leave this page.
Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing & Personal Training Our most popular route. Beginner friendly, no prior qualifications needed.
Course fee £1,358
ELCAS pays £1,086.40
You pay £271.60
Course fee £1,358
ELCAS pays £1,086.40
You pay £271.60
Overview

A CIMSPA-endorsed, Ofqual-regulated diploma that takes you from complete beginner to fully qualified personal trainer. Home study, e-learning, webinars and practical workshops let you fit training around service life.

Who it suits

Anyone starting from scratch who wants the full gym instructor plus personal trainer package in one course.

What you will cover
  • All Level 2 gym units, applied anatomy and physiology
  • Exercise and health nutrition
  • Programme delivery for personal training
  • Business skills for personal trainers
Entry requirements 16+, no prior quals
Level Level 3 Diploma
Learning Online + workshops
Assessment Coursework + exams
CPD 10 CIMSPA points
Ask about this course
Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training For those who already hold a Level 2 gym qualification.
Course fee £999
ELCAS pays £799.20
You pay £199.80
Course fee £999
ELCAS pays £799.20
You pay £199.80
Overview

The CIMSPA-endorsed, Ofqual-regulated Level 3 Personal Training Diploma, including a compulsory Level 3 nutrition module. Blended learning with e-learning, webinars, video tutorials, practical workshops and ongoing tutor support.

Who it suits

PTIs and fitness professionals who already hold Level 2 Gym Instructing and want the full personal trainer qualification.

What you will cover
  • Anatomy and physiology for exercise and health
  • Designing, delivering and evaluating PT programmes
  • Nutrition principles to support client goals
  • Planning, marketing and selling your services
Entry requirements Level 2 Gym Instructor
Level Level 3 Diploma
Learning Blended, online-led
Assessment Coursework + exams
CPD 10 CIMSPA points
Ask about this course
Level 3 Diploma: Supporting Clients with Long-term Conditions Work in GP referral schemes and specialist populations.
Course fee £774
ELCAS pays £619.20
You pay £154.80
Course fee £774
ELCAS pays £619.20
You pay £154.80
Overview

Qualifies you to work within GP referral schemes or independently with clients managing long-term conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, osteoporosis, COPD and mental health disorders.

Who it suits

Qualified fitness professionals who want to specialise, stand out and open doors into gyms, leisure centres and referral schemes.

What you will cover
  • Applied anatomy and physiology for health and fitness
  • Managing long-term conditions
  • Planning and adapting physical activity
  • Behaviour change for clients with long-term conditions
Entry requirements L2 fitness or L3 PT
Level Level 3 Diploma
Learning Fully online
Assessment E-assessments + case studies
CPD 10 CIMSPA points
Ask about this course
Level 3 Award: Supporting Pre & Postnatal Clients Exercise and nutrition for pregnancy and beyond.
Course fee £299
ELCAS pays £239.20
You pay £59.80
Course fee £299
ELCAS pays £239.20
You pay £59.80
Overview

Learn to programme safe, effective exercise for pre and postnatal clients, covering the physiological changes of pregnancy and the health and safety considerations that come with them.

Who it suits

Working fitness professionals, including gym instructors, PTs, Pilates instructors and yoga teachers, who want to support this growing client group safely.

What you will cover
  • Physical and biomechanical changes through pregnancy
  • Client screening and assessment
  • Programming and adapting safe sessions
  • Nutritional support for pre and postnatal clients
Entry requirements L2 fitness or L3 PT
Level Level 3 Award
Learning Fully online
Assessment Case studies + worksheets
CPD 10 CIMSPA points
Ask about this course
Level 4 Nutrition (RSPH) The prestigious RSPH Level 4 Award, beginner friendly.
Course fee £999
ELCAS pays £799.20
You pay £199.80
Course fee £999
ELCAS pays £799.20
You pay £199.80
Overview

The RSPH-accredited, Ofqual-regulated Level 4 Award in Nutrition. Become a certified nutrition coach with a qualification that sits a level above most in the industry.

Who it suits

Anyone who wants to coach nutrition professionally, from complete beginners to PTs adding a serious specialism.

What you will cover
  • Sources, functions and uses of macro and micronutrients
  • Energy, nutrient and hydration needs across life stages
  • The effects of diet on health
  • Food labelling and advertising legislation
Entry requirements 16+, no prior quals
Level Level 4 Award
Learning Online + workshops
Assessment Coursework + exams
CPD 10 CIMSPA points
Ask about this course

A note on our pricing: ELCAS course fees are fixed and set with the MOD, so they are not affected by sales or online discounts you may see elsewhere on our site. The figures above are exactly what ELCAS pays and exactly what you contribute.

Popular course bundles

Most ELCAS funding entitlements provide sufficient scope to "bundle" multiple courses together. These bundles are the combinations our students choose most, designed to maximise your credits and your career options.
Most popular

ELCAS PT Bundle A

The complete fitness and nutrition combination. Qualify as a personal trainer and advise on diet as the go-to expert.

  • Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing & Personal Training
  • L4 Nutrition (RSPH)
Combined course fee £2,357
ELCAS pays £1,885.60
You pay £471.40
Ask about this bundle

ELCAS PT Bundle B

Personal training plus specialist skills for pre and postnatal clients and long-term conditions, a broad, employable skill set.

  • Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing & Personal Training
  • L3 Pre & Postnatal Award
  • L3 Supporting Clients with Long-term Conditions
Combined course fee £2,431
ELCAS pays £1,944.80
You pay £486.20
Ask about this bundle

ELCAS PT Bundle C

A complete women's health pathway: personal training, pre and postnatal expertise and advanced nutrition.

  • Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing & Personal Training
  • L3 Pre & Postnatal Award
  • L4 Nutrition (RSPH)
Combined course fee £2,656
ELCAS pays £2,124.80
You pay £531.20
Ask about this bundle

ELCAS Funding Calculator

Build your own package. Pick up to four courses and your ELCAS voucher value, then hit calculate to see exactly what ELCAS pays and what you contribute.
Package total £0.00
ELCAS funding approved £0.00
Your personal contribution £0.00

ELCAS covers up to 80% of your package cost, capped at your voucher value, whichever is lower. You pay the remaining balance.

Send me info on this package

13 years in the Army. Now he owns the gym.

Richard Harvey served 13 years in the British Army, boxing for his regiment along the way. When he left in February 2020, he used his ELCAS funding to train with Study Active, completing his Level 2 Fitness Instructing and Level 3 Personal Training qualifications, plus specialist modules in exercise referral and pre and postnatal training.

"Thanks to the number of years I served, I was allowed full access to the larger amount of ELCAS funding."

Richard went on to open The Hurt Locker Bridport, a hybrid gym built around functional kit, weights, tractor tyres and battle ropes. Of the people who walk in for a look, 98% sign up.

Leadership, discipline, fitness and the ability to motivate a team. You built those skills in service. This industry is waiting for them.

As featured in: Civvy Street Magazine · Quest Magazine

Start your own story

How ELCAS funding works with us

Five steps, and our ELCAS coordinator does the heavy lifting on the admin.

Stuck at any step? Call 0345 017 8733 and ask for the ELCAS team. We have walked hundreds of personnel through this process.

1
Choose your course

Pick from the ELCAS-approved qualifications above, or let us help you decide.

2
Submit your ELC claim

Apply through the ELCAS portal with Study Active (provider 10278) as your chosen provider.

3
Receive your CAN

Once approved, ELCAS sends you a Claim Authorisation Note.

4
Send us your CAN

Our coordinator invoices your 20% contribution, bills ELCAS for the rest and uploads everything to the portal for you.

5
Start your course

Payment confirmed, you are in. Full support from our expert tutors from day one.

We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant

The Covenant is a promise that those who serve, and those who have served, are treated fairly. For us it is not a logo, it is how we operate: fixed ELCAS pricing, flexible study built around service life, and a dedicated coordinator who understands the resettlement process because they work with it every day.

Why a career in fitness?

With over 11 million UK gym members and a market worth more than £6 billion, health and fitness is growing fast. And the qualities it rewards are the ones the Forces gave you.
Fast track to earnings
Own your schedule
Stay mission fit
Purpose, still

You do not just qualify. You launch.

Every graduate gets access to our Career Growth Accelerator: one-to-one CV guidance, interview preparation with our in-house recruitment specialist, guaranteed interviews for personal training graduates, and practical tools for going self-employed.
Find out more

Over 800 glowing reviews

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
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ELCAS funding FAQs

How much of my course will ELCAS cover?

Up to 80% of the course fee, paid directly to us. You cover the remaining 20%.

Are your personal trainer courses ELCAS approved?

Yes. Study Active is an approved ELCAS provider (number 10278), and every course on this page, personal training included, is eligible for funding.

Do I need any fitness qualifications to start?

No. Our Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing & Personal Training course and Level 4 Nutrition are both open to complete beginners.

Can I use my funding on more than one course?

Yes. Most personnel have up to three ELC instalments, which is exactly what our bundles are designed for.

How long does ELCAS approval take?

Typically a few weeks. Apply at least 25 working days before your intended start date and you will be fine.

Why are the prices here different from your main site?

ELCAS prices are fixed with the MOD, so seasonal sales and online discounts do not apply. What you see on this page is the real, final figure.

Can I study while still serving or deployed?

Yes. Courses are online-led, self-paced, and built to flex around postings and deployments.

What happens after I send my details?

You get the course pack by email, then a short, pressure-free call from our ELCAS team to check your eligibility and answer questions.

View all

Your next posting: the fitness industry

Send us your details and we will do the rest: your free course pack, an eligibility check, and a friendly chat about which course or bundle fits your goals.

Prefer to talk now? Call 0345 017 8733 or email info@studyactive.co.uk

Download a Course Brochure

Please fill out this form to get your brochure right away!

*By submitting this form you agree to Study Active processing your data regarding your enquiry in accordance with our privacy policy

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