How to Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach

By becoming a strength and conditioning coach you will work with some of the world’s premier athletes, creating workout programmes designed to improve performance levels and physical fitness.  

To help you gain a better understanding of this role and how you can pursue it, this article will explore:

• What A Strength And Conditioning Coach Job Involves
• The Qualifications Required To Become A Strength And Conditioning Coach
• Where You Can Work As A Strength And Conditioning Coach
• The Insurance You Need To Become A Strength And Conditioning Coach
• How You Can Develop Your Business As A Strength & Conditioning Coach

If you want to create bespoke workout programmes for clients of all abilities enquire about OriGym’s Personal Training Diploma. Upon completion, you will be qualified to work with a wider demographic from gymgoers to athletes.

Alternatively, you can download our free course prospectus to learn more about this course!

What A Strength And Conditioning Coach Job Involves

To understand how to become a strength and conditioning coach you need to know what the role involves.

Strength and conditioning coaches primarily work with athletes, helping them to advance their physical fitness as they prepare to compete in events.

This form of training is extremely beneficial for athletes as it helps to build their physical endurance and overall strength. In addition to this, it’s also been found to improve range of motion and significantly reduce the risk of injuries. 

Whilst working as a strength and conditioning coach, you’ll be responsible for fulfilling duties such as:

• Writing tailored programmes for athletes
• Creating periodised workout schedules
• Carrying out team training and one-on-one sessions
• Monitoring the physical and mental well-being of athletes
• Liaising with medical staff to help with the rehabilitation of athletes

Keep in mind that the job description of a strength and conditioning coach and their corresponding responsibilities will differ depending on where you’re employed. 

For example, you could find employment in locations such as:

• Professional sports teams and athletes
• Gyms & Fitness Clubs
• Schools, colleges and universities 

When searching ‘how to become a strength and conditioning coach’ many aspiring professionals will simply be interested in learning about the position’s salary. 

According to our research, the average salary of a Strength and Conditioning coach is £26,165 per year. However, this could increase depending on a variety of factors, including how much experience you have, and whether you work with professionals or amateur athletes.

To learn more about your earning potential, check out our in-depth article on ‘the average salary of a strength and conditioning coach’ here.

The Qualifications Required To Become A Strength And Conditioning Coach

To become a strength and conditioning coach in the UK, you’ll need to undergo training and receive the correct qualifications.

There are two main pathways you can take when pursuing this career: either you can attend university and study for a higher education degree, or you can enrol on a vocational training course.

Let’s explore these options in more detail.

#1 Become A Strength And Conditioning Coach With A University Degree

There are select universities across the UK that offer undergraduate courses specialising in strength and conditioning.

For example, at Brighton University you can enrol on their Strength and Conditioning BSc (Hons) degree, which can take up to three years to complete.

As evident from the screenshot below, the University highlights students' employment prospects following the completion of this course. Specifically mentioning their work placements and associations with the likes of English Basketball and Netball: 

When deciding what qualification is right for you, it’s important to remember that this is an undergraduate course and is therefore a costly investment to pursue. Below, we have listed the annual fees for both UK and International students:

After completing this undergraduate course you could be left with a minimum of £27,250 in debt. Interest rates could then inflate this number, meaning you’ll be paying back even more over time. 

#2 Complete A Vocational Course To Become A Strength and Conditioning Coach

People have the misconception that completing a vocational course to become a strength and conditioning coach carries less value than holding a university degree.

However, these qualifications are just as valuable in the eyes of employers and have significantly grown in popularity among aspiring professionals. 

This is because vocational training courses are beneficial if you’re a student:

• Operating on a budget- Most of these qualifications cost a fraction of what it would cost to study for one year at university. In addition to this, they can also be paid for upfront or in instalments to suit your financial needs. 
• Wanting to qualify quickly- Many aspiring professionals are off put by the thought of studying for 3+ years. But with vocational training, you can qualify in a matter of weeks. 
• Looking to be in demand with employers- Employers will often list vocational training courses among their desired attributes of a candidate, some may even list variations rather than one specific certification. 

Whilst there are vocational training courses that specifically focus on strength and conditioning, many employers will also consider applicants who are qualified personal trainers. 

For example, below you can see a job advertisement for a Strength and Conditioning coach position at Virgin Active. Here they list that the desired applicant will hold at least a Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification:

But just because employers will consider applicants who hold a PT qualification, does not mean that the two roles are the same. To learn more about this particular topic, check out our article exploring the differences between personal trainers vs strength and conditioning coaches. 

Where You Can Work As A Strength And Conditioning Coach

As stated in the introduction of this article, you can become a strength & conditioning coach by finding employment at one of the following institutions:

• Professional sports teams and athletes 
• Gyms & Fitness Clubs
• Schools, colleges and universities 
• Your own strength and conditioning business

Let’s take a look at some of the responsibilities you’ll be required to carry out in each of these institutions and how much you could earn whilst employed in this capacity. 

#1 Professional Sports Teams And Athletes

If you’re researching ‘how to become a strength and conditioning coach’ it’s likely you desire to work with professional athletes at an elite level.

It’s understandable why this role is so attractive to many aspiring professionals. As an S&C coach at this level, you could earn between £35,000-£40,000+ per year, a figure which is highlighted below from British Swimming:

The role would require you to develop strength and conditioning programmes for para-swimmers.

They will use those programmes to strengthen, adjust, and taper their physical performances in preparation for competitions.

If you’re looking for other opportunities to work for professional teams, there are chances to work as an S&C coach for football, cricket and rugby teams around the world.

Just be aware, due to the competitive nature of these roles the employer will likely prioritise applicants with more experience. So if you’re newly qualified, this may not be a role you can just jump into.  

#2 Gyms & Fitness Clubs

Strength and conditioning coaches have become a popular feature of gyms and fitness centres. So much so, that these positions are considered the perfect entry point for newly qualified individuals.

You can expect to carry out a range of tasks, such as: 

• Creating and delivering valuable training sessions
• Maintaining and cleaning the gym space
• Direct gym members to use equipment safely
• Carry out gym inductions
• Teach group sessions with relevant qualifications

This position can also offer a great starting salary. For example, the ad below from Focused PT shows that the successful candidate will earn £22,000 per year:

If you’re new to the industry, working in a gym is a great way to gain experience in a fitness environment alongside like-minded individuals. This can go a long way to boosting your confidence, which will be needed when training athletes. 

#3 Schools, colleges and universities

If you want to inspire the next generation of professional athletes, why not become a strength and conditioning coach within the education sector?

Here you can train students and help them improve their physical performance ahead of school competitions. Other responsibilities may include:

• Planning and delivering individual workout programmes
• Supervising the class or individual workouts for safety purposes
• Liaising with students, other teachers and parents 

For a better insight into what responsibilities are associated with this role, check out this advertisement for an S&C coach at Scarisbrick Hall School: 

In this role, you could expect to earn between £23,000-£25,550 as you train students who are passionate about pursuing sports in their adult lives. 

#4 Owning Your Strength And Conditioning Business

After years of working as a contracted strength and conditioning coach, you may decide it’s time to run your own business.

In this position, your earning potential is limitless and uncapped, influenced by factors such as the prices you set and the number of clients you take on. 

Since you’ll become your own boss, you’ll need to put a lot of hard work to make your business a success, performing tasks such as: 

• Securing clients
• Marketing your business
• Building brand awareness
• Managing finances

Having previous experience in a contracted role will benefit you here. Once you have a loyal client base, you will be able to launch your own business with the reassurance that many of them will follow you.

The Insurance You Need To Become A Strength And Conditioning Coach

Before you officially become a strength and conditioning coach you’ll need to ensure you’re covered with the correct insurance. 

Whilst there are many insurance providers to choose from, you’ll specifically want to choose a provider who includes the following policies in their coverage:

• Public Liability Insurance- This offers protection in the event clients claim any injuries or damage they’ve suffered are due to workouts you’ve set. 
• Professional Indemnity Insurance - This aims to protect you from claims where clients make claims they were offered poor advice or an unprofessional service.

Certain employers may offer insurance as part of your contract, but this isn’t always guaranteed so it’s always better to purchase this for yourself.

How You Can Develop Your Business As A Strength & Conditioning Coach

After you’ve become a strength and conditioning coach you can still progress your career by offering additional services that complement your existing practice. 

In doing so, you can attract a new demographic of clients and increase your income! Here are some qualifications that can help you achieve these goals. 

#1 Become a Personal Trainer

Achieving a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma can help enhance your services as a strength and conditioning coach.

Whilst on this course, you will learn how to plan and deliver bespoke training programmes that are designed to meet your client's specific needs and goals. 

This can help you expand your business as you will be able to work with clients who have broader fitness goals, such as losing weight. You won’t be confined to specifically working with athletes looking to improve their performance. 

It can also increase your employment prospects with employers who are looking for a personal trainer and strength and conditioning such as The Fitness Boxx in Crewe:

So, if you’re ready to learn a new set of skills to build on your knowledge as a Strength and Conditioning, be sure to complete a Personal Training Diploma is a great way to expand your business. 

#2 Offer Nutritionist Services 

Through the completion of the Level 4 Course in Sports Nutrition you can develop additional expertise in a field that complements your existing S&C services.

Once obtained, you will be able to offer nutrition advice and recommend meal plans that suit your clients' specific goals of improving their performance. This can also take into account what they should eat during basic training days, as well as before and after a competition. 

Offering this service will increase your overall value as a strength and conditioning coach, meaning you will be able to charge more for your services. 

#3 Sports Massage Therapist

Becoming a Level 3 Sports Massage Therapy Course is a great rehabilitative skill to combine with strength and conditioning!

Once qualified, you will be able to offer sports massage treatments that reduce the risk of injury in athletes and even help to reduce their rehabilitation time. In addition to this, knowing what causes these injuries in the first place can improve your training programmes.

On top of this, you will be able to provide clients with treatments following their training sessions or competitions, that have been tailored to improve their overall performance. 

Before You Go!

Now that you know how to become a strength and conditioning coach, you’ll be able to pursue a rewarding career training athletes for future competitions. 

Enquire about OriGym’s Level 3 PT Diploma and begin honing your knowledge and developing the skills required to find success in this role.

Alternatively, you can download our FREE prospectus for more info about this and all other OriGym courses!