Can You Fake A Personal Trainer Certificate?

If you’re thinking about creating, buying, or distributing fake personal trainer certificates this article will provide you with everything you should be aware of. We’ll cover each aspect in depth, looking at:

• Can You Fake A Personal Trainer Certificate?
• What Are The Consequences Of Using A Fake Personal Training Certificate?
• Why You Should Choose A Real Qualification Over A Fake PT Certification

The better option is to acquire a legitimate diploma in personal training that provides you with the skills and knowledge needed to perform in the role.

Download OriGym’s FREE course prospectus to learn more about everything we offer.

Can You Fake A Personal Trainer Certificate?

On your journey to becoming a personal trainer, you will be faced with the question ‘can you fake a personal trainer certificate?’ the answer is yes, you technically can, but this should be avoided at all costs.

Attempting to launch a career on a fake qualification will only lead to negative consequences, as they simply don’t hold the same value and benefits as legitimate qualifications.

This is because fake Level 3 personal training certificates are not regulated or approved by Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation). This government body regulates vocational courses throughout England, dictating:

• The contents of the course
• The curriculum schedule 
• How the course is taught 
• How assessments are conducted 

Ofqual essentially ensures that everyone who holds a Level 3 personal training qualification in England is taught from the same curriculum, and operates at the same level professionally. 

A fake personal trainer certificate will highlight that you’re not educated to the same standards as other, more legitimate trainers. 

As a result, you will struggle to find a personal training job, as employers won’t regard you as a properly qualified candidate.

When looking over your qualifications, employers will also look to see which Ofqual-approved awarding body verified your training. 

For example, at OriGym our courses are awarded by Focus Awards, which appear within the register of approved qualifications: 

One thing to be aware of is that employers will always check the validity of your qualifications.

This means that, if you create a fake Level 3 personal trainer certificate that claims to be regulated by Ofqual, you’ll be caught out when the employer looks for further proof. 

While it’s one thing to forge your own personal training certificate, you should never buy fake personal trainer certifications either! 

If any business or individual is offering to sell certifications to you outright, without going through an Ofqual-regulated qualification process, it is a fake qualification, and should be avoided.

With all of this in mind, when revisiting the initial question of ‘can you fake a personal trainer certificate?’, the answer remains that, while you can, you will always face consequences for doing so.

What Are The Consequences Of Using A Fake Personal Training Certificate?

In the instance that you’re caught using a fake personal trainer certificate, you will face repercussions for your actions. Let’s look at the consequences of having a fake qualification.

Fake Level 3 Personal Trainer Certificates Can Lead To Legal Consequences Regarding Insurance

First and foremost, if you hold a fake personal trainer certificate in the UK, you’re essentially setting yourself up for failure and serious issues. 

This is because the fake qualification is a misrepresentation of your skillset, which will cause issues when applying for personal trainer insurance.

Sites such as Insure4Sport will always ask you to provide proof of your qualifications before they’ll offer you any insurance coverage.

Providing a fake certificate means you will not receive insurance.  Without this coverage, you won’t have the legal prtection you need, including:  

• Public Liability
• Professional Indemnity
• Sports Equipment Cover
• Personal Accident Cover
• Loss of Earnings

Each of these policies legally protect legitimate trainers, and if you hold a fake personal trainer certification, you will leave yourself vulnerable to the following consequences.

Fines & Jail Time Due To Client Injuries

Without public liability and professional indemnity cover, those with fake personal training certificates could face fines and even jail time if a client holds them accountable for an injury.

In this instance, the client can claim that they were injured following a programme an unqualified trainer created for them, meaning the PT will be held responsible.

Should this fake PT be found accountable, they won’t have any insurance to support them due to their fake qualification. 

As a result, the trainer will be expected to pay all legal fees, and may even face jail time for negligence depending on the severity of the client’s injuries.

Paying Out Of Pocket For Damaged Equipment

As outlined in Insure4Sports’ public liability cover below, those who hold a fake personal trainer certificate in the UK could face legal fines from gyms should equipment become damaged when training their clients.

In this instance, legitimate trainers would be able to rely on their insurance providers to help cover the cost of these fines. Those with fake qualifications will be expected to pay the fines themselves. 

No Protection Against Any Loss Of Earnings

As previously stated above, those who hold legitimate personal training insurance will receive ‘loss of earnings protection’. 

Take a look at Insure4Sport’s policy below, which provides financial support if a trainer is unable to work due to injury:

If you create or buy a fake personal trainer certification and are denied insurance as a result, you will not receive loss of earnings cover. This means you could lose a significant amount of money should you be unable to work for a prolonged period.

From these 3 examples, you’ll be able to understand just how important receiving personal trainer insurance is. With a fake Level 3 personal trainer certificate, you leave yourself open to any of the consequences listed above, and even more.

With that being said, issues relating to insurance aren’t the only consequences of holding a fake personal training certificate. 

How A Fake Personal Trainer Certificate Can Cause Consequences With Employability

We’ve already touched on how employers will always check the legitimacy of your qualifications. In short, if you present an employer with a fake level 3 personal training certificate, you will get caught out.

The importance of having a legitimate PT qualification can’t be understated. Even job ads, like this one for YourGym Fitness, will often mention the certificate you need.

Simply put, without a recognised Level 3 personal training qualification, you will be underqualified for roles of this nature, and therefore should not apply.

If you choose to pursue this role with a fake personal trainer certificate, an employer can simply check its authenticity by contacting the course provider, or the awarding body.

Should employers discover that your qualification is fake during the application process you may face a number of consequences including:

• Your Job Offer Is Revoked - If an employer discovers your fake Level 3 personal trainer certificate after they’ve offered you a job, they can simply back out.
• Industry-wide Blacklisting - Word of mouth could be spread regarding the validity of your qualification, meaning that other employers may become aware you’re using a fake Level 3 personal trainer certificate, and blacklist you as a result.
• Embarrassment During The Interview - You might be unable to provide an answer to a basic question for legitimate Level 3 PTs, or offer improper advice in a mock scenario.

An important factor to be aware of is that employers can check the validity of your qualifications at any point, and if you get caught whilst employed there, the consequences are even more severe. 

Working whilst in possession of a fake personal trainer certificate in the UK is illegal under Section 2 of ‘The Fraud Act of 2006’ which states the following:

‘A person is in breach of this section if he/she dishonestly makes a false representation, and intends, by making the representation to make a gain for him/herself or another, or to cause loss to another’

When knowingly using a fake personal trainer certificate in the UK, you are actively deceiving an employer, and can therefore be sued under fraud and misrepresentation charges. 

As a result, you could face legal fees and jail time, with Glassdoor stating that you could face up to 10 years in jail:

But just how much can you get sued for if you create or buy a fake personal trainer certification to get employed? 

As of 2022, the UK Supreme Court ruled that employers can seek to collect any paid wages from the point of employment if an employee is found to have committed fraud. According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a personal trainer is £29,682 per year:

Let’s hypothetically say you earned exactly £29,682 per year, and worked at your place of employment for 2 years before an employer discovered you were operating under a fake personal trainer certificate. 

In this instance, an employer could sue you for a minimum of £59,364, as this is the amount you would have earned over the course of 2 years.

If any claims are made against you, you won't be able to take the case to a tribunal as you are the party who was at fault. 

As a result, you will take full brunt of the consequences, whether that’s hefty fines, employment termination, or even jail time. 

Your actions have consequences, and if you’re using a fake level 3 personal trainer certificate, you can expect to face some form of repercussions down the line. The best way to avoid any of the aforementioned legal issues is to get properly qualified. 

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If you’ve enjoyed our discussion regarding fake personal training certificates, these other OriGym articles may also be of interest:

• Can You Become A Personal Trainer Without A Qualification?
• Free vs Paid Personal Trainer Courses
• How To Make Money As A Personal Trainer

Why You Should Choose A Real Qualification Over A Fake PT Certification

Now that you understand the importance of receiving a legitimate level 3 personal training qualification, let’s look at why a legitimate qualification always outclasses a fake one.

#1 - A Fake Personal Training Certification Won't Match The Same Level Of Education As A Real Qualification 

Even if you are a fitness enthusiast in your everyday life, you won’t be able to educate yourself to the same standards as a Level 3 personal trainer. To achieve this, you will always need to go through legitimate vocational training.

For example, one of the primary skills acquired on regulated vocational courses is the ability to create and deliver bespoke workout programmes that are unique to your client. In order to achieve this, legitimate trainers will take numerous factors into account, including:

• A Client’s Previous Fitness Experience 
• The Client’s Goals 
• The Package Chosen (how often client and trainer will see each other per week) 

Whilst they might understand how their own body responds to specific workouts, unqualified trainers will typically lack an understanding of how to plan PT sessions and programmes suitable for other individuals.

This could result in inaccurate advice being provided to the client, which could lead to improper form, strains and even serious injury. 

Part of what makes legitimate Level 3 trainers so knowledgeable in creating bespoke workout programs is their experience in Advanced Anatomy and Physiology. 

This module will appear in every vocational training course across the UK, and will provide students with knowledge relating to how the human body responds to exercise.

In addition to this, those who hold a fake Level 3 personal trainer certificate won’t have what it takes to be successful in running a personal training business. 

Legitimate Level 3 courses will always have a module dedicated to learning about the business side of the fitness world, covering topics such as: 

• How to generate personal training leads
• How to market yourself as a PT
• How to create a sustainable business model 

For this reason, if you hold a fake personal trainer certificate in the UK you’re essentially flying into the industry blindly, without any knowledge of building a business.

Unqualified individuals may struggle to attract and sustain clients, which would eventually lead to their business closing.

#2 - Fake Personal Trainer Certifications Are Not Regulated Or Accredited, But Real Ones Are!

When becoming a personal trainer, you should always go through an Ofqual regulated training provider. 

In doing so, you can ensure that you’re performing to the same standards as other personal trainers across the UK.

These courses will also be verified by Ofqual recognised Awarding bodies, such as Focus Awards and NCFE, who can verify the legitimacy of your qualification should anyone enquire. 

Another argument in favour of legitimate courses over fake PT certifications is that real providers will be recognised by CIMSPA  (The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity). 

CIMSPA works across a range of areas in the health and fitness industry, aiming to establish a set of industry standards for the educational sector. This is achieved through:

• Working with key stakeholders in the fitness sector to establish standards of practice.
• Advising employers, awarding organisations, education institutes, training course providers and policy makers on how they can implement these standards of practice.
• Holding an annual conference where all areas of the sector come together to discuss new ideas, regulations and the future of the industry. 
• Offering CIMSPA membership for students and professionals in the sport and fitness sector

Fake personal trainer certificates will not be accredited by CIMSPA. In some instances, job advertisements will specifically mention CIMSPA, such as this example from David Lloyds Gyms:

This implies that an employer may check the validity of your qualification. If you hold a legitimate CIMSPA-recognised qualification, you will have nothing to worry about, but if you’ve applied with a fake PT certification, this will be immediately flagged.  

#3 - With A Real Qualification, You Can Avoid The Consequences Associated With Fake Personal Trainer Certifications

Through earning a legitimate qualification, you will also be able to avoid all of the consequences that come with fake level 3 personal trainer certificates.

For example, in the previous section we discussed how holding a fake certificate will stop you from getting the right personal trainer insurance. 

This isn’t the case with legitimate qualifications, as providers such as Insure4Sport will be able to verify its legitimacy, and provide you with this legal cover.  

With this insurance you can pay a set fee every month, and receive comprehensive coverage:

As previously stated, this legal coverage will protect you in the following areas:

• Public Liability 
• Professional Indemnity 
• Sports Equipment Cover 
• Personal Accident Cover 
• Loss of Earnings 

This can help to mitigate the consequences associated with fake personal training certifications. For example, if a gym fines you for damaged equipment you can use the insurance as a pay out to help pay these fees. 

Likewise, other aforementioned consequences associated with employment will also be non-existent. 

For example, we mentioned earlier that, if you lie about the validity of qualification on your CV, you could be prosecuted and face jail time under the 2002 Fraud Act.  

Earning a legitimate Level 3 PT certificate completely removes this risk. Once you’ve graduated, you can add the qualification to your CV, as it’s an accurate reflection of your skillset.

To summarise, if you create or buy a fake personal trainer certification you’re essentially opening yourself up to a range of other issues, as well as putting others in harm's way. 

Be honest with your employers and clients and get qualified in a legitimate manner to avoid these issues and consequences all together! 

#4 - Fake Personal Trainer Certifications Can Halt Your Professional Progression

As a qualified personal trainer, you should always be looking to progress professionally, and a legitimate certification means you’re able to do that. 

For example, once you have completed a Level 3 diploma in personal training, you can then move on to a specialist Level 4 personal training course.

At OriGym, our Level 4 courses offer personal trainers the opportunity to develop a speciality within their chosen field. This includes:

• Lower Back Pain Management 
• Obesity and Weight Management 
• Diabetes Management and Weight Control 
• Advanced Sports Nutrition 

Each course is taught by our team of expert tutors, who will help to facilitate your educational and professional growth, beyond your Level 3 training. 

Once enrolled on any one of these qualifications, you will develop specialist skills that will help you carve out a niche for yourself.

For example, if you decide to pursue a course in Diabetes Management and Weight Control, you’ll learn how to train diabetic clients. 

This will involve creating bespoke workout programmes that factor in the psychological and physical conditions, helping clients improve their long-term health. 

Keep in mind that you will not be able to enrol on these specialist courses with a fake personal training certification. 

Vocational training providers will always be able to tell if you’re applying with fake documentation, and will cancel your application immediately.

With this in mind, using a fake Level 3 personal trainer certificate halts any kind of professional progression you may wish to make.

A legitimate qualification will allow you to enrol on these courses and progress your career. Once you’ve achieved a specialist qualification, you’ll be able to charge more for your services as you will be regarded as an expert within that specific field. 

Let’s look at a couple of different examples. First take a look at the pricing packages for Improve Personal Training, which offers holistic training sessions:

Then compare this pricing structure to that of Ben Malton who, as a qualified sports nutritionist, provides his clients with bespoke meal plans alongside their workout programmes:

Here you can see that Ben is able to charge significantly more, as he is regarded as an expert in sports nutrition.

From this section you will be able to tell just how damaging fake personal trainer certificates can be for your career. Simply put, acquiring a legitimate qualification is the only way to develop professionally as a PT. 

Before You Go!

Remember you should never create or buy a fake personal trainer certification and should instead look to qualify through the appropriate channels. 

The ideal way to do that is with OriGym’s personal training diploma, to help you kickstart a prosperous career. You can also download our FREE course prospectus to learn more!