Flexible fitness training programmes for every career level
From hobby athlete to recognised expert – 100% flexible, theory online, practice on site.
Flexible fitness training programmes for every career level – Figures
Fitness basic training programmes
Your entry into the fitness industry – no prior knowledge, ready to start right away.
Fitness specialisations
Requirement: completed basic training. Become an expert in your field.
Industry certificates & federal diploma
Recognised qualifications with federal subsidies – for leadership and self-employment.
Trainer with SVBO industry certificate
Specialist in Physical Activity and Health Promotion with Federal Certificate (Professional Bachelor)
Health Trainer SVBO industry certificate
Online preparation course for module exams to become a Trainer or Health Trainer with the SVBO branch certificate
Which fitness course is right for you?
Without prior knowledge, you start with one of the three basic courses. If you want to work on the gym floor of a fitness centre, begin with Fitness and Movement Trainer Basic. You learn the theory online, practise on 2 practical days in a studio and take the final exam from home. The same course includes the complete BLS-AED certificate you need to work in a fitness centre. To compare prices and duration, see our page on the fitness trainer course.
Would you rather coach clients 1:1 and perhaps become self-employed? Then the personal trainer course is the right fit. In a business module you work out your unique selling point and plan your first steps into self-employment, including your website and social media. To finish, you coach one person for two months and write your final project about it. If you prefer working with athletes and teams, choose the Athletic Coach course.
Already working as a trainer? Fitness and Movement Trainer Advanced deepens your knowledge of training theory, training planning and anatomy, with 6 practical days in a studio in German-speaking Switzerland. For a single field there are the specialist courses in strength, posture, endurance or training coaching, all fully online and open to you once you have completed a basic course. The Pro course builds on Basic and Advanced and prepares you for management tasks in the studio in 4 to 6 weeks.
Once you have professional experience, the next step leads through the SVBO module exams to an industry certificate or the federal diploma. The SVBO industry certificate as a trainer requires 1'000 hours of professional practice, as a health trainer 2'500 hours. The title Specialist in Physical Activity and Health Promotion with Federal Diploma (Professional Bachelor) requires a completed apprenticeship or Matura and 5'000 hours of practice, and ends with the federal professional examination. Because the course prepares you for this exam, the Swiss Confederation then refunds 50% of the eligible course fees.
Deepen your knowledge with our workshops
Compact continuing education on specialised topics – ideal alongside your job.
Frequently asked questions about fitness courses
Do I need prior knowledge?
Not for Basic, Personal Trainer or Athletic Coach. You must be at least 16, physically fit and have good written and spoken German: the courses are held in German, the Basic course also in French. For Advanced you need the Basic course or an equivalent qualification.
How long does a fitness course take?
You learn at your own pace. As a guide, Basic, Personal Trainer and Athletic Coach take 4 to 6 months, Advanced 6 to 8 months. The federal diploma course takes 12 to 18 months; up to the federal exam, including professional practice, expect around two and a half years.
Which qualifications are recognised?
Basic, Advanced, Personal Trainer and Athletic Coach are Qualitop and Qualicert recognised, as are the industry certificates and the federal diploma. This means you can apply to fitness centres all over Switzerland. The recognition does not apply to Pro, the specialist courses or the preparation course.
How much does a course cost and can I pay in instalments?
You will find the current price on each course page. For Basic, Advanced, Personal Trainer and Athletic Coach, learning materials, practical days and exam fees are included. For orders of CHF 1'000 or more you can pay by invoice, in 2 or 10 instalments.
How much will I earn after the course?
As a fitness trainer working 100%, your starting salary is CHF 4'150 to 4'500 gross per month. Self-employed personal trainers charge CHF 100 to 200 per hour.
Not sure which programme suits you?
We advise you free of charge and without obligation – in a 1:1 conversation or at the online info evening.