How to Become a Personal Trainer in Belgium? The Complete Guide 2025

Dreaming of becoming a fitness coach in 2025? The Personal Trainer profession is increasingly attracting sports enthusiasts, whether fresh out of school or making a career change. But beware: behind the dynamic and inspiring image lies a much more demanding reality. In this article, discover the different pathways to becoming a coach in Belgium, recognized certifications (EREPS, NASM, universities), common mistakes to avoid, career opportunities, potential income, and concrete advice for succeeding in this rapidly growing sector.

Becoming a Fitness Coach in Belgium: An Attractive but Demanding Path

Personal Training appeals to both recent graduates and adults in career transition. Every day, new coaches enter the market, but few last more than three years. Why? Because this profession, though exciting, requires genuine expertise, strong skills, and the ability to manage your own business.

Fitness Coach: Employee or Freelance?

Before choosing a training path, you need to understand the job. In Belgium, most Personal Trainers are freelances. If you prefer to be employed, you might consider becoming a PE teacher or a fitness instructor in a gym. But one-on-one coaching is typically a freelance job, with all the benefits—and responsibilities—that entails.

In Belgium, the profession is not regulated by the government. Technically, anyone can claim to be a coach. However, without proper training or certification, it’s hard to stand out, gain client trust, or even work in a gym.

Training is therefore essential to be credible, skilled, and sustainable in this field.

Training Paths to Become a Personal Trainer

1. University Degrees in Physical Education

• Pros:
  • State-recognized diploma
  • Access to teaching positions
  • Solid scientific foundation (physiology, biomechanics, pedagogy)
  • Professional recognition
  • Eligibility for salaried positions in sports
• Cons:
  • Long (3 to 5 years)
  • Less focused on individual coaching or bodybuilding
  • Very general
  • Geared toward school teaching, not private coaching

👉 A secure path, but not ideal if your aim is to work in gyms or online coaching—you’ll need additional targeted training.

2. Specialized University Programs in Personal Training

• Pros:
  • Official bachelor’s degree
  • Curriculum aligned with coaching jobs
  • Balanced theory/practice
  • Recognition for freelance work
• Cons:
  • Still takes 3 years
  • Not always well-known in traditional fitness circles
  • Too general if focused only on bodybuilding or transformation

👉 A great choice for young students; less suited for career changers.

3. Private Certifications (EREPS or NASM)

• Pros:
  • Fast (weeks to months)
  • Focused on coaching, nutrition, strength training
  • Industry-recognized
  • Flexible (can be combined with work)
  • No prior diploma required
  • Ties to networks (e.g., Basic-Fit)
• Cons:
  • High cost (can be thousands of euros)
  • No academic title

👉 Ideal for quickly launching your business. Best for people who want to change job or direct-entry paths.

4. Non-Certifying Independent Courses (for Complementary Training)

• Pros:
  • Specialized focus
  • Hands-on, field-based approach
  • Led by experts
  • Valuable for your practice
  • Great for staying up to date
• Cons:
  • No official recognition
  • Cannot replace a basic certification
  • Can be costly
  • Require prior experience

👉 Essential additions once you’re officially certified.

Becoming a Fitness Coach Abroad

Regulations change according to country:

• France: mandatory diploma (e.g., BPJEPS)
• USA/Canada/UK/Australia: private certifications (NASM, ACE, ACSM…)
• Germany, Spain, Italy: guided by sports federations

More regulation means a longer process—but also more guarantees.

Is a Diploma Required to Be a Personal Trainer in Belgium in 2025?

Legally, no. Practically, yes.

More and more gyms are rejecting uncertified coaches to ensure quality service. To join major chains like Basic-Fit, a minimum of EREPS Level 3 certification is required.

Without a diploma, you can still open your own studio or coach at home/online—but it’s a serious handicap.

How Much Does a Personal Trainer Earn?

A salaried fitness instructor earns about €1,950 gross/month in Belgium.

As a freelance Personal Trainer, your income depends on your hourly rate (€35 to €100/h), experience, branding, and services offered (1-on-1, small group, remote coaching…).

There’s a lot of room for growth—if you train well, market yourself smartly, and retain clients.

Mistakes to Avoid as a Personal Trainer

• Stopping learning: A diploma is just the beginning. Keep learning, testing, reading, networking.
• Underestimating the job: It’s physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding—with lots of competition.
• Focusing only on theory: Programming is key, but you also need to master communication, nutrition, sales… A great coach is also a great teacher and entrepreneur.

What Physical Coaching Academy Offers

At PCA, we help you become a certified, competent, and successful fitness coach.

• Physical Trainer Program: fitness instructor diploma recognized by top gym chains. Required for NASM training.
• NASM Personal Trainer: highly sought-after international certification.

→ Save €300 with the Certified PT pack (includes both courses).

Additional specialized courses:

• Nutrition Level 1: learn the basics of nutrition to transform clients.
• Program Design: deepen your knowledge of training program design.
• Hypertrophy: specialize in muscle mass development.
• Assess & Correct: identify and fix mobility or imbalance issues.

Each course is designed to make you better, more confident, and more capable.

Author’s Advice

If I had to recommend a path: start with a short, recognized course (like NASM or EREPS), then specialize with targeted modules. Supplement with books, videos, podcasts. Look abroad too: Canadians are top in hypertrophy, and the French excel in physical preparation.

Don’t waste time spinning your wheels. Train seriously. Start coaching. And grow every day.