TRAINER LEVELS
How trainer levels are decided
Short answer
PAFGYM trainers are divided into Professional, Senior, Master, and Manager. Levels are determined by teaching experience and the Career Ladder score, which assigns points to education, certifications, continued learning, sharing expertise, and hands-on experience. Each level has a different price, published year-round under fixed pricing.
Professional
Experienced hires
Completed training courseSenior
3,000+ sessions
Career score 80+Master · Manager
10,000+ sessions taught
Career score 100+
How many levels are there, and what are the criteria?
The published criteria are as follows. The figures are internal standards set by PAFGYM.
- Professional: Trainers who have completed PAFGYM's structured training program. A good fit for people just starting to exercise.
- Senior: 3,000–10,000 in-studio PT sessions and a Career Ladder score of 80 or more
- Master·Manager: 10,000+ in-person sessions taught and a Career Ladder score of 100 points or more
What goes into the Career Ladder score?
The score looks at five areas: education, recognized certifications, continued learning such as conferences and workshops, sharing expertise through lectures, writing, and competitions, and the amount of hands-on work. Detailed items include degrees, national certifications, recognized certifications, practical certifications, competition awards, conference presentations, and writing.
The items are not fixed. In February 2025, competing in a HYROX race was added as a new scoring item, on the view that trainers can only prepare members for an event they have experienced in their own bodies.
Why do you publish fixed prices by level?
Because even within the same 50 minutes, the experience and study each trainer has built up differ. Instead of negotiating this difference at the consultation, PAFGYM sets prices by level and publishes the same prices all year round. Whenever you come and whoever consults with you, the same standard applies.
Prices are set by level and number of sessions; the more sessions in a package, the lower the price per session. You can see the actual amounts in the price tables on the Personal Training and Pilates pages.
Does a lower level mean a less trained trainer?
Levels are career stages, not a measure of whether someone has been trained. All trainers work within the same education system. PAFGYM runs PAFGYM SEED, an education program for university students, twice a year for about a month each, reaching its 16th cohort in 2026, and regularly holds Skill-up Sunday, where trainers teach each other, all-staff training, and studio study sessions.
Since 2022, we have continued the PAFGYM Conference for industry professionals, and in 2026 we are holding it together with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Professional trainers also learn within this flow, and their strength lies in building the foundations with those who are just starting to exercise.
Which trainer level should I choose?
If you are just starting to exercise, a Professional or Senior trainer is a very good place to start. If there is a lot to consider, such as competition preparation, a specific sport, or long-standing physical discomfort, we recommend talking with a Master or Manager.
The Family package, in which immediate family members share sessions, does not apply to Master and Manager trainers, who offer individual sessions only. If you find it hard to choose, the studio manager will review your consultation and match you with a suitable trainer.
At a consultation at a nearby studio, choose the level that fits your goals together with us.
