Your success depends on each client achieving what matters to them. The Apprenticeship trains you to apply our proven Method, so your clients get efficient, individualized results without spending all your time micromanaging. Here’s how we get you there…
At the heart of our 106,341+ successful clients and global network of trainers is the GMB Method. You’ll learn to apply it for any goal.
Master proven coaching strategies for clearer communication, faster results, and happier clients that keep coming back (and inviting their friends).
You get access to our apprentice-only training program to get you more agile and resilient while also immersing you in the GMB Method.
Unlike lots of certifications, this isn’t a weekend diploma mill that takes your money and sends you away with a piece of paper to hang on your gym wall.
We’ve designed the Apprenticeship with a combination of study and practice to take you from the basics to mastery.
You’ll be confident to meet clients wherever they’re at and get them results they rave about.
I went through the GMB apprenticeship in 2016. At the time it was a big investment and I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or not. Within the first week I knew I’d found my people. There is a good balance of quality coaching with banter which is important! Over the course of the apprenticeship my body opened up and strengthened more than I could have imagined in such a short time.
Since graduating I have been teaching workshops and selling them out consistently. The thought of selling out workshops in a city as competitive as Melbourne seemed unfathomable before I certified with GMB Fitness. This has taken my career to the next level and I don’t feel like I am competing with the gym floor trainers any more.
I am also working full time as an online trainer and have clients contact me from all over the world who have found me through GMB. I even have a client from Saudi Arabia now! This would never have been possible if I wasn’t certified with GMB.
I’ve been a trainer for close to a decade and done a lot of different certifications. What sets GMB apart is the ongoing support. I qualified 4 years ago and I’m still being supported and backed by them. I haven't experienced anything close to this in any of the other certifications I've done.
Our structured, online training and coaching platforms let you go much deeper than a weekend workshop, without the cost and hassle of a long-term residency program.
All you need is space to train, a phone that can record and upload video, and time you can dedicate to training and learning.
Here’s a rough guide to how you’ll move through the process:
It’s an intensive learning experience but you’re not just tossed in and left to fend for yourself. One of our top trainers is right there with you at every step.
If you want to become a great trainer, you’ve gotta learn from one. Rose is one of the best all-around coaches out there. She’s a sought-after handstand coach with a background in acrobatics and circus skills.
And when you’re in the Apprenticeship, she’s your coach, too.
So whether you’re working on key movement details or effective coaching strategies, you can be confident you’re getting expert feedback and support throughout your training.
Where most certifications end and send you on your merry way, we’re just getting started.
As soon as you graduate from the Apprenticeship you get 12 months of free access to our private member network for Trainers, which includes all of the following…
Class and workshop templates showing you exactly how to organize and run GMB events and training
Actually useful business and marketing advice on things like how to do online training and how to get more people in your workshops
Access to every GMB program or course we make available, so you can keep training and growing your own capabilities
Inclusion in our referral network that sends you clients who are specifically looking for GMB Trainers
Promotional support for your own GMB workshops and coaching, both on our website and social media
Monthly office hours with Ryan, Andy, Jarlo, and Lead Trainers to get all your questions answered
Monthly continuing education workshops to expand your skillset (with more extensive CE courses available at an additional cost)
Admission to our annual 2-day, in-person, Trainer-only seminar (that’s a lot of hyphens)
Opportunities to develop your skills and get paid through our Coaching Internship and Affiliate programs
These benefit continue as long as you remain an active GMB Trainer (subject to annual renewal).
But if you’re willing to commit yourself to hard work and in-depth learning, then completing the Apprenticeship will develop skills you’ll use for the rest of your life.
If that sounds like your kind of thing, here’s how to get stared…
Since supporting apprentices requires a lot of time and energy from our staff, we only want people who are going to invest themselves in the process.
But that doesn’t mean you have to be a gifted athlete to apply. We’re more interested in great people who want to learn and grow, and who love what GMB has to offer.
There is no cost to apply. Here’s how the application process works:
Sign up below and you can either apply for the Apprenticeship now or when it’s more convenient.
We’ll work closely together to build your skills and give you practice assessing and coaching.
After you’ve completed the training and learning tasks, you’ll take your examination to certify as a GMB Trainer.
As an active Trainer, you’ll be part of a community focused on continuing education and ongoing development.
Aspiring coaches, veteran trainers, group fitness instructors, yoga and pilates teachers, physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, GMB clients who want to go deep in their training…
If you want a Method you can rely on to get proven, repeatable results for any client, the Apprenticeship will get you there.
Here’s what a couple alumni had to say…
The Apprenticeship enabled me to grow as a mover, an educator, and a human. It was a challenging three months, but my coach was supportive and gave me tools to manage the work of the Apprenticeship among my numerous other responsibilities.
I learned how autoregulation facilitates a sustainable movement practice, and how spending more energy on foundational work translates to a stronger skill set than only practicing the hardest thing all the time. I feel confident in my ability to teach the GMB philosophy now that I have deeply experienced the benefits of this method.
The business module was invaluable. The work that went into considering my marketing strategy for a mock workshop directly translated to my first real class as a GMB trainer.
From teaching movement, to organizing a class, and promoting myself as a fitness professional, the GMB Apprenticeship prepared me for everything involved in the industry.
I'd been considering becoming a coach for some time, but wasn't sure where to begin. Most certifications I'd found were weekend seminars, and felt like they were either a final exam for people who already had experience in the field, or were more of a money grab than an actual opportunity to learn.
I'd heard about GMB through some friends that I respect greatly. I was so impressed with the approach I found in Elements, Integral Strength, and Vitamin that I applied for the apprenticeship before I had even finished them.
The Apprenticeship experience was phenomenal. The lessons were short and to the point, while being deep enough to make going over them more than once worth the time. The work was always challenging, but not so much that it ever felt unachievable.
I thrive on schedules. The Apprenticeship made it easy to add to mine on top of whatever else was going on, while the coaches were exceptionally flexible when competing needs arose.
The coaching was excellent. I learned more than can be easily summed up. But the most important pieces are, first, a focused approach to training that's broadly applicable. I've applied it to the martial arts I practice outside of GMB to great effect. And second, the constant reminder that more isn't always better, something I've struggled with for most of my life.
You’ll get stronger and move better as you learn how to take clients through that same process. And when you graduate you’ll join our global community of GMB Trainers and have access to exclusive resources to help make sure you succeed.
Dates: Apprenticeship enrollment happens roughly every month. Apply now, and we can help you prepare for our next enrollment, or a later one. There’s no pressure.
Cost: $1500 – Most Apprentices require 2–4 months to complete the theory and practical tasks to certification standards. Your initial fee covers up to five months of coaching and instruction. (And yes, you can pay in installments 🙂)
Extended Coaching: (if necessary) $250/month – If you need extra time to complete the program, we can extend your coaching as long as necessary.
Renewal: $500 – After twelve months as a GMB Trainer, you can renew annually to retain your certification and access to all the benefits of being a GMB Trainer.
Whether you’re ready to join now or just want more info on the program, sign up here, and we’ll send you the application and more info on the program:
We’ve also taken the liberty of including the answers here, since the questions aren’t very enlightening on their own 😉
Probably nothing you don’t already have. All you need is:
If you’ve got all that or are willing to get it, you’re good to go.
Once you complete your Apprenticeship, pass your Certification exam, and complete a few admin tasks, you’ll be certified as a GMB Trainer for 12 months.
As an active Trainer, you’ll be part of our community and get ongoing education, coaching, and resources available at no extra charge. All the benefits listed up higher on the page.
After twelve months, you can renew and remain active for $500 annually, or cancel and walk away with a wealth of valuable training and resources under your belt. It’s your call.
Nope.
If picking up CEUs is the most important thing to you right now you’ll have to look elsewhere. But if you’re more concerned about becoming a great coach and having a community that’ll help you grow and succeed, then you’re in the right place.
No and no.
We’ve trained veteran gym owners alongside total newbies who’ve never coached a person in their lives. The reason it works is we’re not teaching you a rigid system.
It’s a Method you can apply at whatever level, and to whatever other practices, you’re working with.
If you can post videos to social media and write updates on a blog or website, you can do this.
But if that sounds overwhelming or you just hate spending time on a computer, then a months-long online training program probably isn’t the right fit for you.
Nope. All your training and learning happens on your own schedule.
You will be required to attend two real-time online events during the Apprenticeship, but you’ll get to choose from quite a few options to find a time that suits your timezone and schedule.
No. The Apprenticeship is a big investment on both sides, so there are no refunds. If you’re still unsure about GMB in general, start with Elements instead.
There’s no cost to apply so if you’re interested but not sure yet, use the application process to feel it out. If you get all the way through the process and you’re still not sure this is a great investment for you, go find something you’re really excited about. No hard feelings.
Listen, life happens. If you need to take a week or two off, just pick up where you left off when you get back.
Your initial fees give you five months to complete your Apprenticeship and certification. If you need additional time, you can extend that for $250/month.
Most candidates are able to complete the process in four months, even while juggling work and life responsibilities.
Three things were important to me in choosing the Apprenticeship: learning handstands and locomotion, the personal coaching, and the fact it was 100% online. My daughter was just 2 months and it was impossible for me to go outside.
The apprenticeship was great and I enjoyed every day. The fact that I got coaching every day was a great help. The coaching was so encouraging and the cues I got were fantastic.
The most important things I learned are:
- physical autonomy
- AAA framework
- The 5Ps
- using the concept of autoregulation
- using a timer instead of reps and sets
- focussing on one cue at a time
- reflecting on your workout with video and asking yourself what have you learned
It is quite a list, but I use it all the time.
But more important is life after the apprenticeship—the community. I get so much support. If I have questions about how to teach something or about marketing, I immediately get a response. It is great to be a part of it.
When I applied for the apprenticeship I wasn’t sure if I was suitable because I don’t have a personal training background. And although I loved playing sports I never was into fitness.
The apprenticeship was pretty intense! It was probably the most intense skills and strength training I ever did in my life!
I didn’t just learn the GMB method in detail. I also learned so many training tactics and teaching methods to help me when coaching others.
However, it was also one of the most profound experiences I’ve ever had. The biggest impact the apprenticeship had on me is the awareness and mindfulness I developed.
Now I focus on what lies directly ahead of me instead of having expectations towards an outcome. That makes me more patient, compassionate towards myself, and more motivated! Exercising is not a sprint nor a marathon I have to compete in. It’s a life’s journey I love to take.