PAR-Q for Personal Trainers (UK Guide)
A PAR-Q UK guide covering duty of care and professional expectations for personal trainers, gyms, and fitness professionals.
What is a PAR-Q?
A PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire) is a health screening form used before exercise to identify potential risks. It helps you decide whether a client can begin training safely or should consult their GP first.
If you need a broader primer, read our What is a PAR-Q? guide for the full background and definitions.
For a detailed guide to using PAR-Q forms in practice — including digital workflows, common mistakes, and online training considerations — see our complete PAR-Q guide for personal trainers.
Why Personal Trainers Must Use a PAR-Q
In the UK, a PAR-Q is the standard starting point for client screening. It supports safer programming and shows that you have taken reasonable steps to identify risk.
Whether you call it a PAR-Q or pre-exercise screening, UK insurers and professional bodies expect it to be part of your onboarding.
PAR-Q and Duty of Care
Duty of care means acting in a way that protects client wellbeing. A completed PAR-Q records your decision-making and helps justify any exercise modifications or GP referrals.
It is best practice rather than a standalone legal requirement, but it is a core part of professional responsibility in UK personal training. For the full compliance context, see whether a PAR-Q is a legal requirement.
PAR-Q, Insurance, and Professional Standards (UK)
Most professional indemnity insurance policies require evidence of pre-activity screening. Keeping PAR-Q records helps show that you followed industry guidance when underwriting your cover.
This is where “PAR-Q insurance UK” expectations come from: it is not always a law, but it is a clear expectation from insurers and risk assessors.
CIMSPA and Industry Expectations
CIMSPA guidance emphasises appropriate screening and referral when a client presents risk factors. A “PAR-Q CIMSPA” approach means recording health declarations, keeping evidence of GP clearance, and reviewing changes over time.
If you are registered, make sure your PAR-Q process aligns with your scope of practice and your CPD standards.
When to Update a PAR-Q
Best practice is to refresh a PAR-Q at least annually, and sooner if a client’s health status changes. Many UK trainers update at the start of a new block or after extended time off.
You should also update after injury, medication changes, pregnancy or any new symptoms that could affect exercise safety. Use our PAR-Q update frequency guide as a checklist for review timings.
Common PAR-Q Mistakes Personal Trainers Make
- Skipping GP referral when a client answers “yes”.
- Filing paper forms without a clear retention policy.
- Not updating a PAR-Q after major health changes.
- Treating a PAR-Q as a tick-box exercise rather than a duty of care process.
Digital vs Paper PAR-Q Forms
Paper PAR-Qs are acceptable, but digital workflows make it easier to store records, track renewals, and show compliance if insurers or gyms request evidence.
For busy PTs, digital PAR-Q tools reduce admin time while keeping records organised and accessible. Compare formats in our digital PAR-Q vs paper guide. If you still rely on general form builders, our Google Forms PAR-Q overview covers the trade-offs.
Key Takeaways
- A PAR-Q is UK best practice for pre-exercise screening and professional duty of care.
- Insurers and CIMSPA expect clear records, even if it is not a stand-alone legal requirement.
- Update forms regularly and refer clients to their GP when needed.
If you want a calmer admin process, consider a digital workflow that keeps records tidy and easy to review.