Motivational Interviewing training course
Learn how to lead impactful conversations and motivate your clients to commit to change on this Motivational Interviewing training course.
Motivational Interviewing training course
Join our leading Motivational Interviewing training course
Master the art of collaborative communication and strengthen your clients’ internal motivation and commitment to a specific goal.
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Course type:
CPD
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Mode of study:
Online
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Course length:
2-4 weeks
Course overview: Motivational Interviewing training
Motivational interviewing is a client-centred, goal-driven communication approach proven to support meaningful and lasting behaviour change, especially in the context of health and fitness.
As one of the most researched and evidence-based methods for facilitating change, motivational interviewing allows professionals to guide clients through ambivalence and toward positive action.
This practical and accessible course equips you with the core knowledge and skills needed to apply motivational interviewing in your everyday work. Whether you’re a personal trainer, health coach, or involved in more specialised roles such as exercise referral, this motivational interviewing training will elevate the quality of your client interactions.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- Deliver client-focused care that drives real, sustainable outcomes
- Effectively communicate with clients to explore their challenges
- Engage with clients on a more personal level, demonstrating warmth, compassion, and empathy
- Empower your clients to overcome resistance to change and make positive adjustments to their behaviour
- Provide impactful resolutions to benefit their health and wellbeing journey.
- Play a key role in reducing the risk of future relapse
If you’re driven to create meaningful connections and spark real change through your client conversations, this Motivational Interviewing training course is the next step that will take your practice to the next level.
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Who the course is for
The course is designed for those working in health, fitness, or wellbeing roles.
It is also open to any students wishing to learn more about motivational interviewing. -
Entry requirements
You must be 18 and over to enrol on this course.
There are no formal entry requirements, as it is designed as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD). However, you must have an active interest in the subject area, and it’s recommended to have a qualification in the health and fitness industry to support your studies. -
Accreditations and endorsements
This course is fully endorsed by YMCA Awards, the UK’s leading fitness industry awarding organisation.
This course is also endorsed by CIMSPA, and is mapped against the Working with People with Long-Term Conditions (LTC) professional standard. On successful completion of this course, you’ll receive 10 CIMSPA CPD points.
What you'll learn
This comprehensive, industry-leading course has been developed by a team of expert behaviour change specialists and experienced motivational interviewing trainers. It’s designed to provide you with a high-quality online learning experience that is relevant, practical, and tailored to your specific role, whether you work in fitness, health coaching, or clinical exercise settings.
Through a structured online platform, you’ll engage with a variety of interactive and evidence-based learning materials, including expert-led video lectures, practical demonstrations, reading materials, and reflective activities. You’ll also receive coaching advice on how to apply motivational interviewing to your professional role.
You’ll gain a deep understanding of the core principles of motivational interviewing, along with practical strategies and techniques to integrate it effectively into your client interactions. This will help you guide behaviour change with greater confidence and impact.
The course is structured into the following 9 units:
- Spirit of motivational interviewing (PACE)
- Principles of motivational interviewing
- Coaching skills (OARS)
- Recognising change and sustain talk
- Working with ambivalence to effect change
- Stages and processes of motivational interviewing
- Understanding client motives and motivation
- Providing effective information and advice
- Implementing behaviour change
This is a flexible, self-paced course. While you can progress at your own speed, we recommend dedicating around 5 hours per week over 2–4 weeks to complete the content and practice the skills effectively.
How you'll be assessed
To successfully complete the Motivational Interviewing training course, you’ll be assessed through a reflective journal and theory exam. These assessments are designed to help you reflect on your development and demonstrate your motivational interviewing knowledge.
Throughout this Motivational Interviewing training course, you’ll be required to complete a reflective journal, which is designed to broaden and deepen your understanding of the practice and the techniques that are presented. Most of the activities in the reflective journal will take you less than 10 minutes to complete, although some are a little longer. To get the most out of this training, you must engage fully with these activities so that you grow in knowledge and skill as a motivational interviewer.
Once you have completed the eLearning, online lectures, training videos, and reflective journal, you’ll be required to complete a short, interactive and multiple-choice theory assessment online. This assessment will measure your knowledge and understanding of the techniques that you have learned, and many of the questions are scenario-based where you need to be able to recognise how to apply techniques effectively.
There are no practical assessments for this course.
50%
Reflective Journal
- Theory and practical knowledge
- Extension activities
- Self-marked
50%
Theory exam
- Scenario-based
- Multiple-choice
- Unlimited attempts
Career opportunities: motivational interviewing
While this Motivational Interviewing training course isn’t tied to a specific occupational role within the health and fitness industry, it equips professionals with versatile communication skills that enhance client support across a range of settings. By learning how to facilitate meaningful conversations and guide clients through behaviour change, practitioners can elevate the quality and impact of their services.
This training is especially valuable for personal trainers who support clients with their health, fitness, and overall wellbeing, as well as nutrition coaches helping individuals adopt and maintain healthier eating habits. Professionals involved in exercise referral schemes or working as health coaches will also benefit greatly, as motivational interviewing can improve client engagement, adherence, and long-term outcomes. Whether you work one-on-one or in group settings, these motivational interviewing techniques can help you build stronger relationships and foster lasting change in those you support.
One motivational interviewing course. Unlimited possibilities.
Our graduates have gone on to work with world-leading health, fitness and wellbeing brands.
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