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Motivational Interviewing training course

Learn how to lead impactful conversations and motivate your clients to commit to change on this Motivational Interviewing training course.

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Fitness industry's leading awarding bodies.

HFE.co.uk

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Enrol on our leading Motivational Interviewing training course

Master the art of collaborative communication and strengthen your clients’ internal motivation and commitment to a specific goal.

Course type:

CPD
Mode of study:

Online
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.

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.
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.

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.

trainer delivering motivational interviewing to client

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.

HFE student completing assessment sheet

50%

Reflective Journal

Theory and practical knowledge
Extension activities
Self-marked

50%

Theory exam

Scenario-based
Multiple-choice
Unlimited attempts

Payment options

We offer a range of payment options for our courses to suit different budgets and needs. Whether you prefer to pay upfront or in instalments, there’s a flexible option available to help you get started without stress.

All of our courses are fairly priced, reflecting the high quality of learning, expert teaching, and practical value they provide. We’re committed to making professional health education accessible, without compromising on excellence.

Pay in Full

£280

Get a 5% prompt payment discount
when you pay your fees in full.

Buy Now, Pay Later

£295

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Purchase Order

£295

Provide a purchase order on enrolment and settle the invoice within 30 days*

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.

motivational interviewing consultation

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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