Personal Trainer Questionnaire: How to Create One (Example Questions)

When Should Clients Fill Out a Questionnaire?

Most trainers introduce the personal training questionnaire during the first personal training session or even before, via email or an online intake form. Sending it in advance allows the prospective client to reflect on their fitness goals and provide thoughtful, honest answers without feeling rushed. Many trainers streamline this process using personal training computer software like FitBudd to automate client intake, securely store health data, and turn questionnaire responses directly into personalized workout and nutrition plans.

This early step sets the tone for a professional and structured experience. It also allows you to review their responses, identify any relevant medical information or health conditions that require special attention, and tailor the initial consultation to their specific needs.

Completing the form ahead of time builds anticipation and engagement for new personal training clients. It shows that you're invested in their success and gives them confidence that you're crafting a plan specifically for them, not just handing out a one-size-fits-all routine.

Some trainers also use follow-up questions during the first session to clarify responses, delve deeper into motivations, and establish rapport. This layered approach enhances trust and helps you start the fitness journey on the right foot.

What Should a Personal Trainer Questionnaire Include?

An effective personal training questionnaire should be structured, detailed, and user-friendly. It serves as the foundation for designing a safe and effective exercise program tailored to each client. Let's break down the core sections that every personal training client questionnaire should include:

1. Contact Information and Basic Details

Include:

• Full Name
• Age and Date of Birth
• Email Address
• Phone Number
• Emergency Contact

Understanding your client starts with the basics. You'll need this information to stay in touch, follow up after personal training sessions, and handle emergencies if they arise. It also helps verify eligibility (such as age restrictions) and provides a professional first point of contact.

2. Medical Information and Health History

This is critical for safety. Include questions like:

• Do you have any existing medical conditions? (e.g., asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes)
• Are you currently taking any medications?
• Have you ever experienced chest pain during physical activity?
• Have you undergone physical therapy or surgery in the past year?
• Do you have any known injuries or restrictions?

This section helps you reduce the risk of injury, determine exercise suitability, and build a program that works with, not against, a client's health status. Many trainers also include a note about obtaining medical clearance if needed.

3. Lifestyle Questions

Understanding a client's lifestyle helps shape a healthier lifestyle approach. Ask about:

• Occupation and daily activity level
• Average hours of sleep per night
• Sleep habits and sleep patterns
• Stress levels and how they manage stress
• Smoking or alcohol use
• Nutritional habits and dietary restrictions

The more you understand about their lifestyle, the better you can offer guidance toward long-term change.

4. Current Fitness and Exercise History

Gain clarity on their current fitness level:

• Do you currently have a gym membership?
• What is your typical workout routine?
• What types of exercises do you enjoy?
• How many days per week do you engage in physical activity?
• What has worked or not worked in your past fitness efforts?

Use this section to understand what motivates your client and where they've struggled in the past.

5. Fitness Goals

This section defines their purpose:

• What are your short-term and long-term fitness goals?
• Are you looking to lose weight, gain muscle, improve body composition, or feel better overall?
• Are there specific milestones you want to achieve? (e.g., run a 5K, squat a certain weight)
• What does success look like to you?

A great personal trainer builds a training program that aligns with a client's aspirations and timeframe.

6. Exercise Preferences

Here's where workout survey questions come in:

• What types of workouts do you enjoy? (e.g., strength training, HIIT, yoga, cardio)
• Do you prefer working out indoors or outdoors?
• Do you have any preferred equipment?
• What are your preferred days/times for workouts?

These questions help you create an exercise program that fits into their lives—and, more importantly, one they'll enjoy and stick with.

7. Body Composition and Measurements

Ask for:

• Body weight
• Height
• Body fat percentage (if known)
• Body measurements (waist, hips, chest, arms)

These data points create a baseline to track progress over time. While optional for some clients, others may find these measurements highly motivating when paired with visible results from their fitness journey.

8. Motivation and Coaching Style Preferences

Ask:

• What motivates you to stay committed?
• Have you worked with a personal trainer before?
• What did you like/dislike about your past or previous clients' experiences?
• How do you prefer your trainer to communicate and hold you accountable?
• Do you prefer tough love, encouragement, or data-driven coaching?

Knowing their preferred coaching style helps you adapt your approach and become a great personal trainer in their eyes.

Example: Personal Trainer Questionnaire Template

Here's a sample layout you can use or adapt into a digital form:

Personal Training Client Questionnaire

Contact Information:

• Full Name:
• Date of Birth:
• Email:
• Phone Number:
• Emergency Contact:

Medical History:

1. Do you have any of the following? (Circle all that apply.)
   
   • Asthma
   • Diabetes
   • Heart Disease
   • High Blood Pressure
   • Recent Injury
   • Other: __________
2. Are you currently taking any medication?
3. Have you ever experienced chest pain during exercise?
4. Have you had surgery or been in physical therapy recently?
5. Do you have any dietary restrictions?

Lifestyle Questions:

1. Occupation:
2. How active are you during the workday?
3. Average hours of sleep per night:
4. Rate your current stress level (1–10):
5. Describe your nutritional habits:

Exercise History:

1. Do you currently exercise regularly?
2. Describe your weekly workout routine:
3. What types of workouts do you enjoy?
4. Have you worked with a fitness trainer before? If yes, what was the experience like?

Fitness Goals:

1. What are your primary fitness goals? (Check all that apply)
   
   • Lose weight
   • Build muscle
   • Improve endurance
   • Increase flexibility
   • Improve body composition
   • Other: __________
2. How soon would you like to see results?

Body Measurements (Optional):

• Body Weight: __________
• Height: __________
• Waist Circumference: __________
• Hips: __________
• Body Fat% % (if known): __________

Preferences & Motivation:

1. What motivates you?
2. What time of day do you prefer for workouts?
3. Do you prefer training at home, the gym, or outdoors?
4. How should your trainer keep you accountable?
5. What makes you feel confident in a trainer?

Gym Survey Questions vs. Personal Training Questionnaire

Though they might seem similar, gym survey questions and a personal trainer questionnaire serve very different purposes, and understanding this difference is essential for both gym owners and fitness professionals.

A gym survey is typically designed to gather feedback about the overall gym experience. These surveys often ask members about:

• Equipment quality and availability
• Cleanliness of the facility and locker rooms
• Variety and scheduling of group fitness classes
• Staff friendliness and professionalism
• General satisfaction with amenities and services

These surveys are designed to help gyms improve the overall experience by upgrading equipment, keeping things clean, or offering the right classes, so members feel satisfied and want to stay.

A personal trainer questionnaire, on the other hand, is all about the individual. It's a tool personal trainers use to get to know each client, understanding their health history, goals, lifestyle, and what kinds of workouts they enjoy. Instead of focusing on the gym as a whole, this kind of questionnaire helps trainers create safe, effective, and utterly personalized training plans that fit each client's unique needs.

Think of it this way:

The gym survey helps the gym enhance its services.
The personal training questionnaire helps you, the trainer, deliver personalized training programs that get results.

Both are valuable tools, but they serve very different functions. Many trainers working within gyms may even benefit from reviewing gym survey data to understand the broader environment in which their clients are training, while still relying on their client questionnaire to develop targeted plans for success.

What to Ask a Personal Trainer (If You're the Client)

If you're a client looking for a good personal trainer, here are some things to ask personal trainer candidates:

• What is your personal training certification?
• Can you tell me about your past clients and their results?
• What is your coaching philosophy?
• How do you customize training plans?
• Do you offer nutritional advice?
• How do you track progress?

Whether in a personal trainer interview or your first personal training session, don't hesitate to ask a personal trainer questions to help you feel confident in your choice.

Final Thoughts

A personal trainer questionnaire isn't just a form—it's a critical tool in creating safe, engaging, and effective fitness experiences. It accurately represents your client's needs and goals, allows you to gather information efficiently, and sets a solid foundation for training sessions that drive results.

Most trainers can dramatically improve their impact and client retention by asking the right questions about medical information, sleep habits, exercise preferences, and fitness goals.

So whether you're welcoming a new client or checking in with someone you've trained before, it's worth taking a moment to fine-tune your intake process. A well-crafted, thoughtful personal training questionnaire can be the difference between someone who gives training a short try and someone who truly commits to changing their health and lifestyle for the long haul.