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Can I Find Work as a Personal Trainer in Thailand as a Foreigner?

personal training employment for foreigners Thai gyms visa regulations fitness industry in Thailand retiring in Thailand multilingual English trainers in Thailand

Apr 14, 2025

5 days ago

Boonan **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I recently retired at 62 after a long illustrious career as an English high school teacher  in Japan

I would like to get work but this time as a certified personal trainer so I wonder if there are gyms in Thailand that employs foreigners as trainers 

I am multi-lingual  and  speak 6 languages

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post discusses the prospects of working as a certified personal trainer in Thailand for a retired English teacher planning to relocate. Various comments suggest that while employment as a personal trainer for foreigners in gyms may be uncommon, opportunities exist through freelance work, especially targeting English-speaking clients. The conversation touches on visa issues, the perception of employment, and personal trainer dynamics in popular areas like Pattaya and Phuket. Some users advise checking the Thai embassy for job restrictions and suggest that experience may outweigh age in the fitness industry.

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David ********

Define illustrious. It doesn't fit in that sentence.

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Chang ******

Anything is possible

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Paul *********

Pretty sure that would be a hard no

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Billy *******

Get your videography skills up, every pt I see at the gym are pretty much just taking videos of their clients every single session lol.

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Tom *********

Many PTs in Phuket, but if you have the qualifications, it's very possible.

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Boonan **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I plan to move to Petchaburi end of this year so probably if I could find work in Hua Hin is best

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Tom **********

The gym I worked out at in Pattaya had several English speaking personal trainers (freelance) and most were busy training english speaking expats and nomads. Their rates seemed much higher than the Thai Personal Trainers. In the end, I hired a Thai trainer just to save money. He was excellent and very knowledgeable. Just have friendly conversations with people at the gym that speak a common language and offer your services. It's easy to identify who in the gym would benefit from your expertise.

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Boonan **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

good advice thanks

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Boonan **********

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Jiji ***********

There is such work here.

Of all the fitness classes I've attended in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Koh Phangan, over half of them have been coached by a foreigner.

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Aaron *********

my understanding is it's easy to pick up cash on hand work at gyms if you have skills. not sure about getting a visa

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Tom *********

@Aaron ********

a reputable gym, won't accept any trainer without a WP.

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Aaron *********

define reputable? The person I'm thinking of was training people for pro fights

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Tom *********

@Aaron ********

one that obeys labour laws. Failure to do that will result in being deregulated.

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Tom *********

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Us *****

Every youtuber is trying to be a personal trainer here ripping off other farangs. They are working illegally.

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Boonan **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

that’s true

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Boonan **********

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Phil ******

@Boonan *********

good luck as many young people out here

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Boonan **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I appreciate your kind advice

Training for many years and studying the science of bodybuilding age is not a number for me but experience. Doing customized training in the gym that works best 👍🏼

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Boonan **********

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John ********

You can go to the thai embassy website to see the list of jobs you cannot do in Thailand

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Michael ********

Send your CVs around but i never seen foriegners as personal trainers employed by gyms. Seen gyms owned by foriegners, seen foriegn personal trainers.

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Tom *********

@Michael *******

i have a foreign PT, and the gym I use has multiple foreign trainers.

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Michael ********

ok cool but you go to posh gyms i guess in Phuket

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Tom *********

@Michael *******

depends on your definition of posh.

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Michael ********

i do know you and Sue. 🤩

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Michael ********

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Boonan **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Michael *******

thanks

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Michael ********

@Boonan *********

I did ask the boss in my local gym in Om Noi after someone else asked similar question. He pays his trainers

*****

a month base plus commision on lessons and most of these trainers have degrees or have been body building champs in Thailand. Hour lessons cost 1500 baht and they never had any foriegners do, but this is out of the way. But they have hell of a lot of people doing personal training

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Boonan **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Michael *******

where is Om Noi?

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Boonan **********

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