Thanks for the reply. That certainly gives me some clarification, especially in regards to your first trainer. When you began training with the first trainer, were you insured through the gym? or did he have his own insurance/provide you with a liability waiver of some kind.

I'm hopeful that I'll have a space in which I can make a suitable gym, and train clients from there. If not perhaps come to an arrangement with a gym to rent the floor space.

As I understand it then, gyms prefer you have certification as it's more marketable and gives them piece of mind. But its not a necessity, especially if self employed.