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PAR-Q and client onboarding forms for personal trainers in the UK

Last updated: . Facts checked on 20 October 2026.

Please note: this page is general information, not medical or legal advice. If a client's answers worry you, ask them to speak to their GP or another health professional before you train them.

Short answer. A PAR-Q is a short health questionnaire a client completes before exercise to show whether they should get advice from a doctor or a qualified exercise professional first. The official version is the PAR-Q+, published by the PAR-Q+ Collaboration, which says you must use the entire questionnaire with no changes (PAR-Q+). The answers are health data, which UK GDPR treats as special category data (ICO).

On this page
  1. What is a PAR-Q?
  2. Use the official PAR-Q+, unchanged
  3. When to refer a client to their GP
  4. Consent: two different things
  5. PAR-Q answers are special category data
  6. What else to collect at onboarding
  7. How FitDesk helps
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Related guides
  10. Sources

What is a PAR-Q?

PAR-Q stands for Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire. The PAR-Q+ ("for Everyone") starts with seven general health questions about heart conditions and blood pressure, chest pain, dizziness, other chronic conditions, prescribed medication, bone or joint problems and medically supervised activity (PAR-Q+). If the client answers no to all seven, the form says they are cleared for physical activity and they sign the declaration. If they answer yes to any, they complete the follow up questions on pages 2 and 3.

CIMSPA's professional standard for personal trainers lists the PAR-Q and PAR-Q+ among evidence based pre-exercise screening methods. It expects a PT to use recognised screening to assess a client's readiness to exercise and to know when to refer them on (CIMSPA).

Use the official PAR-Q+, unchanged

The PAR-Q+ Collaboration publishes the current English version on eparmedx.com, as a fillable PDF and an online version (eparmedx.com). The form and site set these rules:

  • You are encouraged to photocopy the PAR-Q+, but you must use the entire questionnaire and no changes are permitted (PAR-Q+).
  • The form and related resources may not be built into electronic surveys or other derivative materials without the Collaboration's written consent (eparmedx.com).
  • Clearance is valid for a maximum of 12 months from the date it is completed, and becomes invalid if the client's condition changes.
  • If a client is under the legal age required for consent, a parent, guardian or care provider must also sign.
  • Avoid outdated or modified copies (eparmedx.com).

Want to ask about goals or past injuries too? Put your own questions on a separate onboarding form rather than editing the PAR-Q+.

When to refer a client to their GP

The PAR-Q+ does not diagnose anything. It tells you and the client when more advice is needed first. Its pathway works like this (PAR-Q+, eparmedx.com):

  1. Yes to a follow up question. The client should seek further information before becoming more active, by completing the online ePARmed-X+ and/or seeing a qualified exercise professional.
  2. ePARmed-X+ result. It gives low, intermediate or high risk. High risk means low intensity activity only until the client meets a qualified exercise professional or a healthcare professional, such as a physiotherapist, nurse or physician. Healthcare clearance may be required, and there is an official physician clearance form for it (eparmedx.com).
  3. Delay starting. The form says to delay becoming more active during a temporary illness such as a cold or fever, if pregnant (talk to a health care practitioner first), or if health changes.
  4. If in doubt. The form says to consult a doctor before physical activity.

The NHS tells adults to speak to their GP first if they have not exercised for some time, or if they have medical conditions or concerns (NHS). CIMSPA's FAQs on delivering sessions online say it is advisable to get confirmation from a medical practitioner in advance if a condition could affect someone's ability to take part safely. They also say that if you are in any doubt, you must ask the participant not to take part until they have sought medical advice, and should keep evidence that you did (CIMSPA). CIMSPA's PT standard adds referral to professionals such as a physiotherapist, registered dietitian or medical specialist when a client needs specialist help (CIMSPA).

PAR-Q answers are special category data

The ICO says health data covers past, current or future health and any related data that reveals anything about the state of someone's health. Even a broken leg counts (ICO). In practice:

  • Collect only what you need. Data must be adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary (ICO).
  • Tell clients what you do with it when you collect it, including why, how long you keep it and who you share it with (ICO).
  • Do not keep it longer than you need it, and review what you hold (ICO).

What else to collect at onboarding

A simple onboarding pack for a new client:

  1. Contact details and an emergency contact.
  2. The official PAR-Q+, completed and signed.
  3. Goals, training history and preferences, on your own form.
  4. Your privacy notice.
  5. Your terms, including your cancellation policy.
  6. Separate, optional consent for progress photos or for using their story in your marketing.

Ask for a new PAR-Q+ at least every 12 months and whenever a client's health changes. Training clients online? CIMSPA's online FAQs say a PAR-Q should be used to determine readiness for online sessions too (CIMSPA). Also check that your insurance covers the clients you work with: see personal trainer insurance in the UK.

How FitDesk helps

FitDesk is personal trainer software for UK personal trainers. Once a client is onboarded, keep their details in one client record, message them, and track their progress over time, alongside bookings with repeat weekly bookings, workouts, session packages and invoices with a card payment link. Use the official PAR-Q+ for screening. Message previews can show on a phone's lock screen, so keep health details out of messages. Starting out? Read how to start a personal training business in the UK.

Clients can fill in intake and health forms in FitDesk, and their answers are saved with that client's records. A form completed in FitDesk is a record for you, not a medical assessment or clearance to exercise. Use it for your own onboarding questions, and keep the official PAR-Q+ unchanged: it may not be built into an online form without the PAR-Q+ Collaboration's written consent. FitDesk does not make you compliant with data protection law. You are the controller for your clients' health data, and if you rely on explicit consent, ask for it separately.

No monthly fee. 0.7% on Stripe card payments through FitDesk, minimum 1p per card payment. Stripe's own fees still apply. Cash has no FitDesk fee. FitDesk is a Pickle Labs company (Pickle Labs Collective Ltd). Create your FitDesk account

Frequently asked questions

What is a PAR-Q in personal training?

A PAR-Q, or Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, is a short health questionnaire a client completes before exercise. The official version, the PAR-Q+, asks seven general health questions. If the client answers yes to any, follow up questions show whether they should get further advice from a doctor or qualified exercise professional first.

Can I edit the PAR-Q+ or put it in my own online form?

Not without permission. The PAR-Q+ says you must use the entire questionnaire and no changes are permitted. Its official website says the form may not be built into electronic surveys or other derivative materials without the PAR-Q+ Collaboration's written consent. Put your own extra questions on a separate onboarding form.

When should a personal trainer refer a client to a GP?

Ask a client to speak to their GP or another health professional when the PAR-Q+ pathway calls for it, such as a high risk ePARmed-X+ result, or when the form says to consult a doctor. The NHS tells adults with medical conditions or concerns to speak to their GP first. If in doubt, wait until they have medical advice.

How often should a client complete a PAR-Q?

The PAR-Q+ declaration says clearance is valid for a maximum of 12 months from the date it is completed and becomes invalid if the client's condition changes. Ask clients to complete a new one at least once a year, and again whenever their health, medication or pregnancy status changes.

Do I need a client's consent to keep their PAR-Q?

You need a lawful basis and, because PAR-Q answers are health data, a separate UK GDPR condition. Explicit consent is one option but not the only one. The ICO says consent must be freely given and kept separate from other terms. Our GDPR guide for personal trainers explains the choices. This is not legal advice.

What should a personal trainer collect when onboarding a client?

Collect contact details, an emergency contact, a completed PAR-Q+, goals and training history, and agreement to your terms and cancellation policy. Give clients your privacy notice and ask separately before taking progress photos. Only collect what you need: the ICO says data must be adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary.

Sources

All checked 20 October 2026.

Please note: this guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. It cannot cover every situation. If you are unsure about a client, ask them to speak to their GP; for data protection questions, speak to a data protection professional or the ICO.