CHEK Courses: What They Don’t Tell You Before You Enrol
Are you considering CHEK courses or the IMS 1 programme? You are not alone. Thousands of people search every month looking for honest information about what you actually get, what it really costs, and whether the qualification will be recognised anywhere outside their own system. Here is the full truth — exactly what you need to know before you hand over your money.
CHEK courses are sold as premium,
The cost is another area they do not make clear up front.
IMS 1 alone is listed at roughly $2,835 USD for a five-day course — before conversion to pounds, before travel, before accommodation, before books and materials. On top of that there are yearly licensing fees you must pay just to keep calling yourself certified. Fail to pay? You lose your qualification. Fail to renew? You cannot use the title. They sell it as a qualification you earn — but it is actually a subscription you rent forever.
Refund rules are shockingly strict.
Their own terms state you can get a refund only if you have completed less than 10% of the course and within 14 days — and you may not have downloaded or viewed any course materials at all. That means once you have watched even one lesson or read one document, you are likely trapped with no way to get your money back. That is not consumer protection — that is locking you in before you know what you are actually buying.
Then there is the claim of $400 per hour coaching rates.
They show these numbers to make you believe you will earn that kind of money once qualified. The truth? Most CHEK practitioners charge standard rates similar to any other qualified trainer. The £400/$400 figure is used to impress people on their website — but it does not reflect what the vast majority of graduates actually earn. It is a marketing number, not a realistic income promise.
Many students tell me the teachers themselves hold no university teaching
Personal Trainer and Nutrition. Those are recognised everywhere. They transfer. They do not expire. No one can take them away from you. CHEK courses? They exist only as long as the Institute says so. They change the rules, raise the fees, or alter the structure — and your qualification value shifts with it.
So should you enrol? If you already hold solid recognised qualifications
and want specialised additional training — proceed with eyes wide open. But if you are new to the industry and thinking CHEK IMS 1 will give you a career recognised by employers, insurers, or gyms? Please understand exactly what you are buying. It is a proprietary system, not a widely accepted qualification. It costs thousands plus yearly fees. It comes with strict refund rules and no independent accreditation.
Get the recognised qualifications first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is CHEK IMS 1 recognised by universities or the government? A: No. CHEK IMS 1 is an internal proprietary qualification. It holds no university accreditation, no national government recognition, and will not transfer to standard industry bodies, colleges, or most employers.
Q: How much does CHEK IMS 1 actually cost? A: IMS 1 is listed at roughly $2,835 USD for a five-day course. This does not include travel, accommodation, books, or materials. On top of this you must pay yearly licensing fees just to keep using your qualification title.
Q: Can I get a refund if I change my mind? A: Their terms state refunds are only available within 14 days and if you have completed less than 10% of the course. You also may not have downloaded or viewed any course materials. Once you have seen any lesson or document, you are very unlikely to receive any refund.
Q: Do CHEK practitioners really earn $400 an hour? A: The $400 per hour figure appears prominently in Google search results and listings, but it does not reflect what the vast majority of graduates actually charge or earn. Most work at standard industry rates. It is a marketing figure used in search results, not a realistic average income.
Q: Do I have to pay every year to keep my qualification? A: Yes. There are ongoing annual licensing fees. If you do not pay or renew, you lose the right to call yourself a CHEK certified practitioner. You are effectively renting the qualification rather than owning it.
Q: Are CHEK teachers and instructors fully qualified? A: Most instructors are certified internally through the CHEK system. Many hold no external university teaching qualifications or independent accreditation to validate their teaching standards.
Q: Is CHEK recognised by gyms and insurance companies? A: Generally no. Most mainstream gyms, insurers, and employers require nationally recognised qualifications such as Level 2, Level 3 or Level 4. CHEK is a specialised independent system that is not widely accepted outside its own network.
Q: Can I use CHEK qualifications abroad? A: Because there is no external accreditation, CHEK qualifications are not officially recognised internationally. Government recognised qualifications transfer anywhere. CHEK qualifications do not.
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