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Summary of the UK System of Fitness qualifications

Introduction
The qualifications which give entry to the Register of Exercise Professionals UK (REPs) are closely aligned to a system of National Occupational Standards (NOS). NOS are developed by SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning, on behalf of the whole of the exercise and fitness sector. Employers, academics and industry experts assist with the development of the NOS and they are consulted on widely in the industry. The NOS aim to define the skills and knowledge required to perform particular functions in the fitness industry.

The Levels of NOS are the same as the levels of REPs. Level 2 is the broad base of gym instructors, aqua and exercise to music teachers and Level 3 is for advanced instruction, personal training, special populations and exercise referral. REPs has begun to put in place reciprocal arrangements with Registers of Exercise Professionals in other countries at Levels 2 and 3.

Level 2
Instructors can enter Level 2 on the Register of Exercise Professionals through one of three main three categories (gym, exercise to music and aqua). Individual instructors may hold one or more of these categories. A Level 2 instructor’s REPs certificate will say Level 2 and list the categories which they hold. All qualifications are based on the National Occupational Standards within the following structure:

Mandatory Units C35  Deal with accidents and emergencies D448 Evaluate and develop own practice in physical activity D417 Motivate and support clients to develop and maintain their fitness

Optional Pair A:
Group exercise with music		Optional Pair B:
Gym-Based Exercise		Optional Pair C:
Water-Based Exercise
D414 Plan and prepare a group exercise with music session D410 Plan and prepare a gym-based exercise session D412 Plan and prepare a water-based exercise session
D415 Instruct a group exercise with music session D411 Instruct a gym-based exercise session D413 Instruct a water-based exercise session

There are also level 2 categories of registration for instructing children and for people who are disabled, although there are no specific national standards at level 2 for these categories and are dependent on holding a national qualification. Other additional categories may be added in the future at level 2 although they would all have a prerequisite of one of the three main Level 2 categories in the table above as a minimum.

Note: There was a small revision of the Level 2 Instructing Exercise and Fitness NOS in 2007. The main change to the Level 2 structure was D448 listed above replacing a previous unit and the title of D417 was altered to include motivation.

The awarding bodies that award the main REPs entry qualifications at Level 2 can also use the same “common units” in an RVQ (see below). This means candidates registered with any awarding body will achieve the same qualification. The title of the common units qualification is “Level 2 certificate in fitness instructing” comprising:

  • Exercise and fitness knowledge

  • Health, safety and professionalism in exercise and fitness instruction

    Plus one of three optional units/contexts:

  • Instructing gym based exercise

  • Instructing exercise to music

  • Instructing water based exercise


Level 3
The structure at Level 3 centres around a core of five mandatory units and core exercise and fitness knowledge. The title of the Level 3 set of standards is: Level 3 “Instructing Physical Activity and Exercise” The core units are:

D437 Collect and analyse information to plan a progressive physical activity programme
D438 Plan, review and adapt a progressive physical activity programme
D439 Plan and instruct specific physical activities
C313 Provide motivation and support to clients during a progressive physical activity programme
A318 Manage, evaluate and improve own performance in providing physical activity

+ L3 Core Exercise & Fitness Knowledge: which covers
   1. Behaviour Change
   2. Anatomy
   3. Functional Kinesiology
   4. Energy Systems
   5. Concepts and Components of Fitness

Gaining a qualification which matches to these Standards will gain an instructor Level 3 status on REPs as an advanced instructor. There are a range of further categories which may appear on their certificate based on additional training that they have completed in addition to the core six units.

These additional units are:

D440 Apply the principles of nutrition and weight management to a progressive physical activity programme
D441 Adapt a physical activity programme to the needs of older adults
D442 Adapt a physical activity programme to the needs of disabled clients
D443 Adapt a physical activity programme to the needs of pre- and post-natal clients
D444 Integrate core stability and flexibility exercises into a physical activity programme
D445 Design and implement a physical activity programme for children and young people
D446 Adapt a physical activity programme to a specific sport
D447 Plan and deliver personal training
D449 Design agree and adapt a physical activity programme with referred clients
B224 Plan, market and sell services

There are also approved routes to Level 3 status through the disciplines of yoga, Extend, Keep Fit Association, Pilates, Medau Society and Fitness League. There are agreed national standards for yoga and Pilates.

Note: There was a small revision of the Level 3 Instructing Physical Activity and Exercise NOS in 2007 and the main change is that D440 has been moved from a mandatory to an optional unit.

The awarding bodies that award the main REPs entry qualifications at Level 3 can also use the same “common units” in an RVQ (see below). This means candidates registered with any awarding body will achieve the same qualification. The title of the common units qualification is “Level 3 certificate in advanced fitness instructing” comprising:

  • Advanced Exercise and Fitness Knowledge

  • Advanced Cardiovascular Training

  • Advanced Resistance Training

Note: This qualification can be delivered in the context of gym or group exercise to fitness.


Level 4
National Occupational Standards for Level 4 in Health and Physical Activity have been developed in 2007. The new units are in the following areas and will form the categories of registration at Level 4:

  • Coronary Heart Disease

  • Mental Health

  • Obesity/ Diabetes

  • Frailer Older Adults / Falls prevention

  • After Stroke care

  • Back Pain

There is also a unit for “accelerated rehabilitation” which is restricted to military use only and is currently not part of the qualification framework.

In order to be able to be awarded Level 4 status on REPs as a “Specialist Exercise Instructor” members must achieve a unit qualification in one or more of the above units and also have the following pre-requisites of:

  • L3 Advanced Instructor

  • + L3 Context unit e.g. working with children, personal training, people who are disabled, etc.

  • + 1,200 hours professional practice

  • + L3 Professional practice unit which will be eventually incorporated into unit D449, above.

Any exercise professional working within a formal context of referred populations must also complete a REPs approved exercise referral unit of qualification (such as D449 “Design agree and adapt a physical activity programme with referred clients”). This requires the L3 advanced instructor qualification as a pre-requisite.


Types of qualification
There are currently three types of qualification which give entry to REPs.

NVQs – National Vocational Qualifications are the assessment of the National Occupational Standards in the workplace. This is the preferred qualifications by REPs.
VRQs 2) VRQs – Vocationally Related Qualifications, accredited and funded by the government through Awarding Bodies who place them on the National Qualifications Framework. Based on the NOS with practical assessment and often work experience/ cases study.
Industry Awards – other awards which the industry has approved as meeting the standard to give entry to REPs, sometimes from employers or universities.

Qualifications which give entry to REPs are submitted to SkillsActive for approval and are evaluated against a set of criteria. The majority of organisations submitting qualifications are known as Awarding Bodies and each Awarding Body quality assures training delivery in a large number of training providers or colleges. Employers who run courses in house or universities may also submit their qualifications to give entry to REPs. The main criteria for approval are that the qualifications closely match to the NOS. Each qualification is evaluated by committee known as the Technical Expert Group who decide if a qualification ‘matches the standards’ and should be allowed to give entry to REPs. All qualifications must demonstrate quality assurance processes to an agreed national standard.

Qualifications are delivered by a range of providers including private training providers, colleges and universities. Delivery methods also vary from intensive courses to those which use distance learning for some aspects and full time college or university courses. The minimum time of learning to gain a qualification in a category at Level 2 is 120 hours. The guided minimum time for the new Level 3 is around 150 hours to gain the core units in addition to a L2 award (120 hours) and then around 40 hours for each additional unit which gives an extra category at Level 3 on REPs.

Note: on Industry Awards: All Industry Award providers are taking part in a trial project in partnership with awarding bodies to look whether all REPs entry qualifications in future could be awarded through the Government’s National Qualifications Framework.