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New exercise referral qualifications to come into effect
Advanced instructors at level 3 on the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) who are responsible for designing and delivering structured and tailored physical activity programmes for referred patients/clients, or assigning them to an appropriate physical activity, must have a range of knowledge and skills specific to the referral process, specified medical conditions and relevant health risk factors related to physical activity participation.
To enable instructors to work in this important area, the new unit of qualification for exercise referrals (D449) is now coming into effect.
It is designed to cover a range of certain medical conditions and relevant health risk factors and includes the fundamental skills and knowledge required to work within an exercise referral system.
Exercise professionals wishing to study in the area of exercise referrals should now only use this new unit with approved training providers.
By 1 April 2006, approved training providers will not accept candidates for training unless they are already registered at level 3 as advanced instructors. The category of registration will not be given unless the member has successfully completed the new unit and has also demonstrated professional contact at an appropriate level for a minimum of one year.
During 2006, further units will be developed, but at Level 4, to cover more specialist competences which are required for specific medical conditions with patient/clients – such as in cardiac rehabilitation phase IV, working with frailer, older adults and falls prevention, mental health, vascular, immune and respiratory disorders.