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New fitness qualification units
In response to increasing demands for specialist knowledge within the fitness industry and growing awareness of the long-term benefits of regular exercise, two new units of qualification have been signed-off by the UK Coordinating Group (UKCQ) on behalf of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
These are the final two units which complete the full level 3 qualification structure in Instructing Physical Activity and Exercise.
Exercise professionals can now sign up for unit D441 – Working with Older Adults, which has been designed to meet international curriculum guidelines.
Unit D449, which covers exercise referrals, has been anticipated for some time and is a direct response to the Department of Health’s National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF) document. The NQAF requires all exercise professionals to be registered at level 3 if they are involved with referral programmes.
The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) has been working on a new career development plan which will have details on how these new units fit within the full qualification structure. The technical department of Skillsactive, together with the Register, has now completed the revision of the level 3 qualification structure.
The development plan will shortly be available on the REPs’ website.
Cliff Collins, REPs Registrar, said: “We would like to see a significant increase in the number of exercise professionals qualified to work with specialist populations like children, older adults, those recovering from illness and people who have been referred by their GPs.
“There is currently a considerable shortage of professionals with such skills, but these new units should help as we are all aware that controlled exercise can produce massive health benefits.
“It is up to us, as an industry, to make sure we are ready to meet new demands as they arise rather than trying to play catch-up.”
Copies of the new standards for units D441 and D449 can be obtained from [email protected]