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National & International Recognition
The facts about National Recognition
The facts about International Recognition
Fitness Australia and National Registration
(Fitness Australia is the Australian representative for the Australian Fitness Industry)
What is “Professional Registration?”
Australia leads the world in the area of professional standards for our fitness instructors. Since the mid ‘80’s Australia has a national professional registration system and since 2001 this has been directly linked to federal government controlled educational standards. Professional Registration re-assures both the consumer and the employer that the instructor or trainer has not only gained a nationally recognised qualification but also has completed ongoing and approved professional development to maintain the currency of his/her skills. Fitness Australia professional registration is matched to international competency standards and mutual recognition is now available between NZ, the UK and shortly Europe and Canada Fitness Australia professional registration can be gained at a number of levels and with a number of specialisations.
How Do I Become a Registered Fitness Professional
Step 1
Initially you must complete an accredited course provided by a government approved RTO (Registered Training Organisation). Across Australia the minimum requirement is a Certificate III in Fitness, (Fitness Instructor) with an option to complete a more advanced Certificate IV in Fitness (Fitness Trainer). Completing a Certificate IV course will allow you to register at a higher level and work with specialised target groups in the community – children, older adults, etc.
During your course you will cover a set criteria of study units and your competency, knowledge and skill will be assessed throughout your training. Following the successful completion of the course you will have attained a Certificate III or Certificate IV Statement of attainment.
Choosing your Training Provider – contact the Fitness Industry Association in your state (Fitness Queensland, Fitness WA, etc) and ask for a list of RTO’s in your state or check out the government list of RTO’s at www.ntis.gov.au Then contact the course provider, check out their fees, course times and campuses, flexible delivery options, speak to other students and choose the program that best suits your circumstances. These are government accredited training providers, approved to deliver nationally recognised qualifications – but they will have their own approach and style – the choice is yours.
Step 2
In addition to completing the required Fitness Professional course you will need to complete a Senior First Aid Course. The first aid course that you participate in must meet the relevant WorkCover requirements in your state. The first aid qualification will have to be kept current throughout your career usually coming up for renewal every 3 years.
Step 3
Apply for Registration – complete the Fitness Australia application form and apply for registration at the offices of your home state association (Fitness Victoria, Fitness Tasmania, etc). You will need to provide the staff with proof of your successful completion of your qualification (statement of attainment and course certificate) and First Aid and pay the relevant fee. Registration is valid for 2 years and must be maintained if you wish to work in a Fitness Australia recognised facility and/or to maintain coverage under the Fitness Australia professional insurance policy.
Re-registration
Registration is renewable every 2 years. During this 2 year registration period every registered professional must collect 18 Continuing Education Credits (CECs) from accredited course providers. There are a variety of ways to earn these CEC points. Please refer to the Re-registration brochure for more details on CEC points. Continuing Education (also know in some industries as Continuing Professional Development or CPD), is essential to ensure the currency of a practising professionals knowledge and skill.
Specialisations:
Certificate III (SRF 30204) – Fitness Instructor
Specialisations – Gym Instructor, Group Exercise Instructor, Aqua Instructor
Certificate IV (SRF 40204) – Fitness Trainer
Specialisations - Personal Trainer, Older Adult's Trainer, Children's Trainer, Aqua Trainer
Diploma of Fitness (SRF 50204) – Fitness Specialist/Therapist
Do I need a First Aid?
It is a Fitness Australia requirement that all registered fitness professionals have a current Workcover Approved Senior First Aid.
What if I want to go interstate or overseas and work, will my registration be recognised?
Yes – Australian Qualifications are held in high regard throughout the world and current Fitness Australia Registration makes it easy for a prospective employer to know that you have the necessary skills. Please beware that some countries have no national standards (ie, USA) and some (Brazil, France, for example) insist on tertiary (degree) qualifications.
International Recognition of Fitness Education Courses and Registration
Some Australian fitness education course providers promote and advertise their fitness education courses as the only certifications recognised internationally, suggesting that graduating students will be eligible for registration or certification in all other countries. Prospective students should be wary of these claims, as the majority are fraudulent. The truth is there is not one international fitness education qualification or registration that is universally recognised throughout the world by all countries. The closest to international recognition that the Australian student can gain is the registration that they can receive from Fitness Australia.
In Australia, Fitness Australia is the only peak body responsible for the registration of fitness professionals from Certificate 111 level to Diploma level. Fitness Australia is one of the few government recognised representative bodies that represent fitness professionals and is recognised throughout the world as one of the premier fitness registration bodies. Fitness Australia registration is recognised in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Europe, South Africa and Asia. Fitness Australia has a reciprocal agreement with the Register of English Professionals in the United Kingdom to recognize each other’s registration, which in the future will be the blue print for international recognition.
In the United States there are over 200 certification agencies that register fitness professionals. To gain registration the Australian student is still required to challenge an assessment to gain US registration.
Fitness Institute Australia (FIA) delivers the full competencies of the National Fitness Training Package (SRF 04), which is AQTF recognised and VETAB accredited. Fitness Australia recognises all the qualifications delivered by the Fitness Institute Australia (FIA) and as such is afforded the privileges of international recognition. If a student completes an FIA course/qualification and attains Fitness Australia registration they will be eligible for registration or certification in many more countries than other bogus international certifications promoted as a unique selling point by fitness education course providers to attract new students into their courses.
Students seeking international registration or certification should before enrolling in any fitness education course (that claims international recognition) contact Fitness Australia (www.fitnessaustralia.com.au) for confirmation as to the legitimacy of these claims. Students should not be misled into believing that their fitness education courses are universally accepted and that more expensive course fees are justified to cover this additional certification.
Who to contact:
Interstate:
Fitness Australia registration and Insurance is recognised throughout Australia as the standard for all quality facilities.
Overseas:
Australian qualifications are highly regarded overseas. We recommend that a fitness professional planning to work overseas contacts prospective employer/s regarding the standards that they require.
United Kingdom:
A fitness professional holding a Fitness Australia Fitness Instructor or Fitness Trainer registration will be automatically recognised by REPs UK (Register of Exercise Professionals). Some specific specialisations may require additional qualifications or proof of competence. Visit www.exerciseregister.org for details of the UK registration system.
New Zealand:
A fitness professional holding a Fitness Australia Fitness Instructor or Fitness Trainer Registration will automatically be recognised by REPs NZ. Please visit www.reps.org.nz for details of the NZ registration scene.
Reference: For more information, visit www.fitnessaustralia.com.au