Most fitness professionals will at some point encounter a client or participant who is suffering from a specific controlled medical condition like arthritis, diabetes or obesity. In most cases, clients will actually present themselves with more than one condition (comorbidities) and so fitness instructors and personal trainers will need to stratify the risks associated with exercise and prioritise the conditions accordingly. With physical inactivity at an all-time high, and the prevalence of hypokinetic conditions like obesity and diabetes ever-increasing, today’s fitness professional must be armed with far more than just a level 2 or 3 fitness qualification if they are to truly meet their client’s needs.
With this in mind, the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) has recently released a position statement concerning the achievement of its Level 4 ‘Specialist’ status. Post-September 2011, those wishing to achieve the REPs Level 4 status will need to demonstrate in addition to a Level 4 Qualification the following:
- A recognised Level 3 Exercise Referral Qualification
- 150 hours of relevant professional practice at Level 3 for individuals within the previous 2 years, and at least 6 months experience since qualifying
- Completion of the online Professional Practice Unit which can be found in the members area of the Reps website-this is free to complete for all REPs members
While there are a range of Level 4 qualifications available to fitness professionals, some of the most common level 4 routes include:
- Managing Obesity and Diabetes
- Managing Lower back Pain
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Falls prevention
To find out more on how to achieve the Level 3 Exercise referral qualification visit our website, request a copy of our prospectus or speak to a member of our team by calling 01257 475789.
