Qualification - ELITE FITNESS LEADERS CERTIFICATE VRE004

Elite Fitness Leader Training - Be Your Own Boss -Improve Your Earning Power

  • Develop your ability to prepare and deliver basic fitness programs.
  • Gain a solid understanding of the body's energy and movements.
  • Opportunity to specialise in an area of interest.
  • Develop a high standard of essential knowledge and competency.
  • Specialist modules contextualise and expand on key skills. 

A Home studies course for Fitness Leaders, Personnel Trainers and Life Coaches

  •  Expand your career opportunities.
  • Work in casual or self employment to supplement your income.
  • Learn from highly experienced tutors.
  • Develop skills to give you a competitive edge in the employment market.
  • Work towards management in the fitness industry.

 

COURSE STRUCTURE (600 hours duration)

The requirements in order to be awarded the Elite Fitness Leaders Certificate are:

  • Students are to complete the Core Studies, followed by 2 Elective Modules, and then the Psychology and Counselling module.
  • Students are to fulfil the other requirements as outlined below.

The aim of the Core Studies is to elevate the standard of core knowledge and competency for people working in the field of fitness through the provision of a pre-service education program. 

The aim of specialist modules is to contextualise and expand the leaning process and competencies into one of the recognised specialist areas.

 

1. CORE STUDIES: STAGES 1 AND 2

The following subject areas are partly covered in the first module, and completed in the second:

  • Health and Fitness
  • Recreation Management
  • Physiology and Anatomy
 
CORE STUDIES STAGE: 1

There are 12 lessons in this module as follows:

  1. Introduction to Health & Fitness
  2. Exercise Physiology
  3. Exercise Principles & Cardio Respiratory Programming
  4. Introduction to Biomechanics: The Skeleton & Muscles
  5. Biomechanics & Risk
  6. Fitness Program Design
  7. Delivering a Fitness Program
  8. Physiology: Digestion, Excretion, Physiological Systems
  9. Regulating Body Physiology
  10. Ergogenic Aids to Performance
  11. Safety, Injury & General Well-being
  12. Fitness Programs for Special Groups
 
CORE STUDIES STAGE: 2

There are 7 lessons in this module as follows:

  1. Nerves & Motor Skills
  2. Skeletal Muscle
  3. Muscle Organisation & Movement
  4. Muscle Flexibility & Posture
  5. Managing Diet
  6. Managing an Exercise Program
  7. Writing an Exercise Program

 

2. ELECTIVE SPECIALIST MODULE

The student will normally choose to study from a module from the following: 

Advanced Aerobics 
Aquafitness
Resistance & Gym Supervision

Other options may occasionally be accepted, students will need to contact the School to confirm acceptance of an alternative module to those listed here.

 

3. FURTHER ELECTIVE MODULE

The student will choose one module from:

Sports Nutrition
Sports Psychology
Motivation
Medical Terminology

Other options may occasionally be accepted, students will need to contact the School to confirm acceptance of an alternative module to those listed here.

 

4. PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELLING MODULE

The module Psychology and Counselling will be sent to you unless you arrange otherwise. Alternative psychology modules offered by the school may be accepted (e.g. Sports Psychology), but a special arrangement must be made in advance of the course being sent.

 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

1. FIRST AID

The student must complete a First Aid Certificate with either the Red Cross, or an equivalent course with a reputable body that holds good standing both nationally and internationally (e.g. the Red Cross, or St. John’s Ambulance).

 

2. PRACTICAL

PART 1: PRACTICAL WORK

Students are to undertake practical work in a health and fitness workplace (e.g. a gymnasium or health club) under the supervision of a qualified consultant or instructor.  This must be documented in detail for 40 hours of work, by your supervisor, in a log book supplied by the school.

An instructor is considered qualified if:

  • They hold a degree or diploma in Fitness or human movement; or
  • They were registered as a Fitness Leader under the old Fitness Leader registration scheme conducted by AFAC; or
  • They studied a “reputable and relevant” course, of 200 hours or more duration; and have the equivalent of 2 years or more (part time or full time) industry experience, within a reputable gymnasium or health club.
PART 2: WORK EXPERIENCE

Students are to complete work experience in a reputable and relevant situation for a period of 150 hours.  This may be paid or unpaid work, in self employment, or in the employ of someone else.

Students must validate the nature and scope of this work by supplying two references (e.g. from employers, supervisors, colleagues or clients).

The references need to be letters which provide the following information:

  • Name and contact details of the referee.
  • Your relationship with the referee, and their interest in the fitness industry.
  • The hours that you have worked, and the dates between which that work was undertaken.
  • What you actually did.
  • Their opinion of the quality of the work you undertook.

 

What is Self-Esteem?

However volatile or inaccurate a person’s perception of themselves is, self esteem is the key to a successful, happy and productive life. It affects the state of our personal happiness, for we cannot be happy if we do not like ourselves; and it also affects the way we do our job, the kind of relationships we have, the success or failure of raising our children. It's the generator of human motivation! Someone with low self esteem is generally depressed and/or anxious, second guessing themselves, conditioning themselves to failure and lacking in motivation. “Its all too hard”, “I’ll never be good enough” etc is the common mindset of low self esteem.

Our self esteem therefore is the index of how we feel about ourselves. It reflects if we see ourselves as a worthy, capable, lovable, significant persons, or as a useless, inept, unlovable and insignificant person.

Some have defined self esteem as our inner mirror. This is a particularly useful metaphor, since it is concrete and helps us visualize the concept of self esteem. The inner mirror of self esteem is created in the early years of life. It is brought about through the way we perceive the attitude toward us of people who are significant in our life, especially our parents.

Self esteem is established through respect and approval from others, actual achievement and success, and acceptance of, and acting upon ones inner nature. The way in which parents, extended family friends and siblings respond to, treat and interact with a child is critical in the development of their self-esteem. It is important to emphasise positive traits and characteristics and to engage in positive, sincere and reinforcing interactions with even small children.

 

Realistic Expectations

Learning to accept oneself is the key building block in the structure of self esteem. One realistically assesses abilities, and capitalises on strengths while recognizing weaknesses. High self esteem is not dependent upon total success. It means a readiness to see in oneself those limits that are there, and a healthy sense of pride in the abilities and competencies that are present. It also implies a trust of ones inner nature, the ability to make decisions confidently and carry them out even in the face of disapproval and criticism.

One cannot be the best at everything. You cannot be as attractive as an airbrushed supermodel on a magazine cover, as intelligent as Einstein, as funny as a stand up comedian, the perfect partner, parent, athlete and role model. Being realistic about who you are, what you have to offer and where your weaknesses lie is crucial in developing an accurate assessment of yourself. Being overly critical will overwhelm a person, whereas honestly noting areas of less aptitude means you have a small set of skills on which you can work to improve yourself. Conversely, if one assesses themselves to highly, they will appear arrogant and will not notice flaws, allowing them to remain, or become worse.

 

Working as a Fitness Leader

Fitness Leaders are people who instruct and/or otherwise facilitate other people to undertake activities intended to improve or maintain individuals level of physical (and sometimes mental) well-being.

The job of being a Fitness Leader has changed greatly over the past few decades, and looks certain to continue changing.

In the mid 20th century, fitness leaders were fewer in number, and often just amateur fitness enthusiasts conducting exercise classes in a community centre or hall. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, public interest in fitness increased, as did the capacity of people in more affluent countries to pay people to help them improve their level of fitness.

Growth in interest, demand and economic potential has led the industry to develop in different ways in different countries. What was once dominated by amateurs and volunteers, has blossomed into an industry that employs people in a wide range of roles (e.g. "Gym Managers", "Life Coaches", Personal Trainers, "Health Consultants", "Fitness Leaders",  "Recreation Officers" etc.). Concerns over legal liability have made it important for these "professionals" and their employers to be protected against legal action from disgruntled clients.

Appropriate legal protection may be achieved through various means:

  1. By acquiring skills and knowledge which show an unchallengeable capacity to do the job.
  2. Insurance - A professional indemnity policy to protect against any impact from a law suit.
  3. Statements relating to Liability - Displayed notices or membership contracts which clients are clearly advised of limited liability prior to using any offered services.
  4. Registrations and Memberships - Joining an appropriate professional association and/or registering as a fitness leader under an accreditation scheme can provide an indication that the leader is maintaining professional standing.

CAUTION: Registration as a Fitness Leader alone may not provide adequate legal protection. Registration simply means you have satisfied what a government or industry body has determined as being required for their registration; but if the courts determine you were still not competent to have done something you may still lose a legal challenge.

 

Plan Your Career

You can ENROL on the Elite Fitness Leaders Certificate today.

Determining the path to follow to achieve your desired career goals is not always easy - if you have any questions, or want to know more about studying with ACS then get in touch with us today.

You can contact us by phone on (UK) 01384 442752 or (International) +44 (0) 1384 442752, or

Connect with our specialist Health and Fitness tutors - submit your questions to them; they will be pleased to help you in choosing the right course to suit your aims.