** Post Update **
In February 2021, it was announced that CIMSPA and UK Coaching had reached an agreement to combine the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) with the CIMSPA Exercise and Fitness Directory.
This creates a single directory for all exercise and fitness professionals, which will be hosted and managed by CIMSPA.
This means that CIMSPA recognised qualifications is now essential, not REPs.
You can read an up to date article at Why Your Personal Trainer Course Must Be CIMSPA Recognised.
Original article (published 21/11/2019)…
So, I guess you’re here as you’re a little confused about REPs, The Register of Exercise Professionals.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Let me try to clear things up for you…
Who are The Register for Exercise Professionals (REPs)?
REPs (The Register of Exercise Professionals) launched way back in 2002 and is the largest independent public register for the health and fitness industry, in the UK.
It was initially developed to protect the public against trainers, who don’t hold appropriate qualifications to actually do the PT job.
I suppose you could say that REPs (The Register of Exercise Professionals) provides quality assurance and confidence to the public and to organisations, that professionals on the REPs register are:
- Appropriately qualified
- Have the required knowledge, competence and skills to perform the role effectively
Ok, but why is it important to me?
REPs (The Register of Exercise Professionals)provide accreditation and recognition of both qualifications and training providers (like us).
For example, all of our courses are REPs recognised.
To achieve this REPs looked at our training courses and qualifications, the teaching materials, assessment criteria and our actual teaching quality, to ensure that everything we do is done to the highest quality standards.
It was a long process, but thankfully REPs recognise our training courses and qualifications to be one of the best available in the market today.
This is important to students, as they need to be sure they are doing a course that is recognised by REPs (or even CIMSPA).
Gym managers know who REPs (The Register of Exercise Professionals) are and hold them in high regard and when they are hiring, they want to know that a potential candidates qualifications and training are good.
Having a qualification that is recognised by REPs, give the PT assurance that they have a qualification that Gym Managers want.
There are a whole range of online courses and qualifications available that aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on, but sadly some people fall for the extremely low prices.
But don’t forget… If something seems too good to be try, it is too good to be true.
We regularly have people calling us saying they have already done a course, but they went for a job and the gym manager says their qualification is useless.
Don’t fall into the same boat.
Make sure you get a qualification REPs recognised.
The image below shows you that our courses are recognised by REPs and accredited by PD:Approval.
How can I register with REPs?
To register with REPs you must hold a qualification that is REPs recognised, then it’s relatively simple.
Just visit https://www.exerciseregister.org/, and click to sign up.
You will be asked a series of questions and also be asked to upload your qualification certificate.
There is an annual fee (currently £40), students who are ‘Educate Fitness’ qualified get a discount… ask your tutor.
What are the benefits of REPs Membership?
Registering with REPs means:
- Are part of the largest community of qualified exercise professionals
- Enhance your employability
- Have a clear career pathway and opportunities to develop your skills through quality assured training providers
- Are recognised globally through ICREPs (International Confederation of REPs)
- Differentiate yourself from someone with little or no training
Are REPs members able to use their qualification internationally?
Yes, being a member of REPs means that you qualification can be used internationally through ICREPs (International Confederation of Registers of Exercise Professionals). You can find out more about this at https://www.exerciseregister.org/international.
Are there any other organisations/bodies like REPs?
CIMSPA is a professional body that came into the fitness sector in 2016, as an alternative to REPs.
They state on their website that ‘CIMSPA is the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector, committed to supporting, developing and enabling professionals and organisations to succeed and, as a result, inspire our nation to become more active’
Due to their relative newness, they’re not as highly thought of yet as REPS… but we’re keeping an eye on that.
In all honesty, we did try to speak with CIMSPA many times, but have found them really difficult to engage with.
Our telephone calls have gone to voicemail and our emails are rarely answered, until they sort that out we’ll continue with a more professional organisation… If anyone from CIMSPA is reading this, by all means give us a call.
To summarise…
Registering with REPs also brings you a whole range of benefits, not to mention that your qualification is recognised internationally.
If you want to know more about the ‘Educate Fitness’ REPs recognised courses, complete the form below.
FAQs
The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) was a regulatory body for the fitness industry. They were established to safeguard anyone using the services of an exercise or fitness professional.
The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) reached an agreement to combine REPs with the CIMSPA Exercise and Fitness Directory, creating a single directory for all exercise and fitness professionals.
CIMSPA are now seen as the regulatory body for the health and fitness industry. Fitness professionals are now encouraged to join the CIMSPA directory, as it is no longer possible to join or renew REPs membership.
REPs (The Register of Exercise Professionals) are no longer accepting new members or renewing old members. Health and Fitness professionals are encouraged to gain CIMSPA membership instead.
There are a number of methods to check your Personal Trainer is a fully qualified Personal Trainer, who can legally work as a PT in the UK.
- Check with the awarding body
- Ask your trainer to provide proof
- Check the CIMSPA directory
- Ask the gym manager
In February of 2020, it was announced that The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) had reached an agreement to combine the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) with the CIMSPA Exercise and Fitness Directory, creating a single directory for all exercise and fitness professionals, which will be hosted and managed by CIMSPA. REPs are no longer accepting new memberships or renewal.
Legally you cannot work in the UK without holding both the Level 2 Fitness/Gym Instructing and Level 3 Personal Training qualification. The qualification must come from an awarding body who is regulated by Ofqual.
90% of gym managers will also demand that the qualification is recognised by The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)
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