Mei Monroe asked 2 ปี ago
Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs)
The Register of Exercise Professionals is a UK scheme for fitness instructors and trainers. It recognizes industry-based qualifications, provides public liability insurance, and requires members to adhere to an industry-specific code of conduct.
In 2020, the organization was disbanded and its members transferred to CIMSPA. But what exactly does this mean for fitness professionals?
How do I become a REP?
Contact the person in charge of your branch if you are already an Prospect member. There is no fixed amount of time required – it will depend on whether you’re able to fulfill union responsibilities during work time (sometimes called facility time) and how much free time you have. You aren’t subject to discipline because you are a trade union rep, and there’s legislation that protects you from being victimised. Some branches have equality reps, such as women’s officers or a black members’ representative.
What is CIMSPA
CIMSPA the UK-based professional body for health and fitness professionals is an industry-recognized body that regulates trainers. Its goal is to protect the public’s trust in the services of fitness experts by ensuring that they possess the appropriate expertise, technical know-how as well as insurance and training. It is also accountable to ensure that it is maintaining and developing professional standards for the fitness industry.
The organisation combines input from many stakeholders such as employers deployers, NGBs, awarding organisations, higher educational establishments, training providers and practitioners to shape the sector and support its staff and professionals. This is achieved through collaboration with the sector to comprehend and recognize the needs of the profession and the barriers affecting its ability to meet those needs.
As part of its mission, CIMSPA offers the framework for the quality assurance system in fitness professionals through an endorsement process. This process identifies the quality and content of formal qualifications and training courses. CIMSPA generally endorses regulated (Ofqual) qualifications that are certified by an approved awarding organisation like Focus Awards, Active IQ or YMCA Awards as well as certain types of specialist continuing professional development training (CPD).
Membership of CIMSPA also confers a degree of status within the industry. It enables members to access specialist insurance coverage that includes public liability coverage of up to PS10 million and personal accident cover. Members can also keep a record of their professional development. Members can enroll in online courses at no cost and reps uk access a career site that updates regularly with new job opportunities.
The association is also part of the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals. This means that its members are able to utilize their registration to work abroad if they have the appropriate qualifications. The organization is working to ensure a consistent standard is established across the world in order to allow the industry to grow and maintain its standing.
The organization is a non-profit organization and works in partnership with other organizations to provide education, support and guidance. The CIMSPA Academy also offers its members free eLearning classes on a variety of topics relevant to the industry.
Are REPs certificates recognized internationally?
The Register of Exercise Professionals was an independent public registry, which operated via a membership system. It was designed to protect the public, as well as granting employers and fitness professionals confidence that they were working with a person who was certified and had qualifications that corresponded to National Occupational Standards.
REPs was an UK registered body and as such only covers the UK fitness industry. The requirement to have REPs was not a legal requirement however it gave clients the confidence that the fitness professional they were working with was fully trained and operating within the highest standards of professionalism.
In 2020, REPs will be sold to UK Coaching. An agreement with CIMSPA has been signed that will merge the REPs Directory with the CIMSPA directory. Fitness professionals have the option of joining both REPs and CIMSPA However, renewing REPs membership is not longer possible.
ICREPs is a network that connects international fitness professionals with international registers, has a global presence. This means that if REPs certified in the UK you are able to work as personal trainers in other ICREPs countries such as Australia, Ireland, Poland, South Africa and UAE.
It is important to know however REPs is not a guarantee of a job for fitness professionals or insurance coverage. REPs is an industry association, and not a governing authority is voluntary. International certification bodies with top international standing such as ACSM, NSCA, ISSA, NASM, and ACE are not affiliated with REPs, and therefore never guarantee job or insurance coverage to their fitness professionals.
Having said that REPs is committed keeping their members up to date with the ever-changing trends in the fitness industry. This is the reason REPs has an Reps Uk – Reps-R-Us.Co.Uk, points system that requires members to accumulate a an amount of REPs points every year in order to keep their REPs status. These REPs points are determined by their level of education and the number of CPD courses they take.