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Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs)
The Register of Exercise Professionals is an UK scheme for fitness instructors and trainers. It recognizes industry-specific certifications and provides public liability coverage and requires that participants work within an industry code.
It was disbanded in 2020 and its members moved to CIMSPA. But what does this mean for fitness professionals?
How do I become a REP?
If you are a member of Prospect already, speak to the representative who runs your branch about becoming rep. There is no fixed amount of time it takes and it will depend on whether you are entitled to fulfill union responsibilities during work time (sometimes called facility time) and the amount of free time you have. You cannot be disciplined because you are a union representative and there are laws that protect you from being a victim. 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 fitness and health professionals is a reputable industry body that regulates trainers. Its purpose is to protect the public’s interest in using fitness experts by ensuring that they have all the necessary skills and technical knowledge and also training and insurance. It is also accountable to maintain and develop standards of excellence for the fitness industry.
The organization integrates input from many stakeholders such as employers, NGBs, deployers, awarding organizations, higher educational institutions, training providers, and practitioners to help to shape the sector and help its staff and professionals. This is achieved through working in partnership shop with my rep the industry to comprehend and understand the needs of professionals and the barriers that affect its ability to deliver.
As part of this mission, reps CIMSPA offers the framework for an assurance system of quality for the fitness industry through an endorsement process. This process identifies the content and quality of formal qualifications and training courses. CIMSPA generally endorses the regulated (Ofqual) qualifications that are recognized by an accredited awarding body such as Focus Awards, Active IQ or YMCA Awards as well as certain types of specialized continuing professional development training (CPD).
CIMSPA membership also confers a certain degree of standing in the field. Members can avail insurance that is specifically designed for them, such as public liability coverage up to PS10m and personal accident coverage. It also allows members to keep track of their professional development. They can also take online courses for free and have access to a career website that is updated regularly with new job opportunities.
The organization is also part of the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals. This means that its members are able to use their registration for work in other countries as long as they have the appropriate qualifications. The body strives to establish a standard that is consistent across the globe to assist in the development of the industry.
The CIMSPA Academy is a non-profit organization and works in partnership with other organizations to provide support, education and guidance. The CIMSPA Academy also offers its members free eLearning courses on a variety of topics relevant to the industry.
Are REPs qualifications recognized internationally?
The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) was an independent public register that operated through an membership scheme. It was designed to protect the public and give employers and reps fitness professionals the assurance they needed that an individual had qualifications that were recognized and endorsed and aligned with National Occupational Standards.
REPs is a UK-based register and, as such, only covers the UK fitness industry. Having REPs was not a legal requirement but it did give clients the confidence that the fitness professional they were working with was highly qualified and operating to the highest standards of professionalism.
In 2020, REPs will be sold to UK Coaching. An agreement shop with my rep 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.
While REPs no longer operates in the UK but they do have a global presence through ICREPs which connects international registers as well as their fitness professionals. This means that if you’re 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.
However it is crucial to note that REPs isn’t an assurance of employment or insurance coverage for fitness professionals. REPs, which is an industry association, and not a governing body, is a voluntary organization. The top international certification bodies such as ACSM, commission NSCA ISSA NASM and ACE are not affiliated with REPs. REPs will not provide employment or insurance coverage for their fitness professionals.
However, REPs is committed to keeping their members up to date with the constantly changing trends in the fitness industry. REPs uses an REPs points system that requires members to earn a certain number of REPs every year to maintain their REPs status. These reps (http://www.hwagyesa.org) are determined by the level of qualification that the member holds and the number of CPD courses they have completed.