CIMSPA exercise and fitness career stream leaflet

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EXERCISE & FITNESS
Membership pathways
for exercise and fitness
professionals
The new alternative to REPs membership. Backed
by government and employers and delivered by
the sector’s single chartered professional body.
Introducing CIMSPA’s exercise
and fitness career stream
The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport
and Physical Activity is widening its membership choices
to provide options for the whole sport, leisure, fitness
and physical activity sector. We now have membership
categories aimed specifically at exercise and fitness
professionals
CIMSPA affiliate
CIMSPA practitioner
(exercise and fitness)
(exercise and fitness)
Open to anyone holding a recognised level 2
qualification, acquired within the past 5 years –
equivalent to REPs level 2.
Open to anyone holding a recognised level 3 or
above qualification, acquired within the past 5
years – equivalent to REPs level 3.
These membership options are backed by leading sector employers and the government
– they have been specifically developed as the first steps of a full career development
pathway for exercise and fitness professionals, including a route to chartered membership.
Your membership benefits will include:
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Your entry in the CIMSPA exercise and fitness directory – a statement to employers and the public that your
qualification level has been validated by the sector’s only chartered professional body.
Recognition and status – you are a member of a chartered institute.
Record of professional development – we’re developing a personal “MyPage” online system to record your
personal development.
Your copy of S&PA Professional, the quarterly CIMSPA magazine, and access to our online archive.
Regular CIMSPA member bulletin – a carefully curated selection of sector reports, guidance, useful
resources and news, plus S&PA Extra – our magazine’s digital newsletter.
Access to the latest sector job vacancy information.
Networking - you will be part of the UK’s network of sport and physical activity professionals.
Discounted access to selected CIMSPA regional events.
ALL FOR
JUST
£30
PER YEAR
(inc VAT)
Understand the wider context...
In December 2015 the government launched its
“sporting future” strategy for a healthier, more
active nation. The strategy gave clear backing
for CIMSPA’s work, and tasked government
departments and agencies, including DCMS
and Sport England, to work with CIMSPA
to deliver a fully professional sport, fitness
and activity workforce.
The CIMSPA affiliate and practitioner
membership options for exercise and
fitness professionals are among our first
steps towards this goal.
EVERYONE
WORKING IN SPORT,
FITNESS, LEISURE
AND ACTIVITY
Over time, we will build an exercise and
fitness stream pathway from affiliate member
to chartered practitioner level, as we already have
in place for our leisure operations career “stream”
(see diagram).
CIMSPA is also developing career streams for physical activity,
performance and sport administration, and community sport.
KEY
= Under development
CH. = Chartered
JOIN ONLINE TODAY AT
www.cimspa.co.uk/exercisefitness
Find out more / join us
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For more detail on the new membership categories, and on transferring
away from REPs to join your sector’s chartered professional body, see
“your questions asked” overleaf.
INSURANCE
CIMSPA members can now access Instructor Public and Teacher
Liability £10m insurance through FitPro.
CIMSPA and FitPro have teamed up to offer CIMSPA members
a comprehensive range of insurance products underwritten
by AVIVA. Plans start from just £55
(including insurance Premium Tax).
More information overleaf
Your questions answered...
What are the CIMSPA exercise and fitness
membership categories?
These are the alternative to REPs membership, and
they’ve been created in response to demand from the
sector. Employers have been frustrated by the variable
quality of REPs-accredited professionals, and have
asked CIMSPA to create a new directory system that can
guarantee the quality of its members by ensuring they
hold recognised qualifications delivered by CIMSPAendorsed training providers.
Who qualifies for these new categories?
Our exercise and fitness membership choices are open
to those with a level 2, or above qualification. After
a transitional period, eligible qualifications must be
awarded/delivered by a CIMSPA-endorsed awarding
organisation/training provider.
nn Those with a recognised level 2 qualification,
acquired within the past 5 years, qualify for the
CIMSPA affiliate (exercise and fitness) category.
nn Those with a recognised level 3 or above
qualification, acquired within the past 5 years,
qualify for the CIMSPA practitioner (exercise and
fitness) category.
Go to www.cimspa.co.uk/fitness for more details of
recognised qualifications.
My qualification is over 5 years old. Can I
still join?
Yes! For qualifications over 5 years old, applicants will
have to demonstrate that they have maintained their
competency through CPD, which many exercise and
fitness professionals do as a matter of course. Those
applicants who cannot demonstrate this will be invited
to attend a CIMSPA assessment day, held by our skills
development partners, to ascertain how up-to-date their
skills and knowledge are, and to recommend CPD to fill
any gaps.
What about CPD?
All members are now
required to undertake
10 points of CPD per
membership subscription year.
Our launch exercise and fitness
CPD provider is Future Fit Training Ltd,
and more providers will follow soon. Visit www.
cimspa.co.uk/cpd to find out more.
What about insurance?
CIMSPA members can now access Instructor Public and
Teacher Liability £10m insurance through FitPro.
CIMSPA and FitPro have teamed up to offer CIMSPA
members a comprehensive range of insurance
products underwritten by AVIVA. Plans start from just
£55 (including insurance Premium Tax). This insurance
scheme has been specifically designed for fitness
industry professionals, to cater for the needs of CIMSPA
members who require a flexible insurance.
To find out more, visit www.cimspa.co.uk/insurance
Why I should join CIMSPA instead of REPs?
Employers are moving away from REPS and choosing
CIMSPA affiliate and practitioner membership instead
– many employers have made it clear that they will
look for CIMSPA membership when employing newly
qualified professionals. This will be a gradual process that
will happen over time as CIMSPA and employers work
together to raise standards, so there’s no need to panic,
but this does need to be “on your radar”.
About CIMSPA
CIMSPA is the chartered professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity
sector, providing leadership, support and empowerment for professionals working in the sector.
The institute’s vision is: “To develop a vibrant, UK-wide sport and physical activity sector, led by
professionals providing advocacy and leadership and working in partnership with stakeholders to
help ensure the highest standards of service delivery”. We have membership options for everyone
in our sector – from student to service director.
PUBLISHED BY:
Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity
info@cimspa.co.uk • www.cimspa.co.uk
Incorporated by Royal Charter • Charity Registration No. 1144545
V3.0 July 2016 • Photo credit: flickr.com/photos/nottinghamtrentuni/
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