Fitness Leadership - Certificate and Diploma Programs
Department Information
| Department | Physical Education, Athletics & Kinesiology | |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 780-539-2063 | |
| E-mail: | peak@gprc.ab.ca | |
| Homepage: | Visit homepage | |
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| Intake | Application Deadline |
Start Date | End Date | Final Exam Period |
| Fall | Sep. 2/10 | Sep. 2/10 | Dec. 18/10 | Dec. 9-18/10 |
| Winter | Jan. 4/11 | Jan. 5/11 | Apr. 27/11 | Apr. 14-29/11 |
DIPLOMA PROGRAM
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Personal Trainer Specialization
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Older Adult Fitness and Wellness Specialization
Fitness Leadership is a two-year diploma program that prepares graduates to pursue careers in the areas of physical fitness, fitness evaluation, wellness, promotion and leadership. You will not be required to repeat any training for which you have current certification. You will also receive specialized training in one or more certifications, and be given the opportunity to gain valuable experience by completing a supervised practicum in this growing industry. The curriculum is rich with courses geared specifically toward preparing you to be very knowledgeable about the fitness industry and very competent in your personal skills.
The Personal Trainer Specialization provides students with an opportunity to become fully certified in CPR and First Aid as well as to become a Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology Certified Personal Trainer (CSEP-CPT) and an AFLCA Resistance Training Leader.
The Older Adult Fitness and Wellness Specialization also provides students with an opportunity to become fully certified in CPR and First Aid. Other possible certifications (see list above) will depend on your goals for employment as well as the location of your residency if you are taking the second year courses online.
The diploma programs, which begin with a common first year, incorporate both theory and practical components. The theory courses, many of which are university transferable, provide the student with the background information necessary to understand the structure and function of the human body and its adaptations to exercise. The practicums provide an opportunity for students to develop the skills required to assess individual physical fitness levels, to formulate and deliver appropriate fitness programs, and to network with businesses in the local fitness community. The Personal Trainer Specialization is designed to advance professional leadership and effectiveness in promoting the fitness and wellness of the average population. The Older Adult Fitness and Wellness Specialization is designed to advance professional leadership and effectiveness in promoting the fitness and wellness of older adults in a variety of health and human service areas. Graduates of this Older Adult program will be prepared to work within the broad range of older adults from active to frail.
Students may enroll in up to two courses without admission to the program, and receive credit for those successfully completed, should they thereafter be admitted to the program.
Applying to Grande Prairie Regional College and satisfying one of the following admission routes may gain admission to the Fitness Leadership Diploma Program. This program requires an overall average of 60 per cent in the following Alberta Education courses or equivalents.
See Entrance Requirements tables for courses within groups A, B, or C.
- English 30-1, minimum of 60 percent
- Two subjects from Group A or C
- One subject from Group C
- One subject from Group A, B, C or Physical Education 30*
- AFLCA Exercise (formerly Fitness) Theory**
*Not more than one language other than English will be accepted.
**The AFLCA Exercise Theory course is offered annually at GPRC in September, January and May/June. Call 780-539-2816 to register. Students will be responsible for additional fees incurred when registering for these certification courses. CPR is required for AFLCA certification.
If you are 21 years of age or older, and do not meet the stated admission requirements, you must attain a minimum score on an appropriate entrance test before acceptance into the program is granted.
The College policy on Advanced Standing may be applied in this program. Applying to Grande Prairie Regional College and satisfying one of the following admission routes may gain direct admission to the Older Adult Fitness and Wellness Diploma Program. International educational equivalencies will be considered.
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First year of the Fitness Leadership Diploma or equivalent
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The following degrees or equivalents:
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Degree in Physical Education
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Degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies
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Degree in Kinesiology
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Degree in Nursing
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Degree in Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy
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Degree in Recreational Therapy
Curriculum, 30 credits
Fall
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BA 1010 (3) Business Communications I
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BA 1150 (3) Computers in Business
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PE 1000 (3) Structural Anatomy
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PE 1015 (3) Essentials of Human Physiology
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PE 1050 (3) Introduction Sports Administration
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PF 1980 (1.5) Leadership in Resistance Training
Winter
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BA 1020 (3) Business Communications II
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PA 1981 (1.5) Cardiovascular Training
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PE 1030 (3) Integrative Human Physiology
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PE 1100 (3) Health and Fitness
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PF 2900 (3) Fitness Assessment and Advanced Counseling
Graduation Requirements
Students who successfully complete the 30 credits listed will be eligible for a Certificate in Fitness Leadership. Complete an Application for Certificate form, available from the Office of the Registrar, to receive a Certificate in Fitness Leadership.
Progression Criteria
To be promoted into the second year of the program, you must have successfully completed all first year course requirements, have a valid certificate in at least one AFLCA specialty course, and valid certificate in CPR and First Aid. PF 1980, Leadership in Resistance Training, fulfills one of the AFLCA specialty courses. CPR Certification will be offered annually by the Department of PEAK.
Curriculum
First year, 30 credits
- As specified in the Fitness Leadership Certificate Program
Second year, 30 credits
Fall
- PE 2420 (3) Introduction to Nutrition for Exercise and Performance
- PE 3070 (3) Human Growth and Motor Development
- PF 1910 (3) Fitness Practicum
- PF 2920 (3) Certified Personal Trainer Exercise Prescription
- PY 1040 (3) Basic Psychological Processes
Winter
Curriculum
First year, 30 credits
- As specified in the Fitness Leadership Certificate Program
Second year, 30 credits
Fall
- PF 2120 (3) Cultural Aspects of Retirement and Active Aging
- PF 2130 (3) Adapting Activities for Physiological and Medical Changes
- PF 2140 (3) Fitness Facilitation and Activity Motivation for Older Adults (AFLCA or other certification fees may apply)
- PF 2150 (3) Practicum I: Active Living Applications for Older Adults
- PF 2220 (3) Lifestyle Assessment and Exercise Prescription for Older Adults
Winter
To graduate with a Diploma in Fitness Leadership in either specialization, you must successfully complete all 60 credits of course requirements listed and must have certification* in at least one AFLCA specialty course, CPR, and First Aid or Athletic First Aid. Complete an Application for Diploma form, available from the Office of the Registrar, to receive a Diploma in Fitness Leadership.
The PF 1080 Leadership Principles in Resistance Training course is registered as an AFLCA Resistance Training Specialty Course. Following completion of requirements for PF1980, students are required to complete additional practical hours and a practical observation to obtain their AFLCA certificate. The AFLCA Resistance Training Certificate (or any other AFLCA specialty certification approved by the department) is required for those students advancing to the second year of the diploma. This certification is a pre-requisite to entering into the PF 1910 Fitness Practicum.
The CSEP-CPT is a graduation requirement to receive the Fitness Leadership Diploma in Personal Training Specialization. The CSEP-CPT certification supersedes the AFLCA Resistance Training Certification requirement. Students require the AFLCA certification to enter into their second year of studies; however, it may not be necessary for them to maintain AFLCA certification if they have achieved their CSEP-CPT certification. The CSEP–CPT certification in the Personal Trainer Specialization is achieved through PF 2900 Fitness Assessment and Advanced Counseling and PF 2920 Certified Personal Trainer Exercise Prescription courses.
Students enrolled in the programs listed above are eligible for membership in Students of PEAK, the organization of physical education students. See information about this student organization in the Bachelor of Physical Education section of this calendar. Executive members of SPEAK may be eligible for co-curricular recognition.