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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Diploma: Personal Fitness Trainer 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
16696  Diploma: Personal Fitness Trainer 
ORIGINATOR
Intec College 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
QCTO - Quality Council for Trades and Occupations  OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Advanced Certificate  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Preventive Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  240  Level 5  NQF Level 06  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 9900/00  2018-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2026-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide knowledge and skills qualifying learners with the ability to:
  • Teach, motivate, communicate, market and sell the services of personal fitness training; and
  • Screen, assess and fitness test their clients, plus provide them with comprehensive exercise programmes in or outside the gym environment. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Learners who register for this qualification should demonstrate:
  • The ability to express themselves clearly and correctly both orally and in writing in English;
  • The ability to apply numerical skills, including basic arithmetic (add, subtract, divide, multiply);
  • A basic interest or experience in gym or personal fitness training;
  • Competence at Grade 10 or equivalent level or alternatively older than 16 years.

    Recognise prior learning:

    This qualification recognises, through the submission of portfolios of evidence, the formal/non-formal/informal prior learning which learners who register for the programme leading to the award of the qualification bring to the learning situation.

    This qualification may be achieved in whole or in part through the recognition of prior learning. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification may be achieved in whole or in part through the recognition of prior learning. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Critical Cross-field Outcomes:
  • Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.
  • Interact effectively with other s as a member of a team, group, organisation and community.
  • Organise and manage one's time and activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation.
  • Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that the problem-solving context does not exist in isolation.

    Specific Outcomes:
  • On completion, the Learner will be able to give educated information and advice on the following:
    o The physiological effects of exercise on the human body.
    o The short and long term adaptations that occur as a result of exercise. The student will be able to show through heart rate monitoring and feedback, how the body responds to short and long-term activity.
    o The physiology of the cardio vascular system, the neuro-muscular system and the pulmonary system. The student will be able to demonstrate their knowledge through exercise demonstration.
    o The role of nutrition in health promotion and weight management. The student will be able to discuss with a prospective client and demonstrate their ability to give prudent dietary guidelines plus refer to a Dietician when necessary.
    o The role of exercise in health promotion, weight management and positive self image. The student will be able to explain the exercise guidelines for the overweight and for fat loss and show how exercise results in long-term weight management.
    o The psychological benefits of exercise and the role of internal en external motivation in life style change and exercise adherence. This is so that the student can apply these principles when they come to teaching exercise and managing a client base.
  • The Learner will also have an in depth understanding of the musculo-skeletal system, its function, actions and exercises and be able to make the correct safe and effective exercise recommendations as they relate to the anatomy and kinesiology of the human body.
  • The Learner will be able to give referral guidelines for relevant professionals in related field e.g. diet, psychotherapy and exercise therapy.
  • On completion, the Learner will be able to give educated advice on the correct cardio vascular, strength conditioning and flexibility training principles as they relate to the health and fitness goals of their client.
  • The Learner will be able to demonstrate, explain and show how to carry out exercises for:
    o Strength conditioning
    o Body weight exercises
    o Flexibility conditioning
  • The Learner will also understand, be able to demonstrate and explain the use of:
    o Cardio vascular machines
    o Circuit weight training equipment
    o Resistance accessories
    o Free weight training equipment for use in and outside the gym environment.
  • On completion, the Learner will be able to:
    o Carry out client assessments for medical risks, health profiles and anthropometry.
    o Carry out fitness assessments for
    a) The cardio vascular system
    b) The musculo-skeletal system
    c) Flexibility
    o Explain the purpose of the fitness tests, assess the raw scores and interpret the results. Furthermore, they will be able to give advice in relation to the scores and provide relevant exercise and fitness guidelines and goals.
  • The Learner will be able to interpret fitness testing results so that relevant and meaningful advice can be given to set programme guidelines and exercise and lifestyle change plans.
  • The Learner will then be able to implement the training programme, with the client and assist them in the day-to-day application of the programme.
  • Learners will be able to modify exercise sessions for special needs in the case of:
    o Exercise for children
    o Exercise for pregnancy
    o Exercise for special groups with high risks
    o Exercise for the elderly
  • The Learner will be able to give educated advice on the cause of injuries, injury prevention and basic injury management. They will also be able to give referral guidelines to relevant professionals when necessary.
  • The Learner will be able to demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively in an individual, one on one setting, to motivate and provide appropriate feedback to clients to assist them in achieving their goals.
  • The Learner will be able to understand the legal terminology and legal responsibilities of their profession in relation to:
    o Codes of ethics
    o Codes of conduct
    o Professional indemnity
    o Insurance
    o Liability
  • The Learner will be able to understand the role of marketing and sales in relation to running their own business and in relation to application in a health and fitness club setting. They will be able to:
    o Identify relevant marketing strategies
    o Set marketing goals and objectives
    o Organise a marketing plan
    o Set a detailed selling strategy
    o Carry out a sales interview 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Critical Cross-field Outcomes:
  • Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively.
  • Participating as reasonable citizens in the life of local, national and global communities.
  • Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive to the relationship between counselling and a range of different contexts.
  • Exploring education and career opportunities.
  • Developing skills and entrepreneurial opportunities.
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Specific Outcomes:
  • Exercise and fitness studies (Unit Standard 1)
  • Training principles and methods: Group Training (Unit Standard 2)
  • Assessment and fitness testing (Unit Standard 3)
  • Programme planning & Implementation (Unit Standard 4)
  • Injuries & emergency management (Unit Standard 5)
  • Leadership and communication (Unit Standard 6)
  • Legal issues, sales & marketing (Unit Standard 7)

    Integrated Assessment:

    Continuous assessment: The learner's ability to integrate the elements of the programme is assessed through projects and self-tests.

    Formative and summative assessment: Learner competency is assessed through multiple choice theory exams, practical/oral exams, case studies and pracicla fieldwork hours. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Not yet established. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
  • Equivalent to a Level 6 qualification on the NQF. The learners will obtain credits that enable them to exit at a HE&T national diploma level.
  • The qualification towards which the Personal Fitness Trainer graduate may proceed is the higher level of a diploma in this learning field. This qualification will be able to articulate with other qualifications in the sub-field, which can be determined once the other qualifications have been registered.
  • Exit level outcomes articulating with other qualifications are as specified. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    A system of tutor moderation of the learning programme within the institution will be used, together with a system of external moderation of the assessment criteria and learner competency at exit levels to the qualification. Where professional or statutory bodies are involved in determining the curriculum, they will also be involved in moderation. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Staff contracted by INTEC will be used as assessors in a manner accommodated within the quality management system of the institution. This would apply to outside assessors also. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    As per the SAQA decision to re-register all provider-based qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework that meet the criteria for re-registration, this qualification has been re-registered from 1 July 2018. N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Damelin Correspondence College 
    2. Intec College 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.