YMCA Awards has become the first awarding organisation to receive endorsement from the Chartered Institute of the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) having embraced the organisation’s new professional standards in three new gym instructor and personal training qualifications.

YMCA Awards’ Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing, Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training and Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training (a combination of the two previous courses) will be available from 1 March 2018, becoming the first qualifications of their kind.

Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA, said: “I would like to congratulate YMCA Awards on becoming the first awarding organisation to embrace the new CIMSPA professional standards for gym and personal training by offering qualifications that will address the knowledge and skills the fitness industry requires.

“Employers in our sector are looking for an increasingly skilled workforce and so I commend YMCA Awards for their speed in bringing these qualifications to market. 

“The introduction of qualifications aligned to professional standards is a significant moment for education in the fitness industry and I urge learners and employers to look out for the new CIMSPA endorsed logo when choosing a gym or personal trainer qualification.”

The move will involve a slight adaptation in the way these qualifications are delivered to enhance the learning experience for students and allow training providers greater flexibility.

One of the main benefits of the new qualifications to training providers will be the increased flexibility to delivering assessments. The use of the ‘Y-Mark’ system will allow providers to greatly reduce their paperwork for undertaking learners’ marking. 

As for the learners themselves, they will develop greater practical experience with a wider range of clients which will ultimately make them more attractive to prospective employers. 

Lady Andrée Deane-Barron, Group Education & Skills Director of Central YMCA, said: “I am pleased to announce that we are again leading the sector by becoming the very first awarding organisation to launch CIMPSA endorsed gym and personal training qualifications aligned to the new professional standards.

“The fitness industry has been crying out for qualifications that reflect the knowledge and skills employers are looking for, and through extensive collaboration with industry experts, we have been able to create them.

“YMCA Awards has an unrivalled track record when it comes to bringing innovative, industry-backed qualifications to market and I’m sure our new employer-led qualifications will demonstrate YMCA Awards remains at the vanguard of the industry.”