UK employee representative organisation, CIMSPA (The Chartered Institute of Sport and Physical Activity) has begun issuing qualifying health and fitness professionals with postnominal letters and a defined title to show their credentials.

This new professional status shows a level of learning and qualification which can be used to gain trust with employers, clients and people in other sectors, such as medical professionals.

Tara Dillon CEO of CIMSPA said: “Sport and physical activity professionals – this is for you. We've spent a long time listening and now we're acting. This is your tool to really show how talented and dedicated you are to this sector, to allied sectors and to the communities you serve.

“For those who are thinking of working with a sport and physical activity professional, this status is a mark of trust. Trust that members of our sector workforce are skilled and competent to support the health and wellbeing challenges we face as a nation.

“As our sector evolves and is building trust with other sectors, such as our colleagues in healthcare, it becomes more important than ever. Professional status will be a key that unlocks professional recognition for not for individuals, but for the sport and physical activity sector as a whole.”

CIMSPA’s professional status framework outlines a clear career pathway and supports career development in the sport and physical activity sector and different levels of professional status are available, depending on where individuals are in their careers. It is a nationally aligned and validated credential, underpinned by policy and professional standards.

Current full CIMSPA members who meet the requirements for their occupation set out in the sector’s professional standards have been automatically issued with their professional status, while all professionals, including practitioners, managers and leaders working in the sector have the opportunity to apply for the new credential, which must be maintained through learning and skills development.

Postnominals now available from CIMSPA are as follows:

MCIMSPA

For practitioners, managers, advanced practitioners and advanced general managers.

FCIMSPAFor senior practitioners and advanced senior managers

MCIMSPA (Chartered)

For chartered practitioners and chartered general managers

FCIMSPA (Chartered)For chartered senior practitioners and chartered senior managers