EUROPEAN REGISTER OF EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS

The EHFA Standards Council has identified 22 different occupations across the fitness sector and EREPS exists to recognise these through the awarding of what is called 'status of registration'. Entry to EREPS is by qualification, although we can also recognise other achievements and industry experience. Qualifications in fitness are defined by three “components” or “parts” which are the skills, knowledge and competencies for each different occupation. The components of a qualification are the standards which are developed by the European Health and Fitness Association (EHFA), click here for more information.

EHFA has a Standards Council which is comprised of industry experts, employers, academics and practitioners from across Europe that meet to determine what skills, knowledge and competencies are required for exercise professionals to practise safely, effectively and legally. The standards which are developed by technical expert groups are used by training providers who are independently accredited to check that they are delivering the training, examination and assessment correctly and professionally. To see a list of all EHFA approved training providers click here.

The standards that are agreed by EHFA are based upon the European Qualification Framework (EQF) which is a common European reference framework which links countries' qualifications systems together, acting as a translation device to make qualifications more readable and understandable. EHFA is developing a full eight level fitness sector qualification framework (SQF) which is fully referenced to the EQF. All Member States and some other countries have agreed to use the EQF as the common reference point for their own national qualification frameworks (NQFs). Some countries such as Denmark, Republic of Ireland, France, Malta, Portugal and the United Kingdom have already completed this.

From 2012 all certificates and diplomas used across Europe should carry the relevant EQF level. All EREPS certificates of registration are issued with the appropriate EQF level clearly stated on them.

EREPS occupations and the status of registration awarded to members are based on standards for:

The EQF encompasses general and adult education, vocational education and training, as well as higher education. It applies to all types of qualifications from those achieved at the end of compulsory education to those awarded at the highest level of academic and professional or vocational education and training.

The core of the EQF is its eight reference levels describing what a learner knows, understands and is able to do - their 'learning outcomes' - regardless of where a particular qualification was acquired. The EQF reference levels have moved the focus away from the more traditional approach, which emphasises learning inputs (length of a learning experience, type of institution) to learning outcomes (the skills, knowledge and competencies). Learning outcomes are what a learner knows, understands and is able to do after a course of learning, and this is how EREPS recognises achievement and awards status of registration. The EHFA standards are developed as units of learning outcomes.

Descriptors defining levels in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)

Please note that there are also descriptors for level 1 and for 6-8 inclusive for the EQF, but are not currently used in fitness. See http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc44_en.htm

The EHFA Standards Council determination of work for its technical expert groups is a rolling programme and will eventually cover all eight levels of the EQF in a complete Sector Qualification Framework. Experts who wish to be considered to join the technical groups can apply to the EHFA Secretariat at thesecretariat@ehfa.eu 

THESE ARE THE CURRENT FITNESS OCCUPATIONS AND STANDARDS FOR EREPS: