Update: Revised June 2019

POSITION STATEMENT:
SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR REGISTERED
EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS

1. INTRODUCTION 2. THE ROLE OF A REGISTERED EXERCISE

PROFESSIONAL
Fitness Australia, the National Health and Fitness
Industry Association, governs and administers the A member of the public may utilise fitness services as a leisure
Australian Register of Exercise Professionals. or recreation activity, to complement sporting pursuits, as
The aim of the system is to ensure that registered a means of community participation, or to help prevent or
exercise professionals practice in accordance with to improve health problems. As such, a registered exercise
national professional standards and subsequently professional plays a significant role in enhancing the overall
safeguard the health and interests of people using quality of life of individuals and communities and is a
exercise professional services. contributor to an individual’s healthcare continuum.

Exercise professionals registered with Fitness Australia The core role of a Registered Exercise Professional is to plan
provide a variety of exercise services for a range of clientele and deliver safe and effective exercise programs for individuals
across many varied settings. Competency to practice is and/or groups. A Registered Exercise Professional undertakes
represented through the registration category held and one or more of the following roles:
associated continuing education completed.
Personal Trainer
This position statement aims to define the scope of practice
for a registered exercise professional and provide clarity Gym Instructor
in regard to role and responsibility. As fitness services
in Australia are becoming increasingly connected to Group Exercise Instructor
community, education, sport and broader health service
delivery, this document will also provide guidance for Group Exercise Leader
collaborative practice with professionals across broader
health and community service delivery systems. Competency in delivering specific activities within these roles
is obtained through qualification and/or approved continuing
Importantly, it is intended that this scope of practice for education. Exercise Professional Registration practice is based
registered exercise professionals does not impede on verification of initial and continuing competence.
innovative practice, stifle opportunities for adaptation to a
changing environment or limit consumer access to
participate in services.
POSITION STATEMENT:
SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR REGISTERED
EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS

INDUSTRY ROLE CHARACTERISTICS 3. QUALIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION

Personal Trainer Registered Exercise Professionals are required to complete

the minimum level vocational qualification or equivalent
Typically works independently (may be self-employed or higher education requirements and/or qualification for
an employee) and may support or lead other registered category specific registration and to hold current senior level
exercise professionals first aid and CPR certifications. Exercise delivery competency
Typically practices within a fitness facility but also in a wide is enhanced through completion of Fitness Australia
variety of other environments (including unpredictable approved continuing education programs.
settings such as outdoor locations, client homes,
community spaces, workplaces) Ongoing Registration requires exercise professionals to
Provides individually tailored client assessments, maintain currency of skills and knowledge through approved
program development, instruction and demonstration, continuing education, evidence of relevant professional
supervised exercise sessions and client reviews. Maintains practice and currency of first aid and CPR certification.
consistent monitoring and support for clients (including
between sessions) 4. CLIENTELE
May deliver exercise programs designed for participation
by a group of clients with a mix of ages/fitness levels Registered Exercise Professionals are qualified to plan and
May manage both business and client needs e.g. deliver exercise for low and moderate risk clientele based on
promoting and selling services, as well as delivering the guidelines defined in the Adult Pre-exercise Screening
services System (APSS) document.*

Registered Exercise Professionals may work with higher risk

Gym Instructor
clientele (whose conditions are stabilised and managed)
Works within predictable settings such as a fitness facility, after making a written referral to and receiving documented
recreation or community facilities guidance on the exercise program from the clients’ treating
Provides individually tailored client assessments, program medical and/or allied health practitioner.
development, program demonstration and client reviews
Registered Exercise Professionals should refer to the nationally
Provides supervision of a facility or service (i.e. observing
endorsed APSS to determine appropriate exercise prescription
client use of facilities, providing technique correction as
for physical activities based on the client’s risk factors.
needed, keeping equipment clean/tidy/well-maintained,
being available for customer inquiries or assistance)
5. SETTINGS
Typically reports to a manager but is not always directly
supervised during work duties
The services of a Registered Exercise Professional may be
conducted in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings
Group Exercise Instructor including fitness centres or studios, community centres,
Delivers exercise sessions designed for participation by aquatic facilities, healthcare facilities, workplaces, a client’s
a group of clients with a mix of ages/fitness levels home, sports facilities, or public space such as parks, beaches
(i.e. not tailored to individuals) and recreational areas. Competency to deliver in a particular
Exercise sessions delivered may be freestyle, setting is gained through initial qualification and/or approved
pre-choreographed or circuit style continuing education.
Instructs and demonstrates complete exercise sessions Registered Exercise Professionals are required to adhere to all
to groups with limited individual interaction relevant industry codes of practice and ethics, legislative or
Typically practices independently and commonly statutory requirements (refer to section 8).
reports to a manager
Commonly conducts sessions that are part of an
overall regular timetable of sessions provided by the
employer organisation
Typically instructs sessions in predictable settings such
as group exercise studios within fitness facilities

Group Exercise Leader

The scope of this role is limited to leading
predesigned group exercise sessions.

* Exercise & Sports Science Australia, Fitness Australia, Exercise is Medicine

and Sports Medicine Australia (2019) Adult Pre-Exercise Screening System V2.
POSITION STATEMENT:
SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR REGISTERED
EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS

6. PROFESSIONAL SCOPE AND BOUNDARIES 6.4 The Registered Exercise Professional Scope of Practice
does not include:
6.1 A Registered Exercise Professional with the categories
Personal Trainer, Gym Instructor and/or Group Exercise A. Provision of nutritional advice outside of basic healthy
Instructor has a scope of practice that includes: eating information and nationally endorsed nutritional
standards and guidelines
A. Pre-exercise health screening
B. Therapeutic treatment or independent rehabilitative
B. Safety and risk assessment and management
exercise prescription
C. Application of first aid to clients where required
C. Independent exercise prescription for high risk clients
D. Fitness assessment and analysis in accordance with
D. Diagnostic tests or procedures
knowledge and skill obtained through qualification
E. Sports coaching
and/or continuing education
F. Psychological Counselling
E. Development of safe, effective and appropriate exercise
programs tailored to client or group needs
7. PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL PRACTICE
F. Exercise delivery inclusive of demonstrating, instructing,
monitoring, reviewing and modifying program content Registered Exercise Professionals agree to abide by the
including technique, method and progression Fitness Australia Registered Exercise Professional Code of
G. Working within professional limitations to provide basic Ethics.
healthy eating information and advice through the The Code of Ethics outlines terms for professional
application of nationally endorsed nutritional standards practice across:
and guidelines Relationship with and responsibilities to clients
H. Provision of general nationally endorsed public health Professional Integrity
information that will educate and support positive client Professional Relationships and Responsibilities
health outcomes Professional Standards

6.2 The scope of practice for a Registered Exercise Professional The Code of Ethics also outlines a complaint resolution,
with the Personal Trainer category also includes: disciplinary and appeals process.

A. Use of evidence based protocols to enhance client exercise

adherence through goal setting, motivation, guidance, 8. LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS
social support, relapse prevention and feedback
The Registered Exercise Professional scope of practice is
B. Referring to medical or allied health professionals for
influenced by local regulatory frameworks and as such,
guidance. Utilising best practice referral/ feedback
registered exercise professionals must adhere to regulations
processes to optimise client health outcomes
including (but not limited to):
6.3 The scope of practice for a Registered Exercise Professional A. Jurisdictional WHS/OH&S legislation
with the Group Exercise Leader category is limited to: B. Civil Liability Law
A. Pre-exercise screening C. Privacy Law
B. Safety and risk assessment and management D. Consumer Law
C. Application of first aid to clients where required E. Anti-discrimination Law
D. Leading predesigned group exercise sessions inclusive of
F. Criminal Law – this may include a national criminal history
demonstrating, instructing and monitoring client
record check or working with children check
participation within predesigned program content
parameters G. Local government policy for the use of public space for
exercise service delivery
H. Other relevant setting-specific policies or regulations

Fitness Australia
T. 1300 211 311
E. [email protected]
W. fitness.org.au