SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special Populations

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
101430	Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special Populations
ORIGINATOR
Exercise Teachers Academy PTY Limited
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Advanced Certificate	Field 02 - Culture and Arts		Sport
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Not Applicable	NQF Level 06	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0821/24	2020-02-28	2027-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30		2031-06-30

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

Purpose:
The Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special Populations provides learners with the knowledge and skills needed to specialise in their professional practice in exercise qualifications for special populations. The qualification ensures that knowledge-building scaffolds on existing exercise science and fitness-based knowledge by ensuring the relevant theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to work as a specialist trainer. A qualifying learner will be able to:

Implement exercise programmes in consideration of the physiological, anatomical and mechanical changes that occur within each special population.

Design, implement and manage physical activity programmes for apparently healthy clients or those with a moderate risk factor and are capable of exercise.

Screen, assess, monitor and professionally manage clients in terms of their exercise and nutrition needs.

Provide relevant and uniquely designed exercise programmes through safe and effective physical activity participation.

Apply psychological principles which support adherence to exercise programmes.

Demonstrate knowledge of the professional scope of practice and specialist referral, in line with professional standards.

Rationale:
The Advanced Certificate in Fitness: Special Populations is a response to the growing industry of fitness in South Africa and internationally, with personal trainer and exercise specialist as established professions already in South Africa.

This qualification for a Special Populations Exercise specialist is in response to the continuing growth of the fitness sector and the establishment of its professional body for fitness practitioners - the Register of Exercise Professionals South Africa (REPSSA). REPSSA ensures international benchmarking and internationally agreed standards for fitness professionals through its association with its international body; IC REPS. This qualification meets the REPSSA standards for fitness practitioners; specifically for the professional designation of Exercise Specialist. Thus, it addresses the increasing need for specialisation in the sport and fitness sector, acknowledging that as the profession expands and grows its social identity, its professional designations and their concomitant theoretical and vocational knowledge requirement increases. This qualification aims to allow an exercise professional to provide advice and a range of exercise training to healthy populations including special populations defined as pregnant clients, children and youth and older adults and who are capable for exercise.

Specifically, this qualification aims to:

Ensure that the professional practices, both learnt and applied, adhere to current principles of exercise science.

Enhance the professional standards of fitness practitioners by ensuring understanding of and commitment to working within a scope of practice that gives credibility to their profession.

Align the education and training for fitness professionals to the international sport and fitness community.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The Advanced Certificate in Fitness in Special populations may be achieved in part or wholly through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as long as a learner can demonstrate the necessary reflexive knowledge, skills, values and attitudes embedded in the qualification. Demonstration of competence must be supported by evidence which meets the evaluative criteria of the qualification as well as the assessment principles of validity, currency, reliability and fairness.

Assessment of the current competence with its underpinning theoretical knowledge and its applied skills is according to the institutional evidence requirements for RPL assessment. Learners must meet the institutional RPL policy requirements, which can include but are not limited to previous academic achievements and direct evidence of knowledge and skills that meet the RPL assessment criteria for this qualification.

Learners applying for RPL to this qualification must hold a relevant Higher Certificate in Fitness or a cognate qualification in an associated field.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is a:

Higher Certificate in Fitness, NQF Level 5.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory module at Level 6 totalling 125 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 125 Credits:

Exercise Science for Special Populations, 30 Credits.

Screening, Assessment and Programme Design for Special Populations, 35 Credits.

Health and Injury Management, 20 Credits.

Lifestyle Coaching, Motivation and Communication, 20 Credits.

Capstone Project, 20 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Screen, assess, and fitness test for special population groups.
2. Design, implement and manage safe and effective exercise programmes for special populations.
3. Plan exercise sessions base on clients abilities, needs and goals.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of health and safety for each population group.
5. Provide educated advice and support in terms of health, lifestyle and exercise management.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Implement screening to identify risks and eligibility to exercise for special population groups.

Conduct the field-based and facility-based testing to determine exercise readiness, participation levels and training requirements.

Provide nutritional guidelines in terms of healthy eating, with knowledge of specific dietary requirements for each population group.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Demonstrate current knowledge of exercise physiology which informs exercise prescription and training methods used by special population groups.

Interpret fitness data to determine safe and effective exercise programmes.

Apply anatomical and biomechanical principles of movement to exercise programmes for each population group.

Manage and design exercise programmes to ensure that known diseases and injuries contained within the special population group.

Design a client-specific exercise programme for each special population group, according to the energy demands and fitness goals of the client.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Design the appropriate exercise programme for a client based on information obtained during a screening and fitness evaluation.

Demonstrate and lead exercise programmes according to the health and fitness status of the client.

Modify exercise sessions according to the health and fitness status of the client.

Monitor participants exercise technique, affirming or correcting where required.

Consider intensity, duration, frequency and progression of exercise programmes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Identify common diseases associated with each special population group.

Develop exercise strategies to avoid/reduce the incidence of associated chronic diseases.

Identify the risk of injury experienced within each population group.

Provide appropriate professional referrals were relevant and in the context of participants' special needs and goals.

Demonstrate knowledge of professional practise through relevant screening, assessment and programming that complies with scopes of professional practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Identify relevant lifestyle and related issues to address.

Demonstrate an understanding of the barriers to exercise for each population group.

Conduct educational sessions aimed at improving knowledge of exercise, training and nutrition for the related population group.

Understand how health and lifestyle choices affect each other.

Manage exercise programmes through lifestyle and health management.

Integrated Assessment:
Integrated assessment at the level of qualification provides an opportunity for learners to show that they can integrate concepts, ideas, and actions to achieve knowledge and skills that are coherent to the purpose of the qualification. Integrated assessment judges the quality of the observable performance and the quality of the critical thinking and problem solving that underpins the performance.

Assessment tools must encourage learners to give an account of the thinking and decision-making that underpins their performance. Assessment includes a range of tasks which ensure that learners demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and practical skills in sports conditioning. The ratio between action and interpretation is not fixed but varies according to the modules within the qualification.

The assessment of knowledge is through ongoing class tests, semester exams and assignments. Practical skills are through practical projects, demonstrations, skill tests, and simulations. Learners demonstrate sport and exercise conditioning skills, using relevant equipment and demonstrating appropriate skills of the training modality. Projects show how learners work with participants or athletes, preparing sport conditioning programmes; monitoring and adapting programmes according to the needs of participants/athletes.

Experiential learning: Learners are placed in fitness facilities, with schools or sports clubs and have to achieve certain theoretical knowledge and skill-based outcomes. There will be the provision of logbooks which indicate the competencies and the evidence requirements for specific knowledge and skills which in collaboration with workplace supervisors will confirm.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

In terms of international best practice, this Advanced Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management falls within the scope of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM). NASSM is actively involved in supporting and assisting professionals working in sport, leisure and recreation. The purpose of the NASSM is to promote, stimulate, and encourage study, research, scholarly writing, and professional development in the area of sport management. Areas of interest to NASSM members include, for example, sport marketing, future directions in management, employment perspectives, management competencies, leadership, sport law, personnel management, facility management, organizational structures, fund raising, and conflict resolution and this Thus, the Business and management studies modules in this qualification are relevant to the NASSM.

Another international organisation that influences sport is the Danish Institute for Sports Studies (Idr�ttens Analyseinstitut) - an independent research centre set up by the Danish Ministry of Culture. Its primary objective is the enhancement and development of a broad range of social science research projects in sport. This institute is now also responsible for the organisation of the international Play the Game conference, along with the promotion of democracy, transparency and freedom of expression within the international sports community. Thus, the Psycho-Social modules in this qualification are relevant to the research of the Danish Institute for Sports Studies.

In terms of international benchmarking of qualifications, this Advanced Certificate in Sports, Recreation and Fitness Management has been compared to similar level qualifications in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and India - countries which have similar sports interests to South Africa. The qualifications listed below are at a similar level to the Advanced Certificate in Sports, Recreation and Fitness Management and are selected because their core modules compare favourably, particularly the modules in Business and Management Studies and Sport and Recreation Studies.

Australia, University of Technology Sydney - Graduate Diploma in Sport Management. Unique to this diploma is the inclusion of a module called Digital Sports Journalism, whereas the Advanced Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management emphasises its psycho social modules.

India, The International Institute of Sport Management - Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management - all the modules in the Advanced Certificate compare to modules in the Bachelor programme; however, there are specialised areas in coaching and nutrition which would be in separate qualifications at the same level in South Africa.

New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology - Certificate in Sport and Recreation - similar to the vocational pathway of higher certificate to advanced certificate for learners who do not achieve a university exemption after school, this qualification includes health and wellbeing which can be compared with the Advanced Certificate's module called Wellness Programmes. The module Business of Sport and Recreation can be compared with Recreation and Leisure Environments in the Advanced Certificate. The same institute has a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation which combines business and management in sport with exercise science. The Advanced Certificate however specialises in business and management of sporting contexts.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification offers possibilities of both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Advanced Certificate in Coaching Science, Level 6.

Vertical Articulation:

Bachelor of Arts in Sport and Recreation Management, Level 7.

Diploma in Sport and Exercise, Level 6.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

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.

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