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Exercise for Every Body
Discover fresh approaches for adapting and delivering fully-inclusive exercise programmes
Enquire todaySpecial Populations Courses and Qualifications
Today's exercise professionals must be equipped with the skills to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population, including older adults, pregnant women, and clients with disabilities.
Special Populations Career Packages
Your direct route to special populations success. Expertly-delivered courses, cutting-edge content, interest-free payment plans and hands-on training at a nationwide venue.
Essentials
Discover how to help clients manage chronic illnesses and conditions
Courses
Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma
With this qualification, you’ll be able to work with an expanded range of clients, helping them manage chronic illnesses and conditions like asthma, obesity, arthritis and diabetes.
As the name suggests, the Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma enables you to get involved with exercise/GP referral schemes and work alongside various public and private health organisations referring clients.
The course tackles a wide-range of subjects, including professional practice, the pathophysiology of various conditions, programming exercise for medical conditions, the role of medications, and assessing and monitoring referred clients. To really bring the subjects to life, your learning will be enhanced by a range of extensive video lectures presented by a leading GP who is well-versed with exercise referral.
Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity
Diet and nutrition are key components when it comes to helping clients achieve their goals and in fact, they can be just as important as exercise. With that in mind, Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity is a must-have qualification.
In just a few short weeks you’ll have gained the knowledge and real-life solutions to improve the dietary habits of your clients. It’s a great standalone qualification to have but even better and more effective when it’s combined with personal training.
Throughout the course, you’ll encounter a range of topics including popular nutrition myths and diets, healthy eating guidelines and weight management best practices.
Level 3 Applied Anatomy and Physiology
Level 3 Exercise for Older Adults
By 2030, the NHS predicts that life expectancy will rise to the late 80s and that one in five people in the UK will be over 65. Now more than ever fitness professionals are required to meet the exercise needs of this growing older population.
The Level 3 Exercise for Older Adults course is designed to help you upskill and gain the knowledge to safely and effectively adapt exercise for older clients. In doing so, you’ll not only be able to make your services more inclusive, but also grow your client base.
Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Exercise Instructor
Extras and Exclusives
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Discounted CIMSPA membership
-
CV Connect
-
12 months of career guidance
Key Benefits
-
Includes nutrition and anatomy and physiology
-
8-10 weeks to qualify
-
Become an exercise referral instructor
From £83 per month with our 0% interest-free payment plans
Specialist
Train more clients, tackle more conditions and make more of a difference
Courses
Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma
With this qualification, you’ll be able to work with an expanded range of clients, helping them manage chronic illnesses and conditions like asthma, obesity, arthritis and diabetes.
As the name suggests, the Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma enables you to get involved with exercise/GP referral schemes and work alongside various public and private health organisations referring clients.
The course tackles a wide-range of subjects, including professional practice, pathophysiology of various conditions, programming exercise for medical conditions, the role of medications, and assessing and monitoring referred clients. To really bring the subjects to life, your learning will be enhanced by a range of extensive video lectures presented by a leading GP who is well-versed with exercise referral.
Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Exercise Instructor
It’s a fact that recovery and rest are important for mother and baby. Modern guidance has also stressed the importance of regular exercise and physical activity, both in the pre and postnatal stages.
The Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Instructor course is designed to equip fitness professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to develop safe and effective programmes for pre and postnatal clients.
To guide your learning, you’ll receive an extensive range of print and digital resources, including comprehensive training manuals, ongoing support from a dedicated tutor and an extensive range of online video lectures presented by a specialist midwife.
Level 3 Exercise for Older Adults
By 2030, the NHS predicts that life expectancy will rise to the late 80s and that one in five people in the UK will be over 65. Now more than ever fitness professionals are required to meet the exercise needs of this growing older population.
The Level 3 Exercise for Older Adults course is designed to help you upskill and gain the knowledge to safely and effectively adapt exercise for older clients. In doing so, you’ll not only be able to make your services more inclusive, but also grow your client base.
Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity
Diet and nutrition are key components when it comes to helping clients achieve their goals and in fact, they can be just as important as exercise. With that in mind, Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity is a must-have qualification.
In just a few short weeks you’ll have gained the knowledge and real-life solutions to improve the dietary habits of your clients. It’s a great standalone qualification to have but even better and more effective when it’s combined with personal training.
Throughout the course, you’ll encounter a range of topics including popular nutrition myths and diets, healthy eating guidelines and weight management best practices.
Level 3 Applied Anatomy and Physiology
Extras and Exclusives
-
Discounted CIMSPA membership
-
CV Connect
-
12 months of career guidance
Key Benefits
-
14-day money back guarantee
-
12-14 weeks to qualify
-
Support a range of special populations
From £117 per month with our 0% interest-free payment plans
Master
Lead the way and be at the forefront of making a difference in the community
Courses
Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma
With this qualification, you’ll be able to work with an expanded range of clients, helping them manage chronic illnesses and conditions like asthma, obesity, arthritis and diabetes.
As the name suggests, the Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma enables you to get involved with exercise/GP referral schemes and work alongside various public and private health organisations referring clients.
The course tackles a wide-range of subjects, including professional practice, pathophysiology of various conditions, programming exercise for medical conditions, the role of medications, and assessing and monitoring referred clients. To really bring the subjects to life, your learning will be enhanced by a range of extensive video lectures presented by a leading GP who is well-versed with exercise referral.
Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity
Diet and nutrition are key components when it comes to helping clients achieve their goals and in fact, they can be just as important as exercise. With that in mind, Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity is a must-have qualification.
In just a few short weeks you’ll have gained the knowledge and real-life solutions to improve the dietary habits of your clients. It’s a great standalone qualification to have but even better and more effective when it’s combined with personal training.
Throughout the course, you’ll encounter a range of topics including popular nutrition myths and diets, healthy eating guidelines and weight management best practices.
Level 3 Applied Anatomy and Physiology
Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Exercise Instructor
It’s a fact that recovery and rest are important for mother and baby. Modern guidance has also stressed the importance of regular exercise and physical activity, both in the pre and postnatal stages.
The Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Instructor course is designed to equip fitness professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to develop safe and effective programmes for pre and postnatal clients.
To guide your learning, you’ll receive an extensive range of print and digital resources, including comprehensive training manuals, ongoing support from a dedicated tutor and an extensive range of online video lectures presented by a specialist midwife.
Level 3 Exercise for Older Adults
By 2030, the NHS predicts that life expectancy will rise to the late 80s and that one in five people in the UK will be over 65. Now more than ever fitness professionals are required to meet the exercise needs of this growing older population.
The Level 3 Exercise for Older Adults course is designed to help you upskill and gain the knowledge to safely and effectively adapt exercise for older clients. In doing so, you’ll not only be able to make your services more inclusive, but also grow your client base.
Extras and Exclusives
-
Discounted CIMSPA membership
-
CV Connect
-
12 months of career guidance
Key Benefits
-
Includes nutrition and anatomy and physiology
-
Qualify in just 14-16 weeks
-
The ultimate exercise referral package
From £171 per month with our 0% interest-free payment plans
Featured Special Populations Courses
It's your fitness career and you should have the freedom to decide who you help and how you help them.
Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma
£425.00
Discover a course designed to help fitness professionals work with clients and manage chronic illnesses and conditions. This is an essential qualification for progressing to Level 4 and beyond.
Time to qualify:
8-10 weeks
Entry requirements:
See below
Course type:
Blended learning
Accreditations:
Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Exercise Instructor
£295.00
Develop your knowledge about pregnancy and use this to effectively adapt exercise for pre and postnatal clients.
Time to qualify:
6-8 weeks
Entry requirements:
Level 2 Fitness Instructor
Course type:
Home study with exam
Accreditations:
Didn't find the career package you were looking for? Our Careers team are ready and waiting to help you find your perfect special populations course and #becomemore, so call us on 0800 612 4067.
Didn't find the career package you were looking for? Our Careers team are ready and waiting to help you find your perfect special populations course and #becomemore, so click the button below to email us.
Enquire todayView all special populations courses
Featured Special Populations Packages
Our career packages bring together a range of courses, exclusive content and offers and discounts. Discover the path which suits your fitness career best.
Essentials
£750.00
Enquire nowIntro
Our Essentials special populations career package has been designed to enable you to help clients manage a range of chronic illnesses and conditions like asthma, obesity, arthritis and diabetes. The package contains Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma and with this, you’ll also study Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity and Level 3 Applied Anatomy and Physiology.
Once fully qualified you’ll be able to work alongside organisations, such as the NHS, who will refer clients to you. You’ll use your knowledge and expertise to prescribe effective and appropriate forms of exercise. The package is incredibly versatile and provides a great opportunity for personal trainers and group exercise professionals to better serve existing clients and branch out to help new people.
To ensure you get the most out of your experience, we utilise the blended learning model. This means you’ll complete online learning using bespoke print and digital manuals, and LES, our Learner Engagement System, which offers exclusive video lectures from leading medical professionals, practice quizzes and more. Alongside your home study, you’ll also have the opportunity to attend practical workshops and assessments at a nationwide venue.
Content
If you’re looking to become a leading exercise referral specialist and truly change lives, you’ll need the right blend of skills and specialised knowledge. It’s by far an exhaustive list, but here’s a taste of what you’ll encounter with the Essentials package:
Exclusives
CV Connect
Using CV Connect is as simple as uploading your CV, selecting employers in your area and pressing send.
12 Months of Career Guidance
The course is over but support continues, we're here to offer 12 months ongoing fitness instructor career advice as and when you need it.
Discounted CIMSPA Membership
Graduates are entitled to discounted CIMSPA membership which gives you easy access to a range of benefits including free CPD, exclusive learning resources, industry recognition and status, and much more.
Payment
View dates and book
Specialist
£955.00
Enquire nowIntro
The Specialist career package is ideal for those looking to train more clients, tackle more conditions and illnesses and make more of a difference in the community. With the Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma, you’ll be fully qualified to work alongside medical professionals and organisations, like the NHS, who will refer clients to you. The Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Exercise Instructor and the Level 3 Exercise for Older Adults courses then step things up.
In 12-14 weeks, alongside being qualified in exercise referral, you’ll also be able to effectively plan and adapt exercise for pre and postnatal clients and older adults. Both special populations groups are rising at a rapid pace so the demand for your services is only going to increase.
To guide you on your learning journey, you’ll be assigned a dedicated Learner Support Tutor. Their support, guidance and motivation are unlimited and they can be contacted via phone or email. We also provide bespoke print and digital manuals and access to LES, our Learner Engagement System. With this innovative platform, you’ll have access to exclusive video lectures, practice quizzes and more.
Content
The Specialist package contains all the exercise referral content you need, plus you’ll gain the skills and knowledge needed to effectively work with older adults and pre and postnatal clients. Here’s an outline of what you’ll be learning:
Exclusives
CV Connect
Using CV Connect is as simple as uploading your CV, selecting employers in your area and pressing send.
12 Months of Career Guidance
The course is over but support continues, we're here to offer 12 months ongoing career advice as and when you need it.
Discounted CIMSPA Membership
Graduates are entitled to discounted CIMSPA membership which gives you easy access to a range of benefits including free CPD, exclusive learning resources, industry recognition and status, and much more.
Payment
View dates and book
Master
£1280.00
Enquire nowIntro
Our Master special populations package is designed to enhance your career putting you at the forefront of making a difference in your community. To start things off, you’ll become a fully qualified exercise referral specialist with the Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma. This also includes Level 3 Nutrition to Support Physical Activity and Level 3 Applied Anatomy and Physiology. All this means there are no entry requirements and you can fully qualify is just 14-16 weeks.
We’ve also included two special populations courses, Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Exercise Instructor and Level 3 Exercise for Older Adults. With these, you’ll be able to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for fitness professionals who have enough knowledge and confidence to work with these special populations.
To support you on your journey to become the ultimate exercise referral specialist, you’ll be assigned a dedicated Learner Support Tutor. Their support is unlimited and no question is too big, small or challenging. As we specialise in blended learning, your online study is also complemented by practical attendance at a nationwide venue.
Content
The Master career package gets you everything included with Essentials and Specialist, here’s an example of what you’ll encounter:
Exclusives
CV Connect
Using CV Connect is as simple as uploading your CV, selecting employers in your area and pressing send.
12 Months of Career Guidance
The course is over but support continues, we're here to offer 12 months ongoing career advice as and when you need it.
Discounted CIMSPA Membership
Graduates are entitled to discounted CIMSPA membership which gives you easy access to a range of benefits including free CPD, exclusive learning resources, industry recognition and status, and much more.
Payment
View dates and book
One Career. Unlimited Possibilities.
Join our special populations graduates working with some of the world's leading gyms and health clubs.
FAQs
From course content to progression routes, we've answered the most frequently asked questions about our special populations courses.
Do I need any previous qualifications?
These qualifications are designed for current fitness professionals, therefore you will need to hold a Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instruction. Additionally, once you have completed your qualification, you can only teach exercise in the context of your qualifications (gym, exercise to music, circuit training etc).
If you are considering the Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral, we also recommend that you hold a Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training – while this isn’t mandatory, it will help you greatly with the programme and will enable you to focus exclusively on the medical conditions element of the course. The exercise referral course cost does not include the anatomy and nutrition modules which must also be completed to achieve this qualification.
Can I combine different special populations courses?
Absolutely – this is quite common. With diseases relating to inactivity being at almost epidemic levels, more and more people are now in need of specialist exercise advice. Many of these people may, in fact, present more than one medical condition, so it’s wise to develop a broad and deep understanding in this area.
Our all-inclusive Special Populations Diploma is a programme which offers the greatest value. This combines Level 3 Exercise Referral, Level 3 Pre and Postnatal and Level 3 Exercise for Older Adults into a single competitively priced package.
What will I learn on my special populations course?
This ultimately depends on the pathway and courses that you select. Generally speaking:
Exercise Referral is concerned with planning and structuring exercise for clients that have been referred to an exercise professional from their GP, and requires a deep understanding of a wide-range of medical conditions, including: obesity, diabetes, low back pain, arthritis, high cholesterol, stress, anxiety and high blood pressure.
Exercise for Older Adults is concerned with adapting exercise programmes to the specific needs of the elderly and less able clients – this also involves developing a broad understanding of common medical conditions affecting this group of people.
Exercise for Pre and Postnatal Clients explores how exercise can benefit pregnant women and new mothers, and what is and isn’t appropriate.
Exercise for Disabled Clients promotes inclusion and enables an instructor to effectively work with clients with disabilities.
Will I be able to find work once I've qualified?
The demand for those who have the knowledge to work with special populations has never been higher. To give some context: between 1985 and 2015, the number of UK citizens aged 65 or over increased by 20% to 10.3 million; there are approximately 600,000 registered births every year; and the World Health Organisation (WHO) continues to report that obesity is a worldwide epidemic.
Recent reports have revealed that in 1 in 5 people in the UK has a disability yet only 18% of adults with a disability undertake more than 30 minutes exercise a week.
Are these recognised qualifications?
All of our special populations courses are certificated by YMCA Awards, the industry's most widely sought after awarding body. they are also fully endorsed and supported by CIMSPA.
What progression routes are available once I qualify?
A popular progression route is to combine special populations qualifications with something like yoga and Pilates because many exercises for both of these disciplines can be adapted to a person's individual physical needs.
Level 3 Exercise Referral is a prerequisite for Level 4 exercise specialist qualifications, such as Low Back Pain and the Obesity and Diabetes Certificate – these are also common progression routes.
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"HFE is the ultimate fitness training provider, without a doubt their personal training courses are the best in the industry."
James Crossley
(Hunter from Gladiators)
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"The course has really helped me to better understand yoga so that I can improve my performance and remain World No. 1"
Laura Massaro
(World No. 1 Squash Player - 2016)
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"HFE have produced some of the best materials I have seen in education."
Holly Bradshaw
(Team GB Olympic Pole Vaulter)
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"HFE is the most professional and cutting edge fitness provider I have ever seen."
Kardy Laguda
(International Fitness Presenter)
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Having just completed my 4th Course
2017-10-11Having just completed my 4th Course with HFE I can say what a pleasure it has been throughout. I am now an exercise referral instructor and exercise specialist in diabetes/obesity.
Gareth Davies
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LOVED ETM COURSE
2014-12-16I thought enjoyed studying for ETM Level 2. I Finns my tutor to extremely helpful and reliable she was always there for me and made learning the subjects clear and simple. The course content was clear and not to difficult to follow. The weekends were great as my group were very supportive and kept I rich after our firsts meeting
Dancesme
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Great support
2015-04-30The person who has been my support tutor this year and I have recently finished my Level 2 Gym Instructor course - I found him very helpful and he has given me great support throughout.
Lindsay Lou
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Excellent and helpful staff
2020-11-09I cannot recommend HFE highly enough...
Daryl Peter
Special Populations Courses with HFE
Exercise is one of those activities that has true universal appeal. So much so that millions wouldn’t consider it merely an activity, for them it’s a passion and a way of life. In today’s modern world we have an incredibly diverse population looking to exercise, to keep fit, and live happier and healthy lives. This includes older adults, pre and postnatal women and clients with disabilities, as well as those suffering from chronic conditions and diseases. In the past, these groups have sadly been greatly underrepresented but with recent and great advances in fitness training and education, this can change. Exercise can and should be for everyone and every body.
Our range of special populations courses and qualifications are designed to empower fitness professionals who are looking to not only increase their client base but truly make a difference to those who have in the past been under-served. To achieve this, we have several expertly-delivered courses which fall under the special populations umbrella and they are Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma, Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Exercise Instructor, Level 3 Exercise for Older Adults, and Level 3 Exercise for Disabled Clients.
Each course is CIMSPA approved, accredited by YMCA Awards and internationally-recognised. Every step of the way you’ll receive all the training, support and learning materials you need to become a fully qualified special populations instructor. To start things off you’ll receive bespoke hard copy and digital manuals and 24/7 access to LES, the Learner Engagement System, our online student portal. We also provide unlimited phone and email support from a dedicated tutor.
While each of our special populations courses can be done separately, we’ve created three bespoke career packages. Essentials, Specialist and Master take the Level 3 Exercise Referral Diploma and build upon it with other courses. You’ll also benefit from exclusive extras like discount CIMSPA membership, 12 months of career guidance and access to CV Connect, our innovative system which means you’re only a few clicks away from getting your CV in front of 1000s of employers.
If you’re ready to truly make a difference and elevate your fitness career then choose a special populations course. Within a handful of weeks, you could be making a life-changing impact to pre and postnatal women, older adults, those with disabilities and those with chronic conditions and diseases.
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