How can an education provider become REPs approved?
Providers undergo a quality assurance and audit process to demonstrate alignment with REPs Ireland standards. Please contact info@repsireland.ie for the application form
What is involved in an accreditation audit?
Course content, assessments, staffing, quality assurance and governance processes are reviewed.
It is a 3-stage process with the final stage a site visit on assessment day.
What specific qualifications and/or professional experience are required for the lead tutor(s) delivering Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer education?
The Endorsement Guidelines require a Lead Tutor for each qualification who can complete mapping documents, translate standards into learning resources, design assessments appropriate to the standards, and lead quality assurance discussions. This individual must have education, training and experience in the programme area well in excess of the students — ordinarily a minimum of NFQ Level 7 in the discipline area. A full breakdown of staff requirements (Head of Centre, Lead Tutor, Tutors, Assessors, Quality Assurance) is set out in Sections 1.1–1.6 of the Guidelines.
Are there minimum requirements regarding face-to-face teaching hours, practical coaching hours or supervised professional practice?
Yes — see Sections 8.1 and 8.3 (pages 10–11) of the Guidelines, which set out recommended Guided Learning Hours (GLH) and Total Qualification Time (TQT) for each register category (e.g. 70 GLH / 160 hours TQT for Level 3 categories generally, with 110 GLH / 250 hours TQT recommended for combined Fitness Instruction and Group Fitness Instruction, and 105 GLH / 320 hours TQT for Personal Training). Programmes must also be distributed over a minimum number of days rather than delivered in block format, to allow consolidation between teaching blocks.
Can elements such as anatomy, physiology, nutrition and other theoretical components be delivered through blended learning, with practical coaching and assessment taking place on site?
Yes, a blended approach for theoretical content is acceptable, provided practical coaching and assessment take place on site. Note, however, that fully online programmes are not acceptable — traditional face-to-face theory and practical assessments are required (Section 8.4). Where a provider wishes to reduce GLH based on high-quality online provision, a detailed online learning strategy must be submitted and approved by the auditors as part of the application process.
If a provider successfully completes the Education Provider audit, what exact certification/qualification wording would we be permitted to use when awarding successful graduates, and would graduates then be eligible to apply directly for REPs Ireland registration?
REPs Ireland endorsement is a certification of standards rather than a qualification in itself, so graduates would receive an award that is recognised by REPs Ireland (Section 4, Public Profile and Materials, notes that the term “REPs Ireland” should always be used in full, not “REPs”). Graduates of a successfully endorsed programme would be automatically eligible to join REPs Ireland. Membership is free for the first year if joined within 12 months of qualifying, with an annual fee of €65 thereafter.
Are certain qualifications automatically accepted?
REPs approves education providers and not awards, this there is no automatic acceptance of a qualification if they are not from one of our approved training providers.
REPs does have an MoU with ITEC to recognise some of the ITEC awards. However the education provider offering the ITEC award is expected to join REPs Ireland as an approved education provider by submitting an EQA report from ITEC dated within the past two years.
Can approved providers add new qualification categories?
Yes, subject to demonstrating compliance with current REPs standards.
Do overseas providers qualify for REPs approval?
Providers are expected to have their HQ within the jurisdiction to become a REPs Ireland approved education provider. CPD education providers are accepted.