Diploma in Fitness Training

Kristi Salonius derives great satisfaction from her work. Picture / Martin Sykes

THE QUALIFICATION
Diploma in Fitness Training
Auckland University of Technology
Phone: 0800 367 288
Salary: start $12.50/hour, personal trainer $30-$80/hour plus

People with a passion for health and fitness who wish to pursue a career in the fitness industry can study for the Diploma in Fitness Training at Auckland University of Technology.

The Level 5 NZQA-rated course covers theory and practice for fitness centres, management skills and personal development and graduates work as fitness instructors, gym managers, personal trainers and sports trainers.

The subjects studied in the one-year, full-time programme at the Akoranga campus on Auckland's North Shore include exercise prescription, exercise science, fitness assessment, personal training, supervisory management and good quality service.

Students also learn professional practice, applied anatomy, human structure and function, and nutrition, activity and health.

There's 16 hours of face-to face structured study each week and students are advised to complete another 10-20 hours of study in their own time.

Work experience in the industry is included in the course work and each student takes the initiative to find their own placement.

Students are assessed in a variety of ways including a mixture of practical and theoretical work, written assignments, practical exams and written exams.

Applicants who are school leavers must have 48 NCEA Level 2 credits over four subjects, including English. Alternatively, school leavers can have a total of 60 points at Cambridge International Exams.

Applicants over 20 years of age are welcome, provided they show evidence of the ability to undertake the programme with a reasonable chance of success.

Applications close in November, but late applications are considered.

Fees are $3798 including GST.

Graduates can pursue further studies for AUT's Bachelor of Sport and Recreation and Bachelor of Business.

There's a growing expectation among fitness industry employers for staff to be registered. The diploma eases recognition through the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS) registration system.

THE GRADUATE
Kristi Salonius, personal trainer
Self-employed, contracted to Les Mills Takapuna
Graduated 2000

I was attracted to the course as it was one-year long and financially that was less of a burden than a degree and I gained a qualification that I was able to use straight away.

AUT has good industry connections so when I went to an open day I heard of working in placements in different gyms with good job prospects. That was a major drawcard.

It gave me a really good foundation of knowledge that was a good starting point in the industry and gave me the networks and ability to call on for further knowledge.

The placements were really invaluable. You tend to learn a lot that way.

AUT's teaching methods were great. They not only teach theory, but also help you apply that knowledge practically.

It was a very progressive course, with methods such as role play, rather than teaching through lecturing and notes alone. I found that especially helpful.

Because our industry is growing and changing every day, you are never going to know all there is to know and that is what is so exciting about the job.

THE EMPLOYER
Rob Richards
Service director
Les Mills
Takapuna

We have a lot of gym instructors and personal trainers who have come through the course.

Because AUT is five minutes away, it is a main feeder for us for employees.

We are aligned with REPS and have to employ people with a basic qualification and a certain standard on the floor. It is great that with the AUT course we know the graduates meet that standard.

When I send them to the first interview or assessment with customers, I know they are at a certain level.

They know the gym equipment and the exercises, and what you do for body building and weight loss, which is really helpful for us as we don't have to do any re-training.

Each gym will have different expectations and job descriptions for what a gym instructor or trainer would do. But I know with someone from AUT I will not have to teach them from scratch.

We just have to go through things which are peculiar to Les Mills, such as the programmes we use, and can focus on the customer service in the areas that we emphasise at Les Mills.