What we offer - YMCA Awards

    • What we offer

    Our range of qualifications, end-point assessments and endorsed CPD products are designed to support learners to get ahead.

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    Certificates issued

    Understanding size and level 

    Our qualifications and end-point assessments have a difficulty level. The higher the level, the more difficult the qualification/apprenticeship is. 


    Qualifications at the same level sometimes cover different amounts of the same subject. The size of the qualification (the amount of content covered) is indicated in the qualification title (Award/Certificate/Diploma) and in the Guided Learning Hours (GLH) and Total Qualification Time (TQT) values. 

    What are levels?

    Our qualifications and end-point assessments are assigned a level to help you judge their difficulty. The higher the level is, the more challenging the qualification will be to achieve.

    The descriptions below explain how levels relate to jobs in the fitness industry and include examples of other qualifications designed to target the same level of ability.

    Overview of levels

    • Level 1
    • Level 2
    • Level 3
    • Level 4

    Assistant Fitness Instructor

    Targets same level of ability as GCSE grades 3-1/D-G

    Qualifications at this level introduce the health and fitness industry and allow learners to apply basic exercise and fitness knowledge.

    Fitness Instructor

    Targets same level of ability as GCSE grades 9-4/A*-C

    Qualifications at this level often allow learners to qualify as a fitness professional and gain access to CIMSPA membership.

    Advanced Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer

    Targets same level of ability as AS and A levels

    Qualifications at this level build on level 2 knowledge allowing learners to work with diverse client populations and in a wider range of environments.

    Specialist Fitness Instructor

    Targets same level of ability as a Higher National Certificate

    Qualifications at this level allow learners to expand their knowledge of programme design and delivery, to adapt exercise for high-risk specialist populations.

    What are qualification sizes, GLH and TQT?

    Our qualifications come in three sizes: 

    Award – small qualifications with a TQT value of 120 or less;
    Certificate – medium-sized qualifications with a TQT value in the range 121-369
    Diploma – large qualifications with a TQT value of 370 or more.

    We assign our qualifications a size based on total amount of time – measured in hours – that we expect the average learner to need to complete all required learning and assessment to the expected standard. Total Qualification Time (TQT) is made up of the hours we expect the average learner to spend:

    Preparing or studying qualification content under the direct supervision of a teacher or tutor.
    Preparing or studying qualification content – or completing assessments – without direct supervision of a teacher or tutor.

    Guided Learning Hours (GLH) is another name for the learning and assessment completed under direct supervision of a teacher or tutor. This: 

    Includes

    Face to face delivery (learning delivered by a lecturer, supervisor, tutor or other appropriate member of the training team). 
    eLearning with a lecturer, teacher or tutor present/available in real time (the learner and tutor can be either remote or in the same physical place during eLearning). 
    Invigilated assessment (external tests sat under controlled or open book conditions).
    Internal assessment carried out by the learner with a lecturer, teacher or tutor present/available in real time (the learner and tutor can be either remote or in the same physical place during assessment). 

    Does not include

    eLearning that learners complete without real-time support from a teacher or tutor. 
    Assessment carried out by learners without a lecturer, teacher, or tutor present/available in real time e.g. completing worksheets from the Learner Assessment Record (LAR) at home.  
    Any additional further study, revision, and training activities that learners complete unsupervised to support their learning.