Overview

Seneca's Fitness Leadership certificate program has been developed to prepare students in careers requiring leadership to organize, develop and manage fitness and wellness programs for individuals, corporate and commercial settings. This program reflects the guidelines for the training of fitness leaders established by existing advisory boards and professional organizations.

Career Opportunities

Our Fitness Leadership Certificate program trains its students both theoretically and practically to pursue certification exams for:

• canfitpro
• Canadian Personal Training Network (CPTN)
• Canadian Fitness Education Services

Individuals wishing to pursue a full-time or part-time career in the fitness field in one or more of the following areas: fitness appraisal, exercise prescription, fitness class instruction, personal training, lifestyle counseling and fitness management. Students researching this field should note that employers may seek other additional certifications from agencies with accreditation standards.

Entry Requirements

It is strongly recommended that students should complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and have Grade 12 English and Grade 11 Biology. Those students who have not successfully completed Grade 12 English and Grade 11 Biology should consider upgrading their skills through the College/University prep program.

Prerequisites

It is your responsibility to ensure that program requirements and course prerequisites as outlined are met. Prerequisites are included for your academic protection. Knowledge of the prerequisite material is assumed by your instructor and instruction will proceed accordingly. Students lacking prerequisites not only jeopardize their own ability to succeed but present unnecessary interruption. If you lack appropriate prerequisites (or Transfer Credit for the prerequisite course) you may be asked to withdraw or transfer to a more appropriate course with the risk of academic/financial penalty.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Fitness Leadership Certificate will be able to:

• recognize various lifestyle habits and their effects on the health and fitness level of an individual.
• assess clients' fitness needs.
• administer a number of components from popular fitness testing protocols.
• demonstrate an understanding of various concepts of anatomy, kinesiology and exercise physiology and apply them to fitness activities.
• discuss the relationship between regular participation in physical fitness and health.
• design effective fitness programs using various exercise techniques.
• evaluate the physiological effects of the exercise program on the client.
• identify and understand how to prevent common fitness based injuries.
• identify, analyze and utilize effective leadership and communication skills in the fitness setting.
• incorporate a variety of fitness resources in the provision of a fitness program.

Fieldwork Placement

This program has a field placement internship component: FHP407. Each placement is 80 hours and must be completed within the province of Ontario. Placement hours are completed in person or remotely within appropriate host agencies (such as school athletics, sports teams, health food stores, rehabilitation centres, gyms, yoga studios and other health related industries) with host supervisors who are qualified employees, supervisors or managers. Placement hours are arranged between the student and the supervisor at the agency and must be completed throughout the 14-week term. E.g., one day per week for a minimum of 10 weeks etc.

Students currently working in the field cannot complete the hours in their current role. All field placement hours must be unpaid.

How do the placements work?

The time spent in placement is an opportunity for hands-on learning and to incorporate and reflect upon what students are learning online. Placement hours in each fieldwork course will also include online readings and assignments. Your fieldwork instructor/supervisor will support and evaluate your progress in placement.

Where will I do my placement?

That's up to you. Students are encouraged to research and find placement opportunities that are local to them. It is advisable to search for placements and arrange for a placement opportunity several months in advance of registration in a fieldwork course.

Your FHP407 placement opportunity must be approved prior to registering in the course. Complete this form and email it to the field placement coordinator for approval: jacinda.martin@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Field Placement Documentation

Please ensure all the course form documents are completed before embarking on placement hours. You will need to have these documents reviewed by the fieldwork course instructor at the start of term. Your host agency may also require you to submit them for review.

• Students may require a Vulnerable Sector Check (Police Check). Students in the City of Toronto may use the pre-authorized form found here. Others should inquire at their local police office to pursue the Check.

Credit for Prior Learning

Prior Learning Assessment

Earn college credits for what you already know.
Prior Learning Assessment is a method of assessing and recognizing learning that is equal to college level learning, but has been gained outside a traditional classroom (through work experience, volunteering, outside study, etc.). If you can prove that the knowledge you have gained meets the outcomes of a Seneca course, then credit will be awarded.

How does the PLA process work?
Prior Learning is demonstrated through a "challenge" process. The process measures learning through a variety of methods which may include tests, portfolio assessment, interviews, demonstrations, essays, and work samples. The method used will be determined in consultation with a Program Coordinator.
For more information and to determine if you are eligible for PLA, please call the Program Coordinator.

The process may take from 6 to 8 weeks.

Note: Not all courses can be challenged. For more information go to PLA website or contact your Program Coordinator.

Transfer Credit

Many students who enter Seneca Polytechnic will have earned academic credits in postsecondary educational institutions which they may be able to apply toward completion of a Seneca Polytechnic program.

Requests for Transfer Credit must be for a specific course and must be accompanied by an official transcript and course outline. A minimum grade of "C" (60 percent) is generally required for a course to be considered for Transfer Credit.

Download a Transfer Credit Request form. An official copy of your transcript and applicable detailed course outlines should be attached and submitted. Please note it may take 4 to 6 weeks for a Transfer Credit decision.

More Information

Please visit the Office of the Registrar.

Graduation/Convocation

Minimum Performance for Graduation

A student will be eligible to graduate from a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or graduate certificate program if they have achieved a minimum graduating GPA of 2.0.

A student will be eligible to graduate from a degree program if they have achieved a minimum graduating GPA of 2.5, which includes a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the courses in their main field of study and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in breadth courses.

Residency Requirements

A faculty of Seneca Polytechnic may recommend a student for a certificate, diploma or degree only after the student has earned a minimum of twenty-five percent of the credit for that program at Seneca.

Forms

• Police Reference Check Information and Toronto Police Services Form

Testimonial

Alanna Tasios

It started as a desire to keep health and fitness as part of her life. Where her journey led her, Alanna never would have imagined.

WHAT INSPIRED ME

When you've played hockey for most of your life, there is a part of you that will always be interested in health and fitness. After my playing days were behind me, I realized that it was still an important part of my life, and knew that this was a career path I wanted to pursue. And so I enrolled in the Health and Fitness Leadership program at Seneca."My teachers at Seneca were instrumental in helping me turn what I loved to do into a career path I never thought possible. They showed me how to trust myself, how to let my passion and my instincts guide me in the right direction for my career and my life."

HOW FAR I'VE GONE

My experience at Seneca opened many doors. It led me to opportunities in the field of sports medicine, including the chance to work in the Bahamas with a sports medicine doctor. I was working with people who had sports backgrounds just like mine, but who were now dealing with injuries or rehabbing to get back to playing. And I saw in many of these people – especially women – so much fear and doubt in their own abilities. That was when I realized I wanted to make a change: I wanted to help women to be their best self.

WHERE I'M GOING NEXT

Since then I have gone on to start my own business as a certified Integrative Health and Lifestyle Coach. I work with women who are looking to make big changes in their lives but don't have the support to do so. Whether it has to do with their relationships, their careers, their spirituality or their physical fitness and nutrition, I help women set the goals to make those changes, and provide them with the guidance they need along the way. I've also helped launch On The Run Meals, an organic meal prep and delivery business. My position as Vice President of Operations helps me interact with all clients on a deeper level by integrating my health coaching."Changing lives is so rewarding. Watching people get out there and get what they deserve, it feels so great to know that I was a part of that.

Program Contacts

Annie Kirkham
Program Assistant
Annie.Kirkham@senecapolytechnic.ca
416-764-0985

Yasmeen Syed
Academic Program Manager
Yasmeen.Syed@senecapolytechnic.ca
416-764-0965

For more information about this program, fill out the following form.