Certificate IV in Fitness

This fitness qualification will prepare you to be a personal trainer or other fitness professional. You will finish the course with the skills to develop, instruct and evaluate personalised exercise programs for generally healthy and low-risk clients, to achieve specific fitness goals. (Clients with higher health risks are referred to medical or allied health professionals.)

As a personal trainer, you will work independently using highly developed fitness expertise in both routine and unpredictable situations. During your study, you will develop communication and collaboration skills, so that your interactions with clients and health professionals are constructive and productive.

The Certificate IV in Fitness provides a pathway to work as an personal trainer in settings such as:

• fitness facilities
• gyms
• leisure and community centres
• client workplaces and homes
• outdoor locations.

You may offer fitness services to individuals and groups, work for yourself or for an established business, or offer training online. Some personal trainers also lead teams and supervise activities, giving you the opportunity to progress in your career.

Before applying for this course, please check that you meet the entry requirements, ensuring that you:

• hold a current first aid and CPR certificate, and
• have completed all eight (8) prerequisite units listed under 'Admission & pathways'.

The fitness and health sector is a fast-growing industry. Once you've qualified, you'll be able to work across a range of roles including:

• group exercise instructor
• personal trainer
• PT coordinator
• PT manager
• outdoor trainer
• gym instructor.

You'll also be eligible to apply for registration with key industry bodies including Physical Activity Australia and Fitness Australia.

The course structure comprises the following core and elective units. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback.

To be awarded the SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness, a student must successfully complete a total of seventeen (17) units of competency, consisting of:
* ten (10) core units, and;
* seven (7) elective units, consisting of:
- a minimum of two (2) units and maximum of five (5) units from the Group A elective unit list below, and/ or;
- a minimum of two (2) units from the Group B elective unit list below, and/or; - a maximum of 3 units from elsewhere in the SIS Training Package, or from any other current Training Package or accredited course.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.

Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.

Before starting your application, please read through the step-by-step VU Polytechnic application process to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready to successfully complete your application.

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

• Credit transfer/Recognition of prior learning (RPL): If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.