If you’re interested in a career in the health and fitness industry there are lots of differrent roles to consider.

From personal trainers to massage therapists and fitness instructors, they all need qualifications and accreditations. Here are some of the ways of getting qualified.

Certificates

Many TAFEs and other colleges offer a variety of Certificates in health and fitness. For example, the Certificate III in Fitness, is a six-month course that can be taken full or part time, and covers core areas such as first aid, sport and recreation law, occupational health and safety policies and procedures, risk management, workplace relationships and client liaison.

The Australian Institute of Fitness has a number of Certificate courses for qualifications including personal trainer, aqua instructor, massage therapist, group fitness and fitness business. There are also Certificate III and IV courses available that specialise in sport, community health, myotherapy, physiotherapy, aromatherapy and naturopathy.

Advanced Certificates in Personal Training are also available.

Diplomas

There are also a number of diploma courses that are useful qualifications for those who work in a health club or fitness gym. For example, the Australian Institute of Fitness has a Diploma of Fitness specialising in exercise therapy; while a Graduate Diploma of Sports Administration is a one-year course designed for people who are looking to pursue a career in management in sports-related centres. Diplomas of Therapeutic Massage, Health Science and Remedial Massage are also available.

Degrees

University degrees in health and fitness are usually three years in length, and require a lot more commitment. Depending on the area of the fitness industry you’d like to work, there will be a bachelor degree that suits.

The Bachelor of Applied Fitness is a vocational course with an undergraduate qualification. It covers fitness studies, and science, vocational education training and management and professional skills development. It can lead to a career in personal training, corporate fitness and special needs training.

There’s also a two-year Associate Degree in Applied Fitness if you already have a qualification and want to further your studies. A Bachelor of Health and Movement, if you want to get into PE teaching, is also an option.

Online

Many health and fitness courses are available to complete online, or as a combination of online and class study. There are also a number of websites that have a wide range of Certificate courses online, as well as short courses and further study.

With so much information and many options available, it’s a good idea to decide on a career path first, and choose your study options accordingly.