Fitness and Health Promotion Program Opens Doors to Various Opportunities

Getting healthy is at the top of many people's list - and not just their New Year's Resolutions list. It's no wonder then that the demand for fitness professionals with a Fitness and Health Promotion Program educational background is expected to increase by 28 per cent by 2018. With Canadians making a commitment to their health, now is a great time to train for positions such as: fitness instructor, personal trainer, fitness consultant and wellness/fitness program developer. In these positions, Fitness and Health Promotion professionals assist individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices that will reduce or prevent the occurrence of acute and chronic diseases by providing professional fitness assessments, recommendations for health and fitness exercise regimes and strategies to meet their health and wellness goals.

Centennial College's Fitness and Health Promotion takes two years to complete and ensures students are ready to fulfill the above roles and responsibilities in vast areas such as: the community, corporate fitness, municipal recreation, retail fitness, hospital or business/entrepreneur. As such, it focuses on hands-on practical learning in laboratory and placement settings and a comprehensive academic grounding in areas such as: anatomy and physiology, fitness assessment, leadership skills, injury management, nutrition, fitness marketing, health promotion, computer skills and cross cultural awareness. The Fitness and Health Promotion also takes into account trending topics such as mental health as an essential part of a holistic approach to well being.

Help students obtain the best training possible is access to the newly-constructed Athletic and Wellness Center, where they can apply what they have learned to helping their peers meet their fitness goals. The use of this wellness centre also presents the opportunity for inter-professional student liaisons between this fitness training program and other offerings (i.e. Police Foundations, Pre-service Fire and Paramedic students) at Centennial College to assist in the attainment of students' fitness assessment goals.

As a final hands-on feature, the Fitness and Health Promotion boasts an industry field placement during which students apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program in a safe and challenging real world setting. Prior to each field placement, students must acquire an annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening; successfully complete an annual renewal of a recognized course in CPR (health care provider level); successfully complete a recognized course in standard first aid.

Upon completion of the Fitness and Health Promotion offering, students obtain an Ontario College Diploma and have the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to become certified personal trainers according to the CSEP-CPT requirements and learn course material related to the canfitpro nutrition and wellness certification.

Applicants to this fitness training program, must have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature status (19 years or older) In addition, they should have taken English Grade 12 C or U (minimum grade required) or equivalent, or skills assessment; as well as one Science Grade 11 or 12, C or U (minimum grade requirement) or skills assessment (Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Exercise Science).