Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) are the regulator for emergency medical services (EMS) in Ireland and their role is to protect the public. PHECC is an independent statutory agency with responsibility for standards, education and training in the field of pre-hospital emergency care. PHECC also maintain a statutory register of EMS practitioners.

QQI

As a national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland, QQI (formally FETAC) gives people the opportunity to gain recognition for learning in education or training centres, in the work place and in the community’s

QQI’s mission is to make quality assured awards in accordance with national standards within the national framework, creating opportunities for learners in further education and training to have their achievements recognised and providing access to systematic progression pathways.

Why choose the NCEF Fitness instructor Courses?

1. Recognition within Ireland

The National Council for Exercise & Fitness (NCEF) is an academic affiliate of the University of Limerick (UL) offering the only university accredited Health Fitness Instructor qualification in Ireland.   Accreditation assures our students that the programme is engaged in continuous review and improvement of its quality, that it meets documented standards, and that it is accountable for achieving what it sets out to do.

The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a mechanism for recognising all education and training in Ireland. The NFQ is a system of ten levels and is used to describe the Irish qualifications system. A key element of the NFQ is to improve access (entry) to education and training, transfer within and between education and training and progression within and between education and training.  Thus the NFQ aims to make the qualifications system easier to understand, thus facilitating recognition of qualifications both at home and abroad.

• The Year 1: Certificate in Exercise and Health Fitness (CEHF) is placed at Level 6 Minor

2. International Recognition

• Qualifications Standards:

The NFQ is significant for NCEF Graduates in the international context as qualifications (awards) in the NFQ are recognised in Ireland and abroad.  Therefore, the NCEF is the only fitness instructor provider in Ireland who’s qualifications are place on the EQF.

• The Year 1: Certificate in Exercise and Health Fitness (CEHF), is placed at Level 5

Some other training providers offer EQF Level 4 standard of qualification, but the CEHF is the only complete stand-alone fitness qualification in Ireland, accredited at EQF Level 5.

3. European Industry Standards

The NCEF is accredited by the European Health Fitness Association (EHFA).  EHFA is the EU approved industry standards setting body for the European health and fitness sector.  The EHFA Standards are aligned to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) to clearly identify the knowledge, skills and competencies required for fitness instructing occupations.

The Certificate in Exercise and Fitness (CEHF) is audited and aligned to the European Sectoral Industry standard, Exercise for Health Specialist (SQF Level 5). 

4. Occupational First Aid (OFA) – FETAC Level 5 – All students on the CEHF complete OFA as part of the course and are offered the Level 5 qualification.
5. UL/NCEF Pathway to B.Sc. in Exercise & Health Fitness: graduates of the CEHF can progress on a flexible learning pathway to a B.Sc.

As such we have a long and very strong history in the industry and our qualifications are well respected by employers around the globe. Some countries are now developing their own national standards – however, they may still vary considerably in quality and content from country to country which can make it very difficult for employers to ascertain the exact knowledge and skills achieved. ITEC qualifications walk graduates into employment the world over, due to the rigid quality assurance and high standards underpinning the qualifications. This is a passport to an International career. ITEC currently has centres registered in over 38 countries – in areas such as Africa, The Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, however, no matter where you study an ITEC qualification the syllabus, theoretical testing and practical assessment is always the same.

They currently have more than 40,000 certified fitness professionals in 107 countries. ACE certification and continuing education / training are among the most respected in the fitness industry. Since the beginning, our comprehensive programming has enabled fitness professionals to take advantage of the most current research available today. ACE publications, study materials and courses and have successfully prepared thousands of candidates to become certified including the ACE Personal Trainer/ Advanced Health + Fitness Specialist/ Group Fitness Instructor / Lifestyle + Weight Management Consultant.