Helping others achieve a healthy lifestyle.

The two-year Fitness and Health Promotion Ontario College Diploma program prepares you to perform the roles and responsibilities of fitness and health consultants who plan, promote and deliver a wide variety of services. These include activity and educational programs that enhance the health, fitness and well-being of individuals and groups in diverse settings.

In this program, you learn the skills and knowledge to live a fit and healthy lifestyle, which, in turn, allows you to help others achieve their own health and lifestyle goals. You prepare to meet the demands of an evolving, multi-dimensional market for fitness, wellness and health promotion service provision.

Field placements in the program provide industry experience. These varied placements allow you to apply the skills and knowledge gained in classes to a workplace setting, as well as gain exposure to potential employers and add to your overall marketability and employability after graduation.

This program prepares you to challenge certification exams in group fitness and personal training including those offered by canfitpro™ and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). You are also prepared to pursue other certifications in group fitness and personal training nationally and internationally.

Upon graduating, you may find employment in the fitness industry in a variety of settings. These may include:

• fitness and health clubs (both corporately or privately owned)
• non-profit and community organizations
• public, municipal or institutional fitness and recreation centres
• corporate employer fitness facilities, private fitness studios
• sports specialty training facilities and camps
• allied health and alternative health clinics

Additionally, you may choose to become a consultant or business entrepreneur offering private in-person or online personal training and coaching services.

Success Factors

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Believe in the value of an active and healthy lifestyle.
• Interested in advocating other`s physical activity and wellness.
• Enjoy learning about the human body and how it works.
• Have strong interpersonal and personal management skills or wish to develop those skills.
• Are comfortable speaking in front of small and medium-sized groups or wish to develop those skills.

Careers

Graduates may find employment as personal trainers, fitness instructors, program coordinators, activity coordinators, exercise therapists, exercise specialists, rehabilitation assistants, health promoters. In addition, graduates may choose to become consultants or business entrepreneurs.

Pathways

Please note: There may be more pathways available for this program than are listed here. Please use our Pathways search tool to see every option.

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Conduct an assessment of the physical fitness, activity level and lifestyle of the client using standardized protocols, to build an individualized exercise program.
2. Develop, implement and evaluate safe training programs grounded in fundamentals of anatomy, bio-mechanics, cardiorespiratory physiology, and nutrition to support the fitness and wellness goals of clients.
3. Instruct individual clients and groups in the correct techniques for executing fitness and training programs to achieve results that meet their goals for fitness, active living, and wellness.
4. Select and apply interview tools and coaching strategies that will enable clients and groups improve their fitness, and wellness in sustainable ways.
5. Develop business plans for a fitness and/or training business organization to ensure sustainability and viability while mitigating risks.
6. Support community health promotion strategies for active healthy living in the general population.
7. Establish and maintain positive working relationships with clients, staff, allied health professionals and volunteers in the delivery of programs, activities, and the use of facilities.
8. Provide positive reinforcement to empower clients and help them sustain their efforts.
9. Develop plans and implement strategies for ongoing professional growth and development.
10. Communicate information persuasively and accurately in oral, written, and other media formats.
11. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Application Information

FITNESS AND HEALTH PROMOTION
Program Code 3010X01FWO

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro

Program Resources

Active participation in lab components is an expected part of this program.

Courses are delivered in a variety of formats including face-to-face in a classroom, hybrid (combination of classroom and online learning) and online. Students participate in all three types of learning. Students also participate in laboratory and field placement learning activities. Mandatory field placements and course-related projects may be scheduled outside of regular class hours.

Part-time study is available and customized delivery of program components may be arranged.

Police Records Check Documentation:
Though not an admission requirement, applicants must note important information listed below regarding Police Records Check program requirements.

Students must provide the College with a current Police Records Check (PRC) prior to the deadline identified by the department and students are responsible for any associated costs. If this documentation in not submitted on time, students may not be placed and registration in the program will be jeopardized. If you register in the program without a clear PRC and as a result are unable to participate in placement, you will not be able to graduate and will be asked to withdraw.

Field Placement Eligibility:
Field placements occur in first and second year of the program.

Hospital and Field Placements/Outreach require Health and Safety, WHMIS and OWHSA training. There are additional costs associated with training that should be anticipated by students which are not covered by tuition fees.

To be eligible for placement, you must submit proof of Standard First Aid certification, CPR/AED level C, PRC, and complete immunizations (if required by the placement agency) through ParaMed and pay associated costs. ParaMed services are the third-party provider who collects all field placement documentation for the School of Health and Community Studies.