Learn More - American Council on Exercise

ARE THERE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS IN EUROPE?Just as the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) sets standards for certification programsin the United States, the European Health & Fitness Association (EHFA) sets standards throughout Europe.Using a standards council comprised of industry experts, employers, academics and practitionersfrom across Europe, the nonprofit promotes best practices at nearly 10,000health and fitness clubs in 27 European countries.In 2012, ACEPersonal TrainersIn 2012, ACE Personal Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors becameand Group Fitnessthe first fitness professionals certified within the United States to beInstructors became the firstrecognized as meeting standards of practice in Europe.fitness professionals certifiedwithin the United States to beThe designation means ACE-certified Personal Trainers and Grouprecognized as meetingFitness Instructors are eligible to join the European Register of Exercisestandards of practiceProfessionals (EREPS), an inventory that health and fitness clubsin Europe.reference during the hiring process.ACE-certified Personal Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors with at leastone year of recorded experience can join EREPS with full member status, while newly certified ACEprofessionals are granted provisional member status for their first year of practice.To learn more about applying for EREPS membership, visit www.EREPS.eu.com.About EREPSEREPS operates as an independent body for the registration of all instructors, trainers andteachers working in the fitness industry in Europe.Through its quality assurance process, the organization recognizes qualified professionalswith standards specified in the European QualificationFramework (EQF).The EQF classifies specific occupations using a system of levels thatidentifies their skills, practical knowledge and competences, with Level2 fitness professionals having the most basic knowledge and Level 5having the most advanced.ACE-certified Personal Trainers have been classified as EQF Level 4professionals, and ACE-certified Group Fitness Instructors havebeen classified as EQF Level 3.All ERPS member countries use the EQF as a commonreference point for their own national qualificationframeworks.