The fitness diploma (exercise specialist) learning programme provides an exciting balance of theory and practice to enable graduates to work as personal trainers and exercise specialist trainers who are able to train apparently healthy special populations.  This includes pregnant clients, children and adolescents as well older adults and overweight clients.  Graduates are able to work in the health and fitness industry nationally and internationally.  The programme ensures that students have sufficient field-based experiential learning to achieve their qualification.  If they add other specialisation modules, they can broaden their scope to include Pilates Instructor or Sport Coaching.  Through the eta process of personalised teaching and exposure to plenty of physical activity and sport, students are able to successfully achieve their assessment criteria.  A qualifying student is able to:

• Design, implement and teach physical activity programmes for healthy special populations
• screen, assess and motivate clients
• provide advice on wellness and nutrition
• provide advice on stress management and lifestyle planning
• demonstrate communication and lifestyle counselling skills
• demonstrate business and administration skills to run their own fitness business or unit

specialisations
All graduates qualify as personal trainers.  Students can also add on additional skills and choose any of the specialisation modules on offer during their course with eta, at an extra cost.  These options include aerobic, step and tone classes to music, coaching sport (cricket, football, hockey, netball or rugby, beginner to intermediate level), indoor cycle classes to music, massage for sport and fitness, nutrition for performance, pilates mat, vinyasa yoga level one.    In second year, the course includes exercise programme design for pregnant clients, children and youth as well as older adults and over weight clients.  Students can add sport conditioning to this as well and complete this later.

course modules first year 1. life skills for fitness professionals 2. exercise science 3. applied kinesiology and training methods 4. screening, assessment and programme design 5. lead and instruct individuals or groups (personal training) 6. special needs in fitness 7. nutrition and wellness 8. health and safety 9. business administration and management second year 1. lifestyle coaching 2. exercise science, nutrition and programme design for pregnancy 3. exercise science, nutrition and programme design for children 4. exercise science, nutrition and programme design for older adults and increased risk 5. common Injuries 6. public speaking