Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

1) Definitions

  • OFC - Ontario Fitness Council
  • NFLA - National Fitness Leadership Alliance
  • TFL - Trainer of Fitness Leaders
  • PFT - Personal Fitness Trainer

 

2) What are the Steps to Register with the Ontario Fitness Council?
 

Meet or exceed Fitness Theory Standards through one of the following:

  • OFC Theory Exam Passed 80% passing grade- Proctored by Registered TFL - Fee charged per attempt.
  • Approved TFL Business Member PFT course and applicable exams passed
  • Theory Course Completed + Exam Passed 80% passing grade(3 attempts - 1 fee) delivered and proctored by OFC Registered TFL OR College Health and Fitness Diploma, approved private career college curriculum, technical institute, or secondary school by OFC Registered TFL representative.
  • Meet or Exceed TFL pre requisite requirement #1 - CLICK HERE


3) I have proof that I meet Fitness Theory Requirements, what is my next step?

You must complete a specialty certification through one of the following:

  • Registered OFC TFL certification course.
  • Ontario College Health and Fitness Diploma or University Degree in Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology or other health and fitness related degree or approved private career college, technical institute, or secondary school certificate that meets or exceeds performance standards for applicable certification category.
  • Through an OFC TFL Business Member certification.


4) I meet Requirements for steps 1 and 2 (above), what is next?

Proof of Current Certification in Standard First Aid and CPR through one of the following – CLICK HERE then scroll down to First Aid/CPR Requirements

5) I have completed steps 1 through 3, what is next?

Choose the appropriate Registration Category adhering to the following:

  • Silver – 1 Recognized Certification (ie. Group Fitness OR Pilates Fitness)
  • Gold – 2 or more Recognized Certifications (ie. Group Fitness AND Aqua Fitness)
  • Platinum – Registered Trainer of Fitness Leaders.  CLICK HERE for more information, and how to apply.


6) These Steps make sense, but what is the difference between a Certified Leader/Trainer and a Registered Fitness and Health Professional?

The Ontario Fitness Council is the exclusive provider in Ontario of the National Fitness Leadership Alliance (NFLA) Performance Standards.  Those standards are among the highest in Canada for the credentialing of Fitness Professionals.  Certain certifications are transferable to other provincial NFLA organizations (see your specific Scope of Practice CLICK HERE for details) .This means that as an OFC Registered Fitness Professional, you are part of the Fitness Practitioners Association of Ontario with a, professional recognized and highly valued credential.

Benefits of becoming a Registered Trainer and Fitness and Health Professional:
Certified Recognition in a possible 7 Registration Categories. Members can have up to 7 specialty certifications and only pay one registration fee to include all.

  • Group Fitness (various sub scopes of practice and learning objectives so you can specialize in your professional practice)
  • Yoga Fitness (for Yoga Fitness Trainers and Yoga Teachers - see teacher guidelines CLICK HERE)
  • Pilates Fitness (for Pilates Fitness Trainers and Pilates Teachers - see teacher guidelines CLICK HERE)
  • Aqua Fitness
  • Older Adult Fitness
  • Resistance Trainer
  • Personal Fitness Trainer

Automatic 2 million General Commercial Liability Insurance Option for All Members included in Registration Fees. 2 million Professional Liability Insurance Option for All Members included in Registration Fees (coming soon) As a member of the Fitness Practitioners Association of Ontario, you, along with your fellow members, pay into a group policy which allows for excellent coverage at a very low cost per member.


(Note: the OFC currently has 2 options available for members – 1. Level 1 Registration Includes Insurance.  2. Level 2 Does Not due to circumstances where a member only provides instruction or training under an Employer/Corporate Insurance Policy. We highly recommend ALL members choose either general commercial liability insurance or professional liability insurance with your registration regardless of what you may be privileged to as an employee. Please Read This Information Carefully).

Fitness Leader Certifications:  Any For-Profit Company or Organization can create/brand/sell a Fitness Leader Certification.  In most cases, these certifications are used strictly as Continuing Education Credits, and are approved by most NFLA organizations for registered renewal criteria.  Certain high quality For-Profit Certifications in Canada have OFC TFL Business member status and have met or exceeded performance standards for 1 or more of their certifications.  These select companies/organizations adhere to OFC/Fitness Practitioners Association of Ontario Performance Standards. These TFL Business Members are specialized in the certification and re-certification process, offer professional conferences, educational newsletters, more advanced training and course offerings, plus additional support for the association and it’s members.

7) What is the Registered Fitness and Health Professional Directory?


This is a “hub” for all general fitness practitioners as well as our highly educated TFL’s and TFL Business Members. Members can use this area to self promote, network, post events, join events, cross promote. This registration directory allows members to automatically renew online to save valuable time and not to mention, paper. All professional skills, certificates, degrees and additional education can be placed in your individual profile. Employers or potential clients can search the specific member to inquire about specific skill sets, training specialties, professional practices and if the member is current, certified, registered and insured.


CLICK HERE to Search for a Fitness Professional

 

8) How does the OFC promote it’s registered members?


OFC members are recognized as meeting or exceeding the highest performance standards in their specific category. This includes our Individual TFL’s and TFL Business Members who are also members.  TFL’s are representatives of the OFC that are called on to deliver the  most detailed and regulated certifications in the province. We are an association of equals. All general fitness practitioners are professionals within their field.

The registration categories are set in place to regulate the scopes of practice for all certified members. The industry has been overrun as of late by large corporate companies who attempt to offer “certifications” based solely on turning a profit. This leads to poorly delivered certifications,  no regulations, and in most cases will leave an individual under qualified resulting in less clients or less employment. If an OFC member is specialized in Group Fitness Training, the member has met a level of quality certification and professionalism and delivers his or her trade based on a specific scope of practice.  On the other hand, a Personal Fitness Trainer, is placed in the same general practitioner level, but has a different specialty and targets a different market.

Each member has to be certified through an approved process and is strictly regulated to the scope of practice attached. In an economic downturn, we more than ever, need to focus on what we are certified to do. Each specific registration category represents valued practitioners who specialize in what they are certified in. The Fitness Practitioners Associations mandate is to support the members, both general and business, promote uniformity, professionalism, regulation, and to increase the overall health, awareness and activity levels for Ontarians and Canadians.

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