Certain professions require more than a post-secondary credential before graduates can launch successful careers. For such industries, it is beneficial to attend a program that will allow you to either take the needed examinations through the offering or prepare you to take these examinations through an external organization. One such industry is fitness and health promotion.

At Centennial College, students who attend the Fitness and Health Promotion program complete their studies in two years and graduates with an Ontario College Diploma. However, to become reputable industry professionals, students must become certified personal trainers according to the CSEP-CPT requirements. canfitpro is the largest provider of education in the Canadian fitness industry. Founded in 1993, canfitpro delivers accessible, quality education, certifications, conferences, trade shows, and membership services. canfitpro's over 100,000 members include some of the world's finest fitness professionals, health club operators, industry suppliers, and fitness consumers. This program's students learn course material related to the canfitpro Personal Training Specialist certification.

How exactly does this fitness training program at Centennial College prepare students?

Admission Requirements: To ensure that students are serious about assisting individuals and groups to reach their highest potential for overall well being, there are admission requirements that they must meet. Academically, applicants are required to have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older); English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission; and one Science Grade 11 or 12, C or U (minimum grade requirement) physics, Chemistry, Biology or Exercise Science or take a Centennial College Science Skills Assessment for Admission.

Curriculum: The topics in this program include anatomy and physiology, fitness assessment, leadership skills, injury management, nutrition, fitness marketing, health promotion, computer skills and cross cultural awareness. Additionally, students become adept in the most current functional-fitness training principles.

Facilities: It is important to note that students from this program are trained from Centennial College's Progress Campus. Aside from being the largest of the institution's locations, this campus houses the recently constructed Athletic and Wellness Center. It is a state-of-the-art facility with a 65,000-square foot gymnasium, an 80-meter indoor track, a climbing wall, a Wellness Treatment Centre, a cardio-fitness area with flat screen televisions, locker rooms and aerobic studios. As a result, some of the classes in this program take place in the Centre.

Hands-On Training: In the Athletic and Wellness Centre, students have the opportunity for Inter-professional student liaisons with other programs (for example, Police Foundations, Pre-service Fire and Paramedic students) to assist in the attainment of those programs' students' fitness assessment goals. Meanwhile, industry partnerships provide supervised field placement opportunities in the fitness industry.