Best practice information

Registration systems have been established successfully in many countries, most often through collaboration between training providers, employers, and industry organisations. This page summarises the collective experience of those systems and provides guidance for organisations considering establishing a national register.

First steps

Organisations interested in establishing a register should first engage with key stakeholders across the industry. This may include training providers, employers, and professional associations.

Although these groups may also play roles within the industry, steps should be taken early to ensure the register is established with independence wherever possible.

A useful early question to explore is whether there is demand for individuals delivering exercise services to be part of the profession. If the answer is yes, further consultation can begin to assess the need for a national registration system and how it would operate.

Why do it?

Merits & benefits

Once the purpose of registration has been discussed, it is important to consider the benefits it provides.

Registration supports global recognition of exercise professionals, making it easier for professionals to demonstrate their credentials and for employers to recognise qualifications across borders.

It also benefits the public by ensuring exercise professionals:

• Are appropriately qualified and competent
• Maintain and update their skills through continuing professional development
• Meet important national requirements (such as first aid or CPR)
• Follow an industry code of ethical conduct

Registration also provides:

• A clear reference point for governments and regulators when addressing the exercise profession
• A mechanism for communicating directly with professionals
• Opportunities to share important updates and industry developments

Finally, registration can support the wider development of related professions and services within the industry.

Who drives setting up a register?

While an individual or organisation may initiate the process, establishing a register requires broad industry engagement and support.

Key stakeholders typically include training providers, employers, and exercise professionals themselves. Early consultation helps ensure that the register reflects the needs of the profession and gains industry credibility.

Where training providers or commercial organisations are involved, steps should be taken to ensure the register operates independently from those entities.

Key criteria the register should meet

A national register should demonstrate:

• A recognised non-profit legal structure
• Independence from training providers and commercial interests
• Strong industry support from employers, professionals, and education providers
• Governance by individuals representing key sectors of the exercise profession
• Clear and transparent processes for managing registration

Where training providers are involved, they may provide administrative support, but the register itself should remain operationally independent.

Developing national standards

An essential component of any registration system is a set of professional standards against which qualifications and practitioners can be assessed.

In many countries this may align with a national qualifications framework. Where such frameworks do not exist, standards may need to be developed by the industry.

ICREPs provides Global Template Standards that can be used as a starting point when establishing national standards.

Registration vs qualifications

Registration is different from qualification accreditation.

A qualification confirms that an individual has completed a course of study. Registration confirms that the individual is recognised by the profession as competent to practise.

A register typically ensures that professionals:

• Meet minimum qualification requirements
• Maintain valid first aid or CPR certification where required
• Commit to continuing professional development
• Agree to abide by a code of ethical conduct

In many countries, professionals choose to join the register voluntarily to demonstrate professional credibility.

Expert help

ICREPs recognises that establishing a national register can be complex.

Where appropriate, organisations can seek guidance from experienced members of the ICREPs network who have previously established national registration systems.

Resources available to ICREPs members

Organisations establishing a register can access additional resources through ICREPs membership (including provisional membership).

These resources support both the establishment and ongoing operation of national registers.

Examples include:

• Global Template Standards – a framework used by many national registers as a starting point when developing standards
• Registration Categories – examples of how professional roles may be structured within a register, such as gym instructors, group exercise instructors, and personal trainers.

Members may also receive guidance from experienced ICREPs members on topics such as:

• Developing qualification processes
• Establishing governance structures
• Managing operational processes
• Engaging with health sector partners

Additional resources and guidance are available through the ICREPs network to support organisations at each stage of development.