What is REPs?

REPs stands for the New Zealand Register of Exercise Professionals.

On this page you will find:

An overview of REPs
Why registration is "more than a qualification"
The Benefits of using REPs
International Recognition of REPs
Other useful links on this web site

Latest News

Feburary 2009 Update: REPs in the news.

Click here for a pdf verion of an article that

appeared in FitnessLife's latest magazine.

Note: One point of clarification: The article implies that ALL levels of registration include insurance. This only applies to Personal Trainers (Contractor), as employees are covered by workplace (facility) insurance and do not need their own.

June 2009: Yellow Pages Banner

REPs banner in Yellow Pages Nationwside: REPs now has the banner add for all exercise and weight loss related searched in the NZ Yellow Pages.

July 2009: Free Email for Registered Professionals

From 1 July 2009 all Registered Exercise Professionals can use a FREE professional email address
@registered trainer.co.nz Ideal for personal trainers! To reserve your professional email address now, click here.

An overview of REPs

REPs operates a registration body for

exercise professionals, exercise facilities and

education providers in New Zealand

For members of the public and other health professionals, registration with REPs is the recognised standard to ensure safe and effective exercise advice. REPs operates a search function on this web site so you can find exercise facilities (search function found here) and/or exercise professionals (search function found here).

REPs is recognised by many organisations, including Fitness New Zealand (the industry association), and the International Confederation for Registers of Exercise Professionals (ICREPs). The vast majority of those working in the exercise industry are reputable, honest and professional. Unfortunately, like any industry, not all persons/facilities are up to the required standards or professionalism you may expect. Therefore, REPs registration gives independent verification that a registered individual/facility meets the industry standards on an ongoing basis.

Other Key Points:

The majority of the exercise industry (both facilities and exercise professionals) are registered with REPs, and almost all of the major fitness clubs and chains are registered with REPs.
Checking the registration status of an exercise facility such as a gym, fitness centre or PT studio is easy by selecting this link.
For more details on REPs see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, which includes details on how REPs, was formed and who sets the standards.
REPs is a non-profit body, operates independently, and is governed by a board of directors (details of board members can be found here).

More than a qualification

Registration is like an annual warrant of fitness.

Ongoing Education is important! Registration with REPs is far more than just a verification of an initial qualification, which is a one off event (like sitting a test for a drivers licence). Registration is an annual process (more like a Warrant of Fitness for a car), meaning a Registered Exercise Professionals knowledge is up to date, and also bound by a Code of Conduct.

A person registering with REPs must meet three criteria, and continue to meet them each year when they re-register:

Initial Qualifications ensuring they are competent to undertake their role
Ongoing education to ensure they keep up to date (including first aid and/or CPR)
Follow the REPs Code of Conduct to protect all involved

A person who does not meet the REPs standards, or is deemed unsuitable to continue to work in the industry, will not be accepted by REPs for (re)registration.

For more details on the difference between registration (an annual process) and qualification (a one off process), please see this page.

Benefits of using REPs

REPs regisation provides benefits for the public,

exercise professinals/facilities and others

Benefits for Members of the Public

If you are wanting to get exercise advice, or simply doing an exercise class, ensuring you are using the services of a REPs Registered Exercise Professional or visiting a REPs Registered Exercise Facility, has many benefits.

Most importantly, REPs is the independent verification that the exercise professional is suitable to give the advice or instruct a group exercise/aerobics class.
Like most professional registration bodies, individuals registered with REPs agree to follow the industry Code of Ethical Practice (a copy of the REPs Code of Ethical Practice can be found here).
REPs also operates a complaints system for any person that wishes to complain about a registered trainer or registered facility. Only persons who are deemed as suitable by REPs are able to continue to annually re-register, giving you confidence when dealing with a REPs registered trainer. Details of how to complain about anyone in the fitness/exercise industry may be found here on the FitnessNZ web site.

Benefits of Registering as an Exercise Professional

Registration is the industry standard employers expect, and provides many additional benefits

REPs registration is the industry standard, and the majority of exercise facilities require any person based at their facility to be registered with REPs at the appropriate level (for more about registration levels see here). In effect REPs registration is your annual "licence to work" in the exercise industry.

Registration with REPs provides instant recognition both in New Zealand and in over 30 other countries (through ICREPs).

In addition, REPs registration provides many benefits to those who register, including:

The ability to work at a REPs Registered Exercise Facility (The majority of facilites in New Zealand will only employ REPs Registered Exercise Professionals).
Personal Trainers (PTs) have public liability and professional indemnity insurance included with registration (offering peace of mind and protection for the trainer, their clients, and any facility they may use)
REPs operates an online search engine for PTs, as well as a profile/picture for each trainer, and an easy email link for members of the public wishing to enquire about using a PTs services
Information on key industry happenings and events through regular communications
Discounts on ongoing education courses run by dozens of organisations
50% discount at the National Conference GetNZ Active
50% discount at BusinessGrow
Free professional email address @registeredtrainer.co.nz (more info here)
Access to products and services and special rates (eg Telecom)
Access to all Network Australia publications in electronic format (including magazine and resources for personal trainers and group exercise instructors), valued NZ $150. This also provides access to the FILEX conference in Sydney at members' rates (saving over $100).

Benefits to Registered Exercise Facilities

REPs is the recognised standard for exercise facilities in New Zealand, and enables quality facilities to provide the clear message to the public that all their staff meet the industry standards.

REPs is also the quality mark that is promoted to health agencies (such as the Ministry of Health and ACC) as it provides a simple way for related health professionals to quickly verify if a facility ensures all its staff are both suitably trained, and keep this training up to date.

REPs also provides resources and support for facilities to market their REPs registration. For more details on this please contact REPs.

Benefits for education providers

Students now look for REPs registration

when choosing a course

The majority of exercise education providers in New Zealand register with REPs:

Education providers that provide initial training (ie full length courses to qualify individuals to work in the industry) can register with REPs, and by doing this in effect makes their qualifications portable to over 30 countries, through the REPs portability agreement through ICREPs (see below for international links). Without this, graduates of courses in New Zealand are not recognised overseas, regardless of their course origin.
In addition given that the large majority of the major employers in the industry only use registered exercise professionals, having a course registered with REPs makes the education providers graduates more recognised, and employable.
REPs provide a searchable database for potential students, with a very clear message that the best way to gain employment in the industry is first ensuring that the course is registered with REPs.
Education providers providing ongoing education may apply to REPs for Continuing Education Credits (CECs) that recognises the value the course has in up skilling individuals working in the industry. Individuals registering with REPs are required to complete 30 CECs each year. REPs also market these courses to all REPs registered individuals via the web site, and regular emails.

Education providers may find more useful information on the education providers information page.

International Recognition

REPs is recognised by the International Confederation of Register for Exercise Professionals (ICREPs).

Through ICREPs, registration with REPs NZ is recognised in over 30 countries, including the UK, Australia, and most of Europe. REPs NZ also has a partnership with the Asian Academy of Sport and Fitness Professionals (AASFP) in Asia.