Chartered Fellow/Member of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity
- Regulators
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- Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity
- Nations
- United Kingdom
- Sectors
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- Other
Regulatory or professional bodies
Chartered body
- Regulatory authority
- Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity
- Address
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SportPark
Loughborough University
3 Oakwood Drive
Loughborough
LE11 3QF - Email address
- info@cimspa.co.uk
- Website
- https://www.cimspa.co.uk/
- Phone number
- +44 (0)3438 360 200
Regulation
Regulation summary
The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) is the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector. CIMSPA is committed to supporting, developing and enabling the sector’s professionals and organisations to succeed and, as a result, inspire the nation to become more active.
CIMSPA is the only professional body in the UK that provides chartered status for the sport and physical sector. Becoming a CIMSPA member signals an individual’s dedication to best practice and continued development.
There are eight routes to membership:
Full Voting Members
Practitioners - For assistant swimming teachers, coaches, coaching assistants, core group exercise instructors, gym instructors, health navigators, lifeguards, personal trainers, pilates based matwork instructors, pool plant operatives, qigong for health and wellbeing instructors, recreation assistants, swimming teachers and tai chi for health and wellbeing instructors.
Managers and Leaders – For entry, general and senior managers
People Developers – Chartered Assessor, Chartered Coach Developer
CIMSPA Practitioner, Manager and Leader, and People Developer members are issued with professional status which provides confirmation and confidence to their employers, colleagues, clients and the public that they have achieved the required qualifications and CPD to excel in their role.
Companion – Awarded by CIMSPA’s Board of Trustees to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the achievement of the Objects of the Institute.
Non-Voting Members
Associate – For those who are:
• in an occupation not eligible to be issued a professional status
• aspiring to an occupation that can be issued a professional status but have not yet met the entry criteria for the full occupation
• moving out of a position of delivery, administration, development, management, research or academia and have previously held a professional status (retired members)
Student – For those who are working towards a CIMSPA-endorsed qualification
Graduate - For those who have a CIMSPA-endorsed degree
Affiliate – For those who have an interest in the sport and physical activity sector but do not hold a professionally-recognised qualification.
All members are required to adhere to the CIMSPA Member Code of Conduct: https://www.cimspa.co.uk/about-cimspa/policy-guidance-codes/membership-policy/code-of-conduct-home/
Regulation type
Reserved activities
None - restrictions apply to use of title only
Protected titles
CIMSPA awards postnominals which can only be used by full voting members who meet and maintain the requirements of the relevant membership category. These postnominals are as follows:
• MCIMSPA for a Member;
• FCIMSPA for a Fellow;
• CCIMSPA for a Companion;
• MCIMSPA (Chartered) for a Chartered Member;
• FCIMSPA (Chartered) for a Chartered Fellow.
- More about regulated activities and titles
- https://www.cimspa.co.uk/join-us/membership-for-individuals/
Qualifications and experience
New professionals
- Routes to qualification
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A full list of professional standards and routes to membership can be found on CIMSPA’s website and a full list of endorsed qualifications and degrees can be found on the CIMSPA Careers Hub.
In general, Practitioner members are required to hold a relevant occupational qualification certificate issued by a recognised awarding organisation. If this is older than five years, evidence of CPD completed within the last five years is required. However, this differs slightly for some membership categories so please check the CIMSPA website for further details.
The requirements for Manager and Leader members and People Developer members differ depending on the level of occupational scope, but may include the submission of a CV and the name of a referee, along with details of endorsed qualifications which meet the relevant professional standard, evidence of published academic research or, depending on the length of experience or the age of the endorsed qualification, evidence of CPD completed.
If a qualification has not been mapped to the industry professional standards, an individual holding that qualification may submit their portfolio of evidence for a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process, for further information please email info@cimspa.co.uk. Awarding Organisations or Training Provider Partners who wish to submit one of their qualifications for mapping and endorsement can find out more here: https://www.cimspa.co.uk/join-us/partnership-for-organisations/training-provider/
Associates must normally hold a qualification certificate issued by a recognised awarding organisation. For alternative qualifications additional evidence may be required, such as a signed letter of support or CV. Full information can be found on the CIMSPA website
Student or Graduate members must submit details of their course and education provider. Graduates must hold a CIMSPA-endorsed higher education qualification or degree certificate
- More about qualification
- https://careers.cimspa.co.uk/train-for-sport-and-physical-activity/training/
Professionals from outside the UK
- Recognition for professionals outside the UK
- Some - qualifications from some countries may be recognised, but professionals from other countries will have to re-qualify
- Summary of routes
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CIMSPA has an agreement with the European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS), the Register of Exercise Professionals for Ireland, and the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals (ICREPS). As such CIMSPA can accept a membership of EREPS or the Register of Exercise Professionals for Ireland and/or an authorised letter of portability from these organisations provided it is transferrable to the individual’s chosen CIMSPA membership category. As ICREPS is a membership body, membership and / or an authorised letter of portability needs to be from a registration body which is an ICREPS member.
For qualifications completed in a country outside of EREPS, REPS Ireland or ICREPS’ jurisdiction, further support can be provided upon submission of a translated copy of the qualifications and details of the training the applicant holds confirming the country of issue.
Registration
- Registration requirements
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Individuals who meet the requirements for membership should apply online, and will be required to pay the relevant annual membership fee which varies depending on the membership category. Members are required to agree to abide by the CIMSPA Member Code of Conduct. Membership can be maintained by paying the annual membership fee, and all members are required to maintain or expand their skills, knowledge and expertise through undertaking sufficient relevant continuous professional development (CPD) each year. Details of CIMSPA’s CPD Policy can be found here: https://www.cimspa.co.uk/education-training/education-policy/education-policies/cimspa-cpd-policy-home/
Members within certain occupations under the Practitioner, Manager and Leader, and People Developer membership categories can also progress to Chartered member, Fellow or Chartered Fellow membership.
Chartered status is a mark of distinction awarded to those who meet the sector standards with qualifications and experience that underpin their multiple areas of expertise and outstanding competencies. A Chartered member will have demonstrated true excellence, innovation and impact within their field. Individuals can only be issued with a level of Chartered status upon completion of the Chartered assessment process.
- More about registration
- https://www.cimspa.co.uk/chartered-status/
Legislation
- Title of relevant act or charter
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The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity exists by incorporation under Royal Charter.
- Website link to legislation
- https://www.cimspa.co.uk/about/governance/about-cimspa-cimspa-governance-royal-charter-statutes/