V1.1
Professional standards library
Employer-led standards for every job role in sport and physical activity.
This library contains full versions of CIMSPA professional standards.
Education Partners can find out about the latest guidance on the CIMSPA Endorsement process, as well as guidance documents, examples of mapping to the professional standards, a template scheme of work and other information in the Partner Endorsement Guide.
Have your say on our professional standards and let us know your comments, suggestions, or feedback about them.
Occupational professional standards
The role of a Personal Trainer is to coach clients (on a one-to-one and small group basis) towards their health and fitness goals through the planning and delivery of creative and personalised exercise programmes and instruction, nutritional advice and overall lifestyle management.
Personal Trainer professional standard
01/02/2018
Personal Trainer – mapping template
23/09/2024
V1.5
The role of the Gym Instructor is to engage, facilitate, educate and support clients in the gym environment.
Gym Instructor professional standard
18/02/2018
V1.1
Gym Instructor - mapping template
23/09/2024
V2.1
A Coach will improve a participant’s experience of sport and physical activity by providing specialised support and guidance aligned to their individual needs.
Coach professional standard
01/06/2018
V1.0
Coach - mapping template
23/09/2024
V3.1
Aspiring Managers are individuals employed in the sport and physical activity sector who do not have management experience or responsibilities in their current role who have aspirations to fulfil management (team leader/coordinator/supervisor) responsibilities in the future.
Aspiring Manager professional standard
18/06/2018
V1.1
Aspiring Manager - mapping template
23/09/2024
V2.1
Entry Managers are employed in the sport and physical activity sector as individuals operating in a first-line management position, who are able to work independently under some supervision and direction.
Entry Manager professional standard
01/06/2019
V1.1
Entry Manager - mapping template
23/09/2024
V2.1
General Managers are individuals employed in the sport and physical activity sector who are experienced managers.
General Manager professional standard
01/06/2019
V1.1
General Manager - mapping template
23/09/2024
V2.1
The role of the Senior Manager is to lead, plan and implement initiatives to achieve organisations strategic priorities.
Senior Manager professional standard
01/02/2022
V1.0
Senior Manager - mapping template
23/09/2024
V2.1
The role of the Swimming Teacher is to plan, deliver and evaluate a series of swimming lessons providing a safe learning environment.
Swimming Teacher professional standard
01/10/2017
V1.0
Swimming Teacher - mapping template
24/09/2024
V2.1
The role of the Lifeguard is to facilitate a safe aquatic environment to enable users to participate in a range of aquatic activities.
Lifeguard professional standard
01/10/2017
V1.1
Lifeguard - mapping template
24/09/2024
V2.1
A Coaching Assistant will improve a participant’s experience of sport and physical activity by supporting a coach to provide specialised support and guidance aligned to their individual needs.
Coaching Assistant professional standard
01/06/2018
V1.0
Coaching Assistant - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
The role of the Recreation Assistant is to support, enhance and deliver the operations of a leisure facility. These operations typically service sport and physical activities across a facility, for example: swimming pools, water slides, saunas, activity areas and sports pitches.
Recreation Assistant professional standard
01/10/2017
V1.0
Recreation Assistant - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
The role of a Pool Plant Operative is to manage the pool plant and surrounding amenities. Ensuring a safe working environment is regularly maintained and all legal requirements are adhered to.
Pool Plant Operative professional standard
01/02/2019
V1.0
Pool Plant Operative - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
The primary role of the assessor is to assess candidates’ performance and/or related knowledge in a range of tasks and to ensure that the competence and/or knowledge demonstrated meets the required standards and learning objectives.
Assessor professional standard
01/03/2021
V1.0
Assessor - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
The role of the Assistant Swimming Teacher is to provide a fantastic experience to people learning to swim by delivering fun, safe and inclusive swimming activities.
Assistant Swimming Teacher professional standard
01/02/2019
V1.0
Assistant Swimming Teacher - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
Coach developers are expert support practitioners who plan for, implement, and sustain strategies and interventions in support of skilled performance in sport coaching.
Coach Developer professional standard
01/03/2021
V1.0
Coach Developer - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
The role of the Strength and Conditioning Trainer is to coach, engage, facilitate, educate and support participants in multiple training environments, including but not limited to: weight training facilities, sports halls, health and fitness gym facilities and outdoor spaces.
Strength and Conditioning Trainer professional standard
01/01/2019
V1.0
Strength and Conditioning Trainer - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
The Health Navigator Professional Standard seeks to support frontline employees within the sport and physical activity industries as they engage, signpost and support new or returning participants to physical activity or other lifestyle interventions.
Health Navigator professional standard
19/09/2019
V1.0
Health Navigator - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
Core Group Exercise Instructors are fitness professionals who teach, lead, and motivate groups of individuals through intentionally-designed, pre-choreographed exercise classes.
Core Group Exercise Instructor professional standard
01/10/2017
V1.0
Core Group Exercise Instructor - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
A Graduate Strength and Conditioning Coach will improve a participant’s experience of sport and physical activity by providing specialised support and guidance aligned to their individual needs.
Graduate Strength and Conditioning Coach professional standard
01/09/2019
V1.2
Graduate Strength and Conditioning Coach - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
A Tutor will provide support and high-quality education programmes to learners to enable them to achieve the intended outcome of completing the programme/course.
Tutor professional standard
07/07/2022
V1.0
Tutor - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
The role of the Pilates based matwork instructor is to engage, facilitate, educate, and support clients within Pilates classes.
Pilates Based Matwork Instructor professional standard
15/02/2023
V1.0
Pilates Based Matwork Instructor mapping template
15/02/2023
V1.1
Population specialism professional standards
This professional standard outlines the knowledge and skills, required by practitioners involved in the support and delivery of physical activity, exercise and behaviour change for adults who are at high(er) risk of developing or living with one or more long term conditions.
Working with People with Long Term Conditions (LTC) professional standard
01/02/2019
V1.0
Working with People with Long Term Conditions (LTC) - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
This Population Specialism supports inactive individuals and groups; it aims to enable front line delivery of physical activity with the tools to be able to engage the most inactive people in society and change their inactive behaviour.
Working with Inactive People professional standard
01/05/2019
V1.0
Working with Inactive People - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
This Population Specialism supports an individual who is working with the following people:
- Core population: children aged 5–18.
- Specialist population: primary age 5–11, secondary age: 11–18.
Working with Children professional standard
01/06/2018
V1.0
Working with Children - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
This Population Specialism supports an individual who is working with the following people:
- Core population: children aged 0-5 years.
Working with Children 0-5 years professional standard
01/06/2018
V1.0
Working with Children 0-5 years - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
This Population Specialism supports antenatal and postnatal individuals and groups:
- Core population: antenatal and postnatal clients
Working with Antenatal and Postnatal Clients professional standard
31/05/2023
V1.1
Working with Antenatal and Postnatal Clients - mapping template
16/06/2023
V1.2
Working with Women and Girls - professional standard
17/10/2023
V1.1
Working with Women and Girls - mapping template
17/10/2023
V1.1
This Population Specialism supports an individual who is seeking to take a culturally and ethnically diverse approach in their coaching and delivery, thereby directly tackling this issue in their environment or setup.
Working with Culturally and Ethnically Diverse Communities professional standard
05/06/2024
V1.0
Working with Culturally and Ethnically Diverse Communities - mapping template
25/06/2024
V1.0
This Population Specialism supports an individual who is working with the following people:
- Core population: disabled people
Working Inclusively - (Working with Disabled People) professional standard
05/06/2024
V1.0
Working Inclusively - (Working with Disabled People) - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
Environment specialism professional standards
This Environment Specialism supports an individual who is working and engaging within the local community.
Working in the Community Environment professional standard
01/07/2019
V1.0
Working in the Community Environment - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
This Environment Specialism supports an individual who is working within the school environment (out of curriculum).
Working in the School Environment (Out of Curriculum) professional standard
01/06/2018
Working in the School Environment (Out of Curriculum) - mapping template
20/06/2022
Examples of front-line coaches who work in a high-performance sport environment are individuals employed or deployed in the sport and physical activity sector who coach performance and/or elite athletes/players.
Coaching in High-Performance Sport professional standard
01/11/2019
V1.7
Coaching in High-Performance Sport - mapping template
25/07/2023
V3
Technical specialism professional standards
This Technical Specialism supports an individual who has a need to, within their job role, be aware of and/or implement safeguarding procedures to protect adults and adults at risk.
Safeguarding Adults and Adults at Risk professional standard
01/05/2019
V1.0
Safeguarding Adults and Adults at Risk - mapping template
20/06/2022
V2
This Technical Specialism supports an individual who has a need to, within their job role, be aware of and/or implement safeguarding procedures to protect children.
Safeguarding and Protecting Children professional standard
01/06/2018
V1.0
Safeguarding and Protecting Children - mapping template
20/06/2022
V3
This Technical Specialism supports an individual who is specialising in delivering Tai Chi specifically in a Health and Wellbeing setting. This standard has not been designed to cover delivery of Tai Chi outside of this setting.
Tai Chi for Health and Wellbeing professional standard
08/07/2022
V1.0
Tai Chi for Health and Wellbeing - mapping template
08/07/2022
V1
This Technical Specialism supports an individual who is specialising in delivering Qigong specifically in a Health and Wellbeing setting. This standard has not been designed to cover delivery of Qigong outside of this setting.
Qigong for Health and Wellbeing professional standard
08/07/2022
V1.0
Qigong for Health and Wellbeing - mapping template
08/07/2022
V1
Standards Developments
Professional Standard | Standard Development or Review Progress |
Working with people with Long Term Conditions | Making structural changes. Standard is in review and is due to be issued for wider consultation shortly. |
Health Navigator | Standard in review by Professional Development Committees. |
Gym Instructor | Standard in review by Professional Development Committees. |
Personal Trainer | Standard in review by Professional Development Committees. |
Core group exercise instructor | Standard in review by Professional Development Committees. |
Mat-Based Pilates | Standard in review by Professional Development Committees. |
Swimming Teacher | Standard in review by Professional Development Committees. |
Lifeguard | Standard in review by Professional Development Committees. |
Sports Coach | Standard in review by Professional Development Committees. |
Working inclusively - working with people suffering from mental health conditions | New standard in development through specialist expert groups. We are also working with Mind on their safe and effective practice framework. |
Safeguarding welfare officer | New standard in development through specialist expert groups. We are also working on a pathway review for this occupation. |