Everything you need to know about joining CIMSPA as a Recreation Assistant Practitioner.
Recreation Assistant members support, enhance and deliver the day to day operations of a leisure facility, typically in wet environments such as swimming pools, water slides and saunas and/or dry environments such as activity areas and sports pitches.
- You work as part of a team and it is the responsibility of the Recreation Assistant to undertake a range of leisure operational duties such as opening and closing of the leisure facility and maintain the cleanliness and safety of the environment.
- You ensure programmed activities and services are arranged including preparing, assembling, dismantling and storing equipment such as trampolines, badminton nets and event seating.
- You supervise activity and ancillary areas, ensuring the safety of customers and enhancing services by building product knowledge and sales acumen.
- You provide high levels of customer care and assist with any customer feedback.
Entry requirements
- You hold a Recreation Assistant occupational qualification certificate issued by a recognised awarding organisation dated within the last 5 years.
- If your qualification is older than 5 years, evidence of CPD completed within the last 5 years is required.
- If you do not hold a Recreation Assistant qualification, your CV covering responsibilities within your most recent role is required.
Apply for your membership
Step 1 – prepare your evidence, apply and pay
- Evidence of your qualification, CPD and CV to be provided in PDF, JPEG or PNG format.
- Debit / Credit Card or Direct Debit payment options are available.
Step 2 – We will process your application
- You will receive email updates as we review your application.
- We will let you know if we require any further information from you.
- You will receive an email confirming that your Membership has been approved.
Recreation Assistant Practitioner membership cost: £36* per year (inc VAT)
*Discounts apply if your organisation is a CIMSPA employer partner.
Membership benefits - Practitioner
Take complete control of your career progression and stay at the forefront of our sector
- Recognition and status as a member of the sector’s only chartered professional body.
- Exclusive member logos to showcase your professional status
- Enhance your career prospects - many of our employer partners commit to only employing CIMSPA members.
- Access FREE endorsed CPD eLearning with the CIMSPA Academy.
- Discounts on endorsed qualifications and CPD from a range of training providers.
- Sector job opportunity information from our jobs board and partner network.
Highlight – CIMSPA Academy
- Your CIMSPA membership includes FREE access to hundreds of online CPD courses with the CIMSPA Academy.
- The CPD on offer ranges from “bite-sized” quick eBriefings to certificate courses that award multiple CIMSPA CPD points.
Build your professional network through CIMSPA’s community of members, partners and events
- Shareable profile on the CIMSPA membership directory – the definitive listing of qualified sector professionals – connecting you with potential employers and customers.
- Receive digital access to S&PA Professional, S&PA Extra and the CIMSPA member bulletin – our quarterly magazine and monthly digital newsletters.
- Access to member-only webinars featuring cross-sector experts.
- Make connections through CIMSPA and partner events and conferences, and at our professional development boards and consultations (by invitation).
Benefit from a range of discounts and offers across key categories identified by members and provided by our partners*
Work and business (practitioner)
- Gymcatch - 20% off your first 12 paid months
- Bigwave Growth - Free “Insight 360” call
- My PT Hub - 30-day free trial and 50% off My PT Hub’s All-In-One personal training software and app
- WSHQ: Workout Music - 15% off all their licence free music
CPD/development (practitioner)
- Future Fit - Free CPD course with a qualifying purchase
- Bloomsbury Publishing - 35% discount on Sports literature
- Brookbush Institute - 30-day free trial
- BTN Academy - £150 off Foundation Academy
- Drummond Education - £30 off a course or workshop under £400 / £50 off course or workshop £401-1000 / £100 off a course or workshop £1001 upwards
- Les Mills - Les Mills+ free trial and 25% discount / 30% Initial Training discount
- Platinum Training Institute - 10% off
- Gympass - Free application to be a Certified Online Trainer
- Yoga2hear - 20% discount
- Biomechanics Education - Free CPD (up to £100+VAT)
Finance and legal (practitioner)
- Financial Fitness Group - 10% discount
- Future Fit - 30-day free Prozone trial
- BSA4Sport - Free access
- Financial Fitness Group - Monthly phone call
Lifestyle (practitioner)
- Dell Technologies - Up to 20% off
- Elevated Food for Life - 50% off monthly subscription & 50% off for clients
- Myzone - £75 off an MZ Switch Myzone belt
- Myzone - £80 off an MZ3 heart rate monitor
- TANITA - 15% discount
- TRX Training - 30 days free access to TRX Core/TRX Training Club / TRX PRO4 Suspension Trainer for £100 / TRX HOME 2 Suspension Trainer for £100 / 15% discount sitewide
*Terms and conditions apply for all offers.
Contribute to the continued improvement of the sport and physical activity sector
- Be at the forefront of the sector with the very latest news, guidance and resources.
- Be the first to hear about opportunities to be involved with CIMSPA consultations and insight, helping to influence sector policy and future research.
- Take part in focus groups and committees to help shape the sector’s future.
Ready to get started now?
Membership join FAQs – Practitioner
- I hold an overseas qualification that is not recognised by CIMSPA, can I still apply for Practitioner or Associate membership?
- I have completed an endorsed qualification with an education provider, how can I use this to apply for practitioner membership?
- I hold a UK qualification that is not recognised by CIMSPA, can I still apply for Practitioner membership?
- What will happen if my application for entry into the Practitioner or Associate membership category does not meet the requirements?
EREPS/REPS Ireland
We have an agreement with and can accept a Letter of Portability during your membership application from the following organisations, providing it is transferrable to your chosen CIMSPA membership category:
Other countries
If your qualification was completed in a country outside the above organisations’ jurisdiction, please email info@cimspa.co.uk with a copy of your letter of portability or qualification, confirming the country of issue, for further support.
If you have successfully met the professional standard following completion of your CIMSPA endorsed course for your chosen practitioner category, your professional qualification certificate issued by CIMSPA and awarded by your education provider will clearly confirm this and should be submitted with your application.
If your qualifications have not been mapped to the industry professional standards, they may be submitted for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. For further information, please email info@cimspa.co.uk
Your membership will be approved within the affiliate membership category to bring you onboard as a CIMSPA member. We will email you with guidance to support you with your next steps towards becoming a practitioner or associate member.
Need to discuss your membership?
If you’re unsure on any aspect of your CIMSPA membership application, get in touch or call our membership hotline on 0343 836 0200