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SIS40221

Certificate IV in Fitness.

Become qualified as a Personal Trainer with a Certificate IV in Fitness and equip yourself with the skills to start your own personal training business.

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Become qualified as a Personal Trainer with a Certificate IV in Fitness and equip yourself with the skills to start your own personal training business.

Pursue your passion for health and fitness with a Certificate IV in Fitness and become a leader in the personal training industry.

If you’ve completed the SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness, now is the time to advance your career in the health and fitness industry. The SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness helps you build on your qualifications and sets you up for a rewarding and successful career as a Personal Trainer.

Whether you’re aspiring to train your clients inside an established gym or as an independent Personal Trainer, this course will equip you with the skills you need. You will graduate with a competitive edge over others in the same field thanks to your deeper understanding of the science behind fitness and training principles.  

The Certificate IV in Fitness allows you to learn from real-world fitness professionals in real gym environments. You’ll refine your ability to deliver client health/fitness assessments and exercise programs. Extend your competencies across a broad range of relevant topics including fitness planning, training legalities, and motivational psychology. 

Our Certificate IV in Fitness also focuses on business planning, providing you with the knowledge and tools required to set up, manage and promote your very own personal training business, giving you a crucial advantage over your competitors. 

This nationally recognised Personal Trainer course is the minimum requirement for becoming a qualified Personal Trainer and opens the door for you to work as a hands-on fitness professional in gyms, health clubs, boot camps, and your own personal training business. 

Course Outcomes.

Once obtained, the Certificate IV in Fitness will enable you to work as a fully qualified Personal Trainer. It will also allow you to gain employment in fitness areas such as:

Personal Trainer training a client

Personal Trainer

  • Health Clubs — Work for a local gym or fitness centre training your own clients as a qualified Personal Trainer. Completing the SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness alone does not allow you to conduct any group exercise classes that are formalised in a group setting. For example, choreographed to music.  
  • Personal Training Franchises — Work within an established fitness franchise to deliver specialised training to its members.
  • Your Own Personal Training Business — Be your own boss and choose when and where you work with your own client network.  
  • Community Fitness Settings — Support the health and fitness of your own community providing fitness advice for organised group initiatives.   

Before commencing SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness, students are required to complete and be deemed competent in the units of competency below (or superseded units), which are available as part of the SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness.

  • HLTAID011 Provide First Aid (or a unit that supersedes this unit)
  • HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety
  • SISFFIT032 Complete pre-exercise screening and service orientation
  • SISFFIT033 Complete client fitness assessments
  • SISFFIT035 Plan group exercise sessions
  • SISFFIT036 Instruct group exercise sessions
  • SISFFIT040 Develop and instruct gym-based exercise programs for individual clients
  • SISFFIT047 Use anatomy and physiology knowledge to support safe and effective exercise
  • SISFFIT052 Provide healthy eating information.

To understand the differences between the Certificate III and IV in Fitness, we recommend reading this article.  

Education: You’ll need to have completed year 10 or equivalent (i.e. a qualification at Certificate II level or higher, or 2 years of industry experience in a role that requires the use of written documentation and communication). 

Minimum Age: You need to be at least 16. If you’re under 18, a parent or guardian will need to sign your enrolment form. 

Residency Status: You need to be a permanent Australian resident or equivalent. 

Working with Children Check: For the work placement portion of your course, you may need a current “Working with Children Check Clearance” issued by the relevant authority in your state/territory.

Practical Assessment: Please be aware some of your assessments require you to source participants to role-play clients, please work with your mentor to secure the required number.

Course snapshot
Qualification

Certificate IV in Fitness.

Delivery structure

Practical Elements:

  • At a Campus Club
  • With a 1-to-1 Flexible Mentor
  • With a Mentor of Your Choice

Theoretical Elements:

  • Are completed online
Duration

Up to 12 months

Study load
  • 27 hours of practical experience in a real gym   
  • 17 course units to complete   
  • Complete 1.5 course units every month to graduate in 12 months.
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Delivery Structure.

Studying the Certificate IV in Fitness with AIPT is flexible and you can tailor it to suit your needs. The course is broken down into two parts: 

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1. Practical.

The practical elements of your course can be undertaken in one of three ways: 

Campus Club

Learn in a small group environment inside one of Australia’s leading gyms and be mentored by the best in the business.  

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Undertake 27 hours of face-to-face practical learning following a set timetable.
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Learn inside a leading gym and be mentored by a real fitness professional.

Campuses near you

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2. Theoretical.  

Study the theoretical elements of this course anywhere and anytime through our online learning platform. 

Components.

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17 course units to complete. 
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Completed online, at your own pace. 

Resources Required

For the online part of the course, you may need regular access to:

Computer: Laptop or desktop computer with working speakers or headphone points.
Internet:
High-speed internet such as Broadband or ADSL, T1/T2, fibre optic (Dial-up access is not recommended).
Windows:
Operating system – Windows 8 or above.
Mobile Phone with video capability
or Video Camera: Some assessments in your course will require you to take and submit videos of you undertaking tasks for assessment.
Office Equipment: Printer and scanner to print and upload some of your assessments.
Internet Browser:
Google Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer 11.
MAC:
Operating system - OS X 10.14 Mojave or later.
Software:
Flash, Adobe Reader, Microsoft Word (or Open Office which is free to download).

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Units.

Achieve your qualification by completing the following units of competency:

Certificate IV in Fitness

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify how exercise science principles (also known as exercise training principles) apply to fitness instruction, and use those principles in the design and ongoing modification of exercise programs for clients. 

 This unit has a direct relationship with, and supports the following units involving the application of exercise science and training principles to program design: 

  • SISFFIT041 Develop personalised exercise programs 
  • SISFFIT043 Develop and instruct personalised exercise programs for body composition goals 
  • SISFFIT044 Develop and instruct personalised exercise programs for older clients 
  • SISFFIT045 Develop and instruct personalised exercise programs for adolescent clients. 

This unit applies to personal trainers who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to develop and deliver individually tailored client exercise programs. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes and outdoor locations. 

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice. 

This unit describes the skills and knowledge to establish and manage professional one-to-one relationships with clients in the context of providing an ongoing health service or intervention. 

This unit applies to community services or health workers who have defined responsibilities to work independently with clients within broad but established guidelines. 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop exercise programs and a series of sessions tailored to individual client needs, exercise preferences and fitness goals. 

It requires the ability to integrate information from pre-exercise screenings, fitness assessments, and any medical guidance that may have been received for particular clients, to design suitable programs. Skills for instructing sessions are covered in a complementary unit. 

Program design involves effective application of exercise science and training principles. This unit has a direct relationship with, and is supported by, SISFFIT049 Use exercise science principles in fitness instruction. 

This unit applies to personal trainers who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to develop individually tailored client programs. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes and outdoor locations. 

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice. 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to prepare for, instruct and evaluate pre-designed exercise sessions that have been tailored to individual client needs, exercise preferences and fitness goals, as part of an overall personal training program. It covers skills for modifying programs in response to ongoing client monitoring and feedback. 

Skills for planning programs and sessions are covered in a complementary unit. 

This unit applies to personal trainers who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to prepare for and instruct exercise activities. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes and outdoor locations. 

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice. 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop and instruct exercise programs and sessions specifically tailored to meet body composition goals for individual clients. Goals may relate to body composition maintenance or change. It covers skills for evaluating and modifying programs in response to client monitoring and feedback. 

It requires the ability to integrate information from pre-exercise screenings, fitness assessments, and medical guidance that may have been received for particular clients, to design suitable programs. 

Program design involves effective application of exercise science principles. This unit has a direct relationship with, and is supported by, SISFFIT049 Use exercise science principles in fitness instruction. 

This unit applies to personal trainers who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to develop and instruct individually tailored client programs. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes and outdoor locations. 

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop and instruct exercise programs and sessions specifically tailored for individual older clients. Older clients are those aged at least 55 years; however, they can be significantly older. It covers skills for evaluating and modifying programs in response to client monitoring and feedback. Programs and sessions take account of the particular issues and risks for older clients. 

It requires the ability to promote healthy ageing and integrate information from pre-exercise screenings, fitness assessments, and any medical guidance that may have been received for particular clients, to design suitable programs. 

Program design involves effective application of exercise science principles. This unit has a direct relationship with, and is supported by, SISFFIT049 Use exercise science principles in fitness instruction. 

This unit applies to personal trainers, who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to develop and instruct individually tailored client programs. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes and outdoor locations, depending on their role.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to complete pre-exercise screening and fitness assessments for individual clients aged thirteen to seventeen years, and to develop and instruct exercise programs and sessions specifically tailored for these clients. It covers skills for evaluating and modifying programs in response to client monitoring and feedback. 

Programs and sessions take account of the particular issues and limitations for adolescent clients. 

Program design involves effective application of exercise science principles. This unit has a direct relationship with, and is supported by, SISFFIT049 Use exercise science principles in fitness instruction. 

This unit applies to personal trainers, who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to develop and instruct individually tailored client programs. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes and outdoor locations. 

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice. 

No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication. However, individuals must receive formal clearance to work with adolescents through completion of a working with children check required in the relevant State or Territory.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to establish the industry context for fitness instruction work, develop collaborative relationships with medical and allied health professionals, and use reflective practice and critical thinking for ongoing professional development. It requires the ability to identify and evaluate evidence-based information for use in day-to-day fitness instruction activities. 

This unit applies to personal trainers who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to develop and deliver individually tailored client exercise programs, and to provide support to individual clients. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes and outdoor locations. 

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice. 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to establish current patterns of client exercise and support clients to make changes to optimise fitness outcomes, health and wellbeing. Support for behaviour change reflects evidence-based approaches and can be integrated into fitness assessment, program planning, instruction and evaluation. 

This unit applies to personal trainers who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to develop and deliver individually tailored client exercise programs, and to provide support to individual clients. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes and outdoor locations. 

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify individual client needs for healthy eating advice, and provide information that supports clients to establish healthier eating patterns. Information is based on the current Australian national dietary guidelines and associated resources which aim to promote optimal health and wellbeing for generally healthy people. 

The unit requires the ability to recognise situations that are beyond the scope of practice for fitness instructors and to provide referrals to medical and allied health professionals with expertise to advise on nutritional needs. 

This unit applies to personal trainers who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to plan for and deliver exercise programs, and to provide support to individual clients. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes and outdoor locations. 

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice. 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to assess movement capacity in individual clients and provide advice on exercises to achieve optimal movement and safe and effective exercise technique. While this assessment may be completed as a separate dedicated activity, outcomes and recommended exercises may then be integrated into overall fitness programs for individual clients. 

Assessment and advice are provided to clients who do not have unstable health conditions, pain or injury identified through pre-exercise screening and fitness assessment. The unit does not include assessment for the purposes of providing advice or treatment of injury or disease. In this case, the fitness instructor refers clients to relevant medical or allied health professionals. 

This unit applies to personal trainers who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to provide individually tailored client movement assessments. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces, and homes and outdoor locations. 

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice. 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to plan and instruct online exercise sessions for individuals or groups of clients. Online exercise activities are diverse in nature and could involve live or pre-recorded on demand sessions. 

The focus of this unit is on the specific considerations for the delivery of online exercise sessions. It requires the ability to research, set up and use basic technologies for online instruction and to assess and manage session related safety risks. Exercises are selected based on their suitability for the online environment. 

This unit applies to fitness instructors who use considerable discretion and judgement to deliver online sessions as part of a fitness operator’s service delivery. It has particular application to personal trainers working independently with clients. 

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research and develop business plans for achieving business goals and objectives. 

The unit applies to those establishing or operating a business providing self-employment, as well as those establishing a new venture as part of a larger organisation. 

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop and implement a marketing strategy that is integrated into the business plan in order to improve the performance of a business venture. It involves analysing and interpreting market data. 

The unit applies to those establishing a business providing self-employment, as well as those establishing a new venture as part of a larger organisation.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop, implement and evaluate strength and conditioning programs. It focuses on the skills needed to develop programs to meet the needs of participants undertaking fitness programs to achieve personal fitness goals. 

This unit applies to fitness instructors and coaches who work in fitness and sport environments. Work is performed according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, knowledge and skills required to use drills, exercises and activities to instruct individuals undertaking fitness programs in strength and conditioning techniques to achieve personal fitness goals. 

This unit applies to fitness instructors and coaches who work in fitness and sport environments. Work is performed according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work respectfully with people from diverse social and cultural groups and situations, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. 

This unit applies to all workers. 

Cost & payment.

You can pay for your course upfront via VISA/MasterCard or a bank deposit. Alternatively, we offer instalment plans that can be paid over several weeks or fortnights.

Your course fee includes

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Delivery and assessment of your qualification

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Study materials (including all resources)

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Ongoing support from our Education Team

We offer two payment methods

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Full fee upfront

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Instalment plans

For more information about the course costs, please call us on 1300 616 180.

Why choose AIPT?

AIPT Australia Wide

100+ campus locations

We're all around Australia, with locations near you.

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Flexible payment options

A range of payment options to suit your lifestyle.

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Learn from real fitness professionals, in real gyms

Designed to give you a practical experience in a real gym environment.

Our mission

Largest network of industry partnerships

The largest network of employers, fitness professionals and fitness business owners.

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They have an excellent range of courses on offer, as well as superb customer service that made me feel welcomed and supported throughout my studies.

“

I spoke with Tamara, who was wonderful. She gave me all the information about the course and kept in touch right throughout the enrolment process.

“

Studying my theory online and at my pace allowed me to continue working full-time. The face-to-face component was amazing, working with an experienced instructor.

“

AIPT supported me from the moment I joined. Even through COVID times, they carried on and were always there for me if I needed anything.

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Studying with AIPT allowed me to study while working 5 days a week and at university. It allowed flexibility while ensuring I received the best education possible .

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