Program Description
Empower people to embrace their health and wellbeing as a personal trainer, fitness entrepreneur, or wellness program facilitator.
You can make a difference in people’s lives with a career in fitness and well-being. Do you like to motivate others to live a healthier lifestyle? Do you care about supporting people in their health and wellness journey? A career in health and well-being is rewarding when you see the impact you can have on people’s lives.
In this program, you’ll learn about the physical and mental aspects of healthy living, and develop strategies to support people’s well-being. You’ll be taught the basics of sport and fitness psychology and how to apply basic scientific exercise principles (anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics) to develop your own fitness training programs.
You’ll gain the knowledge to create safe and effective fitness assessments and training programs customized to the needs, goals and developmental paths of each unique client. To round out your knowledge, you’ll also explore fitness activities local to Alberta’s distinct geography and climate and learn about nutrition theory to best support your clients on their lifelong paths to health and wellness.
To ensure your success in the industry, you’ll develop the business acumen and essential skills to manage and grow programs and membership. You’ll learn how to meet the demands of your target audience by learning about marketing, sales, and digital facilitation skills. Finally, you’ll also develop the human skills needed to understand, motivate and support your clients on their wellness journeys.
Fast Facts
- Based on the availability of practicum sites, students may have to re-locate outside of the Calgary region in order to complete their practica
- Students are responsible for any additional expenses related to their practicum, including pre-practicum requirements as outlined by the program, and relocation costs to practicum sites outside of Calgary
All courses must be completed within the program completion timeframe. Please be advised that for the purpose of student loans, full-time student status requires that learners are enrolled in a minimum of 60% of a full course load per semester. Students require a personal computer with internet access in order to complete the required courses.
Your Career
Graduates of this program may find employment in a variety of industries and role types, including but not limited to:
- Group exercise instructor
- Personal trainer
- Fitness or wellness program designer
- Wellness coach
- Youth programming facilitator
- Fitness manager
- Development coach
Student Success
Job expectations for success in this profession include:
- Communication (speaking, reading, writing, and listening)
- Able to work independently
- Able to work with others
- Able to use technology
- Able to maintain professional behaviour; emotional self-regulation
- Able to work extended hours, including nights and/or weekends, and shift work
- Comfortable with performing patient care procedures which may be sensitive or performed in close proximity
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to refer to the ALIS website for career, learning, and employment information for Personal Trainers and Group Exercise Leaders as well as the governing body’s competency profile for the profession, to ensure that they are able to successfully demonstrate the skills required to achieve all the competency-based objectives for the program and profession.
Credentials
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be awarded a SAIT Fitness and Wellness Management Diploma.
Admission Requirements
A minimum grade of 65% in each of the following courses:
- Biology 30 or Science 30
- Math 20-1 or 20-2
- English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2
All applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
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