Seniors' Fitness Instructor Renewal

Certified instructors must lead a minimum of 16 CCAA senior fitness classes (min 50 min. in length) throughout the two years prior to recertification. Actively delivering SFIC model classes is important for the maintenance of the skills learned during SFIC training.

• Active Delivery (16 teaching hours) Submission Form
• Active Delivery (16 teaching hours) Submission Form (fillable)

Eight (8) Professional Development Credits are required for renewal. Instructors earn these credits by participating in continuing education learning events [minimum of four (4) and up to eight (8)], and through the mentorship of new SFIC candidates (optional).

• Professional Development Credits Submission Form
• Professional Development Credits Submission Form (fillable)

1. Continuing Education

Continuing education plays an important role in demonstrating ongoing excellence in delivering senior fitness classes. Participating in continuing education events helps ensure that certificate holders are exposed to current research and gather knowledge that will enhance their exercise class content and design. By staying up-to-date with evidence-based content, instructors are better equipped to deliver programs that benefit older adult participants.

Requirement: Submit proof of a minimum of four (4) Professional Development Credits (PDCs) from continuing education. If submitting four (4) renewal PDCs from continuing education then the remaining four (4) PDCs must be from mentorship (8 hours of mentorship earns an instructor 4 mentorship PDCs see below).

Eight (8) PDCs in the form of continuing education should be submitted for renewal if the instructor has not mentored new candidates over the two (2) year certification period.

Continuing Education Credit Reference Table

Eligible Non-CCAA continuing education topics

• Exercise physiology (strength and conditioning)
• Exercise programming specific to older adults
• Healthy Aging/Well being
• Exercise programing for chronic diseases associated with aging
  • Post stroke, CAD, osteoporosis, Diabetes, OA, dementia, PD, Alz, etc
• Communication/motivation/adherence with older population
• Mental Health strategies for older adults
• Nutrition for active/exercising older adults

NOT eligible for continuing education PDCs

• First Aid and CPR (certification or renewal)
• Participation in research studies
• Lessons to learn a new sport/playing a sport

Prior to enrolling in any non-CCAA learning opportunities, please consult the CCAA to ensure the session meets CEC eligibility criteria. You will be required to provide information about the length of the session and an outline or learning objectives.

2. Mentorship

In order to become certified, SFIC candidates must complete 18 hours of mentorship with a certified senior fitness instructor (SFIC). Mentorship is a key component of the training of new candidates in the SFIC program. Certified instructors who engage with candidates as mentors will earn credit(s) towards their own professional development requirements for recertification. Certified instructors will accumulate one professional development credit for every two hours of mentorship with SFIC candidates. (Maximum of two credits for a single session).

NOTE: Certified instructors are not REQUIRED to act as mentors for newly trained instructors. However, hours spent mentoring new instructors can be used to supplement the required eight professional development credits required for renewal

Any instructor who fails to submit all recertification requirements and the associated fee by March 31 of their recertification year will have their certification suspended until requirements are met.

There are options to reinstate a lapsed certification up until three years after the certificate expired. Late fees and requirements increase as the instructor gets further away from the original expiry date.

Reinstatement Process

To maintain certification candidates must submit 8 PDCs, 16 Delivery Credits between Feb. 1 and 28 of the renewal year as well as pay the $60+tax renewal fee prior to March 31 of that same year.

If a renewal deadline is missed by one year, the instructor must complete the requirements as usual but the renewal fee increases to $75+tax, they must also pay a $50 late fee. If the deadline is missed by two years the requirements and renewal fee remain the same. However, the late fee increases to $75+tax. If the renewal deadline is missed by up to three years the candidate must re-take the foundation course ($225+tax fee) and pay the $75+tax late fee. Certifications that expired more than three years ago are no longer valid and the certification process must begin again.

Reinstatement of Certification Fees

*Subject to applicable provincial sales taxes
**Equates to five years beyond last recertification