Coaching assistant
Coaching assistants play an essential role in the sector workforce. As a highly skilled and qualified expert, being certified by CIMSPA – the sector’s professional development body – is a clear way of showing what you can do. If you are a practising coaching assistant, CIMSPA professional status can support you to gain professional recognition and progress in your career.
Occupation scope and impact
Coaching assistants improve a participant’s experience of sport and physical activity by supporting coaches to provide specialised support and guidance aligned to their individual needs. They also:
- have an inspirational effect on individuals, groups and communities
- support the coach in the delivery of their activities and may deliver part of a coaching activity under supervision
- assist the coach to deal with the provision of a high-quality positive experience, especially where there are large groups or those with additional needs
- assist in the preparation, delivery, continuous evaluation and review of sport and/or physical activity sessions.
For more information on how to become a coaching assistant visit the Careers Hub.
based on an an annual fee of
*discounts apply if your organisation is a CIMSPA employer partner
- Verifiable professional status accreditation
- Exclusive benefits and offers
- Access free endorsed CPD
Becoming a certified coaching assistant in the UK
Having a CIMSPA professional status indicates to employers, clients and your peers that you are a qualified coaching assistant with recognised assistant coach qualifications.
Gain professional recognition for your knowledge, skills and experience by sharing your status with employers, clients and your peers.
As you progress in your career, you can upgrade to new professional statuses that celebrate your expertise and allow you to explore more opportunities in your work.
What qualifications do I need to become certified?
We recognise a wide range of coaching assistant qualifications and professional experience – the most important thing is that your knowledge and skills meet the Coaching Assistant Occupational Professional Standard.
Because your assistant coaching career pathway is unique, we offer a range of routes to evidence completion of the professional standard.
To ensure that you have access to training that meets this standard, we endorse specific qualifications and CPD provided by our quality-assured education partners. When you complete an endorsed coaching assistant qualification, we can easily verify your expertise and issue you with a professional status that shows your skillset.
You can find all currently endorsed assistant coaching qualifications on our training directory.
What does CIMSPA professional status offer?
CIMSPA professional status is a certification of your knowledge, skills and standard of working. It complements your coaching assistant qualifications by confirming that you meet professional standards, CPD requirements and the CIMSPA Member Code of Conduct.
Employers and clients use professional status as a trust signal – when a coaching assistant has a professional status, they can be confident that you are qualified, dedicated and deliver excellent sport and physical activity experiences.
It helps you to stand out from the crowd, open doors for your career and progress to where you want to be.
What professional status is right for me?
Ready to apply? Find out more about each level of professional status for coaching assistants below, including prices, entry requirements and exclusive benefits for your career. Choose the status that fits your level of professional qualification and experience and become a certified coaching assistant today.
Professional status for coaching assistants
To help you demonstrate your skills and career progression, the professional status framework is split into different levels. Read below to find out the benefits and entry requirements for each one.
Coaching Assistant Practitioner
You are currently working as a qualified coaching assistant and have high-quality and up-to-date coaching assistant training. You are dedicated to your professional development and providing the best possible experience to participants.Â
Benefits
Title
You will gain the professional status title of Coaching Assistant Practitioner. You will be able to use this to ensure that clients and employers understand that you are a certified coaching assistant with expertise linked directly to the sector’s professional standards: Â
- Try using your title in your website or social media bio to show clients that you’re a trained expert. Many other professions such as healthcare practitioners and financial advisers use these to demonstrate their credibility. Â
- When applying for jobs, your professional status title is an important addition to your CV. Employers will be able to see your skill level and are assured that your qualifications are quality assured – all from a quick glance.Â
Postnominals
You will gain the postnominals of MCIMSPA. Â
Many established professions, such as accountancy and medicine, use postnominal letters to show that an individual is accredited by a professional body.  Â
You will be able to use yours after your name on social media, your website and business communications to demonstrate that you are a recognised professional.Â
Find out more about postnominals
Accreditation credentials
Your accreditation credentials – which take the form of a digital badge – will offer a verifiable visual representation of your professional status which you can use on your website and social media to showcase your expertise. When you click on them, anyone will be able to see further information about your status and that it is verified and up to date. Â
Entry requirements
To become a certified Coaching Assistant Practitioner, you will need to complete the Coaching Assistant occupational professional standard by evidencing all of its competency statements. To do this, you will need to provide examples such as:
- a qualification certificate from an awarding organisation
- supporting CPD.
Coaching Assistant Advanced Practitioner
You are a practising, qualified coaching assistant, and to offer a more bespoke service, you have also gone the extra mile to specialise in working with a particular group of clients, for example women and girls, or in a particular environment, for example in the community.Â
Benefits
Title
You will gain the professional status title of Coaching Assistant Advanced Practitioner. You will be able to use this to ensure that clients and employers understand that you are a certified coaching assistant with expertise linked directly to the sector’s professional standards:
- Try using your title in your website or social media bio to show clients that you’re a trained expert. Many other professions such as healthcare practitioners and financial advisers use these to demonstrate their credibility. Â
- When applying for jobs, your professional status title is an important addition to your CV. Employers will be able to see your skill level and are assured that your qualifications are quality assured – all from a quick glance.Â
Postnominals
You will gain the postnominals of MCIMSPA. Â
Many established professions, such as accountancy and medicine, use postnominal letters to show that an individual is accredited by a professional body.  Â
You will be able to use yours after your name on social media, your website and business communications to demonstrate that you are a recognised professional.Â
Find out more about postnominals
Accreditation credentials
Your accreditation credentials – which take the form of a digital badge – will offer a verifiable visual representation of your professional status which you can use on your website and social media to showcase your expertise. When you click on them, anyone will be able to see further information about your status and that it is verified and up to date. Â
Entry requirements
To become a certified Coaching Assistant Advanced Practitioner, you will need to complete the Coaching Assistant occupational professional standard by evidencing all of its competency statements. To do this, you will need to provide examples such as:
- a qualification certificate from an awarding organisation
- supporting CPD.
You will also need to evidence completion of one of the following population or environment professional standards:
- Working with People with Long Term Conditions
- Working with Children
- Working with Children 0–5 years
- Working in the School Environment (Out of Curriculum)
- Working Inclusively – Working with Antenatal and Postnatal Clients
- Working Inclusively – Working with Women and Girls
- Working Inclusively – Working with Disabled People
- Working Inclusively – Working with Culturally and Ethnically Diverse Communities
- Working Inclusively – Working with People with Mental Health Conditions
- Working Inclusively – Working with Inactive People
- Working in a Community Environment
- Coaching in High Performance Sport
Coaching Assistant Senior Practitioner
As a Coaching Assistant Senior Practitioner, you are a committed and well-qualified professional. You have extensive expertise and are able to support participants with complex needs within a specialist area: either inclusive practice, physical activity and health or children and young people.Â
Benefits
Title
You will gain the professional status title of Coaching Assistant Senior Practitioner. You will be able to use this to ensure that clients and employers understand that you are a certified coaching assistant with expertise linked directly to the sector’s professional standards: Â
- Try using your title in your website or social media bio to show clients that you’re a trained expert. Many other professions such as healthcare practitioners and financial advisers use these to demonstrate their credibility. Â
- When applying for jobs, your professional status title is an important addition to your CV. Employers will be able to see your skill level and are assured that your qualifications are quality assured – all from a quick glance.Â
Postnominals
You will gain the postnominals of FCIMSPA. Â
Many established professions, such as accountancy and medicine, use postnominal letters to show that an individual is accredited by a professional body.  Â
You will be able to use yours after your name on social media, your website and business communications to demonstrate that you are a recognised professional.Â
Find out more about postnominalsÂ
Accreditation credentials
Your accreditation credentials – which take the form of a digital badge – will offer a verifiable visual representation of your professional status which you can use on your website and social media to showcase your expertise. When you click on them, anyone will be able to see further information about your status and that it is verified and up to date. Â
Find out more about accreditation credentials
Â
Entry requirements
To become a certified Coaching Assistant Senior Practitioner, you will need to complete the Coaching Assistant occupational professional standard by evidencing all of its competency statements. To do this, you will need to provide examples such as:
- a qualification certificate from an awarding organisation
- supporting CPD.
You will also need to meet the requirements for one of the following specialist areas:Â
Children and Young People Specialist
You have completed all three of the following population and environment professional standards by evidencing all of their competency statements:Â
- Working with Children 0–5​Â
- Working with ChildrenÂ
- Working in the School Environment (Out of Curriculum)Â
Inclusive Practice Specialist
You have completed three of the following five population professional standards by evidencing all of their competency statements:Â
- Working Inclusively (Working with Disabled People) ​Â
- Working with Women and Girls ​Â
- Working with Culturally and Ethnically Diverse CommunitiesÂ
- Working with Antenatal and Postnatal ClientsÂ
- Working with Inactive PeopleÂ
Physical Activity and Health Specialist
You have completed the Working with People with Long Term Conditions professional standard by evidencing all of its competency statements.Â
You have completed one of the following technical specialism professional standards:Â
- Cardiac Rehabilitation*Â
- Chronic Respiratory Disease*Â
- Falls Prevention*Â
- Cancer Rehabilitation*Â
- Neurological Conditions*Â
- Lower Back Pain*Â
- Obesity/Diabetes*Â
- Stroke Rehabilitation*Â
*Not yet availableÂ
Apply for your professional status
Step 1 – prepare your evidence, apply and pay
Provide evidence of your qualifications and CPD documentation in PDF, JPEG or PNG format.
Debit card, 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 professional status has been approved.
What does CIMSPA professional status confirm?
Holding professional status issued by your sector’s professional development body is more than just a membership. It delivers:
Employer verification
Employers use professional status to create job descriptions and plan staff training. Use yours to show that you have the right skills and knowledge for the job at a glance – when you add your status and a link to your accreditation credential to your CV, employers can quickly verify your expertise and commitment to your continuing professional development.
Client trust
Give your potential clients a clear signal that you are the right choice. Professional status confirms that you are qualified and adhere to our Member Code of Conduct. By encouraging clients to check your professional status, you are showing that you are a coaching assistant that they can trust.
Career progression
Being a certified coaching assistant doesn’t stop there. The clear progression pathway allows you to plan your development and show employers and clients the expertise you’ve gained. Higher levels of professional status allow you to unlock increased credibility and opportunities within your work. With your annual CPD requirement, you’ll naturally keep your knowledge up to date as you grow, too.
Professional status is about being recognised for your impact, your expertise and your dedication to the role. When you have an easy way to demonstrate your knowledge and skills, this can open doors for your career. Apply now to gain the coaching assistant certification you deserve.
Supporting your career
Take complete control of your career progression and stay at the forefront of our sector.
To help you maximise your professional status and develop your knowledge and skills, we offer a range of exclusive benefits that complement your professional status:
- Get endorsed coaching assistant qualifications and CPD for less with discounts from a range of training providers.
- Enhance your career prospects – many of our Employer Partners commit to only employing CIMSPA-certified personal trainers.
- Stay up to date with sector news and in-depth guidance with exclusive access to Move Professional, our quarterly online publication.
- Get regular bite-sized sector updates via email with our tailored monthly bulletin.
- Learn and develop through CIMSPA’s 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).
- Be the first to hear about opportunities to be involved with CIMSPA consultations and insight, helping to influence sector policy and future research.
- Help shape the sector’s future by taking part in focus groups and committees.
CPD requirement and how it works
To maintain your professional status, you are required to complete 10 points of continuing professional development (CPD). This can be anything from a wide range of training linked to your role, from formal coaching assistant qualifications to attending our exclusive member webinars. As a member, you will have access to a range of free and discounted opportunities via your bespoke CIMSPA Dashboard. You can also use our endorsed training directory to explore quality-assured learning opportunities on a wide range of topics.
Find out more about what CPD counts
We ask you to complete CPD every year to ensure that your professional knowledge remains up to date and relevant. This also helps you to deliver the best service to your clients and progress in your career as you learn.
We’ve kept the requirement as flexible as possible so that you can choose learning that supports your personal career goals and development needs.
CIMSPA Employer Partners
Membership join FAQs
Your account will be required to be linked your employer’s organisational account to issue your membership at the discounted price. If your account is not currently linked, we will require some information from you. Please email us on info@cimspa.co.ukÂ
If your CIMSPA recognised entry qualification is dated over 5 years from the date of your application, you will be required to evidence:
- At least 1 CPD point of endorsed
- Or 4 hours of non-endorsed CPD.
Awarding organisation certificates display some or all of the following:
- Awarding organisation’s logo e.g. Active IQ, YMCA Awards, Innovate Awarding, Focus Awards, VTCT
- Award title e.g. Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training
- Qualification Accreditation Number (QAN) e.g. 600/4941/8
- Date of issue
- Certificate number
- ’Ofqual’ logo
Please note: A Unit Credit certificate, letter of confirmation or certificate issued by a Training Provider are not accepted to ensure a standardised and robust application process.
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.
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
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.
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.