Preamble
African Register of Exercise Professionals is an Independent Organisation of Fitness
Professionals across Africa. It is also a confederation member of the International Confederation
of Registers for Exercise professionals (ICREPS)
Our vision is for an African Fitness community that is empowered, skilled, professional and
aptly equipped to lead the continent in adoption of a healthy, active lifestyle. Our Mission is to
professionalize exercise while building leaders across the continent.
To promote this vision of a healthy continent while noting the centrality of ethical and
accountable professionals, AREPS© has produced the Fitness Professionals Code of Practice.
The purpose of this code is to nurture professional, ethical and accountable fitness professionals,
who inspire consumer confidence.
Its prescriptive nature offers a clear yet simple guidance to a fitness professional on expected
conduct while dealing with clients and other stakeholders while offering the service.
Objectives
(i) To promote appropriate, expected ethical and professional conduct of fitness
professionals; and
(ii) To promote consumer confidence in the Fitness service sector.
Application of the code
This code applies to AREPS© certified members.
Nothing in this code limits a Fitness Professional’s obligations under any applicable law. This
code should not be treated as a legal advice and is to be applied in addition to any imposed
legislation.
Where there is any conflict or inconsistency between the code of conduct and any legislation or
regulation, the legislation or regulation shall prevail to the extent of the conflict or inconsistency.
AREPS©, its employees, officers and agents do not accept any liability for the results of any action
taken in reliance upon, based on or in connection with this code. To the extent legally possible,
AREPS© and its employees, officers and agents, disclaim all liability arising by reason of any
errors and omissions contained in this code.
Administration of this code
The Board of Directors of AREPS© is responsible for overseeing and administering the code as
well as handling complaints raised against a Member including that a member has failed to
comply with the code or is otherwise:
i) engaged in unsatisfactory professional conduct;
ii) engaged in professional misconduct;
iii) not a suitable person to be registered as a member; or
iv) brings AREPS© into disrepute.
The Board may delegate its powers under this Code to a committee of the Board with delegated
authority to investigate and determine complaints made against a member. These are decisions
such as suspension or de-registration of a member or any other sanction so determined.
The Board reserves the right to amend or modify this Code from time to time. A member must
abide by any such amendment or modification.
- Good Professional Practice
Good professional practice by exercise professionals means providing a high quality, safe fitness
service for clients. Members are expected to:
1.1 Work within the limits of their scope of practice, competence and other standards,
policies and guidelines.
1.2 Act with integrity, maintain professionalism and operate within applicable laws.
1.3 Continuously expand their knowledge and skills through continuous professional
education.
1.4 Take the necessary pre-exercise screening to assess the needs of their clients.
1.5 Carefully take into account a client’s pre-exercise results as well as their
objectives when recommending suitable exercise programs.
1.6 Warmly refer a client to a qualified fitness professional where the service needed
is outside one’s expertise.
1.7 Ensure that any physical contact is appropriate and carried out with the consent of
the client.
1.8 Inform the client all financial costs incidental to receiving the services upfront;
1.9 Maintain complete records of services provided to a client, including pre-exercise
screening, client progress and referrals. - Safety
AREPS© members will:
2.1 Prioritize the safety and health of clients.
2.2 Ensure that all participants have been taken through pre-screening and prepared
for the use of relevant equipment.
2.3 Ensure that the fitness activities are appropriate and as per clients’ needs.
2.4 Ensure that all exercise is performed in a controlled and safe manner.
2.5 Never use or allow the use of prohibited drugs or banned performance enhancing
substances.
2.6 Respect the physical ability and limits of a client.
2.7 Ensure that their premises have met the necessary safety parameters set by law. - Working With Clients
Relations between AREPS© members and clients should be collaborative, based on respect,
openness, trust and good communication. At all times, members should:
3.1 Be courteous, respectful, compassionate and honest with clients.
3.2 Respect their clients’ privacy and right to confidentiality.
3.3 Ensure that clients consent to the release and exchange of health information with
third parties where this is necessary.
3.4 Use client information carefully when developing exercise programs.
3.5 Respect the dignity and rights of clients at all times;
3.6 Conduct themselves within appropriate professional boundaries.
3.7 Priorities each client’s health, well-being and safety taking into account their
individual circumstances and exercise objectives.
3.8 Not engage in any form of unwanted intimate contact;
3.9 Regardless of any relationship with a client, ensure that professional standards are
maintained while offering the services. - Working with children
Offering fitness services to children comes with added responsibility and legal obligations on
fitness professional. Members are required to:
4.1 Comply with children protection legislation in their country.
4.2 Consider a young person’s capacity to consent or make decisions.
4.3 Engage a parent or guardian when entering into any fitness service agreements.
4.4 Communicate with a child or young person in a humane manner taking into
account:
4.4.1 Age related development and physical exercise needs and limitations;
4.4.2 Encourage questions from the minor and answer them honestly;
4.4.3 Communicate to them in a way that they can understand; and
4.4.4 Recognize the role of parents or guardian. - Privacy Laws
A member must ensure that:
5.1 All personal information is handled in accordance with the applicable laws.
5.2 It obtains the necessary consents from consumers and personnel for AREPS© to
collect personal information about the origins and causes of complaints for the
purpose of identifying systemic and recurring problems in the fitness industry.
5.3 Must maintain and take all the necessary measures to protect any personal data
collected from a client. - Confidentiality
A fitness professional must not use, or disclose to another person, confidential information about
a client obtained under while providing fitness services, unless the information is otherwise
lawfully used or disclosed, or such as necessary consents have been obtained from the client to
disclose such information. Confidentiality obligations continue even after a member has
terminated the service. - Advertising
A member must not use misleading, false, deceptive or unfair advertising or marketing practices
in any platform which includes but not limited to misleading or false representations concerning
the price of goods or services, false representations that certain goods or services have benefits
they do not have.
A member must ensure that sufficient information is available to enable a consumer to make an
informed decision in relation to services offered and in particular, should;
7.1 Ensure that all promotional material is accurate, unambiguous and truthful.
7.2 Ensure that the promotional materials do not promise unrealistic expectations as
to the attainable results from getting fitness training.
7.3 Not make false, misleading or deceptive comparisons with programs provided by
competitors.
7.4 Make available for perusal this Code and any other industry codes if requested so
by a client, or promptly direct the client where they can access a copy of this
document.
7.5 Ensure that their employees, personnel or agents act professionally and do not use
unreasonable sales methods, high pressure selling techniques, harassment or
unconscionable conduct to sell its fitness services.