Steps to Obtaining a BCRPA Registration
as a Weight Training Leader or Personal Trainer

Thank you for your interest in becoming a BCRPA-registered fitness professional. The BCRPA is the exclusive provider in BC of the National Fitness Leadership Alliance (NFLA) Performance Standards, which are among the highest in Canada for the credentialing of fitness professionals.

Your registration as a fitness leader with the BCRPA will provide you with a number of benefits. For a list of those benefits, please go here.
 
Please complete the following steps (in the listed order, and according to the time limits described in the table below) to become a BCRPA Registered Weight Training Leader or Personal Trainer.  
 
(For the steps to registration as a BCRPA Registered Fitness Leader in one of the group-related registrations – Group Fitness, Aquatic Fitness, Pilates Fitness or Yoga Fitness, click here)
 
Prior to writing the Fitness Theory exam in step 1, most Fitness Leader candidates enroll in a Fitness Theory course. A list of BCRPA approved courses can be found here. 

Step 1

Pass the BCRPA Fitness Theory Examination 
($70.00 exam fee for each attempt)

 
After you pass the BCRPA Fitness Theory Examination you will have one year from your exam date to get registered in Fitness Theory (step 3 below).
 
Exams can be arranged through course providers offering BCRPA approved courses, through the BCRPA office, or through special arrangements with an exam proctor. For more information about exam proctoring follow this link.
 
For more information about the exam follow this link.

Step 2

Obtain CPR and First Aid Certifications

 
Fitness Leaders are required to have a minimum of CPR-A certification and a minimum of Emergency First Aid.
 
BCRPA Registered Fitness Leaders and specialty module course participants are required to have current CPR and First Aid certifications at all times. These certifications must come from the following organizations or from companies who are authorized by them to provide these certifications: Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, Canadian Ski Patrol, the Lifesaving Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
 
Note: The BCRPA does not accept online CPR or First Aid certifications. Training must be done in a classroom setting.

Step 3

Register with BCRPA in Fitness Theory

 ($95.00 fee)
 
The registration form can be found here. Please read through the form and submit all required paperwork, and the payment. This registration must be completed within one year of your Fitness Theory exam date AND before you register for any specialty module course.
 
The $95.00 initial registration fee provides you with your first year of BCRPA Fitness Program registration.
 
Once your registration is processed, you will receive a certificate that states that you are registered with the BCRPA in Fitness Theory.  It will have an expiry date on it, which will be one year from your registration date.
 
You have until your expiry date to complete at least steps 4-7 below and become registered as a Weight Training Leader.
 
If you do not complete steps 4-7 prior to your Fitness Theory registration expiry date, please repeat steps 1-3 and contact the BCRPA for more information at bcrpa@bcrpa.bc.ca.

Step 4

Register for a Weight Training Specialty Module Course 

The BCRPA maintains a list of offerings of all approved courses, across all specialty modules, in BC.
 
Choose a Weight Training course provider (or more than one) from that list and contact them for more information about course length, dates, times, pre-requisites and fees. Then select the course, and course provider, that suit your situation best.
 
Let them know what your Fitness Theory registration expiry date is and make sure that you are choosing a course that allows you sufficient time to complete all requirements, including completion of document processing at the BCRPA office, before your BCRPA registration expiry date.
 
To see the current list of independently offered, approved courses, please go here.
 
Current BCRPA Fitness Theory registration, current CPR and current First Aid are all pre-requisites for the Weight Training specialty module course (as well as for steps 5-7 that follow). It is your responsibility to make sure you have the certificates to demonstrate that you have met those pre-requisites before beginning your Weight Training course.
 
Independent course providers who offer BCRPA approved courses should be able to answer any questions you may have about the pre-requisites, or you can email a BCRPA staff member directly.

Step 5

Complete all Requirements for the Weight Training Specialty Module Course

 
BCRPA-approved courses have both classroom theory components and practical, hands-on components. Depending on the course and/or the instructor, there may be quizzes, exams and projects that must be completed as well.
 
Check with your course provider regarding the requirements for your chosen course.
 

Step 6

Complete the Weight Training Instructor Competency Evaluation (ICE) Requirements

Following the completion of the Weight Training specialty module course, you are required to complete all of the written and practical ICE package requirements. The ICE process must be complete, and all of the paperwork processed by the BCRPA, prior to your Fitness Theory registration expiry date.
 
To download the necessary ICE forms, go here. 

Step 7

Register with BCRPA in Weight Training

To become registered in your new specialty module, you must submit copies (please do not send in originals) of the following paperwork to the BCRPA before your Fitness Theory registration expiry date:
 
  • Current BCRPA Registration Certificate in Fitness Theory
  • Current CPR and First Aid Certificates
  • Weight Training Course Completion Certificate from your independent course provider
  • Completed, and marked, ICE package with evaluator signatures and dates completely filled in where required
Provided all documents are in order, you will receive a new BCRPA registration certificate and wallet card in the mail as well as instructions on how to maintain your Weight Training registration with the BCRPA. Congratulations!  You are a registered Weight Training Leader!
 

Step 8

Complete 20 Beginner Level Programs Before Registering in a BCRPA- Approved Personal Training Course

Following your registration as a Weight Training Leader with the BCRPA, you must complete 20 beginner-level programs for clients if you wish to go on and become a BCRPA registered Personal Trainer.
 
For more information about the 20-beginner-program requirement, ­go here.
 
A sample tracking sheet designed for that purpose can be found here. 
 
Once the 20 programs have been completed, the Weight Training Leader is to present a copy of the completed tracking sheet, AND copies of all 20 programs, to their chosen Personal Training course provider before then registering in the Personal Training course. 
 
Please note: It is your responsibility to complete the 20 programs, as well as all other previous registration steps, and to provide documentation to the Personal Training course provider, whether or not the course provider requests it. 
 
Some course providers allow all members of the general public to enroll in their courses without checking for prerequisite training, but if you are seeking BCRPA registration, you must ensure that you have met all BCRPA prerequisite requirements – if not met as outlined in this document, you will not be permitted to become registered as a Personal Trainer with the BCRPA.
 

Step 9

Enroll in a Personal Training Specialty Module

The BCRPA maintains a list of offerings of all approved courses, across all specialty modules, in BC.
 
Choose a Personal Training course provider (or more than one) from that list and contact them for more information about course length, dates, times, pre-requisites and fees. Then select the course, and course provider, that suit your situation best.
 
To see the current list of independently offered, approved courses, please go here.
 
Current BCRPA Weight Training registration, current CPR and current First Aid are all pre-requisites for the Personal Training specialty module course (as well as for steps 10-13 that follow). It is your responsibility to make sure you have the certificates to demonstrate that you have met those pre-requisites before beginning your selected specialty module course.
 
Independent course providers who offer BCRPA approved courses should be able to answer any questions you may have about the pre-requisites, or you can email a BCRPA staff member directly.
 

Step 10

Complete All Personal Training Course Requirements

Approved courses have both classroom theory components and practical, hands on components. Depending on the course and/or the instructor, there are quizzes, exams and projects that must be completed as well. Check with your course provider regarding the requirements for your chosen course.
 

Step 11

Pass the BCRPA Personal Training Exam

($65.00 fee)

A passing mark on the BCRPA Personal Training Exam is 70%. Your Personal Training Course provider will be able to assist you in making arrangements to write this exam. Exams can be arranged through certain course providers offering BCRPA approved courses, through the BCRPA office, or through special arrangements with an exam proctor. For more information about exam proctoring follow this link.
 
After you pass the BCRPA Personal Training Exam you will have one year from your exam date to get registered in Personal Training (step 13 below).   Please ensure that you also keep your Weight Training registration current, and that you maintain current CPR and current first aid as well.
 
For more information about the Personal Training exam follow this link.
 
 

Step 12

Complete the Personal Training Instructor Competency Evaluation (ICE) Requirements 

Following the completion of the Personal Training specialty module course, you are required to complete all of the written and practical ICE package requirements. The ICE process must be complete, and all of the paperwork processed by the BCRPA, within one year of passing the Personal Training exam.
 
To download the necessary ICE forms, go here.
 

Step 13

Register with BCRPA in Personal Training

To become registered in your new specialty module, you must submit copies (please do not send in originals) of the following paperwork to the BCRPA before the one-year expiry date of your Personal Training exam:
 
  • Current BCRPA Registration Certificate in Weight Training
  • Current CPR and First Aid Certificates
  • Personal Training Course Completion Certificate from your independent course provider
  • Completed, and marked, ICE package with evaluator signatures and dates completely filled in where required
 
Provided all documents are in order, you will receive a new BCRPA registration certificate and wallet card in the mail as well as instructions on how to maintain your Personal Training registration with the BCRPA. Congratulations! You are now a BCRPA Registered Personal Trainer!