Course details

Certificate of Proficiency in Fitness Foundations
NZQF Level 4

About the course

The Fitness Foundations short course is designed to give you the scientific skills you need for a career in exercise, sport and fitness. You'll learn how to give an effective client pre-screening, fitness assessment, and exercise prescription.

Fitness foundations course overview

This is the first of three courses you need to complete to become a qualified fitness instructor and/or personal trainer. You can study all three courses at AUT. When you have successfully completed Fitness Foundations, you can progress to the Fitness Instructing short course and then the Personal Training short course.

Topics include:

  • Anatomy and muscle physiology
  • Behaviour modification
  • Biomechanical principles of training
  • Cardiovascular and respiratory systems
  • Components of fitness
  • Customer service, health and safety
  • Energy systems
  • Lifespan Development and medical conditions
  • Nutrition for fitness instructors
  • Movement Competency Screening
  • Training and weight training principles
  • Endocrine system

Delivery mode

Students are required to attend all in-person classes on the AUT North Campus in addition to online self-study throughout the course. There are no online classes to attend.

Who the fitness foundations course is suitable for

If you’re interested in a career in exercise, sport or fitness – this is a great starting point.

After completing this course

The Certificate of Proficiency in Fitness Foundations is the first of three courses you need to complete to become a qualified personal trainer and fitness instructor. All three courses are taught part-time over 4 months and each course is a prerequisite for the next course.

When you've successfully completed the first course, the Certificate of Proficiency in Fitness Foundations (Level 4), you then enrol in our second course – the Certificate of Proficiency in Fitness Instructing (Level 5). This enables you to be recognised as a fitness instructor and become REPS registered nationally and internationally in the fitness industry.

When you successfully complete the third and final course, the Certificate of Proficiency in Personal Training (Level 5), you will be qualified as a personal trainer and also be able to become REPS registered nationally and internationally in the fitness industry.

Next steps to become a personal trainer and fitness instructor (in this order):

  1. Certificate of Proficiency in Fitness Instructing
  2. Certificate of Proficiency in Personal Training

About the provider


University should feel like a place you belong – and a place that prepares you for what comes next.


In the heart of Auckland, one of the world’s most connected cities, you’ll study alongside people from more than 100 countries across three modern campuses. Different perspectives aren’t an add-on here – they’re part of everyday life.


Learning at AUT is hands-on from day one. You’ll work on real projects, tackle real challenges and learn how your knowledge holds up beyond the classroom. That’s how confidence grows – through experience, not theory alone.


Our programmes are shaped with industry and global partners, so what you’re learning stays relevant and grounded in the real world. It’s also why our graduates are in demand, in New Zealand and around the world.


If you’re looking for a university that backs your ambition, values who you are and helps you turn knowledge into action, you’ll fit in here.


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