A Singapore Government Agency Website
A Singapore Government Agency Website
Response to parliamentary question on support for freelancing exercise professionals to obtain the certifications required under the NREP and engagements with industry stakeholders to better understand how to utilise the NREP appropriately
1. Sport Singapore will launch the National Registry of Exercise Professionals (NREP) in phases, as part of the longer-term strategy to professionalise the fitness industry and build capabilities, especially in the areas of safety and knowledge.
2. In the first phase, from April 2023 to March 2024, exercise professionals, including freelancers, may register for the NREP as long as they (i) have Standard First Aid with Automated External Defibrillator & Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation certification; (ii) acknowledge the Exercise Professional’s Code of Ethics; and (iii) have relevant fitness orexercise accreditations such as Personal Trainer, Yoga, Zumba, or general ones like group fitness instructor.
3. Exercise professionals who do not possess the Standard First Aid certification will still be able to register for a provisional NREP membership, which entitles them to subsidized rates for the certification. This subsidized certification is provided for under the free one-year National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA) membership that all NREP members are eligible for during the first phase of the NREP. NICA membership provides exercise professionals with access to training support and grants, among other benefits.
4. In addition, SportSG has been engaging over 400 exercise professionals, gyms and fitness coaching businesses, and working with industry stakeholders, such as the Singapore Fitness Alliance (SFA), to raise their awareness of the NREP and its benefits, and encourage businesses to have their exercise professionals sign up on the NREP, as well as consider NREP as a criterion for hiring. Overall, the response has been positive towards the NREP. SportSG, together with NICA and SFA, will continue to engage the stakeholders through all implementation phases of the NREP.
