A personal trainer in a golf shirt stabilizing a client's arms while holding two yellow kettle bell weights in a fitness centre

Help people develop and maintain healthier lifestyles

Fitness and Health Promotion Ontario College Diploma program

Become a fitness and health professional. Practical training and industry experience that extends beyond lectures. Be certification-ready.

Program code FHPR
Duration 2 Years
Credential Ontario College Diploma
Program Delivery Full-time
Program delivery method(s) In person What does this mean?

Program information

Program description

Are you interested in promoting healthy living in the population, and working with athletes or performanceoriented clients? At Georgian College, you learn the knowledge and skills necessary to guide clients to a healthier lifestyle or a better performance standard. The fundamentals of the fitness and health promotion field such as anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, client counselling, and nutrition are combined with a large number of practical based learning hours in dedicated exercise science labs. You gain industry experience through preparation of healthy foods in culinary labs, planning and executing a health promotion event, the opportunity to train clients on campus, and off-campus workintegrated learning. Qualifying graduates can proceed to formal articulations in various university degree programs 

Intake information

Start dateCampus
Fall 2024 Barrie

Tuition and fees

What are the admission requirements for the Fitness and Health Promotion program?

Fitness and Health Promotion admission requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, mature student status
  • Grade 12 English (C or U)
  • any Grade 111 or 12 Mathematics (C, M, or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U) OR Grade 12 Exercise Science (U) 
1

Minimum of 60% in Grade 11 College or University level Mathematics (MBF3C or MCF3M) 

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Pathways

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Criminal Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

Placement agencies require an up-to-date clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check prior to going out on placement. Students should obtain their criminal reference three months prior to placement; checks conducted earlier may not be considered current. As some jurisdictions require longer lead-time for processing, please check with the program coordinator to ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the completed document prior to placement start.

NOTE: A record of criminal offences, for which a pardon has not been granted, may prevent students from completing their placements, thereby affecting their ability to graduate.

Additional information

It is required that students have Level C CPR and Standard First Aid prior to starting the practical experience courses. It is the student’s responsibility to renew their Level C CPR certification annually while in the program. Students are asked to submit a copy of their current Level C CPR and Standard First Aid certificate to the instructor of the practical experience course. Certifications received through on-line Level C CPR and Standard First Aid courses are not accepted. 

Why study Fitness and Health Promotion at Georgian?

One-of-a-kind nutrition-culinary labs

  • With our on-campus nutrition-culinary labs, you’ll not only learn the theory behind nutrition, but also how to put theory into practice
  • Georgian’s Fitness and Health Promotion diploma program is the only program in the province to offer this immersive learning experience!

Robust industry contacts

  • Georgian’s industry partners take on Fitness and Health Promotion students for placements, and also hire program grads for full-time employment

Expert faculty

  • Learn from passionate, knowledgeable faculty
  • Courses are taught by professors with broad industry expertise

Unique field trips

  • In your first semester, take part in a team-building and leadership field trip to a local outdoors centre
  • The program also includes a second-year conference-style field trip, featuring industry leader presentations on contemporary topics and workshops, along with an industry networking event

Established articulations to university degree programs

  • Our diploma program provides you with the practical experience you need to succeed in industry, and the academic foundation to succeed and specialize in a degree program
  • Many of our graduates choose to continue their studies with kinesiology degree programs in Ontario and internationally
JJ Johnson, Fitness and Health Promotion graduate (class of 2015) smiling with black-framed glasses while wearing a black zip-up athletic jacket branded with CCM and the Powassan Voodies Junior "A" Hockey logos
Looking back at my time at Georgian, I fondly remember training opportunities in the fitness testing labs and the knowledgeable, friendly faculty members who were always willing to offer their advice and guidance.JJ Johnson, Head Athletic Trainer for the Powassan Voodoos Junior A Hockey Club (class of 2015)

Learning spaces

Two 1,450-square-foot labs resembling small fitness centres

1,000-square-foot lab dedicated to bench sciences and assessments

  • Includes weights, a WattbikeMonark bikes, treadmills and a research-quality PARVO metabolic cart
  • Explore basic measures for blood pressure, musculoskeletal function, aerobic fitness, and anaerobic power

Open lab times supervised by staff

  • Open weekdays for drop ins and supervised by our lab tech or faculty
  • Practise movements, record videos for assignments, ask for feedback, or exercise under supervision

Nutrition-culinary labs to explore concepts in nutritional sciences

  • Gain practical experience in food handling, safety and preparation through practical culinary lab sessions
  • Dive into the theory behind nutrition and how to put theory into practice, preparing 10+ meals

What career paths can I take in the health and fitness industry?

Your Fitness and Health Promotion diploma gives you many career opportunities

Career opportunities include personal trainer, group exercise instructor, health and fitness appraiser/counselor, program director and manager at commercial/private fitness and health clubs, resorts/hotels, corporate/employee fitness centres and organizations, or municipal /community fitness facilities or health units. 

Potential employers and career paths:

  • Commercial/private fitness centres
  • Corporate/employee fitness centres
  • Municipal fitness centres
  • Sports and recreational clubs
  • Camps
  • Military fitness
  • Fitness centre personal training managers
  • Fitness centre general managers
A young man in a grey t-shirt lifting weights inside the Athletics and Fitness Centre at the Georgian College Orillia Campus

Pathways

Ontario Fitness Council

By taking the Fitness and Health Promotion diploma program at Georgian, you can fast-track your certification with the Ontario Fitness Council (OFC).

Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology

Upon graduation, you’ll also be eligible to obtain the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certification.

Fitness Practitioners Association of Ontario } Ontario Fitness Council (OFC) logo
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) | The gold standard in exercise science and personal training - logo

What courses are included in the Fitness and Health Promotion diploma program?

Course overview

19 Program Courses
2 Communications Courses
3 General Education Courses

Program-specific courses

Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Fitness and Health Promotion program outline.

  • BIOL 1027 – Anatomy
  • BIOL 1028 – Physiology
  • FITN 1007 – Fitness Instructor Leadership
  • FITN 1008 – Introduction to Fitness and Health Promotion
  • Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.
  • Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.

Your course delivery method(s)

In person

This program is delivered fully in person and requires you to attend campus.

Please note, delivery methods are based on planning for the upcoming semester and are subject to change.

Do you have questions about Fitness and Health Promotion? Contact us!

Thinking about applying to Georgian?

Contact our student recruitment team to explore your study options.

Already applied to Georgian?

Connect with the Office of the Registrar for admissions-related questions.

Are you an international student?

Contact our international recruitment team to learn more about studying at Georgian. 

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