Central YMCA Qualifications (CYQ)
CYQ L3 Diploma in Exercise Referral
Training Day
Aims and objectives
To introduce Centre staff to the methods of best practice in delivery &
assessment of the ‘Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral`
Objectives:
− Explain the structure of QCF ‘Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral`
− Learner pre-entry requirements
− Overview of syllabus
− Discuss assessment specification for all units
− Explore assessment opportunities for units 3 and 4 (planning and instructing)
− Identify teaching & learning resources and staff requirements
Timetable
10.00 – 10.15 Introduction & aims of the day
10.15 – 10.30 Qualification structure / syllabus; pre-entry requirements
10.30 – 11.15 Assessment specifications (Unit 1 –and 2)
11.15 – 11.30 Break
11.30 – 12.45 Assessment specifications (Unit 3)
12.45 – 13.30 Lunch
13.30 – 14.30 Assessment specifications (Unit 4)
14.30 – 15.30 Assessment specifications (Unit 5 and 6)
15.30 - 16.00 Questions, summary & evaluation
Level 3 Diploma in Exercise
Referral
CYQ Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral
There are 6 mandatory units in this qualificationUnit reference
number
Unit title
Level
GLH
Credits
Y/503/7493
Professional practice for exercise referral
instructors
3
14
2
R/503/7492
Understanding medical conditions for exercise
referral
4
35
7
D/503/7494
Planning exercise referral programmes with
patients
3
52
8
L/503/7491
Instructing exercise with referred patients
3
58
9
L/600/9054
Applying the principles of nutrition to a physical
activity programme
3
40
6
A/600/9051
Anatomy and physiology for exercise and
health
3
40
6
Total guided learning hours – 242
Total credit value - 38
CYQ Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral
Learner pre-entry requirements:
• Minimum age: 16 years old.
• Learners must hold one or more of the following:
 Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing or equivalent
 Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training
 Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates
 Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga
 Any qualifications which give entry to the REPs’ Physical Activity Advisor
category eg, CYQ Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Walking.
Unit 1- Professional practice for exercise referral
instructors
Knowledge based unit which aims to provide the learner with an
understanding of the exercise referral process, and their role within it
Assessed by: worksheet (21 short answer questions)
Assessment specification
 Learners must provide evidence that they possess all the necessary
knowledge and understanding to satisfy the requirements of this unit
 Must be the learner’s sole work and group completion is not permitted
 May be completed over a period of time
 May be completed away from the centre (i.e. as a homework task)
 May be marked by the course tutor or an independent assessor
Unit 1- Professional practice for exercise referral
instructors
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q – What is the pass mark for the worksheet?
A – 100%. “Learners must provide evidence that they possess all the
necessary knowledge and understanding to satisfy the requirements of this
unit”
From syllabus
Should the learner fail to provide sufficient evidence through completion of
the worksheet, supplementary questions will need to be asked by the
assessor to confirm competence, or otherwise . All supplementary
questions and answers must be recorded
Unit 2- Understanding medical conditions for
exercise referral
Knowledge based unit which aims to provide the learner with an
understanding of a range of medical conditions, and how to prescribe safe
and effective exercise for them.
Assessed by: the completion of 15 x information sheets (one for each
stipulated condition) which are found in the LAR
Unit 2- Understanding medical conditions for
exercise referral
Assessment specification
 All the medical conditions stipulated in syllabus must be covered (Skills
Active (compulsory requirement)
 Learners must provide evidence that they possess all the necessary
knowledge and understanding to satisfy the requirements of this unit
 Must be the learner’s sole work and group completion is not permitted
 May be completed over a period of time
 May be completed away from the centre (i.e. as a homework task)
 May be marked by the course tutor or an independent assessor
Unit 2- Understanding medical conditions for
exercise referral
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q – Do all information sheets need to be individually assessed?
A – It has been agreed with Skills Active that a sampling strategy my be
used when assessing this unit. Therefore it is permissible for an assessor to
assess a minimum of 6 worksheets for each learner. However there must
be evidence that this sample is random and that over entire cohort all
medical conditions have been covered
Unit 3- Planning exercise referral programmes with
patients
Knowledge and competence unit which aims to provide the learner with
the understanding and skills required to plan safe and effective exercise
referral programmes for individuals and groups and adapt them when
necessary
Assessed by:
 Worksheet (11 short answer questions)
 Observed patient consultation
 Design of a suitable exercise referral programme
 Patient / programme review
 Written letter to a healthcare professional
Unit 3- Planning exercise referral programmes with
patients
Assessment specification (worksheet)
 Learners must provide evidence that they possess all the necessary
knowledge and understanding to satisfy the requirements of this unit
 Must be the learner’s sole work and group completion is not permitted
 May be completed over a period of time
 May be completed away from the centre (i.e. as a homework task)
 May be marked by the course tutor or an independent assessor
Unit 3- Planning exercise referral programmes with
patients
Assessment specification (observed consultation)
 The patient must have minimum of 2 of the following conditions
Hypertension
Obesity
Rheumatoid arthritis
Anxiety
Hypercholesterolaemia
Diabetes type 1
Osteoporosis
Simple mechanical back
pain
Chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease
Diabetes type 2
Depression
Joint replacement
Asthma
Osteoarthritis
Stress
 In the event that a real patient cannot be found, a hypothetical patient
may be used
 Care must be taken to ensure that the selected patient does not possess
two conditions which make them high risk or outside the scope of
practice for a Level 3 exercise referral instructor
Unit 3- Planning exercise referral programmes with
patients
Assessment specification (observed consultation cont.)
 During the observed consultation, the learner will be assessed
demonstrating the skills required to collect information , using methods
appropriate to the patients and their condition/s , including “soft skills”
such as:
• establishing a rapport with patient
• showing sensitivity and empathy to patient and the information they
provide
• working with patient to agree short, medium and long-term goals
appropriate to their needs
• determining their patient’s needs and readiness to participate
Unit 3- Planning exercise referral programmes with
patients
Assessment specification (Exercise referral programme design)
 Following the observed consultation the learner should design a
structured exercise referral programme appropriate to their patient’s
medical condition/s, goals and level of fitness
 Since further assessment elements will require the monitoring of the
patient’s progress and adapting the programme as necessary, it is
recommended that this plan lasts a minimum of 4 weeks
 The documentation contained within the LAR should be used to ensure
all ACs are met
Unit 3- Planning exercise referral programmes with
patients
Assessment specification (Exercise referral programme design cont.)
 The learner should then supply the programme to their patient and
clarify their understanding of it
 At this time the learner should also inform their patient that they intend
to review programme after approximately 4 weeks (and so will be
seeking feedback at this time)
Important note:
Since the learner is unqualified to give advice at this stage, it is highly
recommend that the assessor/tutor determine the suitability of the
programme before the learner gives it to their patient.
Unit 3- Planning exercise referral programmes with
patients
Assessment specification (Patient / programme review)
 The learner should review the programme with their patient after a
period of time deemed suitable to monitor their progress (It is
recommended that this is a minimum of 4 weeks)

This will require the completion of the patient review questionnaire
(which may be conducted either remotely or face to face)
 Upon receipt of the completed questionnaire the learner should then
• monitor the patient’s responses
• consider any actions which are necessary or appropriate
• detail their recommendations on the patient review questionnaire
• complete the “adaptations to programme record” accordingly
• provide feedback and return to patient
Unit 3- Planning exercise referral programmes with
patients
Assessment specification (Letter to a healthcare professional)
 The learner must compose a letter to a healthcare professional
informing them of their patient’s progress in meeting the pre-planned
goals
Unit 3- Planning exercise referral programmes with
patients
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q – Does the assessor need to be present during the learner/patient
consultation?
A – No. Although the assessor requires to see how the learner uses the
consultation process to gather the required information, this may be
undertaken via Skype (live) or submitted video evidence (recorded)
Unit 4- Instructing exercise with referred patients
Knowledge and competence unit which aims to provide the learner with
the understanding and skills required by the learner when instructing
exercise for referred patients.
Assessed by:
 Written session plan
 Observed session delivery
 Written worksheet
Unit 4- Instructing exercise with referred patients
Assessment specification (written session plan)
 The learner must produce a session plan for an exercise referral patient
with a minimum of 2 of the following conditions
Hypertension
Obesity
Rheumatoid arthritis
Anxiety
Hypercholesterolaemia
Diabetes type 1
Osteoporosis
Simple mechanical back
pain
Chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease
Diabetes type 2
Depression
Joint replacement
Asthma
Osteoarthritis
Stress
 In the event that a real patient cannot be found, a hypothetical patient
may be used with the conditions being selected by the tutor/assessor
from the table
 This plan must only be based upon the learner’s own area of expertise
Eg: Gym, ETM, PT, Pilates etc.
Unit 4- Instructing exercise with referred patients
Assessment specification (Observed session delivery cont.)
 Prior to delivery of the session, the assessor should ensure the learner
has selected a suitable range of exercises/physical activities for their
patients
 The learner must then instruct their patient through the approved preplanned session, following which they should
• conduct a patient feedback session
• explain to the assessor how this information could be used to
improve their own personal practice
Unit 5- Anatomy and physiology for exercise and
health
Knowledge based unit which aims to provide the learner with the
underpinning anatomy and physiology knowledge an instructor requires,
when programming exercise for a range of clients
Assessed by: Multiple Choice Theory paper
Assessment specification:
• Externally set
• Internally invigilated
• The time allocation is 60 minutes
• 40 questions (1 mark per question) and the learners must achieve a
minimum of 28 marks overall to pass (70%).
Unit 5- Anatomy and physiology for exercise and
health
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q- If a learner already has achieved this unit (from Level 3 Personal Trainer
or a similar level 3 qualification), can they claim “equivalence”?
Y- Yes, providing the unit (number) is identical no further assessment is
necessary
Q - Are mock theory papers available?
A - Yes, these can be accessed via the CYQ website www.cyq.org.uk or
requested from theorypapers@cyq.org.uk
Q - How do I order theory papers?
A - CYQ theory papers are available to approved centre contacts from
theorypapers@cyq.org.uk
Unit 6: Applying the principles of nutrition to a
physical activity programme
Knowledge and competence unit which aims to provide the learner with
the understanding and skills required to apply the principles of nutrition to
support client goals, as part of an exercise and physical activity programme
Assessed by:
• Multiple choice theory paper
• Knowledge questions
• Case study
Unit 6: Applying the principles of nutrition to a
physical activity programme
Assessment specification (Multiple choice theory paper)
 Externally set
 Internally invigilated
 The time allocation is 45 minutes
 30 questions (1 mark per question) and the learners must achieve a
minimum of 21 marks overall to pass (70%).
Unit 6: Applying the principles of nutrition to a
physical activity programme
Assessment specification (Knowledge questions)
 17 Short answer questions
 All questions must be completed
 Must be the learner’s sole work and group completion is not permitted
 May be completed over a period of time
 May be completed away from the centre (i.e. as a homework task)
 May be marked by the course tutor or an independent assessor
Unit 6: Applying the principles of nutrition to a
physical activity programme
Assessment specification (Case study)
 Healthy individual
• fellow student
• friend/relative
• partner/spouse
 Requires learner to collect, record & analyse information in order to
provide nutrition and exercise/activity advice to their client based on
sound nutritional & exercise principles
 Case study pro-forma & marking scheme is supplied
Resources
• Syllabus
• Learner Assessment Record (LAR)
• Manual (supporting resource only ie: not mapped to
syllabus)
• IQA Guidance Pack
Staff requirements
All Tutors, Assessors and Quality Assurance Staff must:
• Possess an exercise referral specific qualification equivalent to the
qualification or units being taught / assessed or quality assured
• Possess a context specific qualification in the context of fitness being
assessed or quality assured eg exercise to music, yoga
• Have relevant industry experience
• Have knowledge of and a commitment to the Exercise and Fitness Code
of Ethical Practice
• Demonstrate active involvement in a process of industry relevant
Continued Professional Development during the last two years (this may
be discipline/ context specific or relevant to tutoring assessing or quality
assurance)
• Be knowledgeable of the Active Leisure, Learning and Wellbeing
framework of qualifications
Staff Responsibilities
Tutor
The role of the tutor is to plan, deliver and evaluate an effective
programme of learning to accommodate the needs of all learners
registered – they should hold or be working towards a recognised
teaching qualification
The tutor should hold or be working towards a recognised teaching
qualification
Staff Responsibilities
Assessor
The role of the assessor is to make an informed judgement about the
range of evidence a learner may produce to demonstrate their
competence to meet the assessment criteria
Tutors must have a L3 Award or Certificate in Assessing Vocational or
Work-based Achievement (QCF); SQA equivalent; L3 Assessing in the
A.L.S.; A1, D32/33
NB:Tutors working towards an assessing award will be required to have
decisions countersigned by a qualified assessor
Final summative assessment conducted by independent assessor
Staff Responsibilities
Internal Quality Assurer
The role of the internal quality assurer is to make informed judgements
regarding the practice of and decisions made by the assessment team to
maintain standards and to provide guidance and support to assessors –
they should hold or be working towards a recognised IQA qualification
IQA’s must have a L4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of
Assessment Processes and Practice(QCF); SQA equivalent; V1, D34
IQA’s must sample all assessors
Website
Visit www.cyq.org.uk for:
• Full qualification details
• Centre guidance including:
• fees
• policies and procedures
• FAQs
• Resource previews and demos
• Training days calendar
• Assessor/IQA course schedule
Summary
• Any
further questions?
•Please complete CYQ ‘Evaluation Form’ and ‘CPD Claim Form’
•Thank you for your participation and feedback