The Higher Certificate in Exercise and Health Fitness is a 2-year programme in which Year 1 is common to all students and in Year 2, students choose their options from a range of specialist qualifications according to their interest.

On completion of Year 1, you will have the necessary skills to supervise and instruct on the gym floor including the cardio, machine weights and free weight areas. You will also have the skills to teach group exercise classes in:

• Circuit Training

• Body Conditioning

• High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

• Studio Fitness, Exercise to Music

• Step Training

• Resistance Training

Year 2 provides our students with the opportunity to become Advanced Specialists by specialising in areas such as:

• Advanced Personal Training

• Strength & Conditioning for Athletes & Teams

• Pilates & Corrective Exercise

• Physical Activity Specialist for Chronic Conditions

• Active Ageing for Older Adults

• Business Facility Operations

• Fit for Life Wellness Coaching

• Children's Fitness

NCEF graduates who hold the Certificate in Exercise & Health Fitness (CEHF) award may apply to 'step into' Year 2 of the Higher Certificate to further specialise and add to their portfolio of skills.

Year 2 students must choose 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits from our Year 2 specialist modules in order to graduate with the Higher Certificate.

These 60 credits must be completed during an academic year and need to be divided into 30 ECTS credits in the Autumn Semester and 30 ECTS credits in the Spring Semester OR 30 ECTS credits in Spring Semester and 30 ECTS credits in Summer Semester.

View the Year 2 specialist options here.

All NCEF courses and modules are accredited by the University of Limerick (UL).

On successful completion of this 2-year course, students will graduate from UL with a Level 6 Major NFQ Higher Certificate in Exercise and Health Fitness.

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• University of Limerick Accredited

• Level 6 (Major) on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)

• Level 5 on the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)

• Europe Active /E Reps Exercise for Health Specialist (SQF Level 5)

• 120 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) Credits

Year 2 students must choose 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits from the specialist modules below in order to graduate with the Higher Certificate.

These 60 credits must be completed during an academic year and must be divided into 30 ECTS credits in the Autumn Semester and 30 ECTS credits in the Spring Semester OR 30 ECTS credits in Spring Semester and 30 ECTS credits in Summer Semester.

Year 2 consists of a choice of the following specialist modules:

• Advanced Personal Training (30 ECTS Credits)

• Strength & Conditioning for Athletes & Teams (30 ECTS Credits)

• Pilates & Corrective Exercise (30 ECTS Credits)

• Physical Activity Specialist for Chronic Conditions (30 ECTS Credits)

• Children's Fitness E-Learning (15 ECTS Credits)

• Fit for Life Wellness Coaching E-Learning (15 ECTS Credits)

• Active Ageing for Older Adults E-Learning (15 ECTS Credits)

• Business Facility Operations E-Learning (15 ECTS Credits)

Academic Year 2026/27 Fees

Fees for Year 2 of the Higher Certificate in Exercise & Health Fitness (HCEHF) 2026/27 are €3,725.

Option 1: Payment of Full Fees

Payment in full of €3,725 (inclusive of €995 non-refundable deposit) is due on acceptance of your place on the course.

Option 2: (Split Payment) Total fees €3,725

Non-refundable deposit payment of €995 due on acceptance of your place on the course. The balance of fees, €2,730 is due on or before Wednesday, 12th August 2026, at the latest.

Once students are registered, all fees paid are non-refundable/non-transferable.

For your security and in compliance with Section 65(4)(a) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012, Learner Protection arrangements have been put in place with Arachas Insurance, should the NCEF cease to provide this programme before learners have completed awards.

Applicants should hold the following:-

• NCEF/UL Certificate in Exercise & Health Fitness (CEHF)

OR

• Current recertified NCEF/PEAI Level 1 Certificate in Exercise & Fitness Instruction (Pre-2006).

• Current, up to date PHECC First Aid Response

Other health/fitness qualifications will be considered under the NCEF/UL Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Scheme.

NCEF reserves the right to interview if required.

Year 2 of the Higher Certificate in Exercise & Health Fitness takes place in the University of Limerick.

You may 'step into' Year 2 of the Higher Certificate for the Autumn & Spring semesters OR Spring & Summer semesters.

The next Spring/Summer start is January 2026 to late-August 2026.

The next Autumn/Spring start is September 2026 to late-April 2027.

Note, only the following e-learning modules are available in the Summer semester:

• Active Ageing for Older Adults

• Business Facility Operations

• Fit for Life Wellness Coaching

*Children's Fitness is not available in the Summer semester

Online e-learning specialist modules are completed from home through the University of Limerick virtual learning environment, BrightSpace. Classes are pre-recorded with voiceover, so you may study whenever it suits you - you do not have to follow a timetable for live classes.

Applications are now open for the 2025/26 and 2026/27academic years! Click Here