IFI International Fitness Institute
Learn Without Limits
NASM and AFAA Approved Continuing Education Provider
Next Course: IFI Health & Fitness Professional Level 1
Sept 23-25 & Sept 30-Oct 2, 2022
1.9 NASM CEU’s | 15 AFAA CEU’s
The International Fitness Institute is the home of the world’s top health and fitness courses. We help you master topics in health and fitness, lifestyle management, and behaviour change. IFI’s team has been certifying professionals for 20+ years.
At IFI, we envision a world where anyone, anywhere has the power to transform their life and the lives of their clients, through learning. We believe that learning allows us to redefine what’s possible. IFI provides you access to the best learning.
IFI is the global online learning platform that offers anyone, anywhere access to the world’s top health and fitness courses. We conveniently deliver cutting-edge courses designed and delivered by world-class experts in health, fitness, and behavioural sciences. Our scientifically proven, and evidence-based approaches provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to transform the lives of your clients. You’ll learn a practical system that supports every stage of your coaching journey – from the first time you meet a client, until they reach their goals, to individualizing programming, and creating a successful business. We educate on measurable health and fitness outcomes.
Whether you are just starting out, or far along in your career, you are ready to become IFI Certified. You can use your knowledge and skills to earn a great living doing what you love, either full-time or part-time.
Educational Program Philosophy
The underlying philosophy of the International Fitness Institute is to produce the highest quality graduates who are recognized as the benchmark by industry in training related health, wellness and fitness programs. IFI will, through its curriculum, its staff and supporting resources seek to produce graduates recognized for their critical reflection and their strong theoretical knowledge. As well, their ability to reason and evaluate, and develop a comprehensive practical skill set for the development and implementation of functional exercise programs and sport/activity specific training techniques.
IFI graduates are recognized by:
- Excellent integrated knowledge base and an evidence-based approach to practice
- Clear understanding of mechanisms to drive lasting health outcomes
- An ability to translate and quantify for clients the role of the xAlt Pillars of Health in driving health outcomes
- Refined problem solving skills
- Successful translation of information and practical skills from the ‘classroom’ to real life situations
- Teamwork and effective interpersonal communication
- Commitment to ethical behaviour and decisions
Features of IFI
A unique methodology to achieving optimal health and fitness results
Learn from experts with decades of experience coaching coaches and working with everyone from Olympic gold medalists, to NFL, NBA, and NHL athletes, to recreational exercisers.
Online, university-level content with an in-person classroom feel
We use the #1 learning management system in the world to deliver you courses from anywhere you are. IFI fosters an online, convenient, and interactive learning environment that is fun, easy to use, and ensures you get the most of your experience.
A scientifically proven, evidence-based system
IFI courses are the accumulation of knowledge from our leadership team of experts with doctorates, PhD’s, and masters-level educations. It’s the most cutting-edge information available. Our approach has been tested and has proven results.
IFI boosts your credentials & your confidence
Reputable and recognized certifications will increase your confidence to successfully learn the health, fitness, coaching, and business management skills you need to transform your clients lives.
IFI courses are approved and recognized by leading health and fitness organizations
We’re the only certification in the industry recognized by university institutions. IFI is recognized by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the Athletics and Fitness Association of America as an Approved Continuing Education Provider.
100% money-back guarantee
IFI guarantees that you will make the cost of one of our courses back within the first three months of working on xAlt.
Master the art of coaching, get world-class results, and transform your business all in one place. Learning with IFI is your next step towards achieving your professional and personal goals.
The Team
Our experts teach trainers/coaches around the world from elite, high-performance trainers, to those just starting their careers. They have published peer-reviewed research that continuously contributes to the industry and is used at IFI to perfect our approach.
Developed and taught by Professor Chris McLellan, PhD Exercise and Sports Sciences/Physiotherapy; Adeel Khan, M. D. Sports Medicine; Dr. Jay Wiles, PhD Clinical Health Psychology; Louise de Lannoy, PhD Exercise Physiology; Associate Professor Stephen P. Bird, PhD Exercise Physiology and Nutrition; Keren Ramonov, MScPT; Dr. Tamara Kung, N.D.; and Hamza Khan, M.Ed., the IFI certifications are the synthesis of everything they’ve learned over 20+ years of research and coaching in health, fitness, and behavioural sciences.
Expert Teachers
Why IFI?
Today, health and fitness professionals face two issues:
- Integrating and translating knowledge in health, fitness, and behaviour change to coaching skills that produce both measurable and lasting benefits for clients
- Obtaining an education that is relevant, actionable, and fits into their schedule.
When students go back to school for sport and exercise sciences, most programs are focused on theory and fail to emphasize real-world application. This type of education leaves students without an ability to translate their knowledge to training and work directly with clients. Many students lack a job once they graduate.
IFI directly addressed both of these industry challenges:
- We are the only health and fitness certifications that teach theory with relevant application, along with business management tools to really help you succeed.
- Our courses are offered often and delivered over the course of two weekends. We took the most cutting-edge experts and research available, and put everything into one certification.
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IFI Certifications
Top-ranked across the board.
5/5
#1 rated health and fitness coaching certifications for satisfaction, reputation, quality, and effectiveness.
How it Works
Each of our courses have been developed to be delivered LIVE over two weekends, consisting of 30-40 hours of content. Whilst completed online, courses are interactive and require attendance and as such are not self-paced online courses. The courses include breakout group sessions that require participation for the successful completion of courses within the timeframe.
Once you register for an IFI course, you will immediately be sent registration details to gain access to Canvas, and view all of the course content and resources ahead of time. You will be sent a link to your built-in calendar with all of your live lectures, labs, and assignment due dates. Your teaching assistant will reach out to you.
Read the module, complete the corresponding content (i.e. video, podcast, article reading, etc.)
Attend your live lecture and lab session with the teaching assistant.
Certifications
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 1
IFI Health and Fitness Professional Level 1
1.9 NASM CEU’s | 15 AFAA CEU’s
The IFI Health and Fitness Professional Level 1 course is designed for accredited fitness industry professionals and university graduates with an interest in the theoretical and practical application of exercise and behaviour change with a results-based philosophy for long-term health, wellness and fitness outcomes for non-clinical populations. The 32-hour course includes a unique blend of theoretical course delivery meshed with interactive tutorials, group discussions and interactive practical experiences. This unique course places a strong emphasis on practical skill development in an applied learning environment to create xAlt Certified Trainers/Coaches equipped to commence work upon successful completion of the course.
Modules & Topics:
- Client Onboarding, Assessment and Screening
- Introduction to xAlt and the 6 Pillars
- Client Onboarding and Screening
- Exercise Readiness for Health and Wellbeing
- Enhancing Client Mobility
- Determining Exercise Capacity
- IFI/xAlt Essentials 1
- Stress Resilience for Health Professionals
- Breathing Techniques for Fitness Professionals
- IFI/xAlt Essentials 2
- Sleep, Health and Wellbeing
- Injury Prevention Principles and Practice for Fitness Professionals
- Exercise Programming and Planning
- Exercise Programming and Periodization
- Exercise Techniques and Progressions 1 – The Big Three
- The IFI Trainer’s Toolkit
- Developing Muscular Strength and Hypertrophy
- Exercise Readiness and Recovery Tracking
- Mindset and Behaviour in Health and Wellbeing
- Rehabilitation Exercise and Program Development for Fitness Professionals
- Mindset and Facilitating the Client Experience
- The IFI Trainer’s Toolkit
- Goal Setting and Behaviour Change in Health and Wellbeing
- Health, Wellbeing and Fitness 1%ers
This course includes:
- 32 hours of content
- Required and supplemental readings, videos, podcasts, etc.
- Live, interactive peer-to-peer breakout labs lead by TA instructors
- Access on any mobile device
- IFI certification, 1.9 NASM CEU’s, 15 AFAA CEU’s
Level 2
IFI Advanced Health and Fitness Professional
Coming soon.
Level 3
Coming soon.
Becoming IFI Certified
By the end of one course, you’ll have gone through 30 – 40 hours of content. To obtain certification, full attendance and completion of course content is required. You will immediately receive an electronic certification, as well as a hard copy mailed to you.
As soon as you receive your electronic certification you are ready to take your new knowledge and change your client’s lives, on your own, or on xAlt.
Learning on Canvas for Your IFI Certification is:
Interactive
From modules, quizzes, and videos, to our unique, online breakout labs, Canvas makes every aspect of IFI courses interactive.
Collective
Join breakout rooms, learn with other students, and connect with our leadership team to enhance your learning experience.
Integrated
Canvas meets your educational needs where you are right now. Everything you need to grow and succeed is in one, convenient place.
Engaging
Canvas allows IFI to deliver high-quality content in a way that will keep you coming back for more.
Accessible
A mobile application that delivers you your learning experience even when on the go.
With Canvas, "Classroom" is a concept.
Canvas is built with a focus on reliability, openness and ease-of-use. Canvas helps IFI support delivery and continuity of learning in a flexible, engaging, and fully-supported learning management platform.
IFI loves Canvas because it allows us to create individualized learning environments that bring all of your learning tools into one place. Simple and intuitive, Canvas streamlines IFI’s course content for a simpler and more connected learning experience!
IFI graduates specialize in applying scientific principles and techniques to improve health, wellbeing and fitness; either at an individual level or within the context of a team or organizational environment. They may also apply their knowledge and skills to relevant projects within the health and fitness industry, for corporate bodies or in the community. At all times, graduates make the wellbeing of the individual, the team and other service users their primary concern by providing the highest quality training experience.
Graduate Attributes:
- Capacity to contribute to the health and fitness development of individuals
- Knowledge of, and capacity to uphold, ethical practice and the values of health and fitness, fairness and individual safety and wellbeing
- Capacity to understand, as well as to select, design or modify, and then apply, assessment protocols and methodologies appropriate to the individual or group and the situation
- Capacity to design, deliver and interpret safe, effective and evidence-based fitness science interventions for healthy populations or other service users, in a collaborative manner with medical, allied health, fitness instructors, group and personal trainers and coaches
- Capacity to monitor, recognize, interpret, report and take appropriate action regarding adverse signs and symptoms that may arise during exercise or recovery
- Cultural competence, that is, the ability to practice sensitively and to communicate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders in diverse social and cultural settings
- Ability to communicate effectively in written and verbal form with other health, fitness and medical professionals and with fitness instructors, group and personal trainers; and the ability to document decisions appropriately
- Understanding of, and capacity to practice in accordance with, ethically relevant policies, legislation and regulations, including those concerning anti-discrimination, and workplace health and safety
- Practice within the scope of health and fitness professionals, and recognition of the need to refer a client to other related professionals
- Evidence-based practice, including the ability to compile, critically evaluate, and communicate the scientific rationale for their professional decision making and service delivery
- Commitment to self-development in the field of health and fitness through educational engagement and ongoing learning, self-evaluation of practice, inter- professional working relationships and the support of new graduates, and advocacy for health and wellbeing
Pricing
IFI Certifications give you a graduate-level education in health and exercise sciences and behaviour change, at a competitive, yet affordable price. Our courses are priced comparably to that of a single university course credit. Compared to other online certifications, IFI not only guarantees a job upon completion of the course, but clients who get results. All of the material you learn can be immediately applied to your coaching career.
$
599
Per Course
Browse courses
All prices are listed in USD. There are no additional and/or hidden costs.
Who is IFI For?
The certifications are suitable for experienced industry certified trainers and university graduates aspiring for a career in health and fitness, or for established professionals including physical therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches seeking professional development and diversification of skills to be part of the xAlt Trainer network. Our courses assume a minimal level of understanding of topics in health and fitness sciences.
An IFI Certification is for you if you:
- Want to master behaviour-change coaching
- Want to change people’s lives
- Want hands-on, practical, “real-world” education
- Are willing to commit less than a month’s time to becoming a better professional
Our Guarantee
When students sign up for an IFI course, they make a commitment to learn from us. We make a commitment to help our students become better trainers/coaches. IFI guarantees that students will make back the full cost of one of our courses within the first three months of training clients on xAlt. If not, they will receive full credit.
Member Results
An IFI education allows our students to produce life-changing results on xAlt.
IFI continuously works to test, redefine, and validate its methodology so its students and their clients get the best education and results possible. Our trainers/coaches who train clients on xAlt have proven results of members who have achieved life-changing and lasting health outcomes. We are confident that you will be able to create the same change with everyone who comes to you for help.
Click on any of xAlt’s members to see how their lives have changed since they started working with an IFI certified trainer/coach.
Testimonials
IFI’s interactive lab sessions with their TA’s embedded within each module throughout the entire Level 1 course really helped me put theory into practice. The experts at IFI taught me almost instantly how to make knowledge actionable. These sessions gave me the confidence I needed to be a better trainer and I saw immediate results with my clients. Knowing I studied with world experts and learned up-to-date, evidence-based science, I feel ready for anything that comes my way.
Brandon Shave 
After just a few modules into the Level 1 Certification, I was impressed with the amount of scientific and actionable content I was learning that was directly relevant and immediacy applicable to my day-to-day work. IFI taught me a new way of training that more accurately targets and captures more of the health and lifestyle of the general population. Their xAlt Pillars of Health are so simple yet so profound to changing health outcomes and my clients are loving it!
Cory Thatcher 
Learning the powerful nature and importance of measuring CRF from the experts at IFI has been game changing to both my coaching career and to the health of my clients. The entire level 1 certification prepared me with the proper knowledge, skills, and resources I was missing from my career to successfully transform the lives of each one of my clients.
Laura Magas 
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Frequently Asked Questions
IFI and Canvas work well on all browsers and devices. We like to make things easier for you.
IFI Certifications are designed for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge and skills and translating them to improve the health and well-being of others. Our courses assume a minimal level of understanding of topics in health and fitness sciences.
An IFI Certification is for you if you: want to master behaviour-change coaching; want to change people’s lives; want hands-on practical, “real-world” education; and are willing to commit less than a month’s time to becoming a better professional.
Yes. Download Canvas Student from the app store on your mobile device and sign-in with the details sent to you from IFI when you have registered and paid for a course.
All IFI certifications are priced at $599 USD.
Yes – IFI Health and Fitness Professional Level 1 is NASM (1.9 CEU’s) and AFAA (15 CEU’s) approved.
Get in Touch
(416) 829-7749
laura@internationalfitnessinstitute.com