The Level 3 Aquatic Activity for Health qualification builds on the Level 3 Exercise Referral.

It develops your knowledge and skills, giving you the confidence to set and deliver water-based exercises for customers coming through health referral and physical activity pathways.

The Level 3 Aquatic Activity for Health qualification is one of the essential components of the Swim England Water Wellbeing accreditation scheme.

Who is the course designed for?

Any Level 3 Exercise Referral Instructor who wants the knowledge, skills and confidence to set and deliver water-based exercises to people who come through health referral and physical activity pathways.

Course content

Exercise referral schemes offer physical activity to those who need to improve their health and wellbeing.

Current Level 3 Exercise Referral qualifications only cover land-based exercises and when water-based exercise is offered it tends to be in the form of aqua aerobics classes.

These are led by instructors who are not appropriately qualified to deal with the customer’s health needs.

The Level 3 Aquatic Activity for Health Qualification builds on the Level 3 GP Exercise Referral, bridging this gap between dry land and water-based exercise.

The course goes through the properties of exercising in water including physiological effects, benefits and exercises for a range of mild to moderate health conditions.

This is split into units covering:

• Knowledge of key aquatic skills
• Understand the principles and use of water-based referral exercises
• Supporting behaviour change
• Instructing water based referral exercises
• Understand the exercises that may be detrimental to the health and well-being of the participant

Download a PDF of the specification for the Level 3 Aquatic Activity for Health qualification.

Prerequisites

Learners must be 18 years of age or older on the first day of the course and have at least one of the following:

• Level 3 Exercise Referral qualification
• Membership of the Health Care and Professional’s Council (HCPC)
• A Chartered Society of Physiotherapy number

Training Format

This will be delivered at a venue with a tutor at the site. The course theory takes place in a seminar room, you will then go to the pool for your practical work, session delivery and assessment.

CIMSPA endorsed

Once completed, you will gain 10 Continuing Professional Development points. You can upload these to your CIMSPA profile via this link cimspa.co.uk/user-login/