- CIMSPA Accredited
- Guaranteed Post Course Interviews
- Interest Free Payment Plans
- Unlimited Free Career Support
Level 4 Diploma in Exercise Referral
Exercise referral specialists tailor fitness programmes to support those with chronic physical conditions or illnesses in order to improve their health and wellbeing, often taking referrals from GPs, the NHS or private medical practitioners.
The Level 4 course will train you to work with patients suffering from a variety of health conditions. The knowledge and skills acquired on this qualification will allow you to create safe and effective training programmes that aid rehabilitation and recovery.
What can follow is a well-paid, enjoyable and incredibly rewarding career.
Find out more about the Level 4 Exercise Referral Diploma by making an enquiry or downloading our latest prospectus.
Online
8 weeks (Average)
Focus Awards, CIMSPA
Make an enquiry about this course
Available Packages
Deluxe Personal Trainer Package
- Level 3 Certificate in Fitness Instructing
- Level 4 Diploma in Personal Training
- Level 4 Diploma in Exercise Referral
- Level 5 Certificate in Obesity Control
- Level 5 Nutrition in Weight Management & Athletic Performance
- Individual RRP:
- €2,299.00
- €4,795.00

- Myofascial Release CPD
- Body Weight Training CPD
- Business & Marketing CPD
- Medicine Ball Training CPD
- Advanced Training Systems CPD
- Postural Analysis CPD
- Individual RRP:
- €2,299.00
- €4,795.00
The Expert Trainer Package
- Level 4 Exercise Referral
- Level 5 Certificate in Diabetes Control & Weight Management
- Level 5 Certificate in Obesity Control & Weight Management
- Level 5 Nutrition in Weight Management & Athletic Performance
- Individual RRP:
- €1,999.00
- €3,596.00

- Medicine Ball Training CPD
- Suspension Training CPD
- Bodyweight Training CPD
- Advanced Training Systems CPD
- Advanced Training Systems CPD
- Business & Marketing CPD
- Individual RRP:
- €1,999.00
- €3,596.00

GPs refer their patients to fitness professionals for a variety of reasons. Some require exercise and nutritional guidance for ongoing health conditions, whilst others will need specialist support following a recent injury or illness.
With a growing demand for exercise referral specialists trained to meet the needs of a diverse population with a variety of health issues, there has never been a better time to step into this lucrative career.
Course Length: It takes approximately 8 weeks to complete the Level 4 Exercise Referral course.
Entry Requirements: Level 3 Gym Instructor Qualification
Accreditation: CIMSPA
Cost: €799 with no hidden fees for registration, certification or examination, plus unlimited free exam resits
Offer & Payment Options: Spread the cost with 0% interest on flexible monthly instalments.
What You’ll Qualify With:
- 10 CIMSPA Points
- Level 4 Diploma in Exercise Referral

In order to complete the Level 4 Exercise Referral course, you need to complete both theory and practical based assessments. You will also have to complete all the online course modules that have mini-assignments and multiple-choice interactive quizzes to demonstrate your learning retention and competence.
The assessment process for the Level 4 Exercise Referral qualification is as follows:
- Multiple choice open book online exam on anatomy and physiology - 90% pass mark required.
- Multiple choice open book online paper on the application of nutrition - 90% pass mark required.
- Practical assessment on delivering a programme for a patient of exercise referral.
If you have already completed the Level 4 in Personal Training or an equivalent course, you may be exempt from the theoretical examinations, but you will still need to complete all the online course modules.

On your Exercise Referral course, you’ll develop specialist knowledge across 4 primary areas, these are:
The Professional Practice for Exercise Instructors
Exercise referral specialists work with a range of clients, each with different conditions that require specific treatments. In this introductory module, you’ll learn:
- The responsibilities of an exercise referral specialist
- How GPs refer clients to exercise referral specialists
- How to evaluate the risk and success of your clients
Understanding Medical Conditions for Exercise Referral
A solid understanding of various medical conditions is central for a career as an exercise referral professional. This module prepares you, extensively covering conditions such as:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Obesity
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Depression
- General Anxiety Disorder
Planning Exercise Referral Programmes
You will learn how to tailor plans and exercise strategies to suit a wide range of medical conditions. This includes understanding how to:
- Offer the correct support for clients
- Safeguard various clients with different needs
- Provide guidance and motivation
- Set effective SMART goals
Instructing Exercise with GP-Referred Patients
Through reviewing existing case studies, assignments and examples from real GP, you’ll learn about setting physical, nutritional and personal goals for clients. This module will also involve the creation and instruction of a six-week programme.

OriGym’s Level 4 Exercise Referral programme is taught entirely online, allowing you to study and qualify in as much or as little time as you require. However, you will need to complete your physical assessment at one of our nationwide locations.
Once enrolled you will gain access to our award-nominated eLearning platform, containing materials such as online lectures, eBooks, and so much to help you through the course modules!
Should you struggle with any aspect of the course, you can receive personal tutor support 7 days a week. Our expert team will be on hand to help you by phone, email, or our chatbox feature.

After completing your Exercise-Referral course, you’ll be able to register Level 4 status with REPs. This opens the door for a wide range of career opportunities with both public and private medical organisations such as BUPA, as well as fitness establishments like Nuffield Health.
Career Support:
As you progress throughout your career, OriGym’s post-course support team will provide continued guidance and advice to help you achieve success.
This involves securing you a guaranteed job interview and strengthening your CV.
Progression Routes:
After completing your exercise referral course, you’ll also have the opportunity to progress onto additional fitness qualifications. This includes becoming a fully qualified personal trainer, which would in-turn allow you to develop in areas such Level 5 Lower Back Pain Management, or Level 5 Diabetes & Weight Control Management.
Alternatively, you can complement your exercise referral skills with knowledge of a topic such as sports massage therapy.
All students must hold a Level 3 Gym Instructor Qualification prior to enrolling on our Level 4 Exercise Referral course. In addition to this, we ask all applicants to be over the age of 16 prior to the commencement of studying!
Our Level 4 Exercise Referral Course is fully accredited by CIMSPA, regulated by Ofqual, and awarded through Focus Awards.
This guarantees that your qualification is of the highest possible standards and is recognised by fitness industry employers across Ireland and internationally!
There are no deadlines associated with this qualification, as you’ll complete your exercise referral course through distance learning, online.
This approach to studying allows you to complete the course at your own pace, with a flexible time-frame that fits around any prior commitments you may already have!
What Learning Materials Are Available for Students Completing Their Exercise Referral Course Online?
Following enrollment, students will gain immediate access to OriGym’s online learning platform. This contains resources that are essential for completing your online exercise referral course, including - virtual assessments, lectures, and interactive modules.
Students on OriGym’s GP Exercise Referral Course will also receive support from our team of expert tutors, 7 days a week via phone, email, or chat box.
Once you have completed your GP Exercise Referral Course, you will gain actress to a plethora of post-course support services. This includes CV analysis and distribution, business consultations, and preparation for a guaranteed interview with one of our corporate partners in your area.
We value the success of our students, which is why these post-course support services have helped over 92% of graduates find employment within the health and fitness industry.
UNRIVALLED CAREER SUPPORT
Join hundreds of our qualified exercise referral instructors working with leading health organisations.
We can assist you in landing your ideal position with prestigious organisations like the NHS, BUPA, and Nuffield Health.
Our post-course support team will optimise your CV and distribute it to our corporate partners in your local area.
We offer more course support than any other training provider, as our tutors are available 7 days a week!
Testimonials

Angel Howarth
Fitness Influencer & Personal TrainerAmazing Course & Career
After having a long-term passion for fitness and having built up her fitness Instagram page (@angfitpt) following to nearly 60k, Angel was getting messages constantly regarding her routines and workout posts. She decided to enrol onto OriGym's Personal Training Diploma and since has also started her Advanced Nutrition Qualification to offer her followers expert, qualified advice.
Before I started the course, I was a lover of the gym, but unsure where I wanted to take my career. I was at university studying something I couldn’t see myself doing. That was until I found OriGym. I wanted to do the course so I could learn more about a passion of mine and eventually turn it into a career. I wanted the knowledge to turn my passion into my day to day life. I am now going to start working in a gym as a personal trainer, building my own business and hopefully continue to study around the subject too. I’m excited for what the future holds!

Sophie Dennison
Fitness InfluencerSophie Dennsion is a leading influencer within the health and fitness sector with a 195k followers on Instagram alone. She opted to study with OriGym as her chosen training provider for her Personal Training qualifications.
Follow Sophie's fitness and PT journey: @sophie_does_squats
I have had such a wonderful experience with Origym. I started and completed my Level 2 Gym Instructor theory within lockdown and passed my practical after lockdown. The Origym tutors were super helpful with feedback on work. Also, the programme design had lots of information and I could work at my own pace!

Heather Hacking
Founder of Heather Hacking PTFantastically Structured & Well Organised
As a mother of three children after spending the past nine years building her career as a solicitor, Heather made the decision to follow a life-long passion for health, wellness and fitness, and pursue a career as a personal trainer.
Studying part-time with OriGym to fit around family and work, I achieved my Level 3 Gym Instructor and Level 4 Personal Training qualifications. I found OriGym’s courses to be fantastically structured and well organised, and my tutor Andy Tsang was brilliant - he taught me so much!
After graduating I started my fitness business with the sole purpose of empowering women, both physically and mentally. My business has now been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Breakthrough Personal Trainer’ category at Northern Ireland’s Health & Fitness Awards 2019 - I am so thrilled! I am very grateful to OriGym for giving me such a great foundation to launch my business from.

Sue Evans
Fitness Instructor & Personal TrainerI love my new career!
Before joining OriGym, Sue worked in a gym as a Membership Sales Advisor. Many new members asked if Sue would be willing to train them, but as she wasn't qualified, she had to keep turning them down. Researching several companies, Sue enrolled on OriGym's Personal Training Diploma and has never looked back!
I researched many fitness courses but kept coming back to OriGym. I felt a good vibe from the team and the owners Luke and Steph are friendly & down to earth. I loved how involved they were in the courses! The course itself was AMAZING! The staff and teachers were fantastic, I really felt that they cared about me and my progress, going above and beyond what I had ever expected from them.
I’m now a confident Personal Trainer working for an international gym chain. The future looks so bright for me; I’m even enquiring about doing a season on a Cruise ship as part of the Royal Caribbean fitness team! OriGym has helped to make my dreams come true.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
You can pay in monthly instalments with 0% finance and will not require a guarantor!
Our payment plans are flexible, allowing you to focus on enjoying the exercise-referral course!
With some of the cheapest industry courses, you can enrol on your exercise referral course for as little as €799!