Gear up to meet the growing demand for fitness, health, and wellness professionals

Channel your passion for fitness, health, and wellness into a rewarding career with our hands-on program! 

You will explore the many different facets that contribute to our physical and mental health, along with gaining practice in a multitude of physical activities. Gain the expertise and skills to create and lead fun and effective programs for people of all ages and abilities through active courses in physical literacy and physical activity, fitness assessment and program design, group exercise, resistance training, therapeutic exercise, and outdoor recreation. Participate in these course activities in a private multipurpose fitness and health promotion laboratory space created for our program! Combine these skills with knowledge on health promotion, nutrition for health and for high performance, mental training techniques, recreation management and marketing. Multiple certification opportunities are available to students within the curriculum. 

This program will hone your skills to inspire and transform lives and allow you to ignite a desire for health and fitness in others.

Program highlights 

• Gain invaluable experiential learning with a 150-hour placement in your final semester, combined with a 25-hour personal training project 
• Study in the first college program in Canada to sign a memorandum of understanding with Sport for Life, giving you access to several physical literacy certifications at no cost
• Additional optional certifications may be available to students from Sport for Life, HighFive, the National Coaching Certification Program, Ontario Fitness Council, and the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology  
• Discover what northern Ontario has to offer with the only fitness and health promotion program that offers an outdoor recreation course (experience outdoor field trips that blend leadership training and hands-on skill development with healthy active living)
• Go beyond the basics of nutrition with a second course that focuses on nutrition for performance
• Gain exclusive access to a modern, multi-purpose/functional fitness and assessment laboratory featuring technology found in industry 
• Receive access on campus to fully-equipped weight and cardio rooms, squash courts, double gymnasium, stretching area, outdoor running track, football field, baseball diamond, and beach volleyball courts
• High-quality, freely available online textbooks and other resources are used for this program
• Benefit from a combination of active fitness education with health promotion principles 
• Strong pathway accessibility to multiple university programs for graduates

Program of study for 2026-27 Academic Year 

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For more information regarding General Education courses, click here.

Admission requirements

For graduates of the new curriculum (OSS): Ontario Secondary School Diploma (30 credits) or equivalent or mature student status, including:

• Any grade 12 English (C) or (U)
• Any grade 11 (C), (U), or (M) or grade 12 mathematics (C) or (U)

Additional admissions requirement

This program includes physical activity and requires that students participate in cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility exercises. Additional activities include group exercise, outdoor recreation, and other various forms of physical activity. Students must complete a Get Active Questionnaire (GAQ) and an Informed Consent form before participating in class. Prospective students with health-related concerns that may affect their ability to participate in physical activities are encouraged to consult with their doctor before beginning the program and contact the program coordinator to discuss potential assignment modifications as required.

Students are required to meet non-medical requirements to be eligible for field placement in their final semester. This includes a:

• Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening from their local police department
• Standard/Emergency Level First Aid and CPR Level C
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) online training
• Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 steps (Bill 18)
• Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) training
• Student Declaration of Understanding (WSIB) 
• Additional immunizations may be required to meet site-specific requirements

These requirements must be valid for the entire duration of the placement in the final semester.

Recommendations 

Program delivery

2026-2027

Fall term start

SEMESTER 1:  Fall 2026
SEMESTER 2:  Winter 2027
SEMESTER 3:  Fall 2027
SEMESTER 4:  Winter 2028

Winter term start

SEMESTER 1:  Winter 2027
SEMESTER 2:  Spring 2027
SEMESTER 3:  Fall 2027
SEMESTER 4:  Winter 2028

Specific Program Articulations and Pathways to University Degree Opportunities

Graduates of our program, with a 75% average or higher, qualify for strong 2+2 Articulations with our University counterparts to enter their programs with advanced standing. Stay in Northern Ontario and get both your applied Diploma and your undergraduate Degree in four years total! Our Cambrian Fitness and Health Promotion Diploma articulates with the following programs:

Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario

• Bachelor of Physical Health Education Degree in Kinesiology in English or French, OR
• Bachelor of Physical Health Education Degree in Health Promotion

Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario

• Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology Degree

Refer to Cambrian's college and university agreement details for further information. Graduates of the Fitness and Health Promotion Diploma program may also continue their studies at many other Ontario Colleges and Universities and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. For example, our Cambrian Fitness and Health Promotion Diploma leads to advanced standing in the following program:

Sheridan College, Brampton, Ontario

• Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences - Kinesiology and Health Promotion Degree

Our students have International Opportunities too! 

• BA/BSc (Honours) in multiple Sports programs, Hartpury University, Gloucester, UK

• Honours Bachelor in multiple Sports programs, South East Technological University, Carlow, Ireland

 Refer to Cambrian's college and university agreement details for further information. 

Employment opportunities

There is a wide range of career options in the private, public, and corporate health sectors. Health and fitness professionals can be found working in municipal and community-based organizations, allied health care, retirement homes, resorts/hotels, parks and recreation, sports specialty camps, and more!

Graduates will be prepared for employment opportunities as:

• Athlete development coaches
• Club managers
• Fitness coordinators and consultants
• Fitness business entrepreneurs
• Group exercise and bootcamp instructors
• Health and fitness assessors
• Health promotion coaches and wellness consultants
• Personal trainers 
• Program directors or managers
• Specialty children's camp counsellors and program directors
• Sport or fitness retail sales consultants
• Sport, recreation, or fitness consultants with children, youth, or adults

Students can also choose to continue their education pathway in the direction of athletic therapy, kinesiology, medicine, or physiotherapy.