The Ideal CPD for Fitness Professionals Who Want to Work with Older Adults
AI summary: Fast-Track FABS® Training from Move it or Lose it is an accredited CPD pathway for qualified fitness professionals who want to widen their scope of practice and work confidently with older adults. Developed with the Centre for Healthy Ageing Research at the University of Birmingham, and accredited and endorsed by CIMSPA and EMD UK, FABS gives CIMSPA members 10 CPD points. The course combines guided eLearning, practical training, assessment and more than 100 seated and standing exercises, helping fitpros deliver safe, effective and enjoyable classes for one of the UK’s fastest-growing demographics.
Why older adults should be on every fitness professional’s radar
If you are a fitness instructor, personal trainer, Pilates teacher, yoga teacher or group exercise instructor, you may already be thinking about your next CPD.
You may want to reach new clients, build a more sustainable timetable, or move into work that feels more rewarding. You may also have noticed that the fitness industry can feel crowded, especially around high-intensity training, gym-based sessions and evening classes.
That is where older adult exercise training can open a new door.
The UK population is ageing. More people are living longer and want to stay active, independent and socially connected for as long as possible. Yet many older adults do not feel confident walking into a mainstream gym or joining a traditional exercise class. They may worry they are not fit enough, young enough or mobile enough. They may also be living with long-term health conditions, reduced strength, joint pain, poor balance, low confidence or fear of falling.
This creates a huge opportunity for fitness professionals who know how to support this group safely and effectively.
Working with older adults is not a small niche. It is a growing area of the physical activity sector, and it needs skilled instructors who understand ageing, inactivity, adaptation, motivation and behaviour change.
Why choose FABS Training?
FABS stands for Flexibility, Aerobic, Balance and Strength. It is the flagship Move it or Lose it training programme, designed to help instructors deliver fun, safe and effective exercise classes for older adults.
Fast-Track FABS is an accelerated route for existing fitness professionals who already hold a recognised UK Level 2 or above fitness qualification. It builds on what you already know, while giving you the specialist skills needed to work with older adults in real community settings.
This is not just an online CPD module. It is a full training pathway with theory, practical learning, assessment and certification.
The FABS Training Programme is developed with the Centre for Healthy Ageing Research at the University of Birmingham. It is accredited and endorsed by CIMSPA and EMD UK. CIMSPA members can also gain 10 CIMSPA CPD points for completing FABS.
That means you can add recognised, evidence-based older adult exercise training to your professional portfolio, while also gaining practical tools you can use straight away.
What does Fast-Track FABS involve?
Fast-Track FABS includes around 25 hours of guided eLearning and two practical training days, either online or face-to-face.
During the course, you will learn about:
- Ageing physiology and the impact of inactivity
- Safe training principles for older adults
- How to adapt and progress exercises
- How to support confidence, motivation and adherence
- How to teach seated and standing exercise
- How to observe, correct and cue clearly
- How to create enjoyable, sociable classes
- How to use simple choreography, music and activities
- How to adapt sessions for different abilities within one group
You will also learn and practise more than 100 FABS exercises, giving you a broad toolkit for community classes, one-to-one sessions, care settings and active ageing programmes.
The focus is not on pushing people harder. It is on helping people move better, feel safer, build confidence and enjoy being active.
Why FABS is different from other older adult CPD courses
There are several CPD courses for fitness professionals who want to learn more about older adults, functional strength, balance, arthritis, osteoporosis or healthy ageing.
These can all play a useful role in professional development.
FABS is different because it brings the theory and the practical delivery together. It does not only teach you about ageing. It trains you to deliver a complete, adaptable class format that older adults enjoy and return to.
Move it or Lose it instructors support around 65,000 older adults every week across the UK. That matters because it shows the programme works in the real world, with real people, in real communities.
FABS also recognises that successful older adult exercise is about more than exercise selection. It is about connection, trust, laughter, confidence and consistency. Many older adults come to class for movement, but they stay because they feel welcome, supported and part of something.
That is why FABS training includes communication, motivation, inclusion and social interaction, as well as exercise technique and safety.
A more sustainable fitness career
Many fitness professionals love teaching but find the lifestyle hard to maintain. Early mornings, late evenings, weekend work and high-impact classes can take a toll over time.
Older adult exercise can offer a different way to work.
Move it or Lose it classes are usually delivered during sociable daytime hours, often between 9.30am and 3pm. For many instructors, this means less reliance on evening gym slots and fewer physically punishing sessions.
It can also be less saturated than other areas of fitness. Many communities need more instructors who can confidently support older adults, especially as demand for strength, balance, mobility and healthy ageing classes continues to grow.
This makes FABS a smart CPD choice if you want to widen your scope of practice, develop a loyal client base and build a career with more longevity.
Who is Fast-Track FABS for?
Fast-Track FABS is suitable for qualified fitness professionals with a recognised UK Level 2 or above fitness qualification.
This may include:
- Level 2 Fitness Instructors
- Level 2 Group Exercise or Group Training instructors
- Level 3 Personal Trainers
- Level 3 Pilates instructors
- Level 3 Yoga teachers or 200-hour yoga qualified teachers
- Exercise, Movement and Dance professionals
If you do not currently hold a recognised UK Level 2 fitness qualification, you may still be able to complete the full FABS Training Programme instead.
What can you do after FABS Training?
After completing FABS, you can use your training to deliver safe and effective exercise sessions for older adults.
You may also apply to become a licensed Move it or Lose it instructor. This gives you access to the Move it or Lose it brand, class listings, marketing materials, monthly exercise and choreography tutorials, CPD opportunities, mentoring and a supportive instructor community.
The licence does not take a percentage of your earnings, dictate your timetable or stop you teaching elsewhere. You remain in control of when, where and how often you teach.
Questions fitness professionals ask about FABS Training
Is FABS Training CPD for fitness professionals?
Yes. FABS is an accredited training programme for people who want to work with older adults. CIMSPA members can gain 10 CIMSPA CPD points for completing the course.
Is this only for chair-based exercise?
No. FABS includes both seated and standing exercise. You will learn how to adapt sessions so people with different abilities can take part safely and confidently.
Can personal trainers do FABS Training?
Yes. Level 3 Personal Trainers may be eligible for Fast-Track FABS, provided they meet the entry requirements.
Can Pilates and yoga teachers do FABS Training?
Yes. Pilates and yoga teachers with recognised qualifications may be eligible for Fast-Track FABS.
Is older adult exercise a good area to specialise in?
Yes. Older adults are one of the fastest-growing groups in the UK, and many need safe, welcoming and effective ways to stay active. This makes older adult exercise a strong area for fitness professionals who want to widen their scope of practice.
Ready to widen your scope of practice?
If you are already a fitness professional and want CPD that is practical, accredited and meaningful, Fast-Track FABS could be the next step.
You will gain specialist skills, widen your client base and learn how to support older adults to move more, feel better and stay independent for longer.
Become a Move it or Lose it instructor and bring your fitness expertise into a space where it can make a real difference.