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ASFU / Certifications

Professional certifications

Ten focused certifications of 8 to 14 weeks, each benchmarked at EQF level 5 and carrying 4 to 7 ECTS-equivalent credits.

Length

8–14 weeks

About 12 learning hours a week.

Credit

4–7 ECTS-eq

25 learning hours per credit.

Level

EQF 5

Benchmarked to level 5 descriptors.

Stackable

Diploma route

Two certifications open the RPL diploma route.

Applied Biomechanics Foundations

The mechanical core of the curriculum: force, torque, moment arms, ground reaction force and tissue tolerance, applied to everyday training decisions.

Modules

  1. Forces, vectors and free-body diagrams
  2. Torque, moment arms and joint moments
  3. Ground reaction force and the force–time curve
  4. Levers, leverage and exercise selection
  5. Elastic energy and the stretch–shortening cycle
  6. Tissue tolerance and load dose

Learning outcomes

  • Resolve a movement into its force vectors and moment arms
  • Read a force–time curve and identify impact and propulsive phases
  • Select and modify exercises from their mechanical demand
  • Prescribe load with reference to tissue tolerance

Assessment

Weekly mechanics problem sets, video case analysis, final proctored examination

Entry

Secondary-school completion, age 18+, English at B2

Apply →Check eligibility

Push Mechanics Specialist

Pressing and pushing patterns analysed through shoulder and elbow joint moments, bar path, scapular mechanics and force direction.

Modules

  1. Horizontal and vertical pressing mechanics
  2. Shoulder moment arms across the range
  3. Bar path, grip width and elbow load
  4. Scapulothoracic contribution
  5. Push progressions and regressions
  6. Load management for the pressing athlete

Learning outcomes

  • Map joint moments across pressing variations
  • Correct bar path and force direction faults
  • Build pressing progressions matched to tissue capacity
  • Screen shoulder readiness for overhead loading

Assessment

Motion-lab video analysis, programme design case, proctored examination

Entry

Secondary-school completion, age 18+, English at B2

Apply →Check eligibility

Pull Mechanics Specialist

Rows, pull-ups and pulldowns examined through line of pull, elbow flexor and shoulder extensor torque, and trunk stabilisation demand.

Modules

  1. Line of pull and resistance vector
  2. Vertical versus horizontal pulling
  3. Grip, forearm and elbow flexor mechanics
  4. Trunk and pelvic stabilisation in pulling
  5. Pulling for posture and shoulder health
  6. Pull programming across training ages

Learning outcomes

  • Match pulling variations to the intended muscle torque
  • Diagnose compensations from line-of-pull errors
  • Programme pulling volume against pressing volume
  • Adapt pulling for shoulder-sensitive clients

Assessment

Motion-lab video analysis, programme design case, proctored examination

Entry

Secondary-school completion, age 18+, English at B2

Apply →Check eligibility

Hip Hinge Mechanics Specialist

The hinge as a mechanical decision: hip versus lumbar moment sharing, bar-to-hip distance and posterior-chain load across deadlift and swing families.

Modules

  1. Hinge versus squat: joint moment sharing
  2. Bar-to-hip distance and lumbar moment
  3. Hamstring length–tension through the hinge
  4. Deadlift, RDL and good-morning variants
  5. Ballistic hinging: swings and pulls
  6. Hinge loading for the sensitive back

Learning outcomes

  • Quantify how set-up changes lumbar and hip moments
  • Teach the hinge pattern with mechanical cues
  • Select hinge variants for strength, power or rehabilitation
  • Progress hinge load safely after back pain

Assessment

Motion-lab video analysis, coaching assessment, proctored examination

Entry

Secondary-school completion, age 18+, English at B2

Apply →Check eligibility

Lower-Leg & Plantar-Flexor Mechanics

The calf, Achilles tendon, foot and ankle as the body's primary spring: stiffness, elastic return and load tolerance in gait, running and jumping.

Modules

  1. Plantar-flexor architecture and the Achilles moment arm
  2. Tendon stiffness and elastic energy
  3. Foot and ankle mechanics in gait and running
  4. Calf capacity testing
  5. Loading the tendon: isometric to plyometric

Learning outcomes

  • Explain elastic energy storage in the triceps surae
  • Test and interpret plantar-flexor capacity
  • Build tendon-loading progressions
  • Relate foot posture to lower-leg load

Assessment

Capacity-testing practical (video submission), case report, proctored examination

Entry

Secondary-school completion, age 18+, English at B2

Apply →Check eligibility

Resistance, Strength & Power Training

Programme design built on force–velocity relationships, rate of force development, dose–response and periodisation for strength and power.

Modules

  1. Force–velocity and power–velocity profiles
  2. Rate of force development
  3. Load, volume and intensity as dose
  4. Periodisation models compared
  5. Velocity-based training
  6. Power development for sport
  7. Monitoring fatigue and readiness

Learning outcomes

  • Design strength and power blocks from force–velocity data
  • Prescribe and adjust training dose with objective monitoring
  • Apply velocity-based training thresholds
  • Periodise a competitive season

Assessment

Periodised programme portfolio, data-analysis task, proctored examination

Entry

Secondary-school completion, age 18+, English at B2

Apply →Check eligibility

Paediatric Movement Development Specialist

How children aged 3 to 15 move, grow and adapt: motor development, growth-related load sensitivity and responsible assessment of young movers.

Modules

  1. Motor development from 3 to 15 years
  2. Growth, maturation and the growth spurt
  3. Fundamental movement skills
  4. Load, fatigue and injury in children
  5. Assessing children responsibly
  6. Designing whole-child movement programmes

Learning outcomes

  • Describe movement development across childhood
  • Adjust load for maturation status
  • Assess fundamental movement skills safely and ethically
  • Plan age-appropriate movement programmes

Assessment

Observation portfolio, programme design case, proctored examination

Entry

Secondary-school completion, age 18+, English at B2; safeguarding declaration required

Apply →Check eligibility

Youth Sport Corrective Training

Corrective mechanical training for the growing athlete: identifying faulty patterns, managing growth-related pain and building robust youth sport performers.

Modules

  1. The growing athlete: mechanics and maturation
  2. Common youth sport overload conditions
  3. Corrective drills by movement fault
  4. Landing, cutting and deceleration mechanics
  5. Long-term athlete development and load

Learning outcomes

  • Identify mechanical faults in youth sport movement
  • Prescribe corrective drills linked to each fault
  • Coach landing and change-of-direction mechanics
  • Manage training load through the growth spurt

Assessment

Corrective programme case, coaching video submission, proctored examination

Entry

Secondary-school completion, age 18+, English at B2; safeguarding declaration required

Apply →Check eligibility

Posture & Movement Asymmetry Assessment

Structured assessment of posture deviations and left–right asymmetry, with corrective drill selection grounded in mechanics rather than appearance.

Modules

  1. Posture as a mechanical state
  2. Measuring asymmetry: indices and thresholds
  3. Common posture deviations and their load effects
  4. Camera-based posture and movement screening
  5. Corrective drill selection and dosing

Learning outcomes

  • Run a repeatable three-view posture assessment
  • Calculate and interpret asymmetry indices
  • Separate meaningful asymmetry from normal variation
  • Prescribe and dose corrective drills

Assessment

Assessment practical (video), asymmetry data case, proctored examination

Entry

Secondary-school completion, age 18+, English at B2

Apply →Check eligibility

Applied Sports Nutrition for Performance

Energy availability, macronutrient periodisation, hydration and evidence-ranked supplementation for training and competition, adapted to diverse dietary cultures.

Modules

  1. Energy balance and energy availability
  2. Protein, carbohydrate and fat for training
  3. Hydration and thermoregulation
  4. Nutrition periodisation around training
  5. Evidence-ranked supplementation
  6. Nutrition across cultures and dietary patterns

Learning outcomes

  • Estimate energy needs for athletes and active clients
  • Periodise nutrition to training demand
  • Evaluate supplements against the evidence
  • Adapt plans to vegetarian and culturally specific diets

Assessment

Nutrition plan portfolio, case analysis, proctored examination

Entry

Secondary-school completion, age 18+, English at B2

Apply →Check eligibility

Apply for a certification

Certifications start every January, May and September.

Apply now → Explore programmes