NC Sport and Physical Activity SCQF level 6

This National Certificate (NC) is designed to provide learners with opportunities to experience a range of opportunities across sports coaching, sports development, sport and exercise science, exercise and fitness, physical activity and health, and sports therapy. Learners will develop their knowledge and skills in a range of activities including:

  • session planning skills in coaching and exercise and fitness
  • delivering a variety of sports coaching and exercise and fitness sessions
  • undertaking work placement
  • strength and conditioning
  • sports mechanics
  • analysing and evaluating sport and exercise performance
  • event planning and organisation
  • sports therapy
  • nutrition and health.

The group award supports learners to develop their knowledge and skills in sport and physical activity. It allows progression to employment or onto Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNC and HND) and degree courses in a variety of areas such as sports coaching and development, physical activity and health, fitness, health and exercise, sports therapy and sport and exercise science.

This qualification is typically available through colleges, however other centres can come forward for approval.

NCs are designed for full-time delivery over one year or part-time over two years. The framework has been designed to allow delivering centres to develop pathway frameworks to meet learners needs. There is a wide range of optional units and the option to deliver additional group awards within the NC, including the National Progression Award (NPA) in Sports Coaching at SCQF level 6 and/or Exercise and Fitness Leadership at SCQF level 6.

Professional recognition

The NC in Sport and Physical Activity at SCQF level 6 provides the opportunity to gain membership with Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and joint certification from Sport Scotland, Scotland’s national agency for sport. CIMSPA is the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector, offering Scottish colleges support with student and practitioner membership alongside partnership opportunities. CIMSPA has identified the standards for professional excellence and best practice in the sport and physical activity sector. Members and partners are recognised for upholding and delivering these standards.

Qualifications Scotland, Sport Scotland and CIMSPA have been working closely to support the development of the sport and physical activity sector through embedding CIMSPA Professional Standards into Qualification Scotland’s qualification frameworks. CIMSPA supports Qualification Scotland with wider delivery across Scottish institutions, which has supported the development of a CIMSPA partnership and membership offer specifically for Scottish colleges.

The NPA in Sports Coaching at level 6 is jointly certificated with SportScotland and CIMSPA. Learners can be professionally recognised by CIMSPA as coaching assistant practitioners upon completion of the NPA.

CIMSPA endorsed Swimming Pool Lifeguarding: Skills and Practices (J9H9 46) and Recreation Assistant (J9KN 46) are optional units within this group award. These units are mapped to the following professional standards on the CIMSPA standards framework:

  • lifeguard
  • recreation assistant

Learners can apply directly to CIMSPA for professional membership on successful completion of any of the units stated.

Qualification structure

Group award code: GGFA 46 (72 SCQF credit points)

SCQF level: 6

This NC consists of 6 mandatory credits (36 SCQF credit points) and 6 optional credits (36 SCQF credit points).

Mandatory units include:

  • J9H7 46 Anatomy and Physiology for Physical Activity
  • HF88 46 Work Placement
  • F78D 12 Leadershhip in Practice
  • J9H8 46 Nutrition, Wellbeing and Health

See the group award specification (595 KB) for the full list of mandatory and optional units.

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How to assess

The Sport and Physical Activity Group Award places emphasis on assessing the whole outcome or a combination of outcomes within each of the units rather than on individual knowledge and skills. This reduces the assessment load for both learners and centres.

The unit specifications contain guidance on types of assessment and optional oral/written evidence that can be used, including professional discussion, performance observation and a portfolio or e-portfolio.

Centres are encouraged to use holistic or cross assessment, where possible, and this should be clearly evidenced within a mapping document for internal and external verification purposes.

Assessment support packs may be available for selected units. These can be found on Qualification Scotland’s secure website.

Deliver this qualification

Resources

Centres delivering this qualification must have suitably qualified staff for each of the subject components. New centres must also have staff who have the relevant subject knowledge and can demonstrate this with an SCQF level 7 or above in a sport, physical activity, exercise and fitness or sports therapy based subject qualification, or a relevant industry-recognised qualification.

Sports Coaching and Development

Learners should have access to a range of sports equipment, including but not limited to a selection for each of the following:

  • environments such as games halls, outdoor multi-use games area or equivalent
  • sports equipment such as footballs, basketballs, badminton equipment, volleyballs, and hockey
  • cones, markers and bibs
  • fitness testing equipment such as blood pressure monitors, stadiometers, and sit and reach boxes

Physical Activity and Health

Learners should have access to a range of commercial gym equipment, including but not limited to a selection for each of the following:

  • cardiovascular equipment
  • fixed resistance machines including a cable pulley
  • free weight equipment, including barbells, dumbbells, Olympic bars, weight plates, adjustable benches, squat or power rack, and appropriate flooring
  • functional exercise equipment including medicine balls, kettlebells, Swiss balls, mats, powerbags and plyo boxes

Sports Therapy

Learners should have access to a range of gym equipment, including but not limited to a selection for each of the following:

  • clinical environment or space
  • therapy beds
  • personal hygiene areas including changing rooms, wash hand basins and towels
  • a range of complimentary therapy products

For centres delivering the Pool Lifeguard unit, learners must have access to a swimming pool, changing facilities and lifesaving equipment. This could include items such as rubber bricks.

For centres delivering the Recreation Assistant unit, learners should have access to a sport or leisure environment to support effective delivery and assessment of the requirements of the unit. The learners would benefit from having access to a games or sports hall, indoor and/or outdoor sports pitches, and a selection of sports or facility equipment.

Why study this qualification

The NC in Sport and Physical Activity at SCQF level 6 is designed for a wide range of learners who want to develop related knowledge and skills, including:

  • school leavers
  • adults returning to education
  • learners with an interest in sport and physical activity
  • learners who currently work in the industry
  • learners who are currently studying this subject area

You will develop your knowledge in anatomy and physiology, nutrition, wellbeing and health. You will apply that knowledge through work placement while developing leadership skills.

You will also have the option to develop important knowledge and skills within key areas of the industry such as sport coaching, exercise and fitness, and lifeguarding. You will gain introductory knowledge of strength and conditioning and sport mechanics.

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre.

You would benefit from having attained the skills, knowledge and understanding required by one or more of the following or equivalent qualifications and/or experience:

  • NC in Sport and Physical Activity (SCQF level 5)
  • NC in Sport and Fitness (SCQF level 5)
  • SVQs at SCQF level 5 in appropriate subjects
  • NPA in Sports Coaching (SCQF level 5)
  • NPA in Sport and Fitness; Individual and Team (SCQF level 5)
  • Leadership award in Sport
  • introduction to coaching from a sports governing body, club or school/college programmes
  • National 5 qualifications or equivalent in appropriate subjects
  • an interest in sport, physical activity and coaching or occupational direct skills and experience (for direct entrants)

You must be at least 16 years of age upon completion of the SCQF level 6 award.

Employment and progression

Successful completion of the NC in Sport and Physical Activity at SCQF level 6 may lead to career opportunities which include but are not limited to the following contexts:

  • sports coaching assistant and/or supporting activity leadership
  • physical activity assistant
  • leisure centre staff
  • swimming or leisure pool staff

You may be able to gain some volunteering experience within the sport and physical activity industry to support them as they progress to other relevant qualifications. Employers who can offer volunteering placements may include local authorities, leisure trusts, national and sports governing bodies (NGB and SGB), local sports organisations, private clubs and hotels.

The practical nature of the course will provide knowledge and skills to support the promotion and development aspects of sports, physical activity and health, or one of the other chosen pathways. There is a strong emphasis on placement learning and developing the practical skills relevant to the sport and physical activity sector.

The completion of the course will allow access to a number of progression pathways including but not limited to:

  • HNC in Sports Coaching and Development (SCQF level 7)
  • HNC in Physical Activity and Health (SCQF level 7)
  • HNC in Fitness, Health and Exercise (SCQF level 7)
  • HNC in Sports Therapy (SCQF level 7)

Qualification structure

Group award code: GGFA 46 (72 SCQF credit points)

SCQF level: 6

This NC consists of 6 mandatory credits (36 SCQF credit points) and 6 optional credits (36 SCQF credit points).

Mandatory units include:

  • J9H7 46 Anatomy and Physiology for Physical Activity
  • HF88 46 Work Placement
  • F78D 12 Leadershhip in Practice
  • J9H8 46 Nutrition, Wellbeing and Health

See the group award specification (595 KB) for the full list of mandatory and optional units.

Unit search