National Council for Exercise and Fitness 2008

The National Council for Exercise & Fitness is an independent company limited by guarantee and operates on a not-for-profit basis, which provides comprehensive education and training for Exercise and Health/Fitness Professional Instructors in Ireland.

With a database of over 8,000, the NCEF is the largest and longest established provider of education and training for Exercise and Health Fitness Professionals in Ireland. The NCEF is an academic affiliate of the University of Limerick (UL) offering the only university accredited Health Fitness Instructor qualification in Ireland. Certificate and Diploma qualifications awarded at Levels 6 & 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

The NCEF was initially established in 1987 by the Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI) in association with Thomond College of Education (now integrated into the University of Limerick). The initiation of the scheme was also supported by the Sports Section, Department of Education at that time. The NCEF became an academic affiliate of the University of Limerick in June 2006. The Certificate in Exercise & Health Fitness (CEHF) which leads into a pathway to the Diploma in Exercise & Health Fitness (DEHF) are now offered. All NCEF progammes are fully accreditted by the University of Limerick.

The NCEF is overseen and guided by a Board of Trustees. Board members consist of representation from the PEAI, UL, NCEF and from business, education, employer and leisure industry backgrounds.

An internal management structure, governed by comprehensive strategic planning, guides the programmes, policies and procedures of the NCEF and diligently upholds its standards. Within this structure and in conjunction with the academic regulations of the University of Limerick, all programmes are developed, operated and stringently monitored, new policies are developed and implemented on an ongoing basis and specific procedures are closely followed.

The NCEF Head Office is located on the University of Limerick Campus and both certificate and diploma programmes operate nationwide both in industry based commercial settings and in educational establishments.