Revised August 2021

 Recertify   Maintain Certification  Petition for CECs   Earn CECs    Associations Grant CECs

CALA Continuing Education Credits (CECs)

1. You need 8 CECs annually to recertify (2 CECs can petitioned)
2. CALA grants 1 CEC per hour of CALA training. 

How to gather CALA CECs: 

• Attend workshops, specialty courses and/or conferences 
• CALA educational events including courses, workshops and convention are recognized through an accreditation process by provincial, national and international organizations.  Credits are granted through an application process which is specific to each organization. 
• By attending a CALA event you have an opportunity to earn credits with the following organizations (our affiliations are not limited to those listed below: 

Congratulations on achieving CALA certification status. 

The following explains CALA recertification policies.

• You need 8 CECs annually to recertify

• Your CALA certification must be renewed every year and will come due on the same date as your membership.  Your CALA membership must be current at the time of recertification. Renewal notices are mailed or emailed prior to the expiry of your membership and certification. Keep track of your expiry date to assist CALA headquarters and ensure your membership and certification remain current.

• To achieve recertification eight (8) CALA Continuing Education Credits (CECs) are required per year. You can bank credits and use the credits collected at any time. One hour of education is equal to one CALA CEC.

Maintain Certification

To maintain certification status you must meet the following criteria:

1. Current CALA member, in good standing. Maintain your membership status on an annual basis.
    
2. Gather a minimum of eight CALA CEC's before re-certification date.
    
3. Attend 8 hours of workshops or other specialty courses.
   
   Note:
   If you attend more than 8 hours of workshops, you can bank your extra credits (CECs) and use them for future recertification. You never lose the credits that you earn.
   
   If you are unable to attend workshops, courses or a conference, you can petition for CECs by attending other events that are related to fitness including: training related to First Aid, CPR, Lifeguard, Swim Instructor Training, CanFitPro conference.
   
   CALA limits the number of CECs you can petition each year. CALA encourages you to register in CALA Training Events.
    
4. Pay an annual re-certification fee. (contact CALA for re-certification fee and annual membership fee)
   Complete the Membership form     
    
5. Conduct a specified number of post aquatic therapy sessions per year (ie. Aqua Arthritis classes)

Petitioning for CECs

Download petition form  Revised August 2021  (E&O -The Petition Form of August 2021 supersedes all policies and procedures on this page)

CALA limits the number of CECs you can petition each year. CALA encourages you to register for CALA Training Events.

If a convention, course or workshop has not been accredited for CALA Continuing Education Credits (CECs) you may petition for CEC approval.

Complete the application form (one form per session) including written verification of the educational credits and hours, then either 1) scan and email it to or mail to CALA Headquarters. If the petition application is approved you will receive validation via email.  A fee of $25 + tax per credit (1 credit per hour) will be charged and payment must be received prior to validation.

For example: for a three-hour workshop the fee is $75 + tax and 3 CALA CECs are awarded

Most educational events facilitated by a suitable trainer/presenter will be acceptable for CEC petition approval.  Master classes and workouts are not available for petition.  Full documentation (proof that you attended the session) detailing the petitioned CEC must be submitted together with the application.

You can also petition for CECs: If you have attended an event related to fitness with an organization other than CALA, you can petition for CECs.  Accepting petition CECs is at the discretion of CALA. It is advisable to attend CALA Events in your region, when possible, in order to maintain CALA Certification. Use of petitioned credits, in order to recertify is limited 2 per year.

How to Earn CECs

CECs may be obtained in a number of ways including:

1.  Attendance at CALA conferences, specialty courses, programs, and/or workshops are the most common method of achieving the necessary CECs.

2.  Attendance at “other” conferences and workshops that have had approved for credits by CALA.  To determine if an educational event has been accredited by CALA, call or email CALA headquarters.

3.  Petition for CECs: If you have attended a continuing education event related to fitness and healthy living that was not accredited by CALA, you may apply/petition for CECs. The petition fee for non-CALA approved education is $25.00 plus tax per CEC (hour). You must submit the fee and a petition form (see below).

4.  Write an article.  If the article you write is published, on the CALA website equals 3 CALA CECs

Note: If you collect more than 8 CECs, the extra credits can be banked and bumped forward into the next certification period. Remember: Continued education ensures that your skills remain current as the fitness industry is constantly adapting to increased knowledge and client needs and desires.

If you are having problems getting the necessary # of CECs call the CALA office so that we assist you.

When it is time to recertify put together the following:

1.  All CALA certificates and/or conference registration forms that you have collected from CALA educational events you have attended.

2.  Tally the number of CECs you have accumulated.

3.  Include a completed petition form, proof of attendance and the petition fee (where necessary)

4.  Include a recertification fee (contact CALA for recertification fee). You will be issued a CALA certificate indicating your certification status once your recertification requirements are processed by CALA. 

CALA grants 1 CEC per hour of CALA training. 

Associations that grant CECs for CALA Events

CALA training events are Accredited by National and Provincial Association.  CECs must be petitioned with each association. Not all events will be granted CECs.

If you are AFLCA Certified, you can petition for credits through individual application by using the  CEC petition application

CALA 1 CEC per hour You can bank your CECS against future recertification (8 CECS per year required for recertification.) National Associates Canadian Association of Fitness Professionals     Canadian Professional Trainers  Association YMCA & YWCA Young Men's Christian Association and Young Woman's Christian Association LSS Life Saving Society       Provincial Affiliations Alberta Fitness Leader Certification Association British Columbia Recreation & Parks Association Saskatchewan Parks & Recreation  MFC Manitoba Fitness Council OFC Ontario Fitness Council  TRO Therapeutic Recreation Ontario        NSFLA Nova Scotia Fitness Leaders Alliance  NBFLA New Brunswick Fitness Leaders Alliance  Sport PEI  Sports   NLPRA  Newfoundland & Labrador Parks & Recreation Association        International Affiliations   Total Fitness Israel Oded Netzer   SAWFA South African Water Fitness Association   H2Oz Australian Aquafitness Organization SAPS South African Professional Sports Association  CFES Canadian Fitness Education Services    Facility & Municipality Affiliations ONTARIO Clarkson Recreation Centre, Mississauga Malton Recreation Centre, Mississauga Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre, Peterborough Annaliese Carr Aquatic Centre, Norfolk County, Simcoe City of Hamilton Dovercourt Recreation Centre, Ottawa Walter Baker Recreation Centre, Ottawa Ray Friel Recreation Centre, Ottawa Shendy’s Swim School, Toronto                          Aquatic Fit Niagara, Niagara Falls City of Kingston Town of Cornwall Donalda Club, Toronto Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto Waterloo Swimplex, Waterloo Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Toronto Archie Dillon Sport Complex, Timmins City of Burlington Town of Hawkesbury   Yukon Canada Games Centre, Whitehorse Haines Junction Watson Lake Dawson City   British Columbia  Town of Merritt Kamloops Prince Rupert Dawson Creek Smithers Sunshine Coast Chilliwack   Alberta Elevation Place, Canmore Glencoe Club, Calgary City of Calgary Kinsmen Aquatic Centre, Lacombe Okotoks Recreation Centre, Okotoks Barrhead Spruce Grove   Ontario Clarkson Recreation Centre, Mississauga Malton Recreation Centre, Mississauga Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre, Peterborough Annaliese Carr Aquatic Centre, Norfolk County, Simcoe City of Hamilton Dovercourt Recreation Centre, Ottawa Walter Baker Recreation Centre, Ottawa Ray Friel Recreation Centre, Ottawa Shendy’s Swim School, Toronto                          Aquatic Fit Niagara, Niagara Falls City of Kingston Town of Cornwall Donalda Club, Toronto Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto Waterloo Swimplex, Waterloo Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Toronto Archie Dillon Sport Complex, Timmins City of Burlington Town of Hawkesbury   Quebec Dollard Des Ormeaux Beaconsfield Notre Dame de Grace Westmount   Prince Edward Island Newfoundland New Brunswick Nova Scotia