In order to attain recognition as a Bupa recognised provider, personal trainer applicants must meet and continue to satisfy all aspects of the recognition criteria, as follows:

1. Provide the Recognised Personal Training Services.
2. Obtain and maintain a current full membership with a professional association.
3. Hold and maintain qualifications that meet Bupa’s required qualifications or demonstrate equivalence.
4. Comply with the relevant professional association and industry standards, including the National Fitness Industry Code of Practice, where relevant.
5. Ensure there are adequate procedures including supervision in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Personal Trainer’s clients and ensure a timely response in an emergency.
6. Hold and maintain current professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurances for a minimum $5million per claim and $20million aggregate.
7. Comply with our Provider terms for Gyms and Personal Trainers (PDF)

Please review the details below for more information on recognition and how to apply to register as a Bupa recognised provider.

1. Bupa pays Benefits for the Recognised Personal Training Services outlined below (recognised services) when performed by a Bupa recognised provider and provided to eligible Bupa health insurance customers under the Health Management category on selected Extras products¹.
2. Recognised services must be required by the Bupa health insurance customer to address or improve a diagnosed health or medical condition or conditions.
3. Bupa health insurance customers must provide a signed Health Management Gym and Personal Trainer Medical form from their doctor or approved allied health provider (e.g. Exercise Physiologist, Physiotherapist or Chiropractor), confirming their need to undertake exercise to support the treatment, palliation or amelioration of a diagnosed health condition or conditions (under the Health Management category on selected Extras products¹).
4. Benefits are payable in accordance with Bupa’s eligibility criteria, fund, and policy rules. Additional information is available for Bupa customers if they call Bupa's contact centre on 134 135.
5. Benefits do not apply for trial periods, joining fees, casual attendances or bundled passes from a Personal Trainer.

¹Yearly limits, waiting periods, benefit claiming restrictions, fund and policy rules apply.

The Personal Trainer must provide the Recognised Personal Training Services (recognised services), namely:

1. Screen and assess health, movement, exercise, and performance capacity.
2. Design and deliver physical activity and exercise-based interventions to prevent injury, return to activity, manage risk factors for chronic conditions, promote participation, and improve fitness and performance.
3. Support goal setting and sustainable behaviour change to help people achieve their health, wellbeing, fitness, and performance goals.
4. Provide health, physical activity and exercise education, advice, and support.
5. Use coaching skills to teach and improve movement and performance.

All of the aforementioned services are designed to address and assist with the management of the Bupa health insurance customer’s desired health outcome (to address or improve a diagnosed health condition or conditions) and must be provided at an appropriate premises in accordance with our Provider terms for Gyms and Personal Trainers.

Recognised services exclude interventions that are solely Pilates, Yoga, or self-defence.

The personal training provider is in private practice as defined in the Bupa Fund Rules, namely a business operating on an independent and self-supporting basis either as a sole trader, partnership, corporate or group practice but is not subsidised by another party such as any type of publicly funded facility for the provision of accommodation, facilities or other services or practitioners. The provision of treatment at a public hospital or any other type of publicly funded facility is not treatment provided in private practice.

The Personal Trainer must have graduated from an Australian University with an Exercise Science Degree or completed a Certificate IV or Diploma in Fitness with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or demonstrate equivalence (see below).

The following courses meet Bupa’s minimum requirements:

1. SIS40215 – Certificate IV in Fitness (or equivalent validated by professional association)
2. SIS50215 – Diploma in Fitness
3. Incomplete bachelor’s degree in the field of Exercise Science mapped by professional association that qualifies for registration
4. Bachelor’s degree in the field of Exercise Science*
5. Postgraduate degree in the field of Exercise Science*

*The course must meet the requirements for Fitness Australia Registered Exercise Professional registration.

Demonstrating equivalence

Applicants without the required qualifications, including providers who have received training overseas, must undertake a Bupa approved process for demonstrating equivalence.

Personal Trainers who wish to apply for registration as a Bupa recognised provider using a Bupa approved process for demonstrating equivalence must:

1. have their qualifications assessed by one of the following:
1. current competencies assessed and endorsed by an RTO; or
2. overseas qualifications assessed and endorsed by a member of International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals (ICREPS) or professional association equivalent.
2. forward evidence of their qualification assessment or competency assessment to their professional association.

Personal trainers who have full membership with a professional association listed below must contact their professional association to become recognised as a Bupa recognised provider.

The following associations meet the requirements set out in Bupa's Accreditation Requirements for Professional Associations:

Industry associations who meet Bupa's Accreditation Requirements for Professional Associations and wish to express interest in being listed above may contact Bupa at provopsancillary@bupa.com.au.

1. Bupa may use its absolute discretion in granting Bupa recognised provider registration. Meeting the criteria above does not guarantee that a Personal Trainer is registered as a Bupa recognised provider.
2. Bupa reserves the right to audit Bupa recognised providers to ensure ongoing compliance with the recognition criteria, and on request (giving at least 10 business days' notice) requires reasonable access to the facility or membership/financial records to validate compliance with the recognition criteria and/or to validate claims. Bupa audit requests may be made by letter, email or telephone and audits may be undertaken by Bupa or a Bupa authorised representative.
3. Personal training providers that, in Bupa's reasonable opinion, do not comply with the recognition criteria (including the Provider Terms) or who have not provided Bupa access to audit or have not provided requested audit records within 10 business days of the receipt of an audit request may have their Bupa recognition immediately suspended or terminated.
4. Bupa may suspend or terminate a Bupa recognised provider registration in its absolute discretion. Notification of suspension or termination will be provided in most instances to the Bupa recognised professional association, however, Bupa may use its discretion to write to Bupa recognised providers directly. Bupa may also suspend or terminate registration as a Bupa recognised provider where there have been no customer claims processed by Bupa for a period of 2 or more years.
5. Bupa health insurance customers are unable to claim for Benefits while a Personal Trainer's registration as a Bupa recognised provider is suspended or terminated, and Bupa may at its discretion write to Bupa health insurance customers who have claimed for the Personal Trainer's services following suspension or termination.
6. If the Personal Trainer seeks to be re-registered as a Bupa recognised provider following a suspension or termination, they must contact their professional association.
7. The Personal Trainer may choose to cease participating as a Bupa recognised provider at any time by providing 60 days' notice to their professional association.

Bupa will publish any changes to its recognition criteria on its website and will also notify professional associations of any changes to the recognition criteria.