APPROVED PROVIDER
HANDBOOK
CrossFit CE Approved Providers are groups
or individuals who provide quality training
programs that are designed to advance learning
and offer continuing education units for the
purpose of meeting professional-development
requirements.
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Approved Provider Handbook
Handbook Outline
About CrossFit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
CrossFit Continuing Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Standards of Professional Practice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Continuing-Education Requirements of Certified CrossFit Trainers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Content Outline/Domains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Professional-Development Activity Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Requirements for Approved Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Administrative Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Best-Practice Recommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Content Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ongoing Approved Provider Status Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Audits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Checklist for Provider Applicants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Approved Provider Application Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
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About CrossFit
About CrossFit
Overview
CrossFit Inc. is an international organization
dedicated to the advancement of human health
and athletic performance. CrossFit Inc. provides
a precise definition of fitness and builds on the
foundation that fitness is observable, measurable,
and repeatable.
CrossFit Inc. adheres to an open-source approach
that focuses on results-based fitness education and
training, demonstrated through research and study,
observation, innovation, and practical application.
The mission of CrossFit Inc. is to establish and support
an international community of authentic fitness
practitioners through open-source publication,
education, certification, and affiliate participation.
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CrossFit Continuing Education
CrossFit Continuing Education
CrossFit CE Approved Providers are groups or individuals who provide quality training programs that are designed
to advance learning and offer continuing education units for the purpose of meeting professional-development
requirements. Each course must be individually approved. Approved Provider courses must meet CrossFit’s standards. Providers will attest to upholding these standards for each approved course in order to maintain their Approved
Provider status.
Additionally, the CrossFit Certification Department adheres to the following guiding principles:
1. Transparency and full disclosure for participants.
2. Continuous improvement in standards of practice for education and training.
3. Quality assurance in program development and program personnel.
These principles are expected to be applied along with the following standards and administrative requirements in
order to obtain approval to provide CEUs to CrossFit credential holders.
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Standards of Professional Practice
Standards of Professional Practice
The Standards of Professional Practice for CrossFit CE Approved Providers should guide an organization or individual
providing professional-development opportunities to Certified CrossFit Trainers. If a CrossFit CE Approved Provider is
found to be in violation of these standards, provider status can be suspended or revoked.
A CrossFit CE Approved Provider must:
• Act in accordance with all applicable national and local laws and regulations, which include all applicable
business, employment, copyright, and intellectual-property laws.
• Act in accordance with all applicable CrossFit policies, procedures, rules, agreements, standards, and guidelines.
• Respect and promote the rights, welfare, and dignity of all individuals to participate in professionaldevelopment activities and provide competent, fair, and equal treatment to all individuals regardless
of gender, age, disability, occupation, ethnic origin, color, cultural background, marital status, sexual
orientation, religion, or political opinion.
• Uphold and enhance public appreciation and trust for CrossFit and CrossFit Trainers. Providers will
not engage in any behavior that adversely affects CrossFit or compromises the Provider’s professional
responsibility both within their organization and publicly (to include all forms of social media).
• Commit to providing the highest quality education to those who seek professional-development opportunities.
• Consistently maintain and improve course content and instructor competence, striving for excelence
through regular assessment of content and delivery, implementing change through program improvements.
• Commit to financial fairness and equity in regards to refunds, cancellations, and complaint resolution.
• Commit to transparency in course completion requirements, program-development methods and course
administration, as well as management of Provider’s conflicts of interest.
• Understand CrossFit Trainer’s scope of practice and provide education within the scope. Providers will
have a working knowledge of approved CE topics and disclose and/or advise participants of any departure
from this scope within the course content.
• Maintain client confidentiality and securely protect participants’ personal and financial information.
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Continuing-Education Requirements of Certified CrossFit Trainers
Continuing-Education Requirements of Certified CrossFit Trainers
Content Outline/Domains
The Certified CrossFit Trainer credential follows a content outline based on a formal practice analysis of CrossFit Trainers.
The content outline may serve as a guide to determine appropriate content for continuing professional-development
material. The full content outline can be viewed in the Candidate Handbook.
There are five main domains (or subject areas) of the content outline:
1. Screening and Assessment
2. Programming/Program Design
3. Coaching (to include movement, nutrition, and lifestyle)
4. Class and Athlete Management
5. Professional Performance and Responsibilities
Credential holders are expected to develop their knowledge, skills, and abilities beyond entry level within each domain.
For professional-development activities that do not fall under the specified domains, content must be related to effective communication, critical-thinking skills, leadership, or business management. See the section below regarding content review.
Professional-Development Activity Types
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the ongoing learning process a Certified CrossFit Trainer employs to
advance professional knowledge, skills, and abilities beyond minimum requirements. This ongoing learning process is
accomplished through activities such as attending seminars and lectures, attending coaching workshops, and participating in advisory panels. This educational component progresses the individual capabilities of the CrossFit Trainer,
as well as advances the profession. It is expected that through the CPD process, trainers will develop goals and follow
individualized learning plans to ensure that they meet and exceed the standard of practice in the fitness industry.
There are three types of professional-development activities for Certified CrossFit Trainers:
1. CrossFit Professional Development
• Continuing education activities presented by CrossFit Inc.
2. General Professional Development
• Continuing education activities in which the Provider has an established curriculum or predetermined
educational content.
3. Individualized Professional Development
• Continuing education activities in which the participant takes part in the development of learning
objectives and content of the educational activity, or controls the timeline of course completion.
Third-party providers may submit courses to be considered for approval in General or Individualized categories.
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Requirements for Approved Providers
Requirements for Approved Providers
Administrative Requirements
The following are the requirements for initial approval, as well as for continuation of Approved Provider status. Read
through each requirement to ensure all guidelines and criteria are met. Organizations or individuals are eligible to apply
to become a CrossFit CE Approved Provider. The term “Provider” will be used to include organizations or individuals for
the purpose of this document. Each course or seminar must be approved separately.
1. Instructor Bios/Resumes
Provider must have current bios or resumes on file for all lead instructors and/or individuals responsible for the development of the course content. Provider should be prepared to make this information publicly available or furnish upon
request to potential course participants.
2. Learning Objectives
Each approved course must have a minimum of three learning objectives. Learning objectives should be observable/
measurable and reflect the knowledge, skill, or ability a participant should achieve. These objectives must be made
publicly available to potential course participants in registration materials and serve as the basis for the course content
and manner of instruction.
3. Course Content Outline
A detailed course content outline with timelines and major topics will be publicly available to potential course participants in registration materials. The content outline must coincide with the number of continuing education units
offered for each course.
4. Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
CEUs must be clock-hour based. The course material must specify the requirements for satisfactory completion in
order to achieve CEUs. Criteria for satisfactory completion may be based on performance and/or written assessments
consistent with demonstrated learning outcomes or may be tied to attendance alone. If attendance alone is the requirement, the Provider must ensure a reliable way to track and document attendance records (clock hours) in order to
award the correct number of CEUs.
5. Disclosures
Providers must publicly disclose any relevant financial and non-financial relationships that may have the appearance of
a conflict of interest. It must be clear that the purpose of each course is educational and does not intend to promote a
product or service. This information should be available to potential participants in registration materials.
6. Online Course Information and Registration
Providers must have a website which describes the course in detail and contains a clearly marked process for course
registration. The course may be approved without a website, but it cannot be listed on the CCFT Continuing Education
page without a link.
7. Participant Feedback Assessment
Each course must be concluded with an evaluation for participants to provide feedback on the course content, course
materials, course instructor, and whether stated learning objectives were met.
8. Participant Records
Participant attendance records must be maintained by the Provider in a secure manner for a period of three (3) years. This information must be made available to the CrossFit Certification Department upon request as needed for verification purposes.
9. Provider Attestation and Standards of Professional Practice
Providers will sign an attestation to stay current with all CrossFit CE Approved Provider Requirements as well as agree
to abide by the CrossFit CE Approved Provider Standards of Professional Practice.
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Requirements for Approved Providers and Fees
Best-Practice Recommendations
1. Provider has a policy and procedure to address refunds, cancellations, and complaint resolutions.
2. Provider has a policy and procedure to determine how safe and appropriate venues are selected for course locations.
3. Provider has a policy and procedure to determine how conflicts of interest are addressed and disclosed.
4. Provider has a policy and procedure to ensure that only qualified personnel are allowed to contribute to course
content and present course material.
a) Qualified personnel are provided with adequate orientation and training.
b) Providers and instructional personnel must:
• Be qualified by virtue of education and/or experience.
• Effectively convey intended information to meet course objectives.
• Demonstrate high standards of professional conduct.
• Not discriminate against participants based on gender, age, socioeconomic or ethnic background,
sexual orientation, or disability.
• Ensure that relevant financial and non-financial disclosures are reported to course participants.
5. Provider has a policy and procedure to ensure quality review and program improvements.
Content Review
All submitted courses and seminars are subject to content review. Course content should reflect learning objectives.
Content must be empirically based (i.e., have some practical application and not purely theoretical), relevant and applicable to improving fitness and health as defined by CrossFit, presented by a qualified source or instructor who is in good
standing with CrossFit Inc., and free from commercial bias. Course content should relate to CrossFit methodology and
the improvement of human movement. If not directly related, content must include one of the following topics: effective
communication, critical-thinking skills, leadership or business management. Providers who offer courses about products or equipment must possess empirical data to support the use of that product/equipment.
All course content is subject to final approval by the CrossFit Certification Department.
Fees
There is a one-time application fee of US$250. This fee is nonrefundable, so ensure the above requirements are met prior
to submitting an application. Upon acceptance, the approved course will be listed on the CCFT Continuing Education
page. Each course must be approved individually, and renewal must be completed annually. The fee to renew is US$250
per year for each course.
APPROVED PROVIDER FEES
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Application Fee (nonrefundable)
$250 per course
Annual Renewal Fee
$250 per course
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Status Requirements, Audits, Checklist and Application
Ongoing Approved Provider Status Requirements
Once a course is approved, the Provider is responsible for ensuring all criteria are continuously met during the term the
course is offered. The primary promotional and registration materials for courses offered for CrossFit CEUs must
include the CrossFit CE Approved Provider mark.
The following information may also appear on promotional and registration materials:
[Approved Provider/name of course] is recognized by the CrossFit Certification Department to offer continuing education for Certified CrossFit Trainers. This program has been approved for [#] CEUs of [General or Individualized]
Professional Development. Certified CrossFit Trainers must only report CEUs equal to the hours actually spent participating in the continuing-education activity.
Audits
The CrossFit Certification Department will conduct periodic random audits on Approved Provider courses to ensure that
requirements are current. Proof of internal policies and course content can be requested by the CrossFit Certification
Department at any time. Any Provider found to be out of compliance will lose approved status, and the course will not
be eligible to grant CrossFit CEUs. Fees will not be refunded and the course listing will be removed from the Continuing
Education page of the CCFT website. Reinstatement will be on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the CrossFit
Certification Department.
Checklist for Provider Applicants
1. Read and understand Approved Provider Standards of Professional Practice.
2. Read and understand Approved Provider Requirements and Best-Practice Recommendations.
3. Submit completed application form a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to commencement of the course.
4. Ensure application contains a link for course information with clear registration instructions.
5. Pay non-refundable application fee of US$250 for each course.
6. Prepare to submit course materials if requested by the CrossFit Certification Department.
Approved Provider Application Form
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