Program Overview

Overview of the Clinical Exercise Program

The Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise is designed to enable clinicians to prescribe exercise as a disease preventative and treatment modality in a safe, effective, and scientific manner. This program covers the accurate assessment of activity and fitness, and the application of this knowledge for the safe and effective prescription of exercise. The role of exercise in the prevention and treatment of disease is explored through research, case scenarios, and group discussions, applying this knowledge to patients with various pathologies.

Program Details

• Program Name: Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise
• Duration: 1 year part-time
• Places Available: 20
• NFQ Level: 9
• ECTS: 30

Is This Program For Me?

This program is specifically designed for health professionals seeking to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to confidently prescribe exercise to individuals with various pathologies.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program have gone on to work in the health sector, including public or private hospital settings, community health, occupational rehabilitation, private clinics, sports, and further education or research.

Program Structure

The program is offered as a one-year online course, running from September to June. Students obtain credit for satisfactory engagement with lectures, required coursework, and successful completion of online examinations and designated assignments.

Program Content

Students take four core modules:

1. Exercise Physiology 1
2. Physical Activity and Exercise
3. Exercise in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease
4. Exercise Prescription for Clinical Populations

Admission Requirements

The program is open to applicants with an NFQ Level-8 qualification or equivalent professional degree at 2.1 level (or equivalent) in fields such as medicine, nursing, dietetics and nutrition, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or physiology. Graduates from other degree courses are assessed on an individual basis. Applicants who do not fit these criteria but have clinical experience are assessed on an individual basis by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

English Language Requirements

All applicants must provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language, meeting Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Fees

For a full list of postgraduate fees, refer to the relevant university resources.

Program Awards

• NFQ Level: 9
• Number of Places: 20
• Next Intake: September 2025
• Course Coordinator: Dr. Cuisle Forde
• Course Director: Professor John Gormley
• Closing Date: 31st July 2025

Additional Information

The program is designed to provide health professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to prescribe exercise as a treatment modality, addressing how physical activity and exercise can become an integral part of patient prescription. The role of exercise in preventing and treating various conditions, including depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, rheumatic diseases, and other conditions where exercise was not traditionally considered beneficial, is explored. The program aims to equip graduates with the expertise to work in a variety of healthcare settings, contributing to the integration of exercise as a preventative and therapeutic measure.