0513-NOC

Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness

(NOC 54100)
Annual Earnings
$43,798
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
High School Diploma
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
4,870

Career Overview

Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness lead and instruct groups and individuals in related programs. People in this job work in community centres, health-care facilities, government departments and correctional institutions. They also work for sports and fitness clubs, resorts and tourism companies, and recreational facilities.

Duties

Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness perform some or all these duties:

  • Plan and carry out recreational, athletic, fitness and sports activities
  • Manage, maintain and repair supplies and sports equipment
  • Explain and coach others in athletic, fitness or sports activities and show them ways to improve these skills
  • Teach groups and individuals in arts, crafts and similar activities and lead recreational or leisure programs
  • Support clients with special needs
  • Provide therapeutic recreational or athletic activities
  • Monitor recreational, sports or fitness activities to make sure they are safe, and provide basic emergency or first aid assistance when needed
  • Make sure that safety rules and regulations are followed
  • Schedule activities and keep records
  • Help to co-ordinate special events with the community, sponsors and others
  • Hire, train, and supervise staff and volunteers
  • Create budgets for equipment (including looking at how long each piece of gear will last)
  • Monitor budgets for financial reporting and controlling of recreation programs and events
  • Develop risk management plans for recreation programs and events
  • Prepare reports

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$43,798

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$32.00/hr
Median$21.00/hr
Low$16.75/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

13,315

% Employed Full Time

19%
Source: 2021 Census

People in this job work evenings and weekends on a regular basis. While some of the work takes place indoors in sports and recreational settings, some outdoor work may also be required. Some workers, such as lifeguards, work near or must enter water.

Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sports and fitness spend most of their day working with others and leading classes. Good communication skills are important in this role since program leaders and instructors speak with clients who take classes, play an organized sport or have questions about what is available to them. People in this job may be required to help with community events and to speak with groups or individuals who provide financial or other support for a community centre or other public recreational facility.

Career Pathways

People in this job can move into new positions as they gain experience in a range of service areas. This may include a focus on children or youth, seniors, or working in large organizations. Others stay in one service area and can move up in that area by taking on more responsibilities.

Typically, moving into a more senior role means that the person will need to oversee multiple service areas. For example, a recreation centre manager is responsible for all the service areas in the centre (skating, swimming, fitness and so on). While it’s not always necessary to have experience in each of these areas before becoming a manager, it’s useful and may help the person get promoted. In addition, it’s important to learn business skills to move into more senior roles. This can include budgeting, human resources and marketing.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Social
Social

Job Titles

Aerobics instructor
Camp counsellor
Certified personal trainer
Day camp leader
Fitness appraiser
Fitness instructor
Gymnastics teacher
Personal trainer
Playground worker
Recreation program leader
Recreation technician
Riding instructor
Ski instructor
Ski patrol
Swimming instructor - sports

Education, Training and Skills

Completion of secondary school is usually required. Graduation from a college program in recreation or physical education or extensive experience in a specific recreational or sports program activity is typically needed.

Certification is usually required in a specific area of recreational, sports or fitness activity, such as ski instructor or personal trainer, or in first aid or emergency care. In addition, a demonstrated ability in a particular recreational, sport or fitness discipline is required.

Fitness appraiser certification may be required for fitness appraisers.

Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact the Lifesaving Society BC & Yukon Branch for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Services
  • Adventure Tourism
  • Human Kinetics/Kinesiology/Physical Education
  • Recreation Leadership Related
  • Sports and Fitness Administration/Management
EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

67%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

66%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

64%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

63%
Instructing

Teaching others how to do something.

62%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

61%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

58%
Learning Strategies

Choosing and using training, instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

54%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

52%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

50%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

13,315
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 265 2.0%
Kootenay 415 3.1%
Mainland/Southwest 8,375 62.9%
North Coast and Nechako 230 1.7%
Northeast 140 1.1%
Thompson-Okanagan 1,520 11.4%
Vancouver Island/Coast 2,365 17.8%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

4,870
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 110 0.7%
Kootenay 140 1.0%
Mainland/Southwest 3,190 1.2%
North Coast and Nechako 50 -0.9%
Northeast 40 0.7%
Thompson-Okanagan 470 0.7%
Vancouver Island/Coast 870 1.1%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Information, Culture And Recreation2,940
Educational Services860
Health Care And Social Assistance540
Repair, Personal And Non-Profit Services260
Public Administration90
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

People in this career need to stay up to date in their speciality which could be focussed on seniors, children, general fitness or others. This means learning about new techniques and processes for fitness, sport, recreation as well as health, wellness and nutrition.

Having motivational and leadership skills makes a person with this career in higher demand. Communication, conflict resolution, problem solving and being able to support and mentor others are important skills.

A person in this career needs to have an understanding of current health and safety regulations and to make sure their team follows those.

Resources