Diploma in Sporting Excellence
Unlock your potential with a Diploma
in Sporting Excellence
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The APEC Diploma in Sporting Excellence is geared towards supporting talented sports performers who wish to be part of a training and competition programme in order to compete at the highest level.
The purpose of the qualification is to build competence in elite sporting environments, specifically the training environment. Within this environment, particular focus is placed on the practical and theoretical elements that support performance. It is underpinned by a range of competency-based evidence learning.
The APEC Diploma in Sporting Excellence, therefore, meets the needs of young elite, amateur, semi-professional and professional male and female athletes who have the potential to achieve excellence in their chosen sport.
The APEC Diploma in Sporting Excellence provides the infrastructure required by athletes to build and learn the preparation skills they need to compete within elite sports. The knowledge, skills and behaviours learned along the way will support the athlete either in the transition to competitive/professional sports or working as part of a multidisciplinary team that supports competitive/professional sports.
Our Training Facilities:
- Dublin
- Cork
- Galway
- Belfast
77 video lessons (30h 30m)






Pricing & Plans

Diploma in Sporting Excellence
- Diploma in Sporting Excellence
- Certificate in Strength & Conditioning
- Certificate in Performance Nutrition
- CPD Professional Practice
- CPD Communication & Reflective Practice
- CPD Leadership & Management
From:
€ 1,800

Sign up with Humm for as little as €51 euro a month
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Diploma in Sporting Excellence & Nutrition Course Package
- Level 5 Diploma in Nutrition
- Level 4 Diploma in Personal Training
- Level 3 Certificate in Fitness Instructing
- Certificate in Nutrition For Health
- Certificate in Nutrition For Physical Activity & Sport
- Certificate in Communication
- Certificate in Behaviour Change
- Free online programming software
From:
€ 2,398

Sign up with Humm for as little as €51 euro a month
- Digitalised and animated videos
- Interactive learning process
- Case study & MCQ based assessment
- Watch on your desktop, phone, or TV
- Study at your own time and pace
- New courses added every month
Frequently Asked Questions.
Course Information
The diploma in Sporting Excellence is a great avenue for learners to undertake formal training to enhance their knowledge, skills and behaviours in a sporting environment. Athletes are provided with an opportunity to attain formal qualifications by combining theoretical learning with on the job development. The diploma in Sporting Excellence will typically be 12 months in duration. The delivery of the learning will be a mix of on the job development, classroom-based learning, and online sessions.
The aim of the sporting excellence programme is to produce graduates who are competent to perform consistently and effectively in training environments and competition. As such, learners will be part of a playing team supported and managed by a wider multi-disciplinary team including a manager/coach, skills coaches, physiotherapist, psychologist, nutritionist, strength and conditioning expert, and educational staff.
Learners have a high level of autonomy, in terms of responsibility for what happens on the field of play and need to be able to cope with extreme pressure.
The majority of learning will take place during the day to day work of the athlete. APEC will provide guidance and structure to shape learning, reflection, and development through the necessary knowledge skills and behaviours needed to graduate. Alongside sport-specific development, learners will also receive external training in essential disciplines related to sporting performance. Learners will receive professional qualifications in nutrition, strength & conditioning, training science, and coaching science to enhance their applied skills and ability to work outside of professional sport.
The APEC diploma in Sporting Excellence has been designed by industry-leading coaches providing the essential skills knowledge and behaviours needed to work in sport.
Course Length: The course is designed with flexibility in mind so that it can be complete in conjunction with your playing environment. While it takes an average of 6-12 months to complete the diploma in Sporting Excellence, the program is normally run inline with your sporting season.
Entry Requirements: Anyone who is 16 years or older can enrol.
Cost: €1800. No extra fee for certification or exams.
Offer & Payment Options: APEC offers flexible payment plans from as low as €51 a month to make payments manageable.
Completion of your diploma in Sporting Excellence will require you to complete both theory and practical assessments.
- 70% score required on the multiple-choice paper on training anatomy and physiology
- 70% score required on the multiple-choice paper on the principles of exercise and health
- 100% completion of the online interactive quizzes and assignments after each module
- Practical assessment on technical refection
- Practical assessment on tactical refection
- Completion of practical observation
- Completion of panel interview
APEC offers a blended learning approach to education allowing you to complete your qualifications at your own time and pace depending on your personal circumstances and lifestyle. You can now complete 80% of all diplomas online with our award-winning online e-learning platform.
Once you have compleated your online theory work we will arrange your practical assessment at one of our many performance centres throughout the country.
Online Learning
APEC provides 80% of the theory-based learning associated with the course online. This enables you to start learning the same day you enrol and begin working through the course modules at a pace suitable to you. APEC’s team of dedicated tutors provide you with support and guidance, all 7 days a week via phone or email.
Our award-winning e-learning platform is completely custom built and is tailored to your learning needs. The platform provides learning in the form of digitalised and animated video-led content. Online training tools such as online programming software, excel files and assessment sheets are also provided to help you with your learning. Finally, APEC has one of the most extensive digital exercise libraries to help you with your understanding of movement skill.
Progression Route
We at APEC take pride in our further education approach. After the completion of your diploma, further education diplomas in Personal Training Strength & Condition, Nutrition and Health Coaching at level 5 and 6 will become available to you.
Choose Your Fitness Education Course.
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Fantastic material and great way of hybrid mode to study. The coaches/teachers were amazing and I have learned a lot from them. I strongly recommend APEC and their Diploma in... read more PT. Thank you all.
Jefferson Rosa
August 18, 2023Combination of online and in person learning has been amazing. Workshop was so helpful, the lads are so well spoken and knowledgeable. Would absolutely recommend
Shelly O'Riordan
August 18, 2023Everything you want from a course. Easy to follow online modules and can't speak highly enough about the workshop. Would recommend the lads to anyone whether it's beginning as a... read more pt or upskilling the lads have you covered from start to finish.
shane Finnegan
August 18, 2023 -
Top quality. It's a great advantage to have the online learning but then to marry it all together in the practical workshop, it really brings it to life. Great examples,... read more experience and q&a from the coaches.
Fran Lee
August 18, 2023 -
Recently past my PT course really enjoyed working with the trainers very helpful and will take their time out to help and make sure you understand what to do definitely... read more going back again for a few refresher courses in the future
Carl Stanley
May 18, 2023 -
I had a great time doing the work shop and the online corse went really in depth about the various topics it had. Over all a really great learning experience
Fionn Mckeown
March 18, 2023The In person workshop was a great experience for me, the crowd from APEC were very kind and very professional, same goes for the other people there who were there... read more for their workshop also. Throughout the workshop for both days I managed to learn a lot of new things also
Damo Lifts
March 18, 2023 -
I recently completed the Diploma in Personal Training with APEC and was thoroughly impressed. From the very beginning the course was engaging and enjoyable. The flexibility to study at my... read more own pace, fantastic tutors and support, professional course delivery, and amazing value for money made for an exceptional experience. The course was well planned and I highly recommend APEC for anyone looking for a top-notch education.
Stewart Gilbert
February 18, 2023Just finished the 2 day personal training practical workshop. And the lads made us all feel very comfortable from start to finish. Really enjoyed the weekend and can't thank the... read more lads enough 🙌🏽
jordan jarrett
December 18, 2022 -
Would definitely recommend, great course info/structure, the workshop was really well put together too.
Craig Fitzgerald
December 18, 2022Just finished the Level 4 PT accredited. It is a really good course with very nicely structured plan and a lot of information for your future career. The final workshop... read more contained the most important things we studied theoretically and the exams was practical one-on-one training session. The 1 missing star is because the anatomy could have been done better and deeper and I would incorporate couple of practical sessions. 🙂 Very satisfied otherwise.
Veronika Leginusová
October 18, 2022 -
Fantastic courses, really informative. Instructors are really helpful both in online response and in person. Really enjoyed the workshop and hopefully I’ll get to continue my education with Apec
Dan Tynan
September 18, 2022Hi all ,I would like to recommend APEC , to anyone that wants to start their coaching career , here at APEC I got a great experience and in... read more a friendly atmosphere I learned so much , everyone was so helpful and all topic we have discussed were presented in a clear and understandable way. Thanks to Shane and Alex for their great ,work , I will definitely be back for more courses with APEC .
Bo Jaskiewicz
September 1, 2022 -
I did the Personal Training/Fitness Instructor course with APEC and I found it very informative and convenient for myself as most of the course is online. Great for people that... read more work and want to get into Personal Training. The coaches were very helpful and professional throughout the course.
Lizzie Lowther
September 1, 2022Absolutely amazing course, great course leaders, and a lot of detail involved, really enjoyed the 2 day course, and would definitely recommend!! Shane and Alex where very good at teaching... read more and demonstrating exercises!
Shannon Molloy
July 18, 2022 -
Just finished the APEC Practical course for PT Level 4 Diploma. Brilliant course. Alex and Shane were great tutors. They explained everything clearly with practical application. Two very approachable people... read more who spent time making sure we understood what they were teaching. Highly recommend this course.
Nicola Rea
July 18, 2022Really enjoyed my time on the course, Alex and Shane were really approachable and friendly, always were very professional and provided easy to follow demonstrations.
Austin Murphy
July 18, 2022The PT workshop was simply awesome 👍👌👏 Alex and Shane are not only amazing coaches but also very patient, friendly and super helpful. I learned so much this weekend from... read more them that I feel super confident now to become a PT. Thank you so much Apec and special thanks to Alex and Shane.
Graciela Loftus
July 18, 2022 -
I did the Strength and Conditioning diploma, I found the content was delivered really well, and the staff were so helpful if I needed any help or guidance. The workshops... read more were so interesting and fun and really put us through our paces. Will definitely be doing more of their courses in the future.
Sarah Dermody
July 18, 2022I have completed my 3rd diploma from APEC. All the lads were super helpful and answered any questions that needed to be answered very quickly! The practical days were very... read more helpful, while also being enjoyable. I recommend all three diplomas, which are the personal training, strength and conditioning and performance nutrition diplomas, as there is all different learning outcomes from each diploma. I can’t thank the lads enough as they really helped me to become a better coach and would highly recommend APEC.
Rob Hynes
July 18, 2022I would highly reccomend APEC Courses . I found the course content of high quality and very easy to follow. The feedback and help available from the team were 1st... read more class and anytime I had a question or problem it was dealt with immediately.
Chris Hunt
July 18, 2022