The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) is looking to restructure as part of efforts to make its operations "more realistic" and "easier to understand".

According to registrar Jean-Ann Marnoch, the organisation's framework is in need of updating to make it more understandable to people working within the fitness industry.

"The previous framework was a good starting point for both REPs and SkillsActive but desperately needs updating to reflect current working practices as well as offering much-needed simplicity to those both within and outside the industry," she said.

"We hope the new structure will be much more realistic and easy to understand."

According to a statement, the new structure is a revised set of National Occupational Standards developed by industry experts to reflect the needs of the industry.

The awarding bodies are currently writing qualifications to meet these new standards and the training providers will then write the courses to meet the qualifications.

"All of this means new courses reflecting the new structure will not be available until after April 2010", the statement says.

The current 44 categories of accreditations will be cut to 24. Changes include an additional category at Level 2 - Physical Activity for Children, while the Level 3 advanced fitness instructor has been dropped.

Set up in 2002, REPs is owned by SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure, Learning and Wellbeing.