About BACR Phase IV

The BACR Phase IV Exercise Instructor Training Programme (funded by the British Heart Foundation) was launched in 1997 to provide specialist training for exercise professionals who wanted to prescribe and deliver exercise programmes as part of the overall long-term management of individuals with heart disease.  There are now almost 2000 qualified instructors spread across the UK.

British Association for Cardiac Rehabilitation (BACR) is the national organisation for all professionals involved in the field of cardiac rehabilitation and is an affiliated group of the British Cardiovascular Society.  BACR promotes good practice, produces national guidelines, and develops educational programmes within the field of cardiac rehabilitation.

In the UK, cardiac rehabilitation is traditionally described in terms of phases of recovery; Phase I is the inpatient stage, Phase II the early discharge period, Phase III is a clinically supervised outpatient programme and Phase IV is the long term maintenance of physical activity and lifestyle change.

This course has developed strong links between exercise professionals and clinical professionals within the field of cardiac rehabilitation to enable a high standard of care for the individual with heart disease.

About BACR Phase IV

Course content

35 hours contact teaching time taking place over 5 days (spread over 3 to 4 months) and approximately 100 hours of independent study and reading.

Comprehensive syllabus is covered in a training manual and accompanying DVD which includes:-

  • Cardiac rehabilitation - the background
  • The heart and cardiovascular system
  • Cardiovascular disease
    • Pathology and presentation
    • Investigation and diagnosis
    • Medical / surgical treatments
    • MedicationCPD
  • Endurance exercise
    • Acute and chronic responses
    • Benefit for cardiac patients
  • The rehabilitation process
  • Risk factors
  • Exercise considerations for special populations
  • Phase IV programming & prescription
  • Changing behaviour & motivational interviewing
  • Problem scenarios & emergency procedures

This qualification attracts 20 REPs CPD points and requires revalidation every three years