FAQ's
Q: When do the British Cycling Coach Education courses run?
A: Coach Education Courses run all year round at venues across the country and more information can be found within the Coach Programme Timetables page.
Q: Now that Club Coach and Activity Coach Awards are no longer being delivered by British Cycling, is my qualification still valid?
A: If you are currently a qualified Activity Coach or Club Coach then your qualification will remain valid for the foreseeable future. To keep your qualification valid you must hold British Cycling membership at a minimum of silver level and hold a valid first aid certificate. Trainee coaches should aim to complete their coaching award before their deadline in order to keep their qualification valid.
Q: Is there any funding available to assist with the costs of a Coaching Award?
A: Yes, there are a number of funding options available to coaches. For more information on this download a Funding Fact Sheet (word file 74 KB).
Q: What first aid qualification do I require?
A: The minimum first aid requirement for all British Cycling Coaching Awards is a Health and Safety Executive recognised course in Emergency Aid. These courses are run by various first aid organisations including the Red Cross and St. John's Ambulance. Qualification are normally valid for a period of 3 years. You are required to submit a copy of your First Aid Certificate when first applying for an Award. Thereafter, it is your responsibility to ensure that the certificate is kept valid by attending update courses. Your British Cycling coaching licence and insurance is only valid when you are in possession of a current first aid certificate and valid British Cycling membership (gold or silver level).
Q: Who can attend a British Cycling Coaching Award?
A: Our courses are open to all British Cycling Gold/Silver Members who hold a valid first aid certificate. We have courses aimed at people new to coaching (e.g interested parents, riders, sports science graduates) through to experienced coaches looking to improve/update their knowledge. We also have a specially designed course for people holding Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) designed to enable them to deliver cycling activities within their school. For more information visit our British Cycling Coach Education Programme.
Q: Are the British Cycling Coaching Awards recognised nationally?
A: Yes. Our existing programme has been developed in line with the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) and are aligned to the National Occupational Standards for Coaching, Teaching and Instruction as defined by SPRITO, the National Training Organisation (NTO) for Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations. These standards define the minimum level of knowledge and competence that someone must have to be able to coach others and are linked to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). It is our goal to continue to produce courses that are accredited onto the NQF in the future. For more information look at our Coach Education Programme.
Q: Is Accredited Prior Learning available?
A: Both Accredited Prior Learning (APL) and Accredited Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) are available to all candidates. However, British Cycling Coaching and Education must agree this prior to the course and the candidate will have to provide satisfactory written evidence that all of the learning outcomes have been met. For more information visit our Coaching APL page.
Q: What do I have to do to keep my qualification valid?
A: Once you have gained your British Cycling Coaching Award, you will need to maintain the following in order to benefit from the insurance package and to retain a valid coaching licence: British Cycling membership (gold or silver level) and a Valid first aid qualification
We encourage all of our qualified coaches to keep their knowledge and skills up to date by attending regular CPD workshops, courses and events. As our course programme develops attending regular CPD will become a requirement of keeping your coaching qualification valid. For more information visit our CPD section of the website
Q: How do I become a cycle mechanic or learn about bike maintenance?
A: CyTech is the industry recognised standard for cycle mechanics. CyTech has been developed by Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) and is endorsed by suppliers and manufacturers as a benchmark of skills and services within bicycle retail. More information can be found by contacting the Association of Cycle Traders.