Mentorship Within the CSCP

The Canadian Strength and Conditioning Association, in collaboration with Sport Scientist Canada, has developed an industry-leading mentorship program designed to ensure that strength and conditioning coaches across Canada possess the foundational knowledge, practical skills, and professional competencies required to succeed in the profession.

The mentorship program provides aspiring coaches with structured supervised practical experience that bridges the gap between academic preparation and independent professional practice. Through standardized training and evaluation, coaches develop the core coaching, communication, programming, and athlete management skills expected of entry-level strength and conditioning professionals.

By establishing a consistent national standard for practical competency, the CSCA mentorship program raises the professional benchmark for strength and conditioning coaches across Canada. This benefits employers by providing confidence in the abilities of certified coaches and, most importantly, enhances the quality, safety, and effectiveness of services delivered to athletes and all other performance-focused populations.

The mentorship program consists of a 250 hour internship performed under the supervision of an approved mentorship coach. Completion of the mentorship program is required for all coaches looking to seek the CSCP Level 1 Certification.

Approved Mentors by Province

CSCP Mentorship Guide

Competency Review Framework

Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend you download both the Mentorship Guide and the Competency Review Guide as it will outline the mentorship program in detail.

From there, you will select your CSCA Mentor Coach to start the Mentorship Program. You can find a full list of approved mentor coaches by province here: Coming Soon

Unfortunately without a degree in Kinesiology or a related field, you are not qualified to apply for the CSCP certification. The degree requirement sets a standard within the strength and conditioning industry across Canada and is a vital component of the certification pathway.

All approved mentor coaches approved by the CSCA for the CSCP program can be found here: Coming Soon

Yes. Meetings with your mentor coach can be completed either online or in-person.

All approved CSCA mentor coaches are currently certified through the Canadian Strength and Conditioning Association and through years of professional experience, are qualified to mentor and guide all CSCP1 applicants.

Yes. We understand depending on the location of an applicant, mentorship hours may be completed under another supervising coach. However, it will be your CSCA coach that completes and approves all competency reviews for submission towards the CSCP certification.

Yes. Recent graduates are able to use past mentorship hours within a 3 year period from the CSCP application rollout. With the application window opening September 2026, hours completed from 2023 onward will be permitted. If the hours were not completed under a CSCA mentor coach, you will still need to select a CSCA coach to complete the competency review process.

Choose Your Certification Level

CSCP1

Level 1

Foundational coaching competence, typically within the first five years of practice.

CSCP2

Level 2

10 years of experience, giving back through mentorship of newer coaches.

COMING SOON!

CSCP3

Level 3

20 years of experience and a graduate degree — coming soon.

COMING SOON!

CSCPa

Academic

For educators and researchers advancing the field — coming soon.