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Group Exercise Instructor Certification Process

Group exercise classes are a very common and popular form of physical activity. They are an avenue in which individuals of all backgrounds can come together as a community and maintain their physical fitness in a non-traditional way, such as Dance Fitness, Mixed Martial Arts, F45, Yoga, Cycle, and Barre.

Baylor University “seeks to fulfill its calling through excellence in teaching and research, in scholarship and publication, and in service to the community, both local and global.” Baylor pursues this endeavor by making decisions and actions in alignment to its mission “to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.”

With Baylor desiring to create leaders that will impact the world when they graduate there is always avenues in which to equip students with the skills and knowledge they may need for their future endeavors. Through my research Universities such as, Texas A&M University and The University of Texas San Antonio, have a well-developed Group Exercise Instructor Certification Process. More specifically at The University of Texas San Antonio if a student is interested in becoming a Group Exercise Instructor they must first attend Group Fitness Instructor Training (GFIT). GFIT is a free 12-hour training course dedicated to teaching basic skills on becoming a group instructor. After attending GFIT students are then given the option to continue in the process by scheduling a time to audition in front of UTSA Fitness staff. Their audition requires students to instruct a 12-minute mini class. If students are selected/hired after auditioning they will begin a 6-8-week shadowing process. It is an expectation that those that are hired must obtain their CPR/AED and First Aid certification within 30 days of hire and must obtain Primary Group Exercise Certification within one year of their hire. These certifications will be paid for out of the instructor’s own pockets.

Below is a chart of some of the universities and colleges that provide primary group certification process and how long they give students to obtain the certification.

University

 Group Fitness Certification Time allotted to obtain certification from hiring date Other University Services

Angelo State University

 ACE or AFAA 1 year

Provide certification training course
Rice University ACE, ACSM, AFAA or NETA By end of semester

None

Texas A&M University

 ACE or AFAA 1 year Provide certification training course
The University of Texas San Antonio ACE or AFAA 1 year

GFIT – Group Fitness Instructor Training

University of Houston

 ACE By end of the semester

ACE prep course
University of Florida ACE, ACSM, AFAA or NETA By the end of the Instructor Training Course

Instructor Training Course – 10 weeks

I believe Baylor can adopt these well-developed processes when hiring their FitWell Group X and F45 instructors. Below are a list of possible certifications Baylor’s FitWell Group Exercise Instructors could pursue within a year of their hiring and the prices for obtaining the certification.

Personal Training Certification

  • National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT) – Personal Trainer Certification Exam only – $239.99 + $79 fee to take at PSI Facility
  • Athletics and fitness Association of America (AFAA) – Personal Fitness Trainer Certification – $499 (Not including the textbook)
  • American Council on Exercise (ACE) – Personal Trainer Certification Course Options:
    • Pro Essentials – $599 (Best suited for the candidate with extensive knowledge in anatomy and fitness principles)
    • Pro Plus – $649 (Perfect for the candidate with working knowledge of anatomy and fitness principles)
    • Pro Advantage – $699 (Ideal for the candidate who is looking for a robust study experience or who has little to no knowledge of anatomy and fitness principles)

Group Exercise Certification 

  • Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) – Group Fitness Instructor Courses:
    • Self-Study Course – $199
    • Premium Self-Study – $299
    • All Inclusive – $399
  • American Council of Exercise (ACE) – Certified Group Fitness Instructor
    • Standard – $299
    • Premium – $499
  • National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA) – NETA certification
    • 2 Options:
      • Option 1 – attend a one-day workshop with hands-on exam preparation and insight into the teaching experience, concluding with the administering of the test
        • Standard Price by registering online- $299
        • Early Bird Special by registering 30 days earlier and online – $249
        • Paying onsite – $309
      • Option 2- choose to study on one’s own by choosing the “test only” option
        • Just taking the test – $199

Yoga Certification

  • National Exercise Trainer’s Association (NETA) – Yoga Foundations (can be used as the first course working toward the advanced 200 Hour yoga Program) – $349 Early Bird (30 days prior to workshop) Course; $399 Standard Course
  • National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT)
    • Certified Yoga Instructor: Vinyasa Flow – $479.99 Course; $44.99 Manual; $24.99 Sample Test; $24.99 Study Guide
    • Six Month Yoga Instructor Course Extension – $75

Indoor Cycle Certification

  • National Exercise Trainer’s Association (NETA) – Indoor Group Cycling Specialty Certification – $189 Course; $29 Book (Bike Fit Home Study)
  • Spinning
    • Spinning Instructor Live Certification – $355
    • Spinning Instructor Online Certification – $335
  • National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT) – Indoor Cycling Certification – $239.99 Course

Barre Certification

  • National Exercise Trainer’s Association (NETA) – Barre Connect Specialty Certification – $189 Course

As seen by the price breakdown I have included the top three options for Primary Group Exercise Instructor Certification. Now knowing the price let’s delve deeper into the topics each certification covers.

Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)

The AFAA certification workshops cover these topics:

  • Basic Anatomy and Kinesiology
  • Nutrition and Weight Management
  • Group Exercise Design Planning
  • Essentials of teaching (exercise guidelines, motivation, cueing, choreography, etc.)
  • Exercise selection and injury prevention
  • Business skills and legal responsibilities

American Council on Exercise (ACE)

The ACE certification workshops cover topics in 3 domains:

  • Class Planning and Design
  • Group Leadership and Instruction
  • Professional Conduct, Safety, and Risk Management

National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA)

The NETA certification workshops cover:

  • Basic Human Anatomy, Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology
  • Nutrition and Weight Management
  • Various Programming (Cardiorespiratory, Muscular Fitness, Flexibility)
  • Essentials of teaching (exercise guidelines, motivation, cueing, chorography, etc.)
  • Exercise Selection and injury prevention
  • Business skills and legal responsibilities

After researching the possible certifications available for instructors to obtain and the focus groups and individuals interviews with FitWell group instructors the best certification to require instructors to obtain is AFAA. AFAA requires that candidates must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid CPR certification. These requirements aid when hiring potential instructors because of the community these instructors will be interacting with. Director Van Smith-Davis already has connections with AFAA, being a certification holder herself. There is a 10% discounts for AFAA members, which means Van could potentially purchase the study materials for the certification exam and provide a prep course opportunity for potential group exercise instructors. Van would probably have to start up the process and be the first instructor for the prep course however, in the following years to come a senior group exercise instructor can lead the prep course. There are other universities that provide this service to their potential group exercise instructors thus Baylor has the potential to do the same.

In regards to the future hiring process for group exercise instructors at Baylor University, on the next page is a potential hiring process timeline:

As seen in the timeline advertising around campus for the need of group exercise instructors will be done all year around. Then it is throughout the entire year that students sign up to participate in a group exercise instructor interest meeting. Once they have been to an interest meeting and are told all the requirements and what they would need to do to become a group exercise instructor then they will fill out the application and the Assistant Director of Fitness and the Fitness Graduate Apprentice will conduct an interview with them. After the interview, an audition demonstration will take place. The candidate will prepare a mini class for the Assistant Director of Fitness, the Fitness Graduate Apprentice and any other current group exercise instructors who are available. Once they have done that the present evaluators will provide feedback on the candidate’s performance. The Assistant Director of Fitness and the Fitness Graduate Apprentice will then decide whether or not to offer the job to the candidate. When the candidate accepts, they can then sign up for the AFAA prep course. The duration of the prep course can change depending on how the first implementation of this plan. However, a candidate may choose or not choose to take part in the prep course. The candidate will be notified that they need to pay for the certification and have 1 year from their hire date to pass and obtain the certification.

References

Dail, T., & Melton, D. (2009). Developing aerobic dance routines: A method for instructing undergraduate group fitness leaders. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 80(7), 23-28,41. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.baylor.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/215756344?accountid=7014

Pierce, P., & Herman, S. (2004). Obtaining, maintaining, and advancing your fitness certification. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 75(7), 50-54. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.baylor.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/215759541?accountid=7014

http://www.becomingatrainer.com/top-3-group-exercise-certification-programs/

https://acewebcontent.azureedge.net/assets/certification/pdfs/GFI-Exam-Content-Outline.pdf

https://www.netafit.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/GX-Study-Guide-Schedule.pdf

Group Exercise Instructor Certification Process Focus Group and Individual Interview Questions and Responses

What are some excellent aspects of Baylor’s FitWell program for instructors?

  • Working Culture (Co-working and University Setting)
  • Creating Relationships with a diverse community
  • Flexibility of Schedule
  • Helping Members develop workout form

What are some aspects of Baylor’s FitWell program for instructors that need improvement?

  • Unified Instructor Hiring Process
  • Instructors cannot solely “like Fitness”
  • Feedback from Members
  • Evaluation of Instructor Performance

Think back to when you were first hired as a FitWell instructor. Did you feel prepared for teaching your class after being trained?

  • Unanimous “yes”

What certifications did you have when you first started as a FitWell instructor?

  • Did not have any
  • Specific certifications: Yoga, Zumba, Cycling

Do you have additional certifications that you have acquired since you started as a FitWell instructor?

  • Unanimous “None”

What are some skills or certifications you would like to learn that you know will be helpful for teaching your class?

  • Primary Group Exercise Instructor Certification
  • Learning how to correctly Powerlift and correct exercise form
  • Refresher on safety techniques for exercises

What are your thoughts concerning requiring FitWell instructors to pair up with each other, attend each other’s classes and provide feedback?

  • Great Idea
  • Anonymity of Evaluation
  • 2 Evaluators
  • A Necessary Need

Concerning skill/professional development as being FitWell group exercise instructors what workshop topics would be beneficial for you?

  • Leadership
  • Presentation 101
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Safety
  • Exercise Modification 101

FitWell Group Exercise Instructor and Program Evaluation Form

There is an online link that FitWell members can complete as well. Below copy and paste link into the search engine:

https://goo.gl/forms/NDHwPgx4jRBdQgVo1