Steps to Getting AFAA Certified
A week and a half ago, I went to the APEX event for AFAA to recertify my Primary Group Certification. A friend of mine had indicated interest in becoming Group Exercise certified, so I recruited her to come along, since a normally $299 certification only costs $99 during the APEX weekend. Can’t argue with a deal like that. So she and I set off from our homes in Charleston, SC to attend the Charlotte, NC event. If you don’t count the ordeals we suffered, such as getting lost because Google Maps didn’t mention one of the roads necessary to find our hotel, or the fact that the hotel appeared to be on fire when we arrived, the trip and workshop made for a great weekend. I especially enjoyed having my “newbie” friend with me, because it allowed me to experience a different side to mentorship. It is one thing to coach a client or a student in your class, and another thing entirely to help that person become a coach or teacher. After observing the experience from the perspective of someone totally brand new to the certification game, I realized that a step-by-step guide would probably be of help to more than just my friend. So here is the start of a series of posts meant to help you get the most out of the AFAA certification process.
What is AFAA?
AFAA is the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. According to AFAA, they are the largest certifying body of group fitness instructors in the world. I believe them. Hundreds of thousands of instructors have been certified through AFAA since 1983. They are also one of the most credible sources for your group fitness certification and many gyms or clubs require you to have AFAA. If you are thinking of eventually becoming a presenter, AFAA is a must. Their website is www.afaa.com.
Do I need AFAA?
Again, many employers require an AFAA or an ACE cert. I have never certified through ACE, so I have no information on the value of one over the other. The AFAA Primary Group Certification serves as a great “starting point” for folks getting into group exercise instruction, and is also a good choice for individuals with a specialization, such as bellydance or capoiera, who need a certification to go with their skills. It provides fundamental information that, in my opinion, everyone needs before they stand in front of a room and tell the people in it to move. It is also a good supplement for folks who are certified in specialty and proprietary class styles, like Spinning or the Les Mills certifications.
Are there any special requirements?
You must have a current CPR certification to receive your certification. You must also attend a workshop and take a practical exam to get certified – there are no online options for AFAA’s Primary Group Cert. this is part of why is held in high respect.
What are the steps to getting and staying AFAA certified?
1. Registration and pre-workshop preparation
2. Obtaining valid CPR certifcation from the Red Cross or American Health Association (they will not accept CPR courses given on-line.)
3. Workshop attendance
4. Successfully passing the written exam and the practical exam.
5. Earning Continuing Education Credits and applying for recertification every 2 years.
We’ll talk through each of these steps in the next post. Read the next post. >>
Related posts:
15 comments
Thank you so much for this blog! I am taking the Primary Group Fitness Certification this weekend, but I don’t have my CPR certification yet. I am registered for a CPR class in a couple of weeks (I couldn’t get in any earlier). Do you know how I will prove that certification to AFAA when I do receive it in a couple of weeks and what should I expect during the workshop…do you think that will be a problem with AFAA since I don’t have it yet?
To my knowledge, it is okay to take the workshop without the CPR cert. I believe that they simply withhold your certification until you mail or fax a copy of your CPR card to them. I left my CPR card at home the day of the workshop, and all that was required was a quick faxing when I got home to get them to mail the cert to me. Hope that helps! Glad you’re here.
I am REALLY enjoying your comments, as I am completely new to this industy. I want to know how large the book is that is sent to you after registration? There is a class available in my area two, three and four weeks away. So, didn’t know if the two week class would give me enough time to read the entire book, or if I should take a later class.
Wow! I’m like missyf, thank you soooo much for this! I’m totally freakin out over my certification that is coming up in a couple of weeks. I have a few questions: for some reason i thought i had to come up with a step routine, is this not true? i can do a strength training exercise as my individual routine? this would be great! also, since you went to an Apex event there were a ton of people, there probably won’t be that many people in my workshop, do you think the format will still be the same? and finally, i also registered for the skills and choreography workshop which is said to be a good pre-cursor to the primary group exam, what are your thoughts? thank you again.
Thanks for stopping in, I am glad to be able to help you out!
1. You do not have to come up with a step routine, but you can do step for your individual presentation; however, you will not have a step bench and you will still have to follow the guidelines for showing appropriate modifications for a beginner, intermediate and advanced participant. My preference is to do a strength exercise in the individual participation as there is a clear-cut method (outlined in Post #4-5) for delivery that will ensure success.
2. To the best of my knowledge, the event structure will be the same at a non-APEX workshop as at APEX, but you are correct, you will have fewer people to compete with!
3. Yes, I believe the skills and choreography workshop can only aid in your understanding of what AFAA is looking for. While I have never taken that particular workshop, I think it will certainly be worth the time, especially if you are a new instructor.
Glad to have you here!
[...] into the workshops and fitness certification process. If you want to see the series, start with Post 1. If I don’t have my CPR certification and can’t get it in time for the workshop, can I [...]
[...] If you want to read a more detailed account of how these certs work, check this blog [...]
Hi Krista! Thank you so much for this great amount of information. It made me a little overwhelmed and nervous so go through the workshop, but also so relieved that I have 2 months until my test. I do have one question.. For the presentation I was thinking of doing a lunge with a lateral raise . In your opionion, do you think that it’s a good idea to do an exercise that works 2 different muscle groups or is simple better??
Hi Kerry — In my opinion, the benefits of using a compound movement are outnumbered by the risks. It’s nerve-wracking enough to remember all of the form cues and details of a simple movement. When you make it compound, you double all of the things you’ll need to remember and execute flawlessly. However, you certainly can do this movement, as it is a perfectly decent exercise. If you love lunges with lateral raises and are confident that you have the execution down pat, I would recommend adding the lateral raise as a way of advancing a simple lunge. In other words, if your presentation is of a lunge, you can do a standing static lunge as your Basic Move. Make it Intermediate by adding the lateral raise and then make it Advanced by adding a step back and together of the lunging leg. Hope that helps!
It does help!! Thank you. Also, I had another question about the Warm-up/Cardio part.. I have the warm up set with 3 of each-movement rehearsal, limbering and stretches, but I am not sure about the higher intensity moves. Does that mean those moves-step touhes, knee lifts, etc. just adding arms and moderate or high impact OR different moves all together??? It says to use a minimum of 3 leg variations. It just was a little confused about it. Thank you so much!!
It can mean both. But again, simpler is better. Anytime you add arms, direction, or increase impact, you’ve advanced a move. There are very few high impact moves that don’t have a progression, so it usually makes more sense to use the same move with varying levels. Post 4 has the movements I used for mine. If you share with me what the context of “3 leg variations” is, I can help you interpret what they’re getting at. Hang in there!
Thank you so much Krista!! Sorry to be a pain, but I have another question.. I decided to do the lunge combo for my presentation, but I am not sure if that is too complicated (not to do, but to explain). For the muscle group it using do I have to list them all?? ie. glutes, traps, hamstrings and quads. Also, they ask to explain the purpose of the exercise. Does that mean to strengthen the muscle groups listed?? I might be looking way to into this, but thank you so much for your help!
This blog was the BEST thing I read before taking my AFAA Group Exercise Cert back in December. I felt totally prepared for it and I passed! Thanks for posting this!
Glad to hear it Tammy! Congrats!
I was supposed to take the Feb. 2010 APEX but ended up having to go on a work trip. There is another one coming up but they have now updated the textbook. Has anyone taken the certification since it changed (i think 6/30/10) or does anyone know what the difference is. I hate to buy another book if I don’t have to. Thanks for any help.
Krista R.
Leave a Comment