<<Read the previous post.

How much time do I need to prepare before the workshop?

This will depend on your experience level.  AFAA states that the Primary Group Certification is for “for group exercise instructors whose training and educational background has prepared them to take the AFAA Primary Group Exercise Certification exam.”  They also state that “this course is a review of AFAA’s Basic Exercise Standards and Guidelines, anatomy, exercise science, exercise evaluation and exam criteria.”  You will be tested on your knowledge of muscles, joint actions, energy systems, exercise safety, among other things.  If you don’t know where your tensor fascia latte is, or if you didn’t know that the join action of a chest press is horizontal shoulder adduction, then you want to allow yourself more time.  The first time I took the exam, I got the book two months in advance and studied a couple of hours per chapter, reading a chapter a week.  I felt prepared for the exam.  My friend registered later, got the book 10 days before the exam, read half of the book before the exam, and was prepared.   Be honest about your experience and knowledge and give yourself as much time as you can to read the book before hand.

Registration

You can register for the certification on AFAA’s website. They have a handy tool for searching for workshops in your area.  Select a workshop that is near you to attend and plan on taking the whole day for the wokrshop.  They start at 9 and are supposed to end at 6, but ours got finished at 7 pm.  The registration process is fairly easy and as soon as you are signed up, they mail you your study guide, the textbook and your invoice.  Make sure you read the description of your certification to be sure that the textbook is included in your Primary Study Package.  For APEX, because of the huge discount, the textbook is an additional cost.  I didn’t purchase it, but I believe the cost is $40 or so.  Take a look so you can order it if you need it. 

Get a current CPR certification

You can take the workshop without being CPR certified, but they will not issue your certificate without having it on hand.  Find a CPR course through the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.  Many cities have businesses who give emergency training courses, and the gyms or hospitals in your area may also be able to help you find a workshop.  AFAA will not accept online CPR courses.

Check In

You registered, got your CPR card, and read your textbook.  It is time to head on over for the workshop.  If it is at all possible to arrive early for check-in, I highly recommend it.  We couldn’t get there but ten minutes early (did I mention how lost we were?) and the line was ridiculous.  Of course, it was APEX, which tends to have high turnout, but still…  Get there early and come prepared.  They give you a list of what to bring with you in your study guide, but just in case….  Bring comfortable clothing, a clean fitness outfit for your practical, number 2 pencils, your study guide, snacks, water, lunch, and your CPR card.

We’ll talk about what happens during the day of the workshop in the next post.

Read the next post. >>

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. >>