My Journey to a GFI Through AFAA
Even for the most eager and motivated of us, starting a new journey, no matter what it is, can be daunting.
Where to start?
How to start?
How much money?
How much time?
Am I making the right decision?
What if i fail?
I asked myself all the same questions and below are 5 things I did to help make the decision and get certified.
Research
I asked questions to current group fitness instructors.
Where did they get certified? How did they like the experience? Would they recommend that institution?
How long did the certification process take? How much was it? After completing your certification, do you think you made the right choice?
Where have they worked; boutique studio, independent, chain gym, etc.? Did they enjoy working at those locations?
Were there other costs besides the certification?
I chose AFAA/NASM Group Fitness Certification. I knew I wanted to be a cycle instructor at LifeTime Fitness and a group fitness instructor certification was required. I looked at multiple companies including;
Mad Dog Cycling
Stages Cycling (I added this certification after my AFAA GFI)
After exploring the options I chose a GFI certification that would provide the most flexibility for different fitness modalities, not only cycling.
Cost + Time Analysis
The big one!
How much will this cost, how much time will it require, and how long until I see an ROI - at the time, I had a full-time corporate marketing career.
For me, I wanted to make sure this was a viable option for making money AND following my passion.
So, let’s talk numbers.
When I started, the AFAA Group Fitness Certification was $429.27. I chose to break the payments into four equal parts and paid installments over four months from November to February.
The certification process took me 1 month to complete.
Study
As mentioned above, the certification process took me 1 month to complete.
I read the entire text book - highlighted pages and countless notecards
I watch every video provided by the program - sometime 2 or 3 times
With an extensive exercise and movement background, I was able to move through the process quickly. However, I also dedicated a lot of time to reading and studying.
I enjoyed the videos and explanations AFAA provided. However, I prefer holding a book and highlighting/flagging important passages. Having the hardcopy of the textbook was an additional cost, but one I found most useful.
The textbook coupled with the online resources made the most sense for me when it came to learning styles.
Prepare
Do not be fooled! While reading the textbook and watching the videos, the material can seem very straightforward. DO NOT BREEZE THROUGH IT. The exam is tough. I passed on my first attempt, but I studied by notecards, rewatched videos, and used all the materials AFAA provided, including the exam blueprint.
Below are a few tips for acing the exam on your first attempt.
Read the book, watch the videos
Utilize mnemonic techniques, notecards, and diagrams
Use the AFAA exam blueprint to see what subjects are on the exam
Exam
I completed the AFAA certification exam during Covid so my experience might be different, but my exam was online proctored.
I had a proctor take control of my screen and requested a quick look around my room via my webcam. All items were to be removed from my desk. No open tabs on my laptop besides the exam.
Once the exam starts, the process is straightforward - answer questions and receive a score.
As mentioned, I passed on my first attempt. I posted this on social media and had quite a few responses from unknown people asking for tips as they hadn’t passed.
Number 1 tip - READ and STUDY.
BONUS - What I Didn’t Do…
Whoops - I messed up.
READ THE EXAM PREP CAREFULLY!
If certifying through AFAA, you MUST have your CPR certification PRIOR to taking the exam. This includes online study and classroom hours. You will be provided with a certificate number which, depending on your certifying company, may need this prior to the start of your exam.
I needed this, and I did not have it yet. Oops.
How was your journey to becoming a Group Fitness Instructor different? What organization did you obtain your certification through? Comment below and let’s discuss!