+Quiana White I think its shocking that there are GFMs out there promoting having a specialty "Cert" over having an ACE or AFAA primary GFI certification. Most specialty certs are not in fact certification but rather trainings. Having been in the industry for 25 years now and spent many years as a director I would advise the opposite. Have the foundation first and add specialty trainings to expand your area of expertise and earn continuing education credits.

+Christine Gallagher Yes, ACE and AFAA are both extremely important for a group exercise instructor to have, but I will say that for me - if I did ACE/AFAA first, I don't know if I would be where I am today. The specialty class of Turbo KICK allowed me to get my feet wet as a group ex instructor knowing I had a safe and effective workout (All Pre-formatted Classes have to be within ACE & AFAA guidelines for Group Ex). If I had to pick out music, plan a warm-up / class focus / plan cues for safety, form, motivation / learn to be on the beat of the music / cool down and more - I might have been so overwhelmed that I never went and taught the first one. Pre-choreographed just allows for someone to start with a system - and yes, once they start teaching - absolutely they need an ACE or AFAA certification ! But I think there is a place for specialty trainings out there for someone who wouldn't start teaching unless they were given the system of success with a workout they loved.

While I agree that specialty formats provide instructors with an organized format if they don't have the background, ability or desire to create that on your own, they do not provide the foundation and its just very disheartening to see GFMs promoting the idea that a specialty outweighs a basic GFI primary certification. A specialty cert is just that - you specialize in a niche or format. This should be done after you understand the basics. Even more important if the specialty cert doesn't require testing with an actual demonstration of the instructors ability to lead safely. Since our industry has no national standard or regulation I personally feel that its vital that new instructors just coming into this industry understand the basics, their scope of practice and are able to lead classes that are safe and effective and as a former director and continuing education provider for ACE and AFAA I would always encourage someone just starting out to get the primary group fitness instructor certification prior to leading anyone. While you may benefit from attending a pre-formatted training it doesn't provide an instructor with the credentials needed to teach. Plus why not get the primary first then when you attend the specialty training you earn CECs.

+Christine Gallagher Yep, it's always nice to earn CECs ;) I would encourage all GXI's to get trained by ACE or AFAA as I mentioned. And I don't think this particular GXM is "broadcasting" that specialty training is better than ACE or AFAA. In my opinion she was giving an insight as to what a GXM thinks about when hiring for for a a large, multiple-studio group exercise program with multiple locations. I interpreted what she said as just an insight as to her perspective in what she to think about when putting together a team for group classes, and not that ACE/AFAA was better/worse than any Specialty Training. Some GXMs and larger gyms provide their own on-site training and evaluation process to help get trainers started, develop, mentor and grow. Group Fitness is full of different spaces that are used: big box gyms to small boutique studios to community centers/recreational facilities. She just happens to have one perspective due to her specific space is what I got from the interview.