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understanding "certification" vs "licensing"
Group Fitness Certification is NOT Manufacture Licensing!
The basic difference to make this more clear is:
1) Certifications are preferably issued by 3rd party organizations (see below) that include a certificate that the person being certified has a basic minimum understanding of the particular emphasis they seek to achieve and pass an Exam. These must be maintained by the holder usually every 2 years by taking the exam again or by taking accredited classes prior to the end of the certificate date.
2) Manufactures issue licenses (usually in the form of a certificate) to use their name and have training available to get instructors to teach their classes as they outline their programs, but it does not involve an Exam. These programs often (not always) have continuing education credits (CE or CEU) that can be used to maintain the 3rd party organizational Certification requirements (above). Most manufactures who have programs require that participants are Certified as Group Fitness or Personal Training if their program is not accredited.
Examples:
CERTIFICATION:
Group Fitness Certification is required to obtain the Kangoo Jumps License, but not for Zumba or Spin.
This 3rd party certification from ACE, ACSM, ISSA, ACSM and others (...see the list below this message) and are NOT affiliated with the programs, products or the manufacture. These organizations create Certifications in various fitness categories.
To start a class for jumping or rebounding does NOT require this certification, but it is highly recommended that you contact one of the many organizations that offer Group Fitness Certification and take their exam as it can offer many additional benefits (like obtaining insurance) as an instructor. If you start an independent group class, you can always later decide to get your license from the manufacture if you feel that will help your business stand apart from others.
LICENSING:
Zumba, Spin and Kangoo are examples of manufactures or businesses that have in-house programs that they develop and have specific trainers to provide training for instructors to teach the class. These manufactures may give a certificate that is a license to use their name...but they are NOT necessarily certification programs, but license programs. These licenses generally need to be re-issued every 2 years or so.
A legal issue to consider is the use of the name. That is why the manufactures offer licenses to use their name in your business...so if you are licensed by a manufacturer, you can use the name of the manufacturer in your class. If you are independent (whether GF Certified or not), then you do NOT have the right to use the name in your business
