Attending Spinning® instructor orientation, self-paced study at home, passing an assessment, and participating in continuing education are all required for Spinning® certification. Spinning® is a brand of indoor cycling equipment. Spinning® certification may not be accepted at fitness centers that offer other brands of indoor cycling classes. Before certified Spinning® instructors can teach classes, gyms may require them to be certified personal trainers.
Spinning® certification classes are held all over the world and can be found online. Anyone interested in becoming a Spinning® instructor must first register and pay for Spinning® instructor orientation. Participants will be guided through Phase 1 of the Spinning® instructor manual during this one-day class. They will learn how to set up the bikes, design a class, and use proper Spinning® techniques during this phase. Those attending the orientation will participate in two Spinning® classes led by master instructors. Students will receive a certificate confirming their attendance at the end of the orientation.
Those seeking Spinning® certification will engage in self-paced study to cover Phases 2 and 3 of the Spinning instructor manual after completing orientation. Students can use this time to practice teaching classes. They can inquire at their local fitness centers about team-teaching a class with a certified Spinning® instructor or practicing teaching for the other instructors during a class. Future instructors will benefit from taking Spinning® classes from a variety of teachers while working toward Spinning® certification. This will give students practical examples of how Spinning® classes are taught and how certified Spinning® instructors deal with various situations.
Students will take an assessment after they have studied and feel prepared, which usually takes six to twelve months. This can be done online or by filling out a paper form and mailing it in. A passing grade of 80% or higher is required. The Spinning® certification lasts two years from the date of orientation once the student has achieved this score. Instructors who have completed the Spinning® certification process will receive their certification cards in the mail.
To keep their certification, Spinning® instructors must participate in continuing education. Instructors must earn 14 STAR points every two years for Spinning® until they have a total of 40 STAR points. Instructors can earn STAR points by taking quizzes in the newsletter, doing homework at home, taking online courses, attending Spinning® continuing education workshops, and attending other relevant workshops. Non-Spinning® workshops must be led by qualified instructors and can cover a variety of topics including teaching and motivational techniques, bike repair, first aid, exercise science, and heart rate training.