The SRC is hosting three different instructor training courses through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America Sept. 18–20.
The courses are being offered at discounted rates through the globally recognized and fully accredited AFAA APEX event.
The Primary Group Exercise Certification course will run from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18; the Jillian Michaels BODYSHRED will be Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.; and the Practical Pilates course will be from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20. All courses will take place in the MatArena Multi-Activity Court in the SRC.
According to the SRC’s Fitness Coordinator Amanda Christianson, these events allow for students, faculty and staff to obtain certifications and fitness training locally and at an affordable rate.
“The AFAA is a certifying body that provides opportunities for aspiring fitness professionals to obtain certifications and trainings in specific areas of fitness,” Christianson said. “Twice a year, every February and September, AFAA holds a special discount event called APEX.”
Training certifications usually take three days to complete and cost about $199 per day, however the APEX event offers the certifications for roughly $129 per day.
According to CSUN’s website, “The Primary Group Exercise Workshop … will teach practical instruction designed to equip those seeking to become Group Exercise Instructors the competencies needed to design safe and effective exercise programs in a group setting.”
Upon completion of the AFAA Primary Group Exercise certification, course participants will be fully equipped to begin working as a fitness trainer, according to the AFAA website. Completion of the certification course does require some prerequisites or pre-study to complete.
The AFAA recommends at least one to three months of “dedicated pre-study” before taking the certification exam.
“Once an individual has successfully passed the exam,” Christianson said, “they are eligible to apply as a personal trainer at the SRC.
“The first step to becoming a personal trainer at the SRC is to obtain a certification from a recognized organization,” Christianson said. Although previous experience training is a plus, it is not required as the SRC offers on-the-job training. However, the SRC only accepts applicants at certain times during the year, so it is necessary to research and plan accordingly.
“The SRC will likely host the personal training certification through AFAA in February 2016,” Christianson said. “However, AFAA does have other local fitness facilities in Los Angeles participating in the APEX event.”
There are 13 upcoming APEX workshops offered within 150 miles of Los Angeles. The website lists that the workshops includes five continuing education units (CEUs) for AFAA certified instructors, a one-year AFAA membership (or membership extension to current members), as well as a print or digital subscription to American Fitness magazine.
This is not the first time that the SRC has hosted these events.
“The SRC has been a host facility for AFAA as well as many other certifying organizations including Zumba, TRX Suspension Training, Ultimate Sandbag Training, Kettlebell Concepts, et cetera, since 2013,” Christianson said.
According to the AFAA website, the organization has issued over 350,000 certifications in 73 countries since 1983 and is the world’s largest fitness and TeleFitness educator.
