Thread: AFAA vs ACE vs IDEA and other types of group exercise certification

After reading the recent thread on ACE certification, I would like to know if there are Bhuzzers who are certified, or have been certified by any of these groups: ACE, IDEA, AFAA or maybe some others I haven't yet come across. If you are or were certified, was your certification helpful in getting bellydance teaching jobs in gyms, community centers or other non-dance studio venues?

anybody?.w.:

I was ACE certified. I was already teaching bellydance at several locations, including a health club and a parks dept. before I got my certification. So no, it didn't help me to get a job (although the health club did offer me some fitness classes as soon as I completed my certification).

They required insurance, but not certification. I did that for my own benefit.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I was ACE certified. I was already teaching bellydance at several locations, including a health club and a parks dept. before I got my certification. So no, it didn't help me to get a job (although the health club did offer me some fitness classes as soon as I completed my certification).

They required insurance, but not certification. I did that for my own benefit.

Thanks Lauren:

two follow-up questions for you

Did you mean for your own benefit in terms of the knowledge you gained?

Did the health club require insurance or the parks department or both?

Yes, for the knowledge. Of course, I could have just read books for the knowledge, so I suppose I paid quite a bit of money to have that certifying body test me and say 'yup, in our opinion you have enough knowledge to lead groups of previously sedentary women in exercise classes safely.'

The health club and parks department both required insurance. So far I haven't taught anywhere that didn't require it -- except for the tiny storefront where I started out, but she probably didn't have any insurance either and, in retrospect, that was stupid!!