NESTA Group Exercise Instructor Certification
Love fitness and inspiring others? Learn the exercise science, class building, music and cueing skills you need to lead safe, effective and engaging group exercise classes.
- 100% online training & online exam
- Immediate access to training & exam
- Lifetime access to your course
- 100% online training & online exam
- Immediate access to training & exam
- Flexible self-study
- Receive digital certificate upon passing the exam
- Paper certificate with official seal mailed within North America 2-3 weeks upon verification
- Lifetime access to your course
- 2.0 NESTA CEUsapproved credits
- 20 ISSA CECsapproved credits
- 30+ yearstraining fitness professionals
More than just following a routine
Leading a great group class takes more than energy. You need to understand how the body moves and fuels itself, build a class that flows, choose music and cue clearly, and keep every participant safe.
The NESTA Group Exercise Instructor program gives you that foundation in a practical, self-paced online course: a full instructor manual plus a reading and a video lesson for each topic, so you can put what you learn to work in your very next class.
Why become a NESTA Certified Group Exercise Instructor?
Group exercise is one of the most rewarding ways to share your passion for fitness. This program helps you turn that passion into classes people enjoy and come back to.
- Exercise science made practical: Kinesiology, the kinetic chain, the skeletal, muscular and cardiovascular systems, exercise physiology, energy systems and nutrition basics.
- Class building: Learn choreography and class building, and how to use equipment and teaching tools.
- Music and cueing: Music, cueing and corrections, plus how to cue for different learning styles.
- Presence: Develop the “It Factor” that helps you connect with and motivate a room.
- Safety first: Class safety, liability and your scope of practice as an instructor.
Lead your classes with confidence
By the end of the program you will be able to:
- Build a solid foundation: Understand the anatomy, kinesiology and exercise physiology behind safe and effective instruction.
- Plan your classes: Use choreography and class-building skills, and the right equipment and tools, to create classes that flow.
- Command the room: Use music, clear cueing and corrections, and adapt your cues to different learning styles.
- Keep everyone safe: Apply safety guidelines and know the liability issues and limits of your scope of practice.
Questions while you study? Call 1-877-348-6692 or use our contact form. Real people, real support.
What's included
Manual and video lessons
Download the complete Group Exercise Instructor Manual (printable PDF), then work through a reading and a video lesson for every topic in the course, at your own pace.
Bonus: Common questions answered
A bonus Q&A video with Scott Gaines, PhD answering the questions new group exercise instructors ask most.
Bonus: More class formats
Sample ladder drills from the NESTA Speed, Agility & Quickness program and yoga basics from the NESTA Sport Yoga program, to add variety to your classes.
Everything you need to become a Certified Group Exercise Instructor
Four core sections and a bonus section. Each lesson pairs a reading from your manual with a video lesson. Study anytime, on any device, with lifetime access to your course.
Course outline
1Introduction to Group Exercise and the Fitness Industry
1.1 Introduction to Group Exercise; 1.2 The Fitness Industry
2The Science of Exercise
2.1 Kinesiology; 2.2 The Kinetic Chain; 2.3 The Skeletal System; 2.4 The Muscular System; 2.5 Functional Muscular Anatomy; 2.6 Introduction to Exercise Physiology; 2.7 Metabolism & Energy Systems; 2.8 The Cardiovascular System; 2.9 Proper Fuel: Nutrition Basics
3Group Exercise Instruction
3.1 Choreography & Class Building; 3.2 Equipment and Tools for Teaching; 3.3 Music, Cueing & Corrections; 3.4 Cueing & Learning Styles; 3.5 The “It Factor”
4Safety, Liability & Scope of Practice
4.1 Safety; 4.2 Liability & Scope of Practice
5Bonus Section
Common Questions from New Group Exercise Instructors (Q&A video with Scott Gaines, PhD); Sample Ladder Drills from the NESTA Speed, Agility & Quickness program; Yoga Basics from the NESTA Sport Yoga program. Then the Group Exercise Instructor exam.
Continuing Education Units
NESTA-GEI Certification Details:
Take the 100-question online, non-proctored exam (multiple-choice and true/false) at your own pace. You need 70% or higher to pass, you get three attempts, and you know your results instantly.
Your certificate
- Prerequisites: None
- Lifetime Certificate: Certificate does not expire
- Learning Format: Learn on your schedule, on any device, with lifetime access to your course.
- Retest Fee: $95 retest fee applies if the passing requirement is not met at the end of the third exam attempt.
- Earn the prestigious title of "Certified Group Exercise Instructor"
- Pass your exam and instantly access your digital certificate!
- Printed certificate available (shipping extra if living outside of North America).
Enroll in the Group Exercise Instructor Certification
Group Exercise Instructor
Includes the full manual, all video lessons, the bonus section and the online exam.
- 100% online training & online exam
- Immediate access to training & exam
- Flexible self-study
- Receive digital certificate upon passing the exam
- Paper certificate with official seal mailed within North America 2-3 weeks upon verification
- Lifetime access to your course
- 2.0 NESTA CEUs and 20 ISSA CECs
What our graduates say
“Teaching a fitness class to a group of people is so fun. I get excited each day when the class begins to fill and I get in front of the class. It's rewarding for me and great from the entire group!”
“Great course materials. Awesome C.E.U. courses. Very affordable. Great staff support. My go-to organization for current and pertinent health coach and personal fitness trainer information.”
Start your journey to becoming a Certified Group Exercise Instructor
Learn at your own pace, keep lifetime access to your course, and call us at 1-877-348-6692 or use our contact form whenever you have a question.
