BREAKING NEWS!! Cycling Fusion is launching the industry’s very first online indoor cycling certification. Listen as Tom Scotto describes the new concept of becoming an indoor cycling instructor online. If you have doubts about the effectiveness of this, I think that will change once you listen to the Cycling Fusion vision. The BEST news? ICA members get a discount! BREAKING NEWS! Cycling fusion is launching the industry’s very first online indoor cycling certification. Listen to this interview as Tom Scotto describes the new concept of becoming an indoor cycling instructor online. If you have doubts about the effectiveness of this, I think that will change once you listen to the Cycling Fusion vision.
Here are the details:
Launching on Friday, June 22nd, 2012
Duration: 7 hours
Acess: 6 months of access from date of registering (yes, SIX months!)
Price for the workshop: $149
Price for the exam: $75 (via IDEA)
Do you have doubts about the effectiveness of online certifications? I know some people might be thinking, “They can’t see you ride, how do they know if you are worthy of being an instructor?”
That is a valid question, but tell me, when you look at the past 20 years of cycling certifications, do you know any instructors that you thought really shouldn’t have become an instructor? Do you wonder if they received one-on-one advice from the Master Instructor? Or if they even paid attention at their orientation? Did you wonder why any of the programs never denied anyone from being an instructor (aside from failing the very easy exams)?
Yes, I thought so. Me too.
I agree that a live certification course is better, but for some aspiring instructors it’s just not accessible, and it doesn’t guarantee quality. For the 12 years that I taught the Spinning® orientations, I always struggled with the fact that we tried to squeeze so much into one 8-hour day, and that there was no guarantee that the instructors would even glance at their manuals once they got that piece of paper that said they attended. These instructors were unleashed into the fitness world without any further guidance, unless they happened to be in a facility that mentored new instructors and encouraged or even required continuing education–a very rare thing. There was no follow-up, and very few clubs actually require that an instructor maintain their CECs as a currently certified instructor.
Live workshops are still excellent, and preferred. But Cycling Fusion is definitely filling a need. Because it is online and the instructor has 6 months of access, they can return again and again to the lessons–it’s not all crammed into one very long and tiring 8-hour day in which the instructor-to-be will likely only retain a small portion of what they learned. They can watch the rides as many times as needed, and then practice the lessons on their own. Afterward, they can return to see if they truly understand the concepts presented and how to teach them.
There will be three levels of certification (even more if someone wants to go to a coach or master instructor status). If an instructor wants to attain “elite” status, they must submit a video of themselves teaching (with a small fee), which will be evaluated by the Cycling Fusion staff. I asked Tom what would happen if they received a ton of videos to evaluate, and we agreed that would be a good problem to have! Elite instructors will receive the very exclusive Cycling Fusion Instructor jersey (which will not be made available for sale).
The industry needs this. It needs quality, it needs programs based on cycling science, and it needs easy access to training and continuing education.
Cycling Fusion may just have the answer. Click here to go to the Cycling Fusion page where the launch information will be posted as soon as it’s ready.
As of 2017, which organization do you recommend for indoor cycling certification? I was certified with the original Spinning program in 1999, which has been fine, but it technically lapsed a few years ago, although I have continued to teach. Want to be “officially” certified again, and am wondering which certifications are considered best (rate 1, 2, and 3)?
Thank you very much!
Last month I attended the Essential Training for Indoor Cycling workshop held at our gym and taught by Tom Scotto himself. It was an amazing weekend full of education, fitness, fun, and inspiration. Just yesterday I took my online exam and officially have an Indoor Cycling Instructor Certification (Level 1). I studied the manual, which was also covered in the workshop and definitely helps you to become prepared. I also read the ICA and ICI/PRO websites regularly and I felt even more prepared as I read many of Tom’s articles and profiles.
I feel that the Cycling Fusion certifications are an excellent option for myself to continue to learn and fulfill aspirations of mine as an indoor cycling instructor. I am looking forward to submitting a video soon!