Dec 05, 2025  
SFCC Catalog 2025-2026 
    
SFCC Catalog 2025-2026

Fitness Specialist: Group Fitness Instructor, Certificate


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CIP: 31.0501
School of Fitness Education, 505-428-1608

Designed to provide theoretical knowledge and practical skills in preparation to become effective group fitness instructors (GFI) and prepare for the nationally accredited American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certification exam. Course works presents a comprehensive system for designing group fitness programs based on the separate elements of a group fitness class for the apparently healthy adult population.

Students learn guidelines for instructing safe, effective, and purposeful exercise, essentials of the instructor-participant relationship, principles of motivation to encourage adherence in the group fitness setting, effective instructor-to-participant communication techniques, methods for enhancing group leadership and the GFI’s professional role. Students learn various teaching techniques and strategies to enhance exercise instruction in the group fitness setting and how to facilitate behavior change and adherence to exercise, self-efficacy and how to develop classroom rapport.

 

Students can follow the Program Map(s) listed below to complete this certificate:

Total 28.5 Credits


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