New certification opens door to next-gen group fitness instructors

The BaseGX certification represents a new entry-level pathway to instructing fitness classes in facilities that deliver bespoke programming.

Responding to an increasingly apparent skills gap in the fitness industry, the Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) has launched a new base level certification course, BaseGX.

The certification has been specifically designed for those wishing to teach at studios that deliver their own bespoke programming and in-house instructor training, and which have partnered with AIF’s BaseGX. By having new team members complete the BaseGX certification prior to receiving in-house training in the delivery of their own unique programs, these partner studios can ensure that their new recruits have a sound and consistent base-level understanding of group fitness.

Discussing the certification, AIF’s CEO Steve Pettit said “The fitness industry has never been more diverse in terms of the types of training available, and similarly the skills required by those delivering these different modalities has diversified. For many facilities that deliver proprietary programs, from boutique studios to chain clubs, BaseGX fills the gap in the market for a quality, foundational knowledge base about group training that can then be built upon internally.

AIF is pleased to have already established BaseGX Partnerships with a number of industry players, including CycleBar, Infinite Cycle and Total Fusion Platinum, and the response to the certification has been incredibly positive.”

A spokesperson for Boutique Fitness Studios, the Master Franchisor for CycleBar, StretchLab and Rumble, said: “In recruiting for our studios we aren’t always looking for Personal Trainers, or Certificate 3 and 4 qualified staff. We have found some of our best instructors have come from a dance background and generally don’t have any formal fitness qualifications. We were very happy to hear that the industry is now recognising this, and therefore working with employers to provide a Group Instructor certification that, when combined with our own robust and thorough training regime, means we can be all-inclusive and recruit people from various backgrounds.”

The industry’s warm reception for the certification has also extended to registration provider FITREC, which has accepted BaseGX as a qualification to receive registration under its Group Exercise category. Dennis Hosking, Managing Director of FITREC, said “In the aftermath of the pandemic, it has become painfully clear that the fitness industry needs to find ways to encourage more people into fitness careers. The BaseGX program developed by AIF would seem to be a perfect solution. It smoothes the way for enthusiastic and passionate individuals, those who truly believe in the value of exercise, into a career in fitness.

FITREC is proud to recognise this entry-level certification as the first step for new professionals that are working exclusively within the training systems used by the AIF’s business partners. In light of recent recruiting challenges faced by many fitness employers, we see the BaseGX certification as providing both immediate and long term recruitment solutions.”

If you are interested in learning more about the certification and how your business could become a BaseGX Partner, click here.

Australian Institute of Fitness

The Australian Institute of Fitness

At the Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF), we are no stranger to the competitive and evolving nature of the fitness industry. That’s why we remain the #1 fitness educator since 1979. We continuously raise the bar by providing the best education and resources through dynamic and hybrid training methods that mould to your lifestyle. We are strong believers in evidence over fads, so you can be assured your training with AIF will solidify your career for the long-term.