If you want to become an aerobics instructor, you'll typically need to pass an aerobic trainer course before you can be certified to teach others. While you'll probably have a choice of several different classes, you should make sure that they are approved by a recognized fitness education certification agency in the jurisdiction where you live. It is also important to review the course format, cost, and curriculum before committing to enrollment.
In many jurisdictions, you will not be required to earn a government-issued license to lead group exercise or to provide instruction, but many employers will insist that you be certified by a recognized professional organization for physical fitness trainers. In addition, you may find that potential students will want to work with you only if you hold this certification. Find out which organization or organizations for physical fitness instructors are held in high regard in the area where you live and ask about the aerobic trainer course or courses that you will need to take before you can be certified as a personal trainer. In some cases, the organization may itself offer courses. It may also be able to refer you to other course providers that it recognizes as a source of legitimate instruction.
Talk to other people who have pursued aerobics careers to find out where they got their training. They may be able to give you some good feedback on both local programs and those taught by distance education. In some cases, you may even be able to travel to a short-term aerobic trainer course that can provide you with the instruction that you need. If you are concerned about the stability of the program, contact local consumer protection agencies to find out if the school has any complaints filed against it. In some jurisdictions, schools of any type must be licensed to operate, and the government agency that issues these licenses could also provide you with information on the legitimacy of the school.
Other considerations include the credentials of the school’s instructors. Ideally, you'll want to make sure that the instructors have legitimate credentials in the fitness industry and perhaps in physical education, physical therapy, or another related field. A good aerobic trainer course won't simply cover exercise techniques, but will teach you how to lead a class as well as how to protect the well-being of your clients by implementing solid safety precautions in your instruction.
