Choosing a Barre Certification: What Every Future Instructor Should Know
If you're considering becoming a barre instructor, congratulations! You're about to make an investment in your education, your career, and the future of the barre industry.
With so many certifications available today, choosing the right training can feel overwhelming. Some programs are in-person, some are online, some are studio-based, and some are nationally available.
So how do you know which one is right for you?
The answer is simple: focus on the quality of the education, not just the brand name.
Start With the Curriculum
Before looking at cost, location, or schedule, examine what the training actually teaches.
A quality certification should prepare you to understand barre—not simply memorize choreography.
BFA Training Checklist
Look for programs that cover:
✓ History of barre
✓ Anatomy and biomechanics
✓ Musicality
✓ Classic barre exercises
✓ Modifications and progressions
✓ Class design and programming
✓ Verbal cueing
✓ Visual and tactile corrections
✓ Participant safety
✓ Professional teaching skills
The Barre Fitness Alliance publishes training standards and a checklist that anyone can review. If a training is not a BFA Education Partner, compare its curriculum against these standards.
BFA Tip: If a program cannot clearly explain what is taught and how competency is assessed, keep looking.
Online or In-Person?
Many instructors assume in-person training is always best.
Often, it is.
Being in the room allows for immediate feedback, hands-on practice, and direct observation of experienced educators.
However, some online programs provide an exceptional educational experience.
What Makes an Online Training Valuable?
Look for:
✓ Live, real-time instruction
✓ Immediate feedback
✓ Regular mentoring sessions
✓ Video submissions
✓ Personalized coaching
✓ Practical teaching evaluations
The quality of the feedback matters more than the location of the training.
Remember: Watching videos is not the same as being coached.
Thinking About a Studio-Based Training?
Many studios offer their own instructor training programs.
These programs can be excellent—but they can also come with limitations.
Before enrolling, ask some important questions.
Questions to Ask
□ Will I be eligible to teach at this studio after graduation?
□ Is there an audition process?
□ Will this certification be recognized elsewhere?
□ Can I teach at other studios?
□ Can I eventually open my own studio?
□ Are there non-compete restrictions?
□ Is the training tied exclusively to one brand?
Some studio trainings are designed to create independent, knowledgeable instructors. Others are designed primarily to train instructors for a single location.
Knowing the difference matters.
Consider the Investment
Barre certification is an investment in your future.
Quality education costs money, and experienced educators deserve to be compensated for their expertise.
However, expensive does not always mean better.
Ask Yourself:
What am I actually receiving for this investment?
Will this certification be useful beyond one studio?
Does the program include meaningful feedback and assessment?
Will this credential help me grow professionally?
There is little reason to spend $1,500 or more on a certification that cannot travel with you throughout your career.
Your certification should create opportunities, not limitations.
Continuing Education Credits Matter
Barre fitness is, at its core, group fitness.
For that reason, the BFA strongly encourages instructors to hold a nationally recognized group fitness credential.
Consider Certifications Through:
ACE
AFAA
NASM
If you already hold one of these certifications, look for barre trainings that offer continuing education credits.
These credits help maintain your professional credentials while demonstrating a commitment to ongoing learning.
How Much Training Is Enough?
Not all certifications are created equal.
A comprehensive barre certification should be approximately 100 hours in length and include multiple methods of evaluation.
Minimum Expectations
✓ Written examinations
✓ Teaching practice
✓ Instructor feedback
✓ Practical evaluation
Most importantly, there should be a final practical exam.
Teaching barre requires more than passing a written test.
The Practical Exam Should Include:
✓ A complete class
✓ Real participants
✓ Music
✓ Assessment of cueing and coaching skills
✓ Evaluation of safety and professionalism
This practical evaluation may be completed:
In person
Via livestream
Through video submission
A barre instructor should demonstrate the ability to teach—not just the ability to study.
Why BFA Education Partners Matter
The Barre Fitness Alliance does not simply approve programs based on popularity, and we don’t have a rubber stamp of approval.
Education Partners are reviewed against published standards to ensure they provide meaningful instructor preparation.
This review process evaluates:
✓ Curriculum content
✓ Training structure
✓ Assessment methods
✓ Educational quality
✓ Instructor competency standards
When you choose a BFA Education Partner, you can feel confident that the program aligns with industry-leading educational expectations.
The Path to Becoming a BFA Premier Member
The BFA Premier Membership designation recognizes instructors who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in barre education and instruction.
Premier Members are credentialed professionals who represent the highest standards of teaching, knowledge, and professionalism.
Path 1: Graduate From a BFA Education Partner
If you complete a certification through a BFA Education Partner, you may qualify directly for Premier Membership.
Path 2: The BFA Path to Premier Equivalency
Not everyone has access to the same training opportunities.
Some instructors have developed outstanding knowledge and expertise through years of teaching and continuing education.
The Path to Premier Equivalency was created to recognize those instructors.
The Path Includes:
✓ Recommended educational resources
✓ Written examination
✓ Practical teaching examination
✓ Optional guidance from a BFA Master Examiner before testing
This pathway allows experienced instructors to demonstrate competency regardless of where they originally trained.
The Future of Barre Depends on Quality Education
Participants deserve knowledgeable instructors.
Studio owners deserve qualified teachers.
The barre industry deserves educational standards that prioritize excellence.
Every requirement the BFA looks for in an Education Partner—and every expectation associated with Premier Membership—serves a single purpose:
To develop the best possible barre instructors.
When instructors are well trained, participants receive a better experience, studios thrive, and the legacy of barre continues for future generations.
That is why the Barre Fitness Alliance remains committed to promoting education, professionalism, and excellence throughout the barre industry.