I figured a Q&A-style post would be the easiest to follow for those who may be interested in obtaining a Spinning certification. I tried to address all of the questions I received from you guys on Monday below, but please let me know if I missed anything in the comments section and I’ll definitely get back to you!
Spinning Instructor Training + Certification
- There are many different cycling certifications out there. Why did you choose Spinning?
After doing a bunch of research and speaking with fitness professionals, two indoor cycling certifications stuck out to me: Spinning (via Mad Dogg Athletics) and Schwinn Cycling. I’d eventually like to get both certifications (especially because I loved the Schwinn classes I took at IDEA World), but in the end I chose Spinning simply because it is preferred by many gyms and there was a certification nearby and I wanted to get my certification ASAP.
Additionally, as you may or may not be aware, Spinning is a certified trademark and only those instructors who obtain a certification through the Spinning program are allowed to say they “teach Spin.” I wanted to have this well-respected credential under my belt so I could better market myself as a Spinning instructor.
- Do you need to have your personal training or group exercise certifications to teach Spinning?
No. But, as always, I do highly recommend both as they provide a more in-depth knowledge of everything from anatomy and heart rate zones to injury prevention/awareness and more. You may see detailed summaries about my experience with two of the certifications offered that I personally recommend in the following posts: NASM Cerfified Personal Trainer Study Guide and AFAA Group Exercise Certification.
- How much does it cost? Do gyms cover the cost of training for instructors?
I paid $325 for the training and my gym did not cover the expense. Some gyms will cover certifications for their instructors, so it never hurts to ask!
- How long is the training?
Last Saturday, I headed over to the University of North Carolina Charlotte campus for a 9-hour training that lasted from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. We actually went a little over our time limit, so definitely expect to be there for the full 9 hours. You must also complete an online exam within 6 months after you leave the training, though you can begin teaching right away.
- What did you wear? Are cycling shoes required?
(I tried really hard to snap a picture of my clothes without Sadie in it, but she wasn’t having it. So there you go. This pic kind of cracks me up… Her face is just so ridiculous.)
I wore a dri-fit tank, crops, a sports bra, comfy socks and gym shoes. I would say about half of the training participants had cycling shoes. We were encouraged to buy them after the training to wear during our classes, as they do make a big difference on the bike, but it was not a big deal at all if you didn’t have cycling shoes for the training.
- What did you bring with you?
I loaded up my favorite gym bag with a change of clothes (highly recommended, as you will be completing two rides and sitting in sweaty clothes for hours in between would be miserable), two small towels, a water bottle, cleansing/makeup-removing towelettes, lots of snacks, lunch (most people brought their lunch, though we did have about 25 minutes to grab something nearby), a pen, my Spinning Instructor Manual, a heart rate monitor (highly advised by Spinning to bring with you) and a sweatshirt.
- How was the training formatted?
The training is led by a Spinning Master Instructor and covers the following lessons:
Spinner® bike setup and safety
Cycling biomechanics
Creating motivating class ride profiles: Population, Purpose, Plan, Progression
Coaching and teaching skills
Spinning Energy Zones™ and heart rate training
Music selection and visualization techniques
- How long are the rides during training?
During the class, our Master Trainer also took us through two different rides. The first ride lasted about 90 minutes and focused on form and cycling biomechanics. We completed this ride with no music and simply listened to the instructor and asked questions along the way. The second ride lasted about 45 minutes and took place during the last 45 minutes of the training. This was a normal ride with music where the Master Trainer took us through a Spin class that focused on heart rate training and incorporated the lessons we went over that day.
- Do you have to teach in front of a group during training?
No. You never actually teach the group on the bike, but you do work in pairs quite often and are expected to be able to help your partner get set up on the bike safely, etc. Our instructor also frequently called on us randomly to get up and demonstrate skills discussed throughout the day, but you never lead the group through a class on your own.
- How long does a Spinning certification last?
Two years. Then you must submit 14 continuing education units (CEUs) to keep your certification active.
- Does the certification count toward CEUs for other fitness certifications?
Yes. The training and certification counts toward 0.8 CECs with ACE, 0.8 CEUs with NASM and 8.0 CEUs with AFAA.
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Hi Julie! as you know, I have both Maddog and Schwinn…both aren’t needed but it doesn’t hurt to have two. ha!……………now you have been teaching a bit, so that is good. But I always recommend, don’t stop at the education. keep reading, reading reading about how to constantly improve. I already told you about ICA (indoor cycling association) 11.99/mth gives you such great information. A lot of people think that after 9 hrs of training, BAM I’m a great instructor…but its takes practice practice and more education all the time.
I’m glad you got certified! Now let me ask you, now that you have had the course, do you look at ‘spinning’ differently? Because you are taught how to make profiles, biomechanical, etc…
You have share your playlist but I would love to see the profiles and get some ideas from you on your drills! even after 2.5 yrs of teaching, I still need some fresh stuff! :)!
absolutely!! there is so much to gain from the training — and i already feel like i can bring a lot more to the table as an instructor. i’m also really excited about some of the CEU opportunities out there that sound amazing! our master trainer told us about a workshop that focuses on creating class profiles where everyone basically creates a new one based around a different purpose, so everyone leaves with a TON of profiles to use. i definitely want to look into that one!
Julie, that sounds great!!!! your passion for this will pass on to the riders , making the experience so much better. good for you.
This actually doesn’t have anything to do with the training itself:). Since you have so much experience with all types of classes I was wondering if you could give me your opinion. I have always been afraid of things that could make me look bulky. I just had a baby and I am trying to get the weight off. I was going to join the YMCA and focus on Body Pump and Spinning classes. Are these primarily for toning? I need something that focuses more on weight loss here in the beginning. What would you recommend?
I have done spinning for about 5 years and as a side note, I did not truly enjoy it until I went to a spin studio, where they dedicate a lot of time and energy into creating good playlists that go along with the ride. Nevertheless, I think spinning is a great way to take off weight. I have a runner’s body and I did not bulk up but I did notice that my running, in terms of sprinting, got faster. Additionally, Julie can tell you more but you should always pair cardio and weightlifting together. Weightlifting is so important as your bones age. I would recommend both classes but for different reasons and equally important.
Thank you so much Elizabeth!! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your input. I was sort of at a loss as to how to start and what classes would give me the result I was looking for. As bad as it may seem I’ve always been afraid of weights. Because of this blog I thought maybe I’d give it a try. I was so frustrated today as to how to begin. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!:)
truthfully, as a woman, you really DO NOT need to worry about “bulking up.” i would definitely encourage a balanced workout program that incorporates both cardio AND strength training. i think you might also benefit from meeting with a trainer one-on-one to talk with them about your goals and perhaps have them come up with a great plan for you to follow! most importantly, find workouts you ENJOY and those are the ones you’ll stick with!! oh and to answer your question — i do not think spinning is a “toning” workout. i’ll classify it as a cardio workout for sure!
Thank you so, so much for taking the time to reply! I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I don’t think I’ve ever followed a blog that has ever replied before!:). I needed a little boost in the right direction today and you’ve given me that and more. Thanks so much again!
My college actually has a class that you can take for credit to become a group fitness instructor by the end of it! It’s tough to get into the class because it’s a small class, but it’s a cool opportunity.
Great recap! Spinning and cycling is one area of group fitness that I don’t spend much time. I must say though, I finally tried wearing cycle shoes when I went to SoulCycle a few months ago (they require and provide them) and it made a HUGE difference. You should totally wear them! I hear you even burn more calories that way because of the constant contact of your foot.
i wore them for the first time during soulcycle and thought the same thing! i definitely need to get a pair soon!
Thanks for the info! It seems silly that a gym wouldn’t pay for their employee to get training that directly benefits them (the gym) though.
Can’t wait to hear about your first class
I never knew that “spinning” was it’s own trademarked thing, I thought it was just another word for cycling. Interesting!
Thanks for the recap! I can’t say that Im as interested in spinning as other things, but I definitely like to read the behind the scenes recaps of these kinds of things. Congrats and thanks for sharing!
I got shoes after I got the spinning cert and it does make a huge difference! There are a lot of discount websites for cycling shoes. (I think I used nashbar.) I bought it on one of those and then I bought the spd clips on amazon. Super easy to assemble.
This is so interesting! As someone who has never taken an official Spin class, but has enjoyed the occasional cycle or RPM class, it’s cool to see how much goes into these certifications! It gives me so much respect for the dedication and knowledge that so many of my group class instructors have! Even though I’m pretty sure I’ll never have a desire to teach any group fitness, it’s really interesting to read about the process! Thanks for the info!
SO helpful! I keep saying I want to do this but I’m a little intimidated … I feel like I’d have a hard time instructing and breathing and cycling all at once! I freaking love the workout though and feel it’d be a great addition to my physical therapy career .
Well, I’m obsessed with spinning as my cross-training. It’s GREAT for running. Question: As a SPIN instructor can you teach anywhere? As in, any indoor cycling studio that doesn’t offer Spin?
yes!!
Is the certification good in other countries too, or just the US?
that’s a great question — i’m 95% sure it’s good everywhere b/c our master trainer spoke about teaching w/ his certification in switzerland and spain, i believe!
I think so. My friend has it and she teaches in Finland.
I love spin!!! The best thing I ever did was buy shoes!!
I was totally thrown off by the shoes when I tried SoulCycle. I still haven’t bought a pair although I’m looking into it. Thanks for sharing your experience with the certification!
This is all so interesting! My boyfriend is planning to get some certifications this summer and I’m interested too!
Julie, this post has perfect timing for me. I’ve been wanting to instruct spin. I don’t have a fitness facility that I’m affiliated with yet. Do you know if you can sign up to become certified even if you are not currently instructing?
Yes Megan..you can..when I got my first cert, I never taught a class but I had taken spinning classes for a long time…then I got certified, and it was a whole new world. loved it, started teaching..now its over 2.5 yrs. go for it!
I’m certified through Spinning as well, and am very happy for how it prepared me to teach!
Sounds like a great 9 hour day with awesome info! Congrats on the cert 🙂
I’ve never really liked spin or indoor cycling of any kind– I’m not a cyclist at.all (don’t strap me onto a bike! haha), but I bet you’re great instructor!
Spin intimidates me! I only went once and the instructor yelled and said we were slackers! I think she thought that was motivational… I’m thinking of giving it a shot because I love cycling and reading your blog makes me wanna give it a go!
You should definitely give it another try. At my gym, there are several instructors and they are all completely different. The one male instructor yells and is honestly pretty scary. One of the women also puts a lot of emphasis on burning calories (The week of Thanksgiving she was said we should “earn our food”)… Finding an instructor who you click with is key 🙂
I really enjoyed this post and all your others on getting certified. I’ve been thinking about it and this is such a great resource. Thanks for putting it out in the blog-o-verse!
Congrats on your certification!
Hi Julie!! Thanks for this awesome recap! Quick question:
–Do you need to be good at riding a bike to do spin? Are you into biking outside? I’m sooooo bad at riding a bike but I really want to try spin!!
Any help would be moooooooooooost appreciated!
I’m another one on the pro-cycling shoe train – definitely a worthy investment. I wear mine to SoulCycle and on my road bike for outdoor rides (which are really just transportation to get to/from brunch – not an outdoor rider!) They make all the difference and I feel a lot more secure/confident on the bike, especially during runs and jumps. Congrats on your certification! I’m Pilates certified and know all the hard work and time that goes into these certifications!
I’ve been a Spin instructor for 3 years now at my college gym. I got certified before college because I wanted to make a little extra money once school started. It’s a great gig and I enjoy my weekly classes! You summed up the training session perfectly 🙂
OMG I have always wanted to do this but wondered how it worked and just never got to researching it! Thank you for all of this information I cannot wait to do this when I go back to the states 🙂 I am excited to read about your updates of being a new spinning teacher and how you are able to keep up with working out and teaching class. I get so wiped after a class not sure I could teach it and keep my workout regime up! xo C
Sadie is so funny, I love the way she’s lying down with her limbs so far apart! My Boston terrier does that all the time and it elicits laughs and belly rubs immediately from me!
Thats really awesome! I would love to get into Spinning. I feel like it is one element that is missing from my training. I would love to ba able to teach it too!!
I’ve recently thought about getting certified. I am not sure if I would do anything with them since I do have a full time job. This is great info though. I guess it is something I am going to have to think about. Thanks for sharing.
I work full time, and have 2 certs..you can do it if you want to 🙂 I just teach 2x week so it doesn’t impact my full time stuff plus I spend time making playlists/profiles but its fun! extra $ doesn’t hurt either.
If you become spin certified through this course do you also have to have a nationally accredited certifacation such as NASM or ACE? or can you teach spin with its certification alone?
Are any of the certifications recommended enabled strictly online? I currently live in Europe and will be moving to Japan soon. I would love to be able to teach at a gym there.
Good morning!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that photo of Sadie on your clothes. So cute!
I got my Spinning certification back in 2009 (can’t believe it’s been that long). I had taken spin classes for years and kind of just got to the point where I felt like I could do a better job than some of the instructors. I had been laid off from my job and had plenty of time.
I enjoyed the training, but quite honestly, I think it’s pretty easy. It’s interesting stuff to learn, but then taking an online test doesn’t necessarily make it a challenge. That said, anyone who is interested can definitely do it.
At the end of the certification class, the instructor said to look around at those in the class. Some will make good instructors, some won’t. For some reason that resonated with me.
What’s really odd for me is now that I’ve been teaching, I can’t stand to take a spin class. Ha! I’ll teach anytime, but just can’t make it through a class. It may be lousy instructors, but even so. I wonder if anyone else has had that feeling.
This was such a great post! Thank you for sharing and allowing us an inside look to what it takes for this kind of certification. I have a friend who is going to get her certification soon, and I am looking forward to hearing her experience as well. Spin is difficult for me because I have a hard time using only one piece of equipment for the entire class. I crave change!!
I got my NASM cert last year and am looking into getting additional certs but am still trying to figure out what direction to take my training. I’m so thankful to have found your blog and get an inside look to where your fitness training has taken you. It’s inspiring!
Julie, this is awesome, really great rundown for anyone interested. I actually took the certification a few months ago and am still trying to muster the courage to try teaching. Do you have any tips on putting together a class? Also, do you ever try out the various workouts or skills with the songs before a class? That’s something I’m struggling with now, is not having access to a bike/classroom to practice in. Thanks for any and all advice! 🙂
Thanks for the great info– I had done the Schwinn certification about a year ago but have been curious about Mad Dogg as well. From what I’ve heard both are pretty similar overall and I know here in NYC each studio / gym has slightly different preferences depending on their own style.
This is super helpful! thank you for sharing. I have been trying to figure out what to do with my fitness career. It’s nice to hear the process to get certain certs.
HI there!
Thanks for all of the great information regarding spin. I love spinning and have been doing it for years and have recently considered teaching it. Would you happen to know how much on average spin instructors make?
Thanks!
Hello!! I’ve falling in love with spinning classes and I have decided t go ahead and get certified, I live in NC and i was wondering if there are any other places around Raleigh/Durham city’s that offer the 9hr class. I have googled and nothing! (Bummer) but if I have to drive to Charlotte I will.
Great blog,
Mel
Nice post! As I read this post, I realized that the Master Spinning instructor looked familiar… he and I met at a personal training workshop in Tucson, AZ. Small world, eh? Love your blog!!
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’m interested in getting my certification so I can teach a few classes on the side. I think I’ll probably go for the Spinning certification through – it sounds like almost any gyms/cycling places accept that, is that correct? For example, I know with barre workouts, some barre studios require their specific certification. I wanted to make sure I take the indoor cycling certification that will open the most doors no matter what gym/where I live. Thanks!!!
would you be willing to share more details on how you prepare for a class? I am especially looking for info on how you arrange your music, choose music, and plan out the choreography. Does Spinning manual give you recommendations for this? What programs and tools do you usually use? thanks!
Very good information. I love spinning, although I don’t do it much anymore, I am thinking about getting certified to make some extra money and just really get “free spinning classes”. I am not in super shape right now, is everyone expected to be really fit for this certification? Just curious! For me it’s going to be a way to get my butt in shape too. Thanks so much!
How important is it to have a heart rate monitor for this certification? I’m taking it this weekend, and don’t have one. I wasn’t planning to buy one. Can I still do everything without it?
I cant find how to sign up for this course, how did you sign up? Thank you for your post it was super helpful
How do I get a spinning instructor manual?
Also this was very helpful thank you!
Thank you so much for posting this! I have been a Soulycle ADDICT for the past three years. I never thought of teaching until the last few months. I have been so nervous about talking to one of the instructors about how to get into instructing because I know becoming a SOUL instructor is difficult, however, I thought about getting certified and teaching at a gym part time for fun because I love spinning! I was looking at the spinning certification and could not find any reviews or information outside of the website or about anyone who has done this certification. Thank you so much for this because I am super excited to really do this now!
Thanks for the information! Signed up yesterday for my SPIN certification course, attending the live training tomorrow. The info in your blog gives me a great idea of what to expect
I just wanted to say how excited I am to read about your Spinning certification journey! It sounds like such an incredible experience, and I love that you’re sharing it in a Q&A format—super helpful for anyone considering this path.