Health & Fitness Programs
Achieve your goals and reach your full potential.
Fitness Instructor Training, Courses & Certification
Nationally recognized as leaders in fitness, the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka offers a variety of programs to meet the needs of all! Whether you’ve been participating in group fitness for years, looking to further develop your leadership skills, or maybe even looking to change your career path, the YMCA is the place for you! We provide people with the knowledge, skills and competencies to work or volunteer as a Fitness Instructor with the Y or an external organization.
Become a Fitness Instructor with the YMCA’s Training Program
There are two Fitness Instructor training paths – Group Fitness or Personal Trainer. Please see below for more information.
The Group Fitness Instructor Certification provides people with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to work or volunteer as a group fitness instructor. Group Fitness Instructors can design and teach group fitness classes. YMCA Fitness Instructors are certified by a YMCA Fitness Champion who holds subject matter expertise at the instructor level.
When you become a certified Group Fitness Instructor with the Y, you can expect:
- The highest quality of standard
- E-learning, in person learning, and practice sessions
- Apprenticeship (varies by individual)
- Ongoing professional development opportunities
- Recertification process every 3 years
The YMCA offers an exceptional learning environment with lots of interaction and practical learning. Each participant will be mentored by an experienced instructor and provided ongoing communication with their facilitator throughout the duration of the training.
To become certified, you must meet the following prerequisites:
- Be at least 16 years of age at the time of certification
- Possess a valid CPR A (Adult) certificate
- Recommended: 30 hours as a participant in desired subject matter
The Personal Trainer Certification provides people with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to work or volunteer as a personal trainer. Personal Trainers can design Personal Fitness Programs and provide Personal Training services. YMCA Personal Trainers are certified by a YMCA Fitness Champion who holds a YMCA Personal Trainer certification.
When you become a Personal Trainer with the Y, you can expect:
- The highest quality of standard
- E-learning, applied E-Learning, and in person learning
- Apprenticeship (2 hours minimum)
- Ongoing professional development opportunities
- Recertification process every 3 years
The YMCA offers an exceptional learning environment with lots of interaction and practical learning. Each participant will be mentored by an experienced personal trainer and provided ongoing communication with their facilitator throughout the duration of the training.
To become certified, you must meet the following prerequisites:
- Be at least 16 years of age at the time of certification
- Possess a valid CPR A (Adult) certificate
- Recommended: 30 hours as a training participant or other related experiences (e.g. training as an athlete)