How to Become a Cycling Instructor

Cycling instructors are trained to teach people how to ride bicycles. They can work in parks and nature centers, schools, or private gyms and studios. A cycling instructor needs to be able to instruct students on how to use their bodies while riding a bicycle. They also need to have knowledge of bicycle safety and maintenance.

To become a cycling instructor, you must be at least 18 years old and have taken at least one year of high school physics or chemistry. In addition, you must have been accepted by an accredited college or university as a student in good standing with a major that requires you to spend time outside of class working with machines (like bikes). You will also need to pass an exam on how bicycles work and how they are maintained.

After graduating from college, you will start your career as an apprentice instructor at your local bike shop or gym. The apprenticeship program lasts for six months during which time you will learn about the mechanics of bikes as well as how they should be used safely by people of all ages. After completing the apprenticeship program successfully, you can apply for certification through one of three different organizations: the National Association of Cycling Instructors (NACI), United States Cycling Federation (USCF).

How To Become Cycling Instructor

Between 2019 and 2029, the industry of fitness trainers, including indoor cycling instructors, is expected to grow by 15%. That’s faster than many other industries, making it the perfect time to learn how to become a indoor cycling instructor.

As an indoor cycling instructor, you get to help others better their lives through exercise. Since 1 in 4 adults don’t meet the global exercise levels they should, becoming an indoor cycling instructor is a beautiful opportunity to do something you’re passionate about while helping others.

To become an indoor cycling instructor, you’ll need to take a class and take a test to get a certification. We’ll discuss the best certification programs around, how they’ll compare, and which one you should take to get started on your journey to be an indoor cyling instructor.

ISSA Certified Indoor Cycling Instructor Certification

The International Sports Sciences Association has been around for over 30 years. Its mission is to bring exercise and healthy living to everyone through education and community. They want to help 100 million people start their journey to a healthy lifestyle by 2030. 

ISSA is committed to serving others and providing a gold standard for their credited indoor cycling instructors. Their online indoor cycling certification goes as follows:

• Prerequisites: None
• Type of Course: Online only
• Price: $468 in either a lump sum, 6 monthly payments of $78, or 12 monthly payments of $39
• Program Length: Self-paced study
• Recertification: Every 2 years, requires 20 hours of continued education, $99 renewal fee unless you complete all 20 hours of continued education through ISSA, then the fee is waived

With this program, you’ll also get unlimited educational support, e-books, 30 bonus videos for more in-depth learning, and a free NCCPT accredited exam. The free exam does not include the proctoring fee. ISSA shows you how to lead and teach classes of varying sizes, cycling safety, a greater understanding of how cycling works on the body, and cycling nutrition.

Spinning® Instructor Certification

Spinning® is a registered trademark of Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc., which has certified more than 250,000 instructors in the art of Spinning®. Their Spin® instructor certification has been around since 1995. They have four different Spinning® certifications to choose from, each building off of the other until you’re a rockstar in your field.

Here are the details to becoming a certified Spin® instructor:

• Prerequisites: Must be 18 years and older or have a waiver from your parents
• Type of Course: In-person, live virtual, or online
• Price: $355 for any of their certifications
• Program Length: Online is self-study, Live is 9 hours, and you have to take the assessment within 30 days. Live Virtual is a 4-hour Zoom meeting with online resources covering the rest of the material
• Recertification: Every 2 years, requires 14 continued education hours, has a Recertification Course should you not meet the criteria, costs $75 to recertify with the 14 credit hours

With this Spin® instructor certification, you’ll learn all about bike safety, proper riding positions, understand how to use heart rate, cadence, and power to get the most from a Spin® class, motivate, and coach classes, so they finish strong, and more!

NETA’s Indoor Group Cycling Certification

The National Trainers Exercise Association, or NETA, has been certifying health and fitness professionals for over 40 years, so they know what they’re doing when it comes to teaching the right way. They are a non-profit organization committed to in-depth, interactive, inclusive training programs.

Here are the details for their indoor cycling instructor certification:

• Prerequisites: None
• Type of Course: Online or in-person
• Price: $199 for in-person, $189 for online, $29 supplemental study course
• Program Length: In-person is 7 hours, online is self-study
• Recertification: Every 2 years, needs 10 continued education hours with 6 of them being through NETA workshops or home study, costs $30 if done before certification expiration

With NETA’s indoor cycling instructor certification, you’ll learn how to set a bike up correctly, set up a room for a cycling class, what you should do with broken equipment, exercise physiology and anatomy, terminology and skills, and motivational tips, class formatting, and more! 

AFAA Certified Indoor Cycling Instructor Certification

The Athletics and Fitness Association of America has been certifying personal trainers for over 35 years. They’ve been inspiring people through movement and were the first to release nationally standardized guidelines for personal trainers and fitness professionals.

Here’s what you need to know about their cycling instructor certification:

• Prerequisites: None, this program is here to benefit everyone
• Type of Course: Online
• Price: $314 with the option of 11 monthly payments
• Program Length: Self-study
• Recertification: Every 2 years with 15 continued education units no matter what, and two options for payments plan – $99 every two years or a one-time fee of $399

Learn the G.E.A.R. approach, Goals, Energy, Accountability, Results. Learn how to design and deliver an outstanding program from music to motivation and coaching. Also, with the AFAA indoor cycling certification, learn about cycling physiology and put everything you learn together into one smooth package.

ASFA’s Online Cycling Instructor Certification

American Sports and Fitness Association’s motto is the online resource for fitness professionals. Their goal is to provide quality testing as well as help trainers with their continued education needs. The details of their Cycling Instructor Certification are:

• Prerequisites: You do have to agree to their terms and conditions
• Type of Course:  Online
• Price: $149 for 1-year certification, $179 for 1-year certification and pocket certification card, $499 for lifetime certification and pocket certification card
• Program Length: Self-study
• Recertification: Has to be done every year unless you bought the lifetime certification – both have to have at least one continued education class that must be pre-approved by ASFA

ASFA has all the resources you need available online, and when you’re ready, they also have a guarantee that you’ll only pay for the test when you pass. You’ll learn about group exercises, cycling fitness, cycling anatomy, and cycling science. Each of these categories is available for purchase.