The Zumba Certification Process

Zumba is a form of aerobic dance that incorporates different Latin dances, such as cumbia, merengue, salsa, mambo and rumba, into a calorie-burning workout. Zumba instructors come in all shapes, sizes and ages but all have one thing in common: their love for having fun and burning calories while Latin dancing. Becoming a certified Zumba instructor involves taking a class to get certified and then maintaining that certification on a yearly basis.

Basic Zumba Certification

• Zumba instructor certification involves attending one of two introductory classes, either Zumba Basics Level 1 or Jump Start Gold. These classes teach participants the basic steps of Zumba while providing them with the tools they will need to be able to create and teach their own classes. Zumba Basics Level 1 teaches the steps to four of the Latin dances: merengue, salsa, cumbae and reggaeton. Upon completion of the Basic Level 1 class you receive a one-year basic license. Jump Start Gold is for beginners wishing to teach an older audience. This class teaches participants to understand the anatomical and physiological needs of the older population. Upon completion of this class you receive a one-year basic license.

  Both initial certification classes last three to four hours to ensure the instructor is satisfied that participants have learned the steps and have what it takes to teach Zumba courses. Zumba instructor training classes are located all over the world. You can find locations near you and register for either course on the Zumba Academy page of their website.

Cost of Zumba Certification

• The cost of a Zumba certification class is $30, as of 2011. Once certified, instructors must complete re-certification annually by taking other Zumba instructor classes at a cost of $30 each, or $30 a month allows Zumba instructors to stay certified through membership in the Zumba Instructor Network, which is made up of certified Zumba instructors all over the country.

Additional Zumba Certifications

• After basic Zumba certification, instructors can obtain certification in many other types of Zumba classes. The Basic Level 2 Class teaches the instructors a few more basic moves and dances, including belly dance, Flamenco, tango and samba. This class also allows for networking and sharing choreography. The Zumba Gold class is an extension of the Jump Start Gold class. To take this class you must have already obtained a Basic Level 1 license. Also included in this class is the chair workout. Zumba Toning teaches instructors to emphasize calorie burning while sculpting certain areas of the body. Aqua Zumba allows instructors to teach their classes in a pool. This water course teaches specified moves for water aerobics as well as safety precautions. Finally there is Zumbatonic, a class designed specifically to teach instructors how to teach Zumba to children ages four to 12. It should be noted, however, that some of these instructor training classes are only available to members of the Zumba Instructor Network.

Benefits of Certification

• Once you have successfully completed a Zumba training classes you are certified to call yourself a Zumba intructor and may start teaching classes immediately. Another benefit to obtaining your Zumba certification is that you can become a member of the Zumba Instructor Network (ZIN). With a ZIN membership instructors are given discounts on marketing merchandise, Zumba CDs and apparel and choreography DVDs and are listed in the database where people look to find classes. In addition, this is where instructors can go to keep in contact with other instructors to share and get ideas