With both our kids out of the house and in college, Amy and I have talked about potentially moving somewhere else. The idea of living in a new location has a lot of appeal to me, after spending the majority of my life in the frozen northlands of Minnesota.
To paraphrase the saying; "go big or go home" in weightlifting... why not; "go far or stay home?" As in moving to another country, like say the UK?
I'm not sure if that would be possible (or acceptable to my two daughters) but if I did move to to the UK, what would it take to get certified so I could teach in London or some other British city?
I thought it would be fun to find out, so I contacted Doyle Armstrong who's the Program Director with the Indoor Cycling Group (and lives in the UK) to help me understand what's required to get my REPs certification - the equivalent of ACE here in the USA .
The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) is the independant public register which recognises the qualifications and expertise of exercise and fitness professionals in the UK.
Membership of REPs provides assurance and confidence to consumers, employers and health care professionals that all REPs registered exercise and fitness professionals are appropriately qualified and have the knowledge, competence and skills to perform specific roles.
If you have a question for Doyle you can leave it below or post it on the Team ICG Facebook page.
Listen below as Doyle explains the REPs certification process in the latest episode of the Indoor Cycle Instructor Podcast.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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IC instructors are doing well at 30£ per class. Around $45.
Fitness certification aside, you have to make sure that you are actually eligible to work in the UK (or, technically, the EU)
I’m well versed in what it takes/took to become a *legal* immigrant to the US. It was effing darn hard work. I doubt it’ll be easier in the opposite direction.
Vivienne
Good point Vivienne – I’m not sure I would be a very good “illegal” Instructor.
Ah, but I am a Canadian, so can work in the Uk, Australia or New Zealand, and John, I have been thinking the same thing about the relocation stuff…I am starting small, moving to Denver………….!so many clubs, so little time…
Are you sure about that Joanne?
Not saying you’re wrong, but being a “colonial” these days has bigger implications when it comes to finding gainful employment in the UK/EU than it does other parts of the Commonwealth.
I don’t think even moving to the US is necessarily a small move. While there might be small dispensations for Canada (folk who don’t actually know tend to think this is the case for Brits moving to the US, believe it or not) I suspect that there are still visa requirements necessary to take on any sort of reasonable job …I’m thinking now to my days as an employer and all those I-9 requirements that I doubt your average Canadian would possess.