Pathway to Instructor Certification
Teaching Power for Parkinson’s® (PFP) classes can be an incredibly fulfilling way to serve your community, but becoming a certified PFP instructor can be a long and rigorous journey. On this page, we break down everything that goes into becoming certified so you can decide whether certification is the right path for you.
If certification isn’t right for you at this time, we still encourage you to take our Intro to Parkinson’s Symptom Focused Exercise course so that you can learn the basics of leading your own class for people with PD.
Please note, certification is not just about teaching, but also about embracing the PFP mission. This includes providing classes at no cost to people with Parkinson’s and their care partners. Click here to learn more about funding your class.
The Certification Process
Instructors who pass the Power for Parkinson’s Introduction to Parkinson’s Symptom-Focused Exercise course with distinction AND are certification eligible will be invited to apply for our 13-week virtual certification course.
Certification Eligibility
Instructors with the following credentials are eligible for the Power for Parkinson’s® Certification Course:
Successful completion of PFP’s Introduction to Symptom-Focused Exercise Course with distinction.
At least 3 years of experience instructing group fitness classes.
Proof of a group fitness instructor certification, such as from the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the American Sports & Fitness Association (ASFA), or the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA).
Applicants must have a plan to offer their classes for free.
Benefits of Certification
✅ Be able to teach Parkinson’s-specific Fitness for Mind & Body exercise classes using the unique Power for Parkinson’s® method.
✅ Learn specific exercise techniques to address Parkinson’s symptoms in ways that will help delay the progression of the disease and improve overall quality of life in this population.
✅ Receive access to our online instructor community to ask the PFP team direct questions, and connect with fellow instructors to share resources and insights, and support.
✅ Be able to lead a Power for Parkinson’s® class in your community upon passing the course and completing a licensing agreement.
How Power for Parkinson’s® Classes are Funded
In alignment with our mission, Power for Parkinson’s classes must be provided at no cost to people with Parkinson’s and their care partners. Power for Parkinson’s has been successfully operating under this model since 2013. Although you cannot charge participants for your classes, it is possible to raise funds to cover your time and class expenses.
To fund your class, you can partner with:
Support groups
Community foundations
Hospitals
Senior centers
Gyms
Sponsors