- An AEA Certified
Professional has successfully completed the Aquatic Fitness Instructor or
Aquatic Fitness Professional Certification Examination. They have
maintained it through acquiring CEC’s and having a valid CPR card. This
individual is qualified to teach Aquatic Fitness Classes. Please go to the Certification Page for more in-depth information.
- An AEA Member is separate from a Certified
Professional, although most prefer to be both. This is a fee based Membership which entitles one to the
AKWA Magazine, Member Discounts, Vendor Discounts, and more. This does
not qualify one as being able to teach a safe and
effective class. The Membership Page lists all of the great discounts and resources available.
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- AEA Certified Fitness Professionals are required to
renew their certification every two years.
- AEA Certified Professionals need to obtain a minimum
of 15 CECs to maintain their AEA Certification.
- A minimum of 7.5 CECs MUST be earned through Aquatic
Exercise/Fitness Specific Courses, and or Exercise Sciences, including Anatomy,
Physiology and Kinesiology. A maximum of 7.5 CECs of the minimum required 15
CECs can be earned in related areas such as Safety, Health and Wellness, Nutrition,
Management, and Land Fitness Training, and or related fields of approved
education. If you earn more CECs than the requirement, they do not carry over
to the next renewal period.
- AEA Certified Professionals must maintain a current
and valid CPR card in order for their Certification to remain valid. CPR is now
worth 2 AEA CECs.
- There is a $50.00 Certification Renewal Fee. This fee
represents on-time renewals that are received prior to the expiration date and
with complete requirements fulfilled.
- Certified Instructors have a 60 day grace period past their certification expiration date to renew to avoid a late fee.
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At this time AEA does not offer the Aquatic Fitness Professional Certification Examination online or as a home program. The only way to become AEA Certified is to successfully complete the examination at one of the many locations across the United States and abroad. Click here to see the current Calendar of Events offering the AEA Certification Examination. This calendar is continuously updated so check back often.
Keep in mind that there are options for advanced preparation in the convenience of your home: the AEA Certification Prep Course that is offered online and the Aquatic Fitness Professional Certification DVD.
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Although you do have that option, AEA recommends the minimum 8-12 weeks study time. This is based upon past examination scores, program evaluations, and comments from previous candidates. The amount of material is extensive and the examination is designed to test an intermediate level of knowledge. The 100-question written exam covers 15 chapters of material from the Aquatic Fitness Professional Manual.
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| AEA recognizes that actual teaching experience in an aquatic setting is important for successful completion of the AEA Certification Examination process. Six months of practical teaching experience is recommended before taking the examination. It is beneficial for new instructors to work with an experienced and certified aquatic fitness professional - an apprenticeship or team teaching approach works well.
AEA does recommend that aquatic fitness professionals receive and maintain certification through an internationally recognized organization that specializes in aquatic fitness leadership. AEA currently offers the Aquatic Fitness Professional Certification and the Deep Water Module Certification.
When working with special populations or specialized class formats, AEA recommends additional education and/or certification specific to that population or method of instruction.
AEA recommends that all aquatic fitness professionals maintain CPR training, water safety, and first aid/AED training.
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Certification is only one step in your career as an aquatic fitness professional. Education is a never-ending process. AEA recommends a minimum of 15 CECs to renew your AEA Certification because our industry is ever changing. New research is made available on a continual basis that necessitates adjustments to teaching formats to assure the safety of your students and clients. The CEC requirements actually reduce your liability risk and allow you to maintain the highest level of professionalism. Most aquatic fitness professionals will complete MORE than the stated minimum!
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YES! The interactive online course developed by AEA and Human Kinetics provides an excellent opportunity for current certified professionals to enhance core knowledge. Each Course Unit corresponds to a chapter in the Aquatic Fitness Professional Manual, thus it is a good refresher course. If you have been certified for several years, this will also help you to review areas that have changed within the industry. Click here to learn more about this exciting educational opportunity worth 7.0 AEA CECs.
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| AEA Aquatic Fitness Professional Certification Review and Examination locations can be found at the AEA Events area of the website. Calendars are updated continuously as events are scheduled. Click Here to go to AEA Weekend Events!
There is also the option to Host an AEA Event. Please click here to find out the requirements.
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| Your AEA certification and membership dates can be merged together, if you upgrade your membership to Elite status. AEA Pro Membership is annual so the dates usually cannot merge. As both Elite Membership and Certification are valid for two years, merging is possible. Contact info@aeawave.com for more details on merging your membership and certification dates. |
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| The AFP Practical & Skill Applications Review and all AEA Educational Programs involve
practical pool time, so that candidates can experience, in the water,
the theoretical concepts discussed in the classroom. Please plan
accordingly when attending AEA educational events. |
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| CECs obtained within 60 days prior to successful completion of the AEA Certification Examination are applicable toward your next renewal period. This is valid for NEW Certification candidates only. |
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No, CECs do not carry over. Fifteen hours represent the MINIMUM requirement for certification renewal. This is an industry wide minimum requirement, and most instructors average between 20-35 CECs per two-year period.
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| Yes, CPR renewal earns 2.0 CECs towards your AEA Certification renewal. CPR renewal can only be used one time during each two-year renewal period.
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| Sometimes it is cost effective to travel to larger educational events - such as the AEA Regional or International Conferences, as you may be able to obtain all 15 of your required CECs at one time. Hands-on education also provides additional benefits not obtainable through home study. These events can also provide valuable networking opportunities. However, if you are not able to travel, there are still many options available to you for quality education.
If you are a member, each issue of AKWA magazine has a Continuing Education Credit Quiz that you can complete and submit to AEA with appropriate fees. AEA will track your CECs automatically for all AKWA quizzes submitted.
Other approved continuing education providers offer home study correspondence courses. Please check the CEC Provider area for providers offering approved home study programs.
If you are a current AEA Member, you can also obtain CECs from the Online Education courses available at the MEMBER ONLY area of the website.
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| A complete listing of approved AEA CEC Providers can be found under the Education menu and then Provider sub menu area of our website. To obtain specific course information, please contact the provider directly.
When you attend a course offered by an AEA approved CEC Provider, they will provide you with a CEC form or completion form that lists the total number of AEA CECs for which the course is approved. There is a fee charged when petitioning for courses offered by non-approved providers, howeve, AEA has waived this fee for all College/University courses that relate to health, fitness, nutrition, and exercise sciences as well as medical training courses. |
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Yes, you can Petition AEA to obtain credits for non-AEA approved provider courses. Please download the Petition Form from the Certification Renewal Page, and follow directives to petition the program. Each petitioned course is $15.00.
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You are given a 60 day grace period from your certification expiration date.
After that date, you will be assessed a late fee for renewal. If you feel you need more than 60 days past your expiration, please contact info@aeawave.com and or review the certification renewal page of this website for your renewal options.
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Simply complete 5 AKWA quizzes at your convenience, and submit to AEA with “ELITE” printed across the top of the form, in addition to all of the requested information. Submittals can be done individually, or together, just make sure that each quiz is submitted prior to the expiration date.
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The AKWA magazine is published 6 times each year and each quiz worth 1 CEC. Each magazine quiz has a 2 year expiration date from the publish date. You cannot turn in quizzes that have expired. If you have maintained your membership status throughout your certification term, you can turn in the required minimum CECs with AKWA Magazine quizzes only for your certification renewal. You must still show proof of current CPR which is also worth 2.0 AEA CECs.
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Yes, if you attend IAFC or an AEA Regional Conference, you can earn your required CECs, but keep in mind the 7.5 rule and select your courses wisely! A minimum of 7.5 CECs MUST be earned through Aquatic Exercise/Fitness Specific Courses and or Exercise Sciences, including Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology. A maximum of 7.5 CECs of the required 15 CECs can be earned in related areas such as Safety, Health and Wellness, Nutrition, Management, Land Fitness Training, and / or related fields of approved education.
Go to the IAFC Page for more information on this years event!
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Certification is an industry standard, thus is an important
consideration in any liability issue. In addition, being willing to
take your knowledge base to the next level, shows that you consider
yourself a professional and provide the best for your
students and clients. Fitness is a dynamic field where new research
continually adjusts guidelines for safe and effective programming.
Certification, which requires that the individual continually update
his/her education, enables the professional to keep abreast of
recommended protocol and industry trends.
AEA is recognized world wide as the leader in aquatic fitness education
and certification – to find out more about our Certification please click here
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