Certified Instructors Only

Certified Instructors Only

Page Organization

  1. StrongFirst Certified Instructor Code
  2. Representing StrongFirst
  3. Set up your Instructor Profile
  4. Certified Instructor Apparel Shop
  5. Recertification
  6. Apply to Assist at a Certification
  7. Becoming a StrongFirst Accredited Gym
  8. RESOURCES
    1. Article Submissions
    2. Kettlebell Instructor’s Toolbox
    3. StrongFirst Teaching Principles
    4. Brett Jones’s Webinars
  9. Discounts with Partner Organizations
  10. How do I earn Continuing Education Credits (CECs/CEUs)?

1. We are a worldwide brotherhood and sisterhood of strength

We are a community of men and women who believe that strength is a master quality, brought together by the conviction that strength has a greater purpose. Defend your country. Volunteer during a natural disaster. Win a championship. Have pride and become a lean and muscular (or simply “the best”) version of yourself. We are devoted to the practice and pursuit of our own strength and teaching others to do the same. We are a very particular type of fitness professional, with a highly-specialized skill set. Strength with safety is our specialty—and no one in the world does this better than a StrongFirst Certified Instructor

Our Instructors embody our CORE Values and live the StrongFirst Code:

I am a student of strength.

I am a quiet professional.

Strength has a greater purpose.

2. Representing StrongFirst

In the broader context of building brand equity, think of “representing” as the day to day living ‘by the code,’ rather than simply how to use the StrongFirst trademarks (logo and wordmark). Every time we appear live, online, through our writing and visuals, where it can reasonably be assumed by the public that we are acting on behalf of, as representative of, or as an insiders within StrongFirst, we encourage special attention to how we proceed.

It’s easy to post a quick comment, express an opinion, give advice from our perspectives, especially given the depth of knowledge and experience that have gone into building our own personal brands. However, the public can’t always differentiate between what we say (write, show, etc.) as individuals and what we say as StrongFirst representatives. 

All messages put out for public consumption—live presentations, traditional marketing, email, social media, YouTube videos, community forum interactions, T-shirts and training attire, wall artwork, etc.—by members of our community have the power to support our brand, or detract from it by the simple spillover effect. So while we are not in the business of telling you what to think, we would like you to consider how what you say/do could have wider implications for the StrongFirst brand. 

StrongFirst is THE School of Strength and a trusted and increasingly recognized brand in the strength and fitness world.

Use of StrongFirst Logo:

  • The StrongFirst name and Shield logo is reserved for our licensed events and accredited gym members.
  • Certified StrongFirst Instructors have permission to use the StrongFirst Name & Logo (StrongFirst Trademarks ®  & ™) with appropriate guidelines.
  • Instructors cannot use to produce merchandise (for sale or distribution—wristbands, jewelry, mugs, stickers, shirts, etc.) including banners or signage.
  • Certified Instructors should not state or infer that they are “employed” by StrongFirst, or are acting on behalf of or as a representative of StrongFirst. This includes:
    • Using “StrongFirst” or any derivative of the brand as part of a company name, email address, social media profile (image or “Employed by,” or as part of your logo
    • Using anything other than the StrongFirst Certified Instructor logo (do not crop it out).

File Access Link

3. Instructor Profile set up

Your instructor profile is active! Be sure to add a bio and photo!

  • Register and sign into StrongFirst Forum with the e-mail address you used to register for your StrongFirst certification(s).
  • Click FIND AN INSTRUCTOR to search for your profile.
  • Complete profile set up instructions here.

Other Profile Features

  1. Keep contact info up-to-date. You may edit your profile details, except your rank and email address, if you move to a new address, have a new website, or a revised bio/photo.
    1. Training address location. Add your gym or training location address. This search feature uses this address.
    2. Mailing / home address. This is PRIVATE and does not appear anywhere on our website.
  2. Find your expiration(s) date. All current expiration dates are shown on your profile page.
  3. Share and select training options. Checkmark to indicate if you are accepting new students as well as if you train online and/or in person. Edit these options at anytime.
  4. Reviews. Your students can write a review on your page. Note: only if a bio and photo is available.
  5. Opt-out. You may hide your profile from the instructor search at anytime. And, you may activate it again.
  6. Contact Form. Potential training students will reach you via the contact form on your profile page.
    1. Their message will be rerouted to your email address in our system. Verify on your profile page.
    2. Emails are sent as admin@strongfirst.com—add this to your email contacts.
    3. Please check your SPAM folder in the event the email skipped your inbox.
    4. A blank profile page is not very inviting to a student who wants to learn more about the instructors in their area.

We receive numerous contact requests from people seeking quality StrongFirst instruction so let us direct their inquiries to you. Be sure you are visible and reachable!

4. Certified Instructor Apparel Shop

Please use the unique links to purchase your instructor shirts and keep it in strict confidence as this information is only available to you, our StrongFirst Certified Instructors.

CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR SHIELD TEE

CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR LOGO TEE

5. Instructor Recertification

STAY SHARP. STAY STRONGFIRST CERTIFIED.
Take advantage of the Unified Recertification and renew your current instructor credentials—included with your registration—at our certifications and special events where available.

Our Unified Recertification is also the path towards achieving our highest instructor designation: the StrongFirst Certified Elite Instructor. Once you have achieved all four StrongFirst certifications, you will have earned the StrongFirst Elite title and the three-year certification time frame it provides (in addition to all the other benefits of certification).

Read complete recertification details here.

Eligibility

  • To be eligible for the recertification options you must be registered prior to your current expiration date.
  • You can view your expiration date(s) on your instructor profile page within the edit section.

6. Apply to Assist at a Certification

We appreciate you offering your time to assist at our Certifications. You may apply for assisting opportunities via the instructions below:

Please complete our Assistant Application Form to submit your assistant request to us. The best way to inform the Certification organizers of your interest in assisting is to email them directly. Let them know if you’re willing to travel and the locations you are interested in. Contact info can be found on the event detail page.

Please Note:

  • You must hold a current (unexpired) certificate for the Cert weekend if you wish to assist.
  • You must have held this credential for no fewer than 12 months from the date of the Cert weekend.
  • Be prepared to pass all Certification Requirements at the weekend since you will be required to recertify if you are selected to assist.
  • Video Submissions:
    • SFG Level I skills in a short video—demonstrating all required Level I skills.
    • SFG Level II skills in a short video—demonstrating all required Level II skills.
    • SFL skills in a short video—demonstrating all required SFL skills.
    • SFB skills  in a short video—demonstrating all required SFB skills.
    • Any submissions that fail to meet any portion of the criteria may not be considered.
    • IMPORTANT: Privacy settings for the video should be set to unpublished or private, please make sure that your video’s privacy settings are correct.

The above note applies to all StrongFirst modalities and testing requirements. Please review all requirements prior to submitting.

You may not receive a reply email, but that does not mean we do not appreciate that you took the time to apply! As you all are aware, only a very select few receive an invitation to assist. If you do not receive an invitation, please do not be discouraged. Please tighten up your skills if necessary, and do apply again for a later event!

Contact us with questions.

7. Becoming a StrongFirst Accredited Gym

Our Accredited Gyms provide more than just a bricks and mortar place where you are assured of receiving excellent StrongFirst training. They provide a deeper immersion into the StrongFirst experience. From the type of instructors that StrongFirst attracts to the principles that underpin training to the philosophies promoted that prioritize strength for performance without sacrificing longevity, you will feel the difference in an Accredited Gym.

Complete the Accredited Gym Application.

Several requirements must be met to be considered for and qualify as a potential StrongFirst Accredited Gym. Please review those here.

8. RESOURCES

1. Article Submissions

Have an article written and want to share it?

Any Certified Instructor may submit an article for consideration. Depending on the topic and focus it could be published on the Certified Instructor Hub or to our public articles page.

Read the submission guidelines here.

2. Kettlebell Instructor’s Toolbox

Payment Plan Now Available: US$99.66/mo for 3 months. Full price US$299

Drills, tips, and cues to instantly make you a better kettlebell instructor.

The latest online resource available exclusively to StrongFirst certified instructors is our Kettlebell Instructor’s Toolbox.

This online course, specifically designed for StrongFirst certified kettlebell instructors, presents years of accumulated experience in just a few hours. The Kettlebell Instructor’s Toolbox (K.I.T.) course gives you an incredible arsenal of drills, tips, and cues—all within a principle-based system—enabling you to keep your students safe while progressing their skills and strength.

Split into eight modules and with nearly four hours of expert instruction, the K.I.T. ensures that you will have the appropriate methodology, language, and progressions to facilitate rapid learning, safe and effective performance, and the ability to create a positive learning experience for your students.

Please use this unique link to purchase the Kettlebell Instructor’s Toolbox and keep it in strict confidence as this information is only available to you, our StrongFirst Certified Instructors.

To learn more: StrongFirst.SkillTrain.com/InstructorsToolbox.

3. StrongFirst Teaching Principles

As Students of Strength, we embrace—and quite possibly thrive from—the responsibility to “walk the talk” as we pursue, practice, and promote our principles and the greater purpose that strength serves.

This online course presents established principles and practical techniques to build and refine your (or your team’s) instruction skills toolbox. Not only will you develop consistent teaching practices, but you will also learn how to focus on providing the best means of safely assisting students in their learning and training. These principles and techniques are the backbone of what makes StrongFirst the gold standard in teaching kettlebell, barbell, and bodyweight training.

Please use this unique link to purchase the Teaching Principles Course and keep it in strict confidence as this information is only available to you, our StrongFirst Certified Instructors.

To learn more: StrongFirst.SkillTrain.com/TeachingPrinciples.

Online Courses—StrongFirst Barbell Fundamentals and StrongFirst Kettlebell Fundamentals

You can have the gold standard of kettlebell and barbell training in your own home and on your schedule. Universal strength principles are presented by the StrongFirst School of Strength and applied to these training tools. These online courses will strengthen your own kettlebell and barbell practice and progression, helping you reach your strength and fitness goals safely and effectively. Learn more about our StrongFirst Kettlebell Fundamentals and our StrongFirst Barbell Fundamentals.

4. Brett Jones’s Webinars

  1. SWING, Sept 18, 2021: Recording Link—Access Passcode: SurveySays!_S1
  2. SQUAT, Nov 13, 2021: Recording Link—Access Passcode: SQUAT_Strong1!
  3. CLEAN & SNATCH, Dec 11, 2021: Recording Link—Access Passcode: CheatCLEAN_S1!
  4. PROGRAMMING, Jan 15, 2022: Recording Link—Access Passcode: ConsistentPRO_S1!
  5. PROGRAMMING, Part 2, March 12, 2022: Recording Link—Passcode: Program_Part2%
  6. PUSH-PRESS & JERK, May 14, 2022: Recording Link—Passcode: PP_J_SF2023
  7. POWER & VELOCITY BASED TRAINING, July 23, 2022: Recording Link—Passcode: VBT_july23
  8. GET-UP & WINDMILL, September 24, 2022: Recording Link—Passcode: Get-up&Wind_Sept2022

9. Discounts with Partner Organizations

We are not to be all things to all people. Our focus is strength training because we believe strength is the master quality.

There are other important aspects to fitness, and we partner with other organizations to fill those voids and compliment our system.

Please keep all codes in strict confidence as this information is only available to you, our StrongFirst Certified Instructors.

  • Functional Movement Systems (FMS)
    • Movement quality is one of those other important aspects and Functional Movement Systems is one of our valued partners. Many of you are already certified with FMS. For those who are not, they have extended a 10% discount to all StrongFirst Instructors (SFG, SFL and SFB) who are interested in getting FMS-certified. StrongFirst will be offering the same discount to FMS Instructors looking to become StrongFirst Instructors.
    • To apply this discount, please use the following promotional codes when registering for live or online training via functionalmovement.com.
      • 10% discount on online courses:  SFG10
      • 10% discount on live courses:  SFGLive
    • We are happy to have this relationship with Functional Movement Systems and we encourage all of you who are interested in pursing an FMS certificate to take advantage of this opportunity.
  • Flexible Steel
  • Ground Force Method
    • We believe in being StrongFirst, not Strong…only. We focus on strength and partner with organizations that compliment our system (and principles) while sharing similar core values.
    • Ground Force Method, created by Peter Lakatos, does all of the above. It compliments our system and principles.
    • Any current SFG, SFB, or SFL Certified instructor qualifies for a 10% discount on his or her first GFM1 instructor certification.
      • To apply this discount, please use the following promotional code when registering: SFG10.
    • Please contact groundforcemethod.com for more information.
  • Original Strength
    • We are excited to offer a 10% reciprocity discount program to our currently certified instructors with Original Strength.
    • Any current SFG, SFB, or SFL certified instructor qualifies for a 10% discount off of  their registration to the Original Strength Pressing RESET Workshop.
    • Any current Original Strength certified instructor who has never attended a StrongFirst Certification qualifies for a 10% discount off of their first StrongFirst Certification (excludes SFG II).
      • To apply this discount, please use the following code when registering: STRONGFIRST.
    • Please contact Original Strength for more information.
  • Alberto Gallazzi’s TAD013 workshops and certification seminars
    • We are excited to offer a 10% reciprocity discount program to our currently certified instructors with Alberto Gallazzi educational programs.
    • Any current SFG, SFB, SFL, Elite qualifies for a 10% discount off their registration to any of Gallazzi’s TAD013 workshops and certification seminars.
      • Code: SFG-Instructor
    • The code will work across any event registration on Eventbrite.
    • For all the workshops not listed on Eventbrite, plese send an email to educational013@gmail.com.
    • For more information:
  • Results Fitness University mentorship
    • Reap the benefits of our proven business & success strategies. For more information, click RFU.
    • Interested in our next Results Fitness Mentorship? Spending 2 days with Alwyn & Rachel Cosgrove, shadowing our team of trainers, learning our systems, seeing the day to day operations.
    • RFU next mentorship is on the calendar for August 15th & 16th. As part of our partnership with StrongFirst, we are offering 10% off, or $100 off.For more details about this exclusive offer, see this webpage: www.strongfirstoffer.com.
  • ACE Discount Portal
    • Exclusive savings for StrongFirst Certified Instructors!
      • 25% OFF CERTIFICATIONS
      • 30% OFF CONTINUING EDUCATION
    • To learn more—access the Portal: acefitness.org/strongfirst
    • You can now enjoy deep discounts on certifications (personal training, group fitness instruction and health coaching) and specialist programs through a new partnership with the American Council on Exercise.

10. How do I earn Continuing Education Credits (CECs/CEUs)?

Continuing Education Credits (CECs) or Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are required for recertification for all certified personal trainers (CPTs), and many other credential organizations. Learn more here on methods of earning CECs/CEUs.

For StrongFirst events:

  • A petition document is to be requested from the certifying organization to complete per their requirements. 
  • ACE usually accepts by petition, and NSCA will accept the contact hours as a Category A non-approved provider activity. Depending on the CEU organizing body you are petitioning with—how they manage the CEU hours is at their discretion.
  • The other certifying organizations will need to be contacted directly for specific CEU amounts, if any apply.

A Written Test for the SFG I Certification:

  • A written test is available for the SFG I Certification. Email HQ at contact@strongfirst.com to request the test. HQ will email you the testing information and test link. You will have three weeks to complete with three attempts to pass. The written test is only available in English at this time.