This self-paced course generally requires a minimum of 100 hours to complete the 12 course modules, so it will be important that you manage your time effectively.

Recommended Qualifications

It is also important to understand that this is not an entry level fitness course. The Balance and Mobility Specialist Instructor course is designed for healthcare and fitness professionals who have completed appropriate academic training and have at least two years of experience leading exercise programs for older adults in the community, senior living or rehabilitation settings.

Course Content

Before starting the certification course, it is important that you purchase the required reference materials, the 3rd edition of FallProof! A Comprehensive Balance and Mobility Program and the second edition of the Senior Fitness Test Manual. A link is provided on the course page that will direct you to Human Kinetics, the publisher of both required texts. You will also need access to balance and strength equipment so you can complete the “hands-on” learning and assessment activities in select modules of the course. To successfully complete this course, you will need to complete the reading assignments, watch the instructional videos, and further develop your instructional skills by completing each of the learning activities required in each module. Completing each of the learning activities will better prepare you to complete the assessment activity at the end of each module as well as the final practical exam at the conclusion of the course.

As you progress through each of the self-paced modules, you will find the following elements.

Reading Assignments:
All modules include reading assignments from the 3rd edition of the FallProof! textbook and/or the Senior Fitness Test Manual with additional reading assignments presented in select modules. It is important to complete all reading assignments so you are fully prepared to complete the module learning and assessment activities.

Instructional Videos:
Each module includes instructional videos to help you visualize how to demonstrate and instruct the balance activities presented in each of the program components that comprise the award-winning Fallproof Balance and Mobility program. Instructional videos can either be accessed via HK Propel (a digital platform provided with purchase of the third edition of the Fallproof textbook or within each learning module itself.

”Hands-On” Learning Activities:
Each module includes one or more learning activities that will provide you with the opportunity to practice specific skills you have learned through the reading assignments and instructional videos presented in each module.

Final Examination:
The final examination will require you to create a written lesson plan and then video yourself delivering a 50-minute balance and mobility class to one older adult if you primarily work in one-to-one instructional environments or a small group of older adults (3-4) if your goal is to teach group-based balance and mobility programs in the future. The good news is that you will have already designed each component of the sample lesson plan and received helpful feedback from the Pro Balance Academy faculty when you submit your completed lesson plan and instructional videos related to the assessment activities in modules 4 through 8.

We hope you enjoy the experience of completing this self-paced online certification course. We are confident you will learn a great deal about teaching balance and mobility skills to older adults at different levels of functional abilities.