SCW Certifications FAQs

SCW Certifications offer a variety of 30+ courses, spanning over 34 years, that range from General Certifications such as Group Exercise, Personal Training and Aqua to Specialty Certifications including Barre, Yoga, Aging and Meditation. These extensive courses are nationally recognized and accredited providing detailed manuals, comprehensive videos, and automated testing procedures. Each course is authored by a professional with a graduate degree who has over 20 years of practical fitness field experience. The certification exam is fully automated and online, instantly producing beautiful downloadable CEC Certificates suitable for framing. SCW is committed to live training. All 30+ Online SCW Certifications include a FREE live course at all nine (9) of the MANIA® Fitness Pro Conventions!

SCW Fitness Education offers conventions, seminars and certifications educating over 200,000 fitness professionals. For 28 of those years, SCW has led some of the industry’s most widely-respected and cutting-edge certifications. SCW Fitness Education provides up-to-date, hands-on training to fitness professionals in countless disciplines worldwide, offering a balance of theoretical and practical instruction that will prepare you for the newest variety of health and wellness programming.

The live, full-day practical instruction utilizes unique training protocols to enhance your leadership techniques, exercise sequencing, and teaching skills. YOU are given the knowledge to become an expert in the field of your choice through class structure design, routine creation and leadership development.

As the leaders in Fitness Education, SCW routinely expands our professional fitness education offerings.

SCW Certifications are Reliable, Respected, and Recognized!

For more general info about SCW Certifications, please visit www.scwfit.com/certifications

We offer both live certification courses at our MANIA® events www.scwfit.com/MANIA and at other locations www.scwfit.com/upcoming-certifications. Additionally, we have an option that enables you to participate in an Online Certification. Please visit www.scwfit.com/certifications for more information regarding our Online Certification options.

SCW Fitness offers many different certifications. From Barre to Personal Training and Group Exercise to Pilates, SCW Fitness has a certification that can assist you on your path to become a certified fitness professional. Please visit www.scwfit.com/certifications to review all of your SCW Fitness Certification options.

For over 28 years, SCW Fitness Education has been working hard to ensure that you have the opportunity to receive the most up-to-date information in the fitness industry. SCW is an internationally recognized education body that provides hands-on certifications and continuing education courses and conventions to fitness professionals in multiple disciplines nationwide. Personal Trainers, Group Exercise Instructors, Small Group Training Leaders, Aquatic Exercise Professionals, Cycling Teachers, Mind-Body Experts, Sport Specific Training Educators and many more get certified through SCW Fitness.

To become a SCW Member click here and receive the following benefits:

  • You will be able to attend any three-day MANIA® event for as little as $179. Please visit scwfit.com/MANIA for more information.
  • While attending a MANIA® conference, you will receive a free Masterclass
  • MANIA® offers up to 24 Hours of CECs/CEUs.
  • You will receive your first choice for all MANIA® session selections (based upon space and equipment)
  • A 20% discount on all SCW Fitness items purchased online or at the SCW Fitness MANIA® Product Booth. Please visit scwfit.com/shop for more information.

When you purchase a SCW Online Certification, you can attend a live certification course at any MANIA® event or other location within one year from your date of purchase. Please visit www.scwfit.com/certifications to review all of your SCW Fitness Certification options.

Most SCW Fitness Certifications are $199. If you attend a live certification at one of our MANIA® conferences and you also attend MANIA®, you will receive a $20 discount or pay $179. For more information on MANIA® conferences, please visit www.scwfit.com/MANIA and for more information regarding certification options, please visit www.scwfit.com/certifications.

For the Online Certifications, you will receive a link to a manual, study guide, video(s) and exam. If you attend a live certification, you will receive a link or an email to a manual, course outline and an exam. At a live certification, the instructor takes the place of a video(s). Please download and store this information in a safe place since there is a $35 fee for SCW Fitness to resend materials. Additionally, please ensure that you place scwfit.com on your email safe list and check your spam/junk folders.

When attending a live SCW Certification event at either MANIA® or an off-site location, please remember to bring a copy of the manual that you either printed or downloaded to a mobile device, workout clothes and shoes, lunch and snacks, and water/drinks.

When attending a live SCW Aqua Certification event at either MANIA® or an off-site location, please remember to bring a copy of the manual that you either printed or downloaded to a mobile device, workout clothes and shoes for both land/water, lunch and snacks, water/drinks and a towel.

Please begin by checking your email spam/junk folders to ensure the links are not there since some emails can go to spam/junk folders. If you did lose the link(s) to your materials, there is a $35 replacement fee.  Click here to request a replacement certificate.

The following information pertains to the steps you will take to complete your exam:

  • Click on the exam link that has been provided
  • You will be asked to create a log-in and password to access your exam, results and certificate (please keep your log-in and password in a safe place)
  • Begin your exam. There is no time limit for the exam – you can even start and stop your exam with the ability to resume later. The exam will be available for two weeks after the date of your live training and the exam will be available for 60 days after the purchase of your Online Certification.
  • You must obtain a score of 80% or greater to pass. You have two attempts to pass the exam.
  • Once you pass your exam, you can print your customized certificate by clicking on the certificate link on the bottom right hand corner of the page. The certificate will contain information regarding your continuing education credits or CECs.

For our live certification courses at a MANIA® convention or other location, you will have two weeks to complete your exam. For our Online Certifications, you will have 60 days from the date of purchase.

The SCW Certification exams contain multiple choice and true/false questions. The exam does not contain any questions that are in an essay form.

The length of time it takes to complete the exam will vary from individual to individual including factors such as educational background, time spent studying the materials, reading comprehension skills, etc. However, it typically takes most individuals about one hour to complete SCW Certification exams.

There is no time limit for the exam – you can even start and stop your exam with the ability to resume later.

If you are not able to complete your exam in two weeks for a live certification or 60 days after the purchase of an Online Certification, you can apply for an extension here, which requires a $75 fee.

You need a minimum score of 80% to pass your exam. You have two attempts to pass your exam. If you do not pass after two attempts, you can apply for an extension and retake your exam by contacting us at [email protected] or calling 847-562-4020.

Once you pass your exam, you can print your customized certificate by clicking on the certificate link on the bottom right hand corner of the page. The certificate will contain information regarding your continuing education credits or CECs.

Your certification is valid for two years. Please note the following steps that are required to renew your certification:

  • Please visit scwfit.com/certification-renewal
  • Submit 20 hours of continuing education credits from courses you attend after your certification’s renewal date
  • You can obtain CECs from a SCW Approved Provider. Please visit scwfit.com/scwproviders to view the list of approved providers.
    • If you have obtained more than 20 credit hours, extra hours do not carry over into the next period
  • SCW recognizes other courses taken through all accredited colleges and universities. Academic courses relating to the field of fitness such as leadership, teaching skills, fitness management, nutrition, research, anatomy, physiology, exercise programming, and others can be applied towards your SCW Certification renewal.
  • When submitting your renewal application include your CEC information and the renewal fee of $55 per certification
  • A $20 late fee will be assessed if you choose to renew your certification after the expiration date
  • If you do not renew within six months of your certification’s expiration date, you can apply for an extension at a cost of $75 here.  If you don’t apply for an extension you will forfeit your certification and will have to retake the course in order to re-certify. You will be able to do this by completing an online certification or by attending a live training at one of our MANIA® events.
  • Due to state and facility CPR requirements, SCW no longer requires a copy of your CPR card
You must submit 20 hours of continuing education credits from courses you attend after your certification’s renewal date.
  • You can attend a MANIA® conference or another live certification course to obtain CECs. Please visit scwfit.com/MANIA for more information.
  • You can complete another Online Certification. Please visit scwfit.com/certifications for more information.
  • You can obtain CECs from a SCW Approved Provider.  Please visit scwfit.com/scwproviders to view the list of approved providers.
  • Courses that are approved for SCW continuing education credits are listed below:
    SCW recognizes other courses taken through all accredited colleges and universities. Academic courses relating to the field of fitness such as leadership, teaching skills, fitness management, nutrition, research, anatomy, physiology, exercise programming, and others can be applied towards your SCW Certification renewal.
Each certification requires a $55 renewal fee. If you do not renew before your expiration date, a $20 late fee will be assessed. If you do not renew within six months of your certification’s expiration date, you will forfeit your certification and will have to retake the course in order to re-certify. You will be able to do this by completing an online certification or by attending a live training at one of our MANIA® events.
Due to state and facility CPR requirements, SCW no longer requires a copy of your CPR card. CPR credits are NOT accepted as part of the 20 CEC’s/CEU’s required to renew a certification.
To become an SCW CEC provider, click on the following link: www.scwfit.com/CECprovider. To be a provider, SCW reviews the course content, hours and presenters.  The presenter is required to hold a major certification or a degree in a fitness related field.  For both live and online courses, there is a $125 base fee to be a provider, with an additional $25 per session/Certification course fee.  For conferences, an additional $375 per event fee is applied. Mailing list and Email List rentals are available for Providers. Discounts may apply for CEC partnerships.
Mailing list and Email List rentals are available for Providers. Discounts may apply for CEC partnerships. Inquire through [email protected] or call 847-562-4020.

All SCW live and online Certifications and MANIA conventions are accepted for Certification Renewal. Fitness-related University and College courses are approved for CECs. CPR is not approved. Other providers include all SCW MANIA sponsors, and other approved SCW CEC Providers. For a current list, please visit : www.scwfit.com/SCWproviders

To apply to receive credit for a non-approved CEC Course, please go to www.scwfit.com/CECapproval. To be approved, SCW reviews the course content, hours and presenters.  The presenter is required to hold a major certification or a degree in a fitness related field.  For both live and online courses, there is a $25 base fee for this review/approval.
SCW requires 20 CEC hours every 2 years to renew a certification. SCW awards 1 CEC per contact hour. Breaks and lunch times are excluded. For online courses, estimates involve course content, concept depth and hours of anticipated study. For more information contact [email protected] or call 847-562-4020.
SCW Certified Professionals can renew up to 6 months in advance of their certification expiration date and still maintain their original date.
Please contact us at [email protected] or call 847-562-4020. We greatly appreciate your support and interest in SCW Fitness.

SCW LIVE STREAM CERTIFICATIONS FAQs

A Live Streaming Certification is just like our in-person certifications at our MANIA® Fitness Pro Conventions, but our streaming option give you the option to become certified from the comfort and convenience of your own home. The experience is completely live and interactive! Now is the best time to become certified with affordable Live Streaming Certifications from the SCW presenters you love! Live Streaming Certifications use the Zoom Video conferencing platform on your computer or device to give you access to our renowned instructors and earn Continuing Education Credits (CECs).
Yes, you will receive a confirmation email/letter when enrolling for your Live Streaming Certification. Please check your spam/junk email folders to ensure the email has not ended up in one of those folders. Additionally, please keep this email in a safe place for future reference.
Your confirmation email/letter will contain the date and time (all time zones included: EST, CST, MST, PST) of the Live Streaming Certification along with links to access the Live Stream, and to download the course manual and Power Point presentation.
You should join the Live Streaming Certification 15 minutes prior to the start time. Those who arrive early will see a notice about the meeting beginning soon when they log in. You just have to click on the link provided in your confirmation letter to join the course and Zoom will guide you directly to the meeting, either in the Zoom app or on a web browser on your PC. Please use your full name that you registered with when joining your Live Streaming Certification.
A Live Streaming Certification is different from an Online Certification because you have access to a presenter and participating attendees via Zoom Video Conferencing in real time, while Online Certifications provide the practical information via recorded Course Videos. With our Live Streaming Certification option, you have access to one of SCW Fitness’ renowned Presenters from the comfort and convenience of your own home. The Live Streaming Certification and Online Certification both include the Certification Course Manual and the Certification Course Exam.
Live Streaming Certifications are done in real time with live participation from the comfort of your own home via Zoom Video conferencing. Our Onsite Certifications are done on location at one of our MANIA® Conventions or held at other locations throughout the United States.
Yes, you can interact with the presenter during a Live Streaming Certification. You will see them in real time right on your screen. One of the benefits of Live Streaming Certifications is the ability to interact with the presenter throughout the certification. During Live Streaming Certifications you can also ask questions, interact live with the presenter and other participants and receive live one-on-one feedback directly from the presenter.
Yes, the presenter and other attendees can see you during a Live Streaming Certification. You do have the ability to turn on or turn off your computer’s camera in order to participate at the level you feel comfortable with during the Live Streaming Certification. We always encourage full participation, but the option is up to you. We also encourage you to join the Live Stream with a device that has a camera, our presenters like to be able to see and review body movements in certain certifications.
No, the presenter will not always have a live class in front of them during a Live Streaming Certification. At times, there will be a live class in front of the presenter, but not always. Many of our Live Streaming Certifications are filmed in front of a live class during our MANIA® Conventions. However, in some instances, the presenter will be hosting the certification from their home studio.

If your Wi-Fi goes down during the Live Streaming Certification, you can email us at [email protected] or text/call us at 847-562-4020. If your WI-FI goes down or is unstable, it may be best to reset your modem or router and try to join the class again. If that does not solve your issue, you may need to contact your internet service provider to resolve the problem. Additionally, please feel free to contact us if you are experiencing issues, and we will do our best to resolve them.

No, you do not have to keep your camera on during the Live Stream Certification. We only encourage you to use your camera if the presenter requests it. However, it is your choice and should be based upon your comfort level.
You can ask questions of the presenter at any time, and It is best to type your question into the chat feature in Zoom. Then, the presenter will call on you to ask your question for the entire group. Presenters will also designate specific times to answer questions you do have.
Yes, you can share this with a friend, and this is a great idea because you can support each other throughout the entire process. However, you both must register and pay individually for Live Streaming Certifications.

Zoom is an easy, reliable platform for video and audio conferencing across all types of devices. With SCW Certifications and Zoom, you get the benefits of a Live Certification while participating in real time with live access to a renowned instructor. You can also participate from the convenience and comfort of your own home! https://zoom.us/

To download/access Zoom, please complete the following steps:

  1. You can download/access the desktop version here: https://zoom.us/download
  2. Select the “Zoom Client for Meetings” download
  3. Install the app and follow the on-screen instructions for installation

Zoom is a free video communication program that we use to broadcast our Live Streaming

Click Here to Watch a Zoom Tutorial for More Help

You will not be assessed any extra Fees from Zoom since the Live Streaming Certification is being hosted by SCW Fitness.
Yes, you can participate with a tablet or smart phone. You can download the free Zoom app to your mobile device from the App Store or Google Play Store. Then, click on the meeting link in your registration email in order to participate in the Live Streaming Certification. However, for the highest quality experience, we recommend you use a laptop or desktop computer.

Yes, you will receive Continuing Education Credits (CECs/CEUs) from SCW, AFAA, ACE, NASM, AEA, NFPT and ACSM. The number of CECs awarded will depend upon the Live Streaming Certification you’ve selected. Click here for each course description and to review the number of CECs awarded: https://scwfit.com/livestream/.  For further information please text or call our office at 847-562-4020 or email us at [email protected].

You can take your exam after you receive your exam link via email. The exam link will be sent to you at the end of your Live Streaming Certification. The link will go to the email you used to register for the certification. If you have don’t receive it, please check your SPAM folder. The exam is completed online and contains multiple-choice and true-false questions. The online exam is “open book” and requires a passing score of 70%. You will have two attempts to pass the online exam, and you must successfully complete the online exam within two weeks of the date of the Live Streaming Certification.
No, you will not be able to go back and review the Live Streaming Certification if you miss part of it. However, you will have access to the PowerPoint presentation and Course Manual that was sent to the email that you used to register for the Live Streaming Certification.
Yes, there will be bathroom and lunch breaks. If you need to take any breaks, please feel free to do so and let the presenter know by typing the information into the Zoom chat box. The presenter will also decide when there will be scheduled bathroom breaks and lunch breaks, but they will be condensed. Therefore, it would be best to have a lunch prepared and available to eat whenever possible.
We recommend you set up your space with enough room to move in your home or wherever you are viewing the Live Streaming Certification. Some presenters will ask you to demonstrate/participate in certain portions of the certification. However, this is not required and purely based on your comfort level.
You should dress appropriately to train (if applicable) for your Live Streaming Certification. For activity-based certifications you can expect to practice certain moves where applicable and you would be best suited to be dressed accordingly. For lecture-based certifications, dress comfortably, just keep in mind you may be requested to turn on your camera at times.

SCW MANIA® EVENT FAQs

MANIA® is a three-day fitness education conference featuring world-renowned fitness educators leading more than 200 sessions on topics such as:

  • Personal and Group Training
  • Business
  • Barre
  • Yoga and Pilates
  • Active Aging
  • Nutrition
  • Bootcamp
  • Cycling
  • Aqua
  • And Much More!

MANIA® is more than just a fitness convention; it’s the place where the fitness community goes to be inspired, recharged and educated! MANIA® is affordable and is perfectly suited for everyone from the budding exercise professional to the seasoned fitness veteran. Rub elbows with your favorite presenters (local and international), shop the EXPO and celebrate being part of a greater health and wellness community. It’s a shot of adrenaline to your fitness career that will keep you coming back for more!

Any fitness professional or enthusiast that wants to up-skill their concentration or expand their knowledge about other areas of fitness education should attend a MANIA® event!

  • Personal Trainers
  • Facility Managers
  • Small Group Trainers
  • Cyclists
  • Mind/Body Experts
  • Dance Instructors
  • Group Ex Instructors
  • Club Owners
  • Aquatic Teachers

With over 200 sessions (15 sessions every hour) and featuring 70 world-renowned Fitness Educators, MANIA® guarantees a fun experience that will leave all attendees well-equipped to return to work on Monday.

Online. Just click the “CONVENTIONS” button at the top of this site!
Every registered attendee will receive a confirmation email. The convention receipt can be found in the body of the confirmation email. Any product (plus shipping and handling) receipts will be included in the product package. All event receipts and educational product costs can be deducted for tax purposes.
Presenters, classes, dates and times are subject to change without formal notice. We have a NO REFUNDS Policy. SCW Fitness Education is not responsible for acts of God, nature, war, union or labor disputes, or other events out of their control.

Wed. 7:00am − 6:30pm
Thur. 6:00 am − 6:30 pm
Fri. 6:00 am − 7:00 pm
Sat. 6:00 am − 7:45 pm
Sun. 7:00 am − 1:30 pm

Please bring a valid driver’s license or government issued ID and a signed copy of the convention consent form that you receive in your event confirmation e-mail. Additionally, please bring shoes, changes of clothing, food, notebooks, pens, notebook or iPad for outlines and notes and money for shopping in the expo! At check-in, you will receive an admission wristband and a lanyard. MANIA® Convention attendees will receive a bag with the daily schedule and convention map. You will also be presented with your name badge when you check in at the on-site registration desk. Don’t forget to bring your session outlines that are available at scwfit.com/mania. We will not provide session outlines on site.

We are happy to check you in at any time during the posted registration hours:

 

Wed. 7:00am − 6:30pm
Thur. 6:00 am − 6:30 pm
Fri. 6:00 am − 7:00 pm
Sat. 6:00 am − 7:45 pm
Sun. 7:00 am − 1:30 pm

Usually there are places to change and/or shower between classes in the fitness center, at the Hotel or in the Aquatics area.

Session outlines will not be provided in the classrooms. Outlines will be posted on the website prior to the start of MANIA® and attendees will be able to print them or download them onto an electronic device such as a smartphone or tablet. Past outlines are available at scwfit.com/mania

CECs/CEUs are continuing education credits or units utilized to keep certifications current. SCW is a CEC/CEU provider for SCW, ACE, AFAA, NASM, ACSM, AEA and more. If there is a certifying body that is not present on the list above, attendees can petition the CEC form with these certifying bodies directly (attendee may incur additional fees).

The credits you can earn at this event are recognized by the following agencies: SCW, ACE, NASM, ACSM, AFAA, and AEA. If your certification agency is not listed, you will have to petition the CECs with your certifying body. We are happy to assist with this process. Please email [email protected] should you require assistance.

You can earn up to 24 CECs/CEUs by attending a 3-Day convention. If you choose to attend a pre-convention certification or workshop, you can earn even more CECs/CEUs.
Generally, each certifying body will award one CEC/CEU per hour during each workshop. Each class is 1.5 hours and therefore, you will receive 1.5 units. Some certifying bodies give more or less than the 1.5 units, depending on factors such as lecture vs. workout and land vs. aqua.
CEC/CEU forms will be provided electronically after the event. Upon the close of MANIA®, you will be asked to complete an event survey. After you complete the survey, you will be taken to a page to download the CEC/CEU Form for MANIA®. The form will be signed and you will have to tally the totals for your CECs/CEUs on the third page of the form. The CECs/CEUs expire after two years from the date of the conference. Please make sure to retain an electronic copy for your records, since there is a $35.00 replacement fee for any misplaced forms.
Upon completion of a pre-convention certification or workshop, you will receive a CEC/CEU form. CEC/CEU amounts are dependent on the pre-convention certification or workshop that you enroll in during MANIA®.
Wednesday and Thursday are the Pre-Convention days because they occur before the 3-day MANIA® weekend event, which begins on Friday and runs through Sunday. This allows SCW to offer full and half-day certifications where the instructors can give thorough one-on-one time with the attendees, which contributes to a valuable educational experience.
MANIA® Attendees receive a discounted rate for most pre-con and post-con certifications. Those who attend a certification and not the MANIA® conference will pay the Non-Attendee rate for that certification.

If you have any questions that are not answered in the FAQ’s above, please contact SCW Fitness Education during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm Central Standard Time). Email: [email protected]; Phone: 847-562-4020

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