Frequently Asked Questions

IBBFA (International Ballet Barre Fitness Association) is the premier credentialing authority for barre fitness instruction, founded in 2008. IBBFA has certified over 7,000 instructors across 40+ countries through a five-tier credential hierarchy. Unlike branded training methods, IBBFA is a standards body that issues professional credentials verified through a public registry. IBBFA course programs are approved for continuing education credits by ACE, NASM, AFAA, PMA, ISSA, CanFitPro, and REPS.

IBBFA offers five credential tiers: CBI — Certified Barre Instructor ($599), Specialty Certifications ($375 each), Board-Certified Principal Instructor ($1,497), Master Instructor ($2,997), and Fellow (invitation only). Each level builds on the last. Full details on the credentials page.

CBI certification is $599 with 12-month access (includes exam). Experienced instructors can take the standalone exam for $299 (or $199 through a recognized program). Specialty certifications are $375 each. The Principal Track is $1,497 and includes all four specialty modules — significantly more cost-effective than purchasing specialties individually ($1,500 standalone value). All credential holders pay a $99/year registry maintenance fee after their initial access period.

The CBI program has no formal prerequisites — it's the entry-level credential designed for aspiring barre instructors. The program covers anatomy, barre technique, class design, cueing, safety, and scope-of-practice training. You complete the curriculum and pass the certification examination to earn the credential.

The Board-Certified Principal Instructor Track ($1,497) is IBBFA's flagship advanced credential. It's designed for CBI holders with at least one year of professional instruction experience. The track includes all four specialty modules, a Board Preparation session, and a comprehensive Board Review examination with a Master Instructor. It's ideal for instructors seeking lead instructor roles, program director positions, or recognition of advanced expertise.

IBBFA is a credentialing authority and standards body — not a branded training method. Key differentiators include multiple credential levels (not a single certificate), a public verification registry, scope-of-practice training in every credential, Board Review examinations for advanced credentials, annual maintenance requirements modeled after ACE and NASM, and CEC-approved course programs recognized by seven major providers.

Yes — and this is a core differentiator. Every IBBFA credential includes scope-of-practice training covering professional boundaries, contraindication recognition, exercise modifications, and referral protocols. Instructors learn when to modify, when to adapt, and when to refer a client to a healthcare professional. See our certification standards for details.

IBBFA offers four specialty certifications at $375 each: Prenatal and Postnatal Barre for prenatal and postnatal populations, Special Populations & Contraindications for seniors, post-rehabilitation, injury modification, and medically-complex populations, Ballerobica (High-Energy Barre) for metabolic programming, heart rate management, and dynamic sequencing, and Advanced Barre for complex choreography and progressions. All four are included in the Principal Track.

All IBBFA credential holders maintain Active status through a $99/year registry maintenance fee after their initial access period. This maintains your "Active" status in the verification registry, continued curriculum access, and visibility in the instructor directory. Non-payment results in "Lapsed" status — reactivate at any time by paying the current-year fee with no penalty.

IBBFA course programs — including the CBI Course, specialty certifications, and Principal Track — are approved for continuing education credits by ACE, NASM, AFAA, PMA, ISSA, CanFitPro, and REPS. To earn CECs, you must complete the corresponding IBBFA course program. The exam-only pathway awards the IBBFA credential but does not include CEC credit, as CECs are granted for completing the educational coursework, not the examination alone.

Yes. IBBFA offers a standalone examination pathway at $299 (or $199 through an IBBFA Recognized Preparation Program — save $100). The exam includes both a written component (100 questions, 90 minutes) and a live practical evaluation (15-minute teach demo). No mandatory coursework is required — bring your experience from any training background.

No. CECs from ACE, NASM, AFAA, PMA, ISSA, CanFitPro, and REPS are awarded for completing IBBFA educational programs — not for passing the examination alone. The exam-only pathway earns you the IBBFA credential (same Registry ID, same verification, same directory listing), but to receive CEC credit you would need to complete the corresponding IBBFA course program. Exam-only credential holders can enroll in IBBFA course programs later to earn CECs.

Expected pass rates vary by pathway: ~85–90% for CBI Course completers, ~70–80% for graduates of IBBFA Recognized Preparation Programs, and ~55–65% for exam-only candidates. The lower pass rate for exam-only reflects the rigor of the assessment — not a penalty. Optional preparation resources include the Exam Prep Guide ($79) and Practice Exam ($29).

You may retake each component individually for $49 per retake (written or practical) after a 30-day waiting period. Maximum 3 attempts per component within a 12-month period. You'll receive a score report identifying competency areas to focus on. Candidates who do not pass after three attempts are encouraged to complete structured training before their next attempt.

The IBBFA credential itself is identical — every certified instructor receives the same Registry ID, the same verification entry, the same directory listing, and the credential does not indicate which pathway was used. The one difference: continuing education credits from ACE, NASM, and other partners are earned by completing IBBFA course programs, not by passing the exam alone. Exam-only credential holders can enroll in course programs later to earn CECs.

An IBBFA Recognized Preparation Program is a third-party barre training program that has been reviewed and approved by IBBFA as meeting our published competency standards. Graduates of recognized programs save $100 on the IBBFA exam ($199 vs $299 standalone). This is similar to how nursing schools prepare students for the NCLEX or accounting programs prepare for the CPA exam.

The CBI Course is IBBFA's own training curriculum delivered through BarreCertification.com. Recognized programs are independent training providers whose curricula meet IBBFA standards. Both prepare candidates for the same exam. The CBI Course includes one exam attempt in the $599 fee and is approved for CECs; recognized program graduates pay tuition to their program plus $199 for the IBBFA exam separately. CEC eligibility for recognized program coursework depends on the individual program's own CEC approvals.

Visit ibbfa.org/programs for full application details. Recognition requires demonstrating curriculum coverage of all six IBBFA competency domains, qualified lead instructors, student assessment methodology, and graduate tracking. Founding year rate (2026): $500. Annual renewal: $1,500/year for programs with 50 graduates or fewer, or $2,500/year for programs with 50+ graduates. Email [email protected] to begin the process.

Your credential status changes from "Active" to "Lapsed" in the verification registry. You lose your "Active" badge, your directory listing is hidden, and employers will see "Lapsed" when they verify your credential. The credential itself still exists — you can reactivate at any time by paying the current-year fee with no penalty, re-examination, or additional requirements.

IBBFA credentials can be suspended or revoked for violations of the Code of Ethics, including misrepresentation of credentials, scope-of-practice violations resulting in client harm, or fraudulent examination conduct. Revocation is rare and follows a formal review process. Non-payment of the maintenance fee results in "Lapsed" status, not revocation.

Use the free credential verification tool at ibbfa.org/verify. Search by instructor name or Registry ID to confirm credential level, active status, specialties, and expiration date. It's free, instant, and requires no account.

For general group barre classes, CBI (Certified Barre Instructor) is the baseline professional credential. For specialty formats like prenatal barre, require the corresponding specialty designation. For lead instructor or program director roles, consider the Principal Instructor designation. Full breakdown on our employers page.

Active means the instructor's credential is current and they've paid their annual $99 registry maintenance fee. Lapsed means the fee is overdue — the credential still exists but isn't being maintained. We recommend requiring Active status for hiring.

Yes. The IBBFA instructor directory is searchable by location, credential level, and specialty. You can also contact IBBFA for recruitment support — see our employers page for details.

IBBFA studio accreditation is a formal designation for facilities that require IBBFA certification for all barre instructors on staff. Accredited studios receive the Approved Studio badge, directory listing, and group enrollment pricing. See full details on the studios page.

No. Any studio can hire IBBFA-certified instructors and verify their credentials for free. Accreditation is an optional designation for studios that want to formalize their commitment to IBBFA standards across their entire team.

Yes. IBBFA offers group enrollment pricing for studios certifying multiple instructors through BarreCertification.com. Contact us for group pricing details.

Contact us at [email protected] or 1-888-365-2008 with your Registry ID and the information you'd like to update. We can update your name, location, contact information, and other profile details.

Pay the current-year $99 registry maintenance fee. There's no penalty, re-examination, or additional requirements for reactivation. Your status will return to "Active" in the verification registry and your profile will reappear in the directory. Contact us to process reactivation.

Contact us with your Registry ID. We can issue a replacement certificate for credential holders with Active status. In the meantime, employers can verify your credential instantly at ibbfa.org/verify.

Email [email protected], call 1-888-365-2008, or use the contact form. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm Mountain Time.