Instructor certification testing fees

[Reddfox]

I was looking into becoming a certified instructor through either ARIA or USDF…but the fees :eek:!

Is anyone else surprised at how expensive it is for the testing!!? Why would I pay just to have a certification when my record speaks for itself - I feel like I’ve paid my dues in the show ring and in the clinic and lesson fees…and potential clients/students will look at that.

Is actually getting certified worth it?? I get why the organizations would want to get instructors certified but wowza…can they make the cost a little less prohibitive?? Or am I way off base and 600 bucks for a test is reasonable?

[merrygoround]

Sadly that is only part of the cost. For USDF, there is also the cost of PreCert. and the expense and difficulty of getting you and a suitable mount to the testing.
ARIA was a submitted video last I heard, which is not nearly as rigorous.

And unfortunately, the people who need to be taught by certified instructors usually aren’t even aware that such a thing exists until way too late, and they have been in the mean time started with poor information. Which then must be untaught.

[Reddfox]

Unforunately, for ARIA, the video is only a component of the testing at levels 2 and 3 (you have to video yourself giving a lesson to a student and teaching them the highest movement at that level). But you still have to take the test - which is $595.00 or a private test for $795.00. USDF has comparable costs. And to take the test you’re encouraged to buy the books…and then if you pass you have to deal with the renewal fees…

There is one woman in my area that I partner with on occasion that is certified through ARIA (not dressage), but I can’t say that it helps her that much in gaining clients. I’ve never had an instructor that is certified, so honestly, what is the incentive?

I was thinking about it because it seems like a good idea and it seemed like it would give someone an edge but like merrygoround said, people who need to be taught by certified instructors don’t even know such a thing exists.

[Equi88]

Sadly that is only part of the cost. For USDF, there is also the cost of PreCert. and the expense and difficulty of getting you and a suitable mount to the testing.

Unfortunately that is keeping people from becoming certified! For me that would mean travel out of state. So adding the coast of gas or airfare and hotel room and food… That makes it pretty much impossible:(

[ThreeFigs]

I was told years ago by a highly regarded instructor and judge that the USDF certification course wasn’t worth the cost. I was taking instruction with her at the time and I mentioned I wanted to teach, but had no certification (well, beyond my BA in art teaching…).

She told me there was a crying need for lower-level instructors and that I was certainly qualified. She encouraged me to just go out and teach!

So I did.

I try to keep my teaching skills and techniques up to date by attending clinics either as a rider or as an auditor. The only difference is, I don’t come away with a “credit” the way I might for attending a course to keep my BA teaching degree (more correctly, my teaching license) current.

I understand it’s cost prohibitive for USDF to put on these teaching pre-certification courses and tests, but there must be a better way. I resent the implication that non-certified instructors are somehow second-class citizens. My own teacher has trained and ridden several horses to FEI level, and in my opinion, is a masterful teacher and trainer. Yet she has no “certification”. That’s not to say that the certified people are chopped liver, I just feel it means they had more time and money to spend in pursuit of the certificate.

Either you are a good teacher, or you are not. Even going through 4 or more years of teacher’s college does not guarantee you will be a quality teacher.

[CapitolDesign]

It is very expensive to complete the USDF Instructor’s Certification - I actually just wrote something for USDF Connection that will be coming out in their spring issue.

However, the pre-cert workshops are as valuable as a weekend clinic and about the same price.

Also, you meet many new people and start to connect with similarly-focused people in your sport/area.

Please read my blog post about it at Dressage Today:
http://special.equisearch.com/blog/hilarymoore/2009/12/community.html

[Zevida]

It would be interesting to compare the costs of the USDF certifications to other professional certifications. For example, if you wanted to be a certified computer network engineer, or a certified project manager, my guess is the fees would easily be in the same ballpark, if not higher. Now usually, employees might have jobs that subsidize the cost of certification, but a lot of the time people are getting certified on their own dime to be more attractive to potential employers.

So no, I don’t think $600 or $700 is too expensive for a certification. Whether the certification gives you enough benefit to justify the cost personally, well that’s up to you.

[Dressage_Julie]

I wish it weren’t so expensive. I really feel bad for those beginning in dressage that think just because someone calls themselves a trainer they are accomplished. I see it so often “Dressage Trainers” then I run a score check and look if they have achieved any medals and 9 times out of 10 nothing (and I mean barely even a USDF record for the person!). After a bit more digging I find that the trainer hasn’t shown passed 1st level and yet they are teaching students how to half pass and do flying changes. I will say that there are beginning trainers needed, but the basics have to be correct and not just teaching tricks. In my opinion there are so many people out there that do not truly understand the basics and to be a beginner trainer it helps to have ridden to higher levels, so you truly understand why a clean transition is important. I swear I could go off on a tangent for days about this!

I strongly believe that if the certification was more cost effective and recommended more widely by the USDF, we would start to see a better dressage program in our country because we could confirm that the basics are being taught properly.

[blackhorsegirl]

When there was instructor training in my area, I had the opportunity to ride in the clinics as a volunteer. This is what the trainers are paying for. There were clinicians like Chris Hickey, Debbie Bowman, and others There were several clinics before the testing each with professionals working with the instructors. Also, the nice indoor facility had to be rented. I doubt USDF is looking at this as a fundraiser.

If it’s important to you, pay the money.

[Donkey]

[QUOTE=Zevida;4555718]
It would be interesting to compare the costs of the USDF certifications to other professional certifications. For example, if you wanted to be a certified computer network engineer, or a certified project manager, my guess is the fees would easily be in the same ballpark, if not higher. Now usually, employees might have jobs that subsidize the cost of certification, but a lot of the time people are getting certified on their own dime to be more attractive to potential employers.

So no, I don’t think $600 or $700 is too expensive for a certification. Whether the certification gives you enough benefit to justify the cost personally, well that’s up to you.[/QUOTE]

I have to agree - you are investing in yourself in regards to your chosen profession. And since $600/$700 can easily be the cost of a single show I have a hard time being sympathetic to cost complainers. Even if you think you know everything there is to know about coaching I’ll bet anyone who goes through with certification tests will learn at least one new thing.

I’m Canadian and in my opinion our national coaching program is very successful (mostly due to the well known rigor (including required continuing education), and included insurance). Every coach/trainer I know is certified, and if they are not I do not consider them a coach/trainer - I am talking locals, well known traveling American clinicians are exempt ;). There are different levels to reflect instructor experience - but they are not easy to obtain and often are hand in hand with reputation. On this side of the border the norm is that you just don’t take lessons from someone who isn’t certified. Something to think about as your national perceptions could be starting to shift in the same direction.

[poltroon]

You might consider if you can get any discounts on your liability insurance if you’re certified, and how quickly that would cover the cost.

As far as marketing, you might consider that compared to the cost of a USDF bronze or silver medal. (Truly, if a bronze medal is more than a formality, then you’re IMHO not good enough to be teaching dressage at any level except as an assistant.)

And as far as your professional development is concerned, compare it to a series of clinics with a high end instructor you respect.

[Reddfox]

[QUOTE=poltroon;4556705]
You might consider if you can get any discounts on your liability insurance if you’re certified, and how quickly that would cover the cost.

As far as marketing, you might consider that compared to the cost of a USDF bronze or silver medal. (Truly, if a bronze medal is more than a formality, then you’re IMHO not good enough to be teaching dressage at any level except as an assistant.)

And as far as your professional development is concerned, compare it to a series of clinics with a high end instructor you respect.[/QUOTE]

I agree with the points made. I didn’t know that the USDF certs allowed the opportunity to clinic with riders/instructors as part of the process.
My line of thought is that people can spend the money and clinic with well known professionals and put that on a resume OR spend the costs to achieve a bronze or silver medal which almost seems to count more than just a certification because you can prove the mileage and experience. So, why would I spend the money on certification?
It is important, I think there should be a way of showing that you have the skills and knowledge to teach but to also show that you are a GOOD teacher. Not every good rider is a good teacher. It just sort of suprised me that it was that expensive. Not sure what I expected

[Reddfox]

One more question… I’m guessing that people are viewing the USDF certs as more valuable than ARIA certifications. I don’t want to do both, not at this time anyway :). So, which should I do?

[Piaffing]

Certification

I have my Equine Canada Level 1 and it is very worth it. Cheaper insurance. And riding schools are more likely to hire you.

I also have my ARIA Level 3 Dressage. The testing is very rigorous for it. I had to do a video of myself teaching someone at 3rd level working on certain movements. There was also almost 8 hours of written exams. You really have to know your stuff.

[Velvet]

To answer the question…

Are the certs worth it? Nope. You can build a business on your own without them. Getting them does nothing. Especially since there is currently so little respect for either of them.

JMHO

[Zevida]

@Reddfox;4556731

My line of thought is that people can spend the money and clinic with well known professionals and put that on a resume OR spend the costs to achieve a bronze or silver medal which almost seems to count more than just a certification because you can prove the mileage and experience. So, why would I spend the money on certification?

Well, people can lease or buy horses that can get them a bronze or silver without having any ability whatsoever to either train a horse or a rider up to that level. And you can clinic with an Olympic gold medalist every month for ten years and make no progress.

The certification shows that not only are you capable as a rider/trainer, but also as a teacher. Not every math genius is qualified to actually impart that knowledge to students.

It really might not be worth your effort, but I don’t think there is anything you can say is the equal of certification, otherwise there would be zero need for certification. It is the only thing that tests riding, training and teaching and certifies a level of competence.

[NJRider]

[QUOTE=Zevida;4557083]

The certification shows that not only are you capable as a rider/trainer, but also as a teacher. Not every math genius is qualified to actually impart that knowledge to students.

It really might not be worth your effort, but I don’t think there is anything you can say is the equal of certification, otherwise there would be zero need for certification. It is the only thing that tests riding, training and teaching and certifies a level of competence.[/QUOTE]

You know, it really does not… the only way as a prospective student or client is to do your homework Verify scores of the trainer and or students, watch them teach and ride, check references, etc. Use your eyes. Our area was two “certified” instructors (one ARIA and one USDF-2nd) The ARIA must have gotten her eons ago before there was any real test or or the invention of the Video Camera. This person has NEVER trained a horse or rider to any basic level. The other flunked the USDF test several times and finally passed. Has NEVER trained a horse or student past 2nd level in her whole life. Now, could she find enough people to say she did or write a nice letter? Sure… but the certification is not a free pass of competentcy, unless it is competentcy of to how to jump through the hoops.

[poltroon]

It depends a little on your intended market.

I don’t think the ARIA certification will have much impact to dressage riders. I think it would be more meaningful to moms with kids, or to other beginner sources worried about safety.

The USDF certification says to me that you’re serious about your teaching, though it isn’t as huge a positive as I wish it was. (I am much more positive about the USEA instructor certification.) It’s also a good networking opportunity, and would get you in some directories, I seem to recall.

A Bronze or Silver medal tells me you’re serious about your competitive riding, and it tells me you have some experience and some ability to put things together. Yes, schoolmasters can be leased… but you’ll learn from the experience, and you’ll earn those scores. We don’t call 'em schoolmasters for nothing.

Regular clinics with a top rider improve your skills, give you some networking, and may help you get better scores with your current mounts and levels.

Then there’s also just going to more shows and/or placing ads in local magazines and directories.

It’s worth considering whether you’re someone with school horses and who is able to work with raw beginners, or if you’re someone looking for people who are already going and doing dressage on their own horses. These are quite different markets and will respond to different approaches.

[Zevida]

@NJRider;4557701

Our area was two “certified” instructors (one ARIA and one USDF-2nd)…Has NEVER trained a horse or student past 2nd level in her whole life.

Well she is only certified through 2nd, so in that case it doesn’t seem conflicting that she’s never trained anyone past 2nd. If she was certified through 4th, then it would be a major issue. Personally I wouldn’t take lessons with someone only certified through 2nd, as I need more advanced training that that. But for the low-level riders just looking to get into the sport after time off or switching over from another discipline, that could be valid.

I absolutely don’t think the USDF certification is the be all and end all and I don’t think anyone I’ve ever trained with has been certified, but I also don’t think it should be continuously dismissed. Without support, it will never go anywhere. Evaluate it as part of the whole package when consider a trainer - in addition to watching them ride and watching them teach.

[Quest52]

It seems as though the issue is that the tests should be formed better, harder then.

I believe that there are just too many “trainers” out there that don’t have the chops. I find that many amateurs end up finding trainers that (insert: have an accent/ have a lot of money/ have the right barn attire/ can do “tricks” on a horse).

How come so many other professions and specialties in life have certifications and schools that are the hallmark to being a plumber, psychiatrist, doctor, lawyer, carpenter, etc., but we scouff when we speak about a certification or “degree” that would be required for trainers?

I know these things aren’t the be all end all to things. I know plenty of lawyers who aren’t the best, but at least they passed the bar and showed that they could AT LEAST do that. Why not have a minimum requirement out there?