YIKES! IT'S ALMOST TIME TO RE-CERTIFY!
Each year upon re-certification each Certified Pietra Fitness Instructor is required to submit CECs per the requirements listed in the Instructor Portal . One item that seems to fall to the bottom of my priority list is my CPR/AED Certification. I seem to go along thinking “oh, I’ll get to that.” Then… like a bolt, the time has come to re-certify and I am scrambling to get everything completed in time to avoid any extra charges!!
CECs, CPR TRAINING, AND CERTIFICATION - How to prepare and plan instead of waiting until the last minute!
By: Betsy Hoyt, Foundation 3 Pro Certified Pietra Fitness Instructor
Each year upon re-certification each Certified Pietra Fitness Instructor is required to submit CECs per the requirements listed in the Instructor Portal . One item that seems to fall to the bottom of my priority list is my CPR/AED Certification. I seem to go along thinking “oh, I’ll get to that.” Then… like a bolt, the time has come to re-certify and I am scrambling to get everything completed in time to avoid any extra charges!!
A few years back I came up with this simple routine to help in my annual recertification process. My routine is on-going throughout the year. Hopefully, this will assist you in creating your own routine so when re-certification time arrives you can peacefully and intentionally complete the process stress-free!
My re-certify date is in March 1st.
FOR CECs:
First, I have set a monthly reminder in my calendar that notifies/reminds me to check my CEC certs for the month. If I haven’t already dragged the emails over to the specific email box I have made, I will go ahead and take 5 minutes or less to move those emails to the “re-certify” folder in my email account.
Second, If there is a missing Cert, I take care of it right then by sending a message to the appropriate person so I can begin to track it down (if you need to contact Pietra Fitness for a missing cert please have the following info available: the name of the CEC, the date of the CEC and send the request to instructors@pietrafitness.com).
Third, if I attended any CEC opportunities with Avila I make sure to pull those over to the file as well. Also, if I have attended any training outside of Pietra Fitness I make sure I fill out the PETITION FORM and submit that now. After receiving that Cert I will move that to my email file.
FOR CPR:
I have also set an electronic reminder in my calendar for my CPR recertification as well. For some people, the certification you received is good for 2 years. Remember that the 2 CECs you receive for your CPR will only be counted in the year in which you received the certification. See the Continuing Education Credits and Petition Info Document
SPECIAL NOTE:
During the past 10 months meeting in person for the classroom portion of this certification has been a challenge. Here are some suggestions for finding a CPR course that has classroom instruction*:
1) Log on to Red Cross , or the American Heart Association - here you can search for a class in your area. If they do not have classes, they may have a list of private instructors you can reach out to. Many nurses are certified to teach these classes.
2) Call your local YMCA or a local Gym and ask if they are offering a class. The Group Fitness Manager (GFM) should have a good idea of when they will be offering a class for their Group Fitness instructors. You could even ask this GFM if he/she knows of any private instructors who you might reach out to as well. These facilities are REQUIRED to have all of their trainers and instructors up-to-date with their CPR/AED certifications (including the in-person portion!).
3) Call your local fire department and ask if there is a class coming up which is open to the public. Again, they may know of private instructors you can reach out to.
RECERT SUBMISSION
When mid-February rolls around I prepare all of the CEC certs and my CPR Certificate from my email into ONE File on my computer. I label the file “Recertify 2021.” After the electronic file is complete I set a reminder to RECERTIFY in March.
When March 1st is here I will log into the Instructor Portal and go to “Renew Certification.” Here, I will fill out the electronic form upload my file of CEC & CPR Certs, put in my payment info, and voila! I’m done!
Be sure to watch for your receipt and your New & Update Instructor Certificate. The responsibility for re-cert each year is each of ours individually.
*Instructors may take a CPR class that has part online instruction and then hands-on instruction in the classroom. Instructors may NOT take an exclusively on-line class for this re-cert requirement.