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How to Become an Orangetheory Coach?

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How to Become an Orangetheory Coach

Orangetheory coaching is not only a career but an opportunity to impact other people’s lives. For this reason, even high-profile athletes with promising athletics careers, such as Jordan Gray, still find Orangetheory trainer jobs fulfilling.

However, it is evident that getting a job as a coach at a popular fitness corporate is not easy. The good news is that the requirements are manageable, especially with a passion and talent or skill for the fitness industry.

Orangetheory Coach Requirements

As an Orangetheory coach, you play a key role in guiding and motivating members through a unique, full-body workout. To fulfill this role effectively, you must meet certain qualifications and requirements:

  1. Intermediate-Level Knowledge: You should have an intermediate understanding of physiology, exercise techniques, and body mechanics.
  2. Experience in Functional Training: You must have experience in training clients using functional training techniques.
  3. Group Exercise Experience: Experience in group exercise and training settings is highly desirable.
  4. Adaptability: You must have the ability to progress and regress exercises on the fly, in real time.
  5. Positive Communication Skills: You should possess positive, motivating, and effective interpersonal communication skills.
  6. Capacity to Train All Fitness Levels: You must have the desire and capacity to train all fitness levels, from novice to elite.
  7. Fitness Certification: You must hold a current fitness certification from an OTF-approved education company such as ACSM, ACE, NASM, NSCA, AFFA, NFPT, NPTI, etc.
  8. Current CPR/AED Certification: You must have a current CPR/AED certification.
  9. High School Diploma or Equivalent: You should have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. A Bachelor’s degree in an Exercise Related Field is preferred.
  10. Professional Experience: You must have 1+ years of professional experience teaching groups and/or personal training in the Fitness Industry.
  11. Excellent Customer Service Skills: You should possess excellent communication and customer service skills.
  12. Physical Strength: You must have the strength and ability to safely lift and move up to 40 lbs.
  13. Physical Demands: As the leader of the Orangetheory workouts, you’ll be on your feet leading and instructing members for the entirety of the workout. This includes demonstrating all exercises which can involve but is not limited to: Bosu balls, medicine balls, dumbbells, TRX, ab dollies, or other fitness equipment.
  14. Flexible Schedule: You must be available to work days, nights, weekends, and holidays.
  15. OTFit Certification: You must have successfully completed the OTFit Certification Program.
  16. Understanding of Strength and Heart-Rate Based Interval Training: You should have a functional understanding of this type of training.
  17. Experience in a Fitness Environment: Previous experience working in a fitness environment is preferred.
  18. Team Player: You must be a team player committed to growth and excellence.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

As an Orangetheory Fitness (OTF) Coach, your essential duties and responsibilities include:

  1. Leading Group Training Sessions: You will guide up to 36 participants through OTF-specific group training sessions, ensuring an engaging and effective workout.
  2. Executing High-Energy Training: You are responsible for delivering positive, high-energy OTF training sessions that motivate and challenge members.
  3. Maintaining Cleanliness and Organization: You must keep the training floor clean and organized, and assist with other areas of the studio when needed.
  4. Marketing OTF Services: You will promote OTF training services both inside and outside the studio. This could involve marketing events with your OTF team, setting up tents and tables, and more.
  5. Building Attendance and Retention: You are responsible for increasing OTF class attendance and retaining current members.
  6. Guiding and Motivating Members: You will encourage members through pre-defined workouts, ensuring they are using correct form and making adjustments if necessary.
  7. Demonstrating Fitness Equipment Use: You should show members how to use the fitness equipment involved in each workout.
  8. Cleaning and Maintenance: You will perform basic cleaning and maintenance tasks to keep the state-of-the-art studio in top condition.
  9. Understanding Fitness Science: You need to understand the science behind our strength and heart-rate-focused training programs and stay updated on active fitness industry trends.
  10. Building Connections and Community: As an OTF coach, you will build meaningful connections with members, creating a sense of community while expanding your personal brand and network in the fitness industry.
  11. Changing Lives Positively: Your role involves positively impacting others’ lives by helping members set and achieve personal fitness goals.
  12. Ensuring Participant Safety: You are responsible for the safety of your participants in regard to heart rate, exercise technique, posture and spine, joint stress, and stability when resistance training.
  13. Attending Meetings and Webinars: You must attend monthly fitness staff meetings, mandatory webinars, and other requested corporate meetings and continuing education presentations. These gatherings provide opportunities for professional development and staying updated on OTF’s latest initiatives and best practices.

How do you apply for an Orangetheory coach?

If you’re interested in applying for a coaching position at Orangetheory Fitness, follow these steps:

  1. Visit the Orangetheory Fitness Careers Page
  2. Search for Openings: Use the search function to find open coaching positions. You can filter by location to find opportunities near you.
  3. Review the Job Description: Before applying, thoroughly read the job description and requirements to ensure it’s a good fit for your skills and experience.
  4. Submit Your Application: Fill out the application form with your personal information, educational background, and work experience. You’ll also need to upload your resume. Make sure your application highlights your fitness certifications, experience, and passion for helping others reach their fitness goals.
  5. Follow Up: After submitting your application, it’s a good idea to follow up after a week or two if you haven’t heard back. You can do this by contacting the specific Orangetheory Fitness studio you applied to.

Remember, each Orangetheory Fitness studio is independently owned and operated, so the hiring process may vary slightly between locations. Good luck with your application!

So, What Certifications Do You Need to Become an Orangetheory Coach?

The most important requirement for Orangetheory coaches is a NCCA-approved personal trainer or group trainer fitness certification from an OTF approved education company such as:

  • American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
  • National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
  • American Council on Exercise (ACE)
  • Athletics and Fitness Association of America(AFFA)
  • National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT)

Either of these certifications will first get you CPR and AED certifications. Then, one will need NCCA-approved personal trainer or group trainer certificates, all necessary for Orangetheory trainer applications. 

In most cases, Orangetheory trainers are also required to have at least one year of experience as trainers, preferably group trainers. However, there are instances where a franchise picks up fresh talent, as long as they have the certifications and prove to be good at transforming people’s fitness lives.

Another most important requirement is going through the OTFit certification program, which Orangetheory offers to all their coaches and employees. They take the certification at Orangetheory, which is exclusive for Orangetheory employees and prospects.

The OTFit certification program takes one week, which is full of intense training exercises, activities and education.

Finally, the prospective coaches go through the most challenging part, the part where only your personality and courage will help you. This is the microphone exam, where one is required to take control of the microphone and guide a class. Usually, this happens in small classes, which to me is best for beginners. At the microphone, you are required to take on the Orangetheory training methods, as well as incorporate the persona that makes you a unique world-class coach.

What are CPR and AED Certifications?

Generally, CPR is the short form for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, while AED is the short form for Automated External Defibrillator. These two courses are basic in fitness training because they help understand how to save a person’s life in case they require first aid in a class.

Exercise in Orangetheory is rigorous, with all the workouts being high-intensity interval training. If a person has a respiratory attack or an acute cardiovascular challenge in class, the combination of the two classes helps one perform first aid before the medics come in. For this reason, they are the most important certifications for any aspiring trainer, Orangetheory or otherwise.

These courses can be found at your local fire department, university, or directly through the following organizations: American Heart Association (AHA), American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI), American Red Cross (ARC), EMS Safety Services, Emergency University, American Safety Training Institute (ASTI), National Safety Council (NSC) Etc. Also, major fitness training institute provides AID and CPR courses.

What is NCCA Accredited Certification?

NCCA is the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, which certifies personal trainers and sets standards for the field of personal fitness trainers. Therefore, when going for personal training, you must confirm that NCCA accredits the college since this will be key to your success in the industry.

The following organizations currently offer NCCA-accredited personal trainer certification programs:

Is NCCA a Good Certification?

Yes, NCCA is a good certification. Actually, other than Orangetheory, almost all the renowned fitness gyms require that you have an NCCA accredited certificate for consideration. Therefore, the accreditation keeps you safe in your fitness career.

Besides, you will always feel confident in your training career when you have the best certification backing, even when you are self-employed. It gives you command over what you do and the people who work with you.

How to Get an NCCA Accredited Personal Training Certification

NCCA personal training certifications require the following;

  • That the person is 18 years and above
  • That the person completes CPR and EAD certifications successfully
  • That the person already has and presents a government identification document; national ID, passport or driver’s license

The accrediting firm offers various personal training certifications. You can choose a couple to start with before getting more. The certifications include:

  1. Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
  2. Certified Group Exercise Instructor (CGxl)
  3. Certified Yoga Instructor (CYI)
  4. Certified Indoor Cycling Instructor (CICI)
  5. Certified Strength Training Specialist (CSTS)

During your Orangetheory coach application, you will be required to have a minimum of CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) or CGxl (Certified Group Exercise Instructor) certifications from NCCA. The certifications, in addition to EAD, CPR and trainer courses, are quite expensive, so you can start with the most important ones.

How Much Does Personal Trainer Certification Cost?

In general, the cost of a personal trainer certification varies depending on the institution. The range is also wide so that you can consider the most convenient. However, you also have to consider one that is most readily accepted in most exercise gyms, such as NASM, even if it is among the most expensive options. Also, note that different certifications cost different from each other.

Anyway, here are a few of the NCCA-approved certification colleges and their package cost:

  • American Council on Exercise (ACE): $595 to $890
  • National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM): $699 to $1999
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA): $355 – $950
  • National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT): $199 to $499
  • National Council on Strength and Medicine (NCSM): $485 to $535

Are Orangetheory Coaches Certified?

Yes, Orangetheory coaches are all certified. Although, at the same time, the need for experience is variable in different franchise management, the certification cuts across all Orangetheory studios. The coaches already have CPR and EAD certifications. Additionally, they have at least a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) or Certified Group Exercise Instructor (CGxl) NCCA certifications.

Furthermore, the coaches have undergone immersive Orangetheory in-house training certifications, which solidifies their position as OTF coaches.

What Makes a Good Orangetheory Coach?

A good Orangetheory coach has the following characteristics;

  1. They are certified personal or group trainers.
  2. They are trained in first aid and have EAD and CPR certifications.
  3. The trainers have unique training personalities that bring out the best in trainees.
  4. They have a way of making trainees take up one more exercise challenge until the 60 minutes of OTF training are complete.
  5. They are always jovial, never bringing any personal issues and moods into class.
  6. They ensure that all the class members feel part of the class and that no one is left behind.
  7. They ensure that people want to come back to their class and even bring referrals.

What Does an Orangetheory Coach Do?

Orangetheory coaches are the core of OTF theory and training, delivering the corporate dream of the company. For this reason, they are required to have the highest level of integrity and performance.

An Orangetheory coach is required to fulfill the following responsibilities;

  • Deliver exercises to an outstanding level to the clients.
  • Ensure the class can suit all fitness levels for the 60 minutes it takes.
  • Motivate members to navigate successfully through all the stages in the class.
  • Help the members to achieve their personal goals.
  • Know and demonstrate the use of all the OTF equipment and accessory pieces.
  • Understand the science behind the relationship between heart rate and fitness.
  • Ensure that the members exercise in the right body form to prevent injury.
  • Be a team player and a committed part of the Orangetheory community.

Bottom-line

Orangetheory Fitness is a chain of gym studios, which means it must require multiple fitness coaches. As a matter of fact, there are always adverts for OTF coaches every few weeks. For this reason, it is a viable prospective position for trainers. Even better, an Orangetheory coach gets the advantage of impacting lives in a scientific-backed environment.

OTF trainers are required to be certified with the first aid courses in EAD and CPR, as well as training courses approved by NCCA. Then, the Orangetheory training takes approximately a week to complete, while a successful mic test will get you on stage in OTF training.

Written by

Jennifer Lewis

Jennifer Lewis is a Fitness, Nutrition, and Wellness Writer and Editor with over 6 years of experience in the fitness industry. She completed NCCA-approved Certified Personal Training (CPT) and Corrective Exercise Specialization (CES) Program. She is passionate about self-improvement and loves to help people improve their sense of self-worth through education and support in meeting their fitness goals.

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