Why Certify?

What's the value in getting certified?

  • CIAC Instructors have access to up-to-date curriculum, including current best teaching techniques and material. Reviewed annually, this material includes necessary forms, risk mitigation strategies, teaching teachniques and more.
  • Online learning for participants is hosted and maintained by CIAC so all you have to do is add your participants, check on their progress and grade their assignments: no more worry about developing your own material. 
  • Access contact list of other Instructors so you can ask questions and/or refer participants to their local instructor. 
  • Opportunity to be involved with curriculum updates, member recruiting, and/or other aspects of CIAC operations.
Last but not least; CIAC Certification is a publicly-verifable way to show that you are a trained, professional cycling instructor, not just a person who claims to know how to teach cycling.

 

Levels of Certification

All CIAC Instructors receive training in the following components: 

  • how to talk to people
  • how people learn
  • risk mitigation
  • emergency planning
  • insurance
Instructors choose one or both of the following age groupings:
  • children (age 4-16)
  • adults (age 14+)
Progressive instruction allows instructors to choose what level they want to teach:
Level 1 qualifies to teach First Time courses.
Level 2 qualifies to teach Beginner (if adult teaching chosen), and Novice courses. 
Level 3 qualifies to teach Novice and Intermediate courses. 
Level 4 qualifies to teach Novice, Intermediate and Advanced (requires adult teaching module).
 

For example: an Instructor listed as Level 1, 3, 4 (adults) would be qualified to teach First Time, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced courses only to adults. A Level 1, 2 (children) Instructor can teach First Time and Novice courses only to children.

Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced courses are progressive and as such an instructor must be qualified to teach/evaluate the material from the earlier courses. 

Instructors can upgrade to a higher level at a later date by completing the associated module(s) and other requirements.

Training Instructors

Course Conductors are what we call instructors who teach people how to be instructors. Course Conductors may also teach courses to the public as they are Certified Instructors; it's up to them.


The levels indicate that a Course Conductor is authorized to train, supervise and certify new Instructors to their own level:
Level 1 can certify new Level 1 Instructors.
Level 2 can certify new Level 1 and 2 Instructors.
Level 3 can certify new Level 1, 2, and 3 Instructors.
Level 4 can certify new Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 Instructors.

Course Conductors may be certified Instructors at a different level: a person listed as Course Conductor Level 3, Instructor Level 4 (children and adults) can certify new Level 1, 2 and 3 Instructors and teach First Time, Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced to children (as appropriate) and adults.

 

 

Certification Process

The process of getting certified is more involved than just taking a single course as CIAC Instructors are responsible for ensuring participant's safety, appropriate learning and more. Our expectations are high because participant's lives are at stake.

Step 1: Take the Advanced Course

Step 2: Attend Other Courses

Step 3: Take Instructor Training

Step 4: Complete Additional Requirements

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