Become an IBBFA Principal Instructor

No. You can enroll in the Principal Track as a new student with no prior IBBFA credential. Your enrollment gives you immediate access to the full program, all three CBI courses (CBI2, Barre Essentials, and Barre Slim), all 4 specialty courses, and Board Review preparation. You complete CBI requirements first, then work through the specialties and Board Review at your own pace within your 24-month access window.

Yes. Method-trained instructors (ABT, Barre Above, Bootybarre, Barre Intensity, Pure Barre, or any other) can earn the IBBFA CBI foundation credential through the standalone examination pathway ($299 USD, or $199 for graduates of IBBFA Recognized Programs), passing the same exam as Course-Path candidates without retaking the full curriculum. Once CBI is earned, your $898 upgrade path to Principal applies. Method certification + IBBFA Principal designation is a powerful combination for studio owners and senior instructors who teach across multiple methods.

Four requirements: (1) Complete the CBI curriculum and pass both the written exam (60 questions drawn from a 300-question bank, 70% threshold) and the live practical evaluation. (2) Complete at least 2 of the 4 included specialty courses. (3) Pass the Board Review, a live practical evaluation with an IBBFA Master Instructor. (4) Demonstrate 1 year of professional barre teaching experience. All coursework is online and self-paced; exams are scheduled through IBBFA.

The Principal Track itself is completed online, and both of its live evaluations, the CBI practical with an IBBFA-trained proctor and the Board Review with a Master Instructor, are conducted over video conference. No travel is required to earn the credential, and you can enroll and start the same day from any country.

If you prefer to train in person, IBBFA Recognized Programs are independent training providers whose in-person and hybrid courses prepare you for the underlying CBI credential, with programs in a growing number of countries. Find a Recognized Program near you → Their graduates test at a reduced exam rate and then continue to Principal on the standard requirements.

Yes. The certification, including the curriculum, live webinars, written exam, and live practical evaluations, is available in English and Spanish. Ver la certificación en español →

Additional language editions are in development. To be notified when your language launches, call, text, or WhatsApp +1 602-755-8995.

Completion time depends on your prior experience, study pace and assessment readiness. Earning the Principal designation also requires one year of professional teaching experience. You have 24 months of full access to complete everything at your own pace, and there are no cohorts or fixed start dates, so you can begin the day you enroll.

Barre Slim is a complete class implementation program included in your enrollment from day one. It contains 9 demo videos across Basic (3), Intermediate (3), and Advanced (3) levels, over 3 hours of full class content, plus four class-length formats (45, 50, 60, and 90 minutes) with curated Spotify playlists, and the 8-Week Barre Slim Challenge: a complete client program with meal guide, body composition forms, and weekly activity and food logs you can run at your studio. You can access and review the Barre Slim materials immediately. You don't need to complete CBI first.

No. Principal requires completion of any 2 of the 4 included specialties: Prenatal & Postnatal, Special Populations & Contraindications, Ballerobica (High-Energy Barre), and Advanced Barre. All 4 are included in your enrollment and accessible for the full 24-month access period, most students complete all 4 since they're already included.

The Board Review is a live practical examination conducted by an IBBFA Master Instructor. It evaluates your readiness to teach at the Principal level, including technique, cueing, class management, and ability to work with diverse and specialty populations. It is the final requirement for the Principal designation and cannot be substituted. You schedule the Board Review through IBBFA after completing CBI requirements and at least 2 specialty courses.

One live CBI practical attempt is included with your enrollment. If you don't receive a Satisfactory rating on that attempt, your proctor gives you specific feedback on exactly what to work on, and you can schedule an additional attempt with an IBBFA instructor for $59 per attempt, as many times as you need until you pass.

The written exam has a separate retake policy: $49 with a 30-day waiting period. Maximum three written attempts per enrollment. Board Review scheduling is arranged directly with IBBFA once you have completed CBI and at least 2 specialties.

Yes. All prices on this site are in US dollars (USD): $1,297 for the Principal Track direct, $898 for the CBI-to-Principal upgrade, $599 for CBI, $299 for the standalone examination. International credit and debit cards are accepted from any country, and your bank converts the charge at the current exchange rate.

Klarna and Afterpay availability depends on your location, provider approval and the options shown at checkout. The IBBFA internal payment plan is available at checkout as an alternative.

The program is identical: same three CBI courses, same four specialties, same Board Review. Enrolling direct at $1,297 gives you immediate access to everything and saves exactly $200 versus the step-up path. The step-up path is CBI at $599, then upgrade to Principal for $898, totaling $1,497. If you want to try CBI first before committing to the full track, the step-up path is valid. Your full $599 CBI investment is credited if you upgrade later.

Klarna or Afterpay may offer 4 interest-free installments of approximately $325 ($1,297 total), subject to approval, location, availability and checkout terms. The IBBFA internal payment plan is 4 × $349 ($1,396 total), higher than paying in full. Payments on that plan are monthly. Review the exact schedule and terms at checkout before enrolling. Course access begins immediately after enrollment.

Need a formal invoice or quote for employer reimbursement, a purchase order, or a studio budget approval? Call, text, or WhatsApp +1 602-755-8995 and we will prepare one.

Your Principal enrollment includes 3 years of Active status in the IBBFA registry and directory, beginning from your Principal exam pass date. During your Active period, your credential is publicly verifiable at ibbfa.org/verify. You appear in the searchable instructor directory, and you're eligible for optional listing on barreworkout.com (IBBFA's consumer-facing discovery platform). After Year 3, Active status requires a $99/year registry maintenance fee. Full Active status guide →

Yes. The entire curriculum is online and accessible from anywhere. IBBFA has certified instructors in 40+ countries. Live webinars are offered in both English and Spanish. In most countries barre instruction is not government-licensed, so studios rely on independently verifiable credentials, and every IBBFA credential can be verified by any employer, in any country, at ibbfa.org/verify, free and without a login.

International recognition includes CEC partnerships with CanFitPro (Canada), NPCP and ACSM (United States), and AUSactive (Australia), plus REPs UK endorsement (United Kingdom), bringing IBBFA recognition to 4 continents. For international enrollment support, contact us via WhatsApp at +1 602-755-8995.

Yes. The Principal credential is built on the IBBFA CBI foundation, which is officially endorsed by REPs UK (Register of Exercise Professionals) as an Endorsed Qualification meeting REPs endorsement standards. REPs UK is the United Kingdom's leading register of exercise professionals. This endorsement is separate from the CEC recognition by ACE, NASM, AFAA, ISSA, CanFitPro, NPCP, AUSactive, and ACSM. REPs UK uses an endorsement framework rather than a points-based CPD system. All REPs-endorsed courses are recognized equally as meeting REPs endorsement standards. UK-based instructors holding the IBBFA Principal credential may reference their underlying CBI as a REPs Endorsed Qualification on their professional profiles.

Yes. The Master Instructor designation is the next tier in the IBBFA credential hierarchy. Requirements include Principal designation, completion of all 4 specialty certifications, a practicum component, and the Master exam. Master Instructors serve as examiners for the CBI practical evaluation and Board Review. The Master Track is $2,997 USD. View all credential levels → or see the full IBBFA credential hierarchy.