Barre Specialty Certifications
for Active CBI Instructors
Add one specialty for $375, or get all four inside the Principal Instructor Track for $1,297 — less than buying them separately.
Which path fits you?
I have an active CBI credential
You're eligible to enroll in any specialty below. Choose one or get all four in the Principal Track.
View Specialties ↓I don't have CBI yet
CBI is required before any specialty. Earn your foundational credential first — or go straight to Principal and get everything in one enrollment.
Four Specialties, Four New Teaching Populations
Each specialty requires active CBI, adds a distinct competency to your professional profile, and extends your Active status by +1 year.
Prenatal and Postnatal
Evidence-based programming for expecting and new mothers — sourced from ACOG, ACSM, and ADA research. 10 chapters covering trimester-by-trimester programming, contraindications, the BPM cap (~135), no-supine-core guidelines, a complete three-segment class format, Kegels protocol, and postnatal return-to-exercise. Includes sample warm-up, upper body, and lower body videos, a full class recording, and the Prenatal Barre Toolkit on completion.
Active CBI required · 12 months access · +1 year Active status
Special Populations & Contraindications
Three teaching settings (group, one-on-one, rehabilitation), six condition categories (neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, oncology, cardiac/respiratory, metabolic, elderly), and three complete exercise tracks: standing barre, chair/ball series, and non-weight-bearing floor barre. Certified instructors gain exclusive access to teach the trademarked Stretch and Tone® class format. Widely used by physical therapists and occupational therapists in clinical settings.
Active CBI required · 12 months access · +1 year Active status
Ballerobica (High-Energy Barre)
The class studios report as their biggest revenue producer where it's been implemented. Three complete formats: Ballerobica Classic (barre + aerobics + resistance), Ballerobica Boxing (cardio combos + upper body boxing sequences + lower body kicking), and Ballerobica Barre-Less (full class with zero equipment — bonus format). Includes deep music theory (BPM, phrasing, verse/chorus cueing), five exercise science foundations, and four full demo class recordings including a World Barre Summit session.
Active CBI required · 12 months access · +1 year Active status
Advanced Barre
Two complete online courses — Level 2 (Intermediate Technique) and Level 3 (Compounding Exercises) — covering 11 muscle-group chapters with actual exercise names, video instruction, live webinars, and section quizzes. Level 2 introduces equipment integration (9-inch ball, resistance tubing, 1 lb weights, stretching straps). Level 3 adds three distinct class formats: Advanced Intervals, 100% At the Barre, and No-Equipment Advanced. Teaches the instructor to build multi-plane compound sequences that intermediate and advanced students actually want.
Active CBI required · 12 months access · +1 year Active status
All Four Included in Principal
Buying all four specialties individually costs $1,500. The Principal Instructor Track includes all four plus CBI, Board Preparation, Board Review, and 3 years of Active status — for less than buying the four specialties separately.
Already have CBI? Upgrade for $898 with full $599 credit.
Why Add a Specialty?
Each specialty expands your professional profile and earning potential.
- Teach more class formats — Studios value instructors who can cover multiple time slots and populations. Ballerobica Boxing alone opens a class slot no other barre format fills.
- Serve specialized populations — Prenatal and postnatal clients, seniors, post-rehab students, and athletes have specific needs that require training beyond CBI
- Extend your Active status — Each specialty adds +1 year to your Active status in the IBBFA registry and directory
- Gain trademarked class access — Special Populations certification grants exclusive access to teach the trademarked Stretch and Tone® format, limiting local competition
- Command higher rates — Specialized instructors consistently earn more per class than generalists, and studios with diverse specialty offerings retain more clients
- Build toward Principal — Complete 2 of 4 specialties to qualify for the Board Review and Principal designation
- Stand out in the directory — Specialty tags appear on your public directory profile, making you searchable by specialty
Specialties — Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need CBI before enrolling in a specialty?
Yes. CBI is the prerequisite for all specialty modules. You must hold an active IBBFA-CBI credential before enrolling in any specialty. Get your CBI first →
Which specialty should I take first?
It depends on who you teach and where you want to grow:
- →Prenatal and Postnatal — if you teach women's fitness, want to serve expecting clients, or work in a studio with a maternal-age demographic
- →Special Populations & Contraindications — the most broadly applicable specialty; useful in any group class setting, and the only one that opens the rehabilitation and clinical market
- →Ballerobica — if your studio values high-energy formats, you want to attract HIIT and cycling clients to barre, or you want a class that generates consistent word-of-mouth
- →Advanced Barre — if you want to deepen your programming for experienced students and teach compound multi-plane sequences that keep advanced clients challenged
If you plan to complete two or more, the Principal Track includes all four for less than buying them separately.
Can I buy specialties individually or do I have to get Principal?
Both options are available. You can purchase individual specialties à la carte ($375 each, +1 year Active status each). The Principal Track ($1,297) includes all four plus CBI, Board Review, and 3 years of Active status — for less than buying the four specialties separately. If you plan to complete 2 or more specialties, Principal is meaningfully better value.
How long does each specialty take to complete?
Most students complete a single specialty in 2–4 weeks at their own pace. Each includes live webinars, video instruction, section quizzes, and a written exam. You have 12 months of course access per specialty, so you can revisit material anytime during that window.
Do specialties count toward Principal requirements?
Yes. Principal candidates must complete at least 2 of 4 specialties before their Board Review. If you buy specialties individually and later upgrade to Principal, your completed specialties carry over — you won't redo them.
What if I already bought a specialty and want to upgrade to Principal?
Contact info@ibbfa.org to discuss upgrade options. We'll work with you to find a fair path that credits your existing investment.
Ready to Specialize?
Three paths — choose the one that fits where you are right now.
$1,297 · Less than 4 specialties separately · Klarna & Afterpay accepted
The International Ballet Barre Fitness Association (IBBFA) offers four specialty certifications through BarreCertification.com at $375 each: Prenatal and Postnatal (10 chapters, evidence-based prenatal programming, Prenatal Barre Toolkit), Special Populations & Contraindications (12 chapters, three exercise tracks, exclusive Stretch and Tone® class access), Ballerobica — High-Energy Barre (three complete formats: Classic, Boxing, and Barre-Less; four demo class recordings), and Advanced Barre (two courses: Level 2 intermediate technique and Level 3 compounding exercises across 8 chapters, three class formats). Each requires an active CBI credential as a prerequisite, provides 12 months of course access, and adds +1 year to Active status in the IBBFA registry and directory. All four specialties are included in the Principal Instructor Track ($1,297 direct enrollment on barrecertification.com), which also includes CBI, Board Review, and 3 years of Active status. Specialty credentials are publicly verifiable at ibbfa.org/verify. Specialty tags appear on instructor profiles in the public instructor directory. Founded 2008. 7,000+ instructors certified across 40+ countries. Contact info@ibbfa.org or +1 602-755-8995 (calls, SMS, WhatsApp).