For Active IBBFA-CBI instructors
Barre Specialty Certifications
Choose the training for the clients and class formats you want to teach next.
- Four focused specialty pathways
- 12-month course access per specialty
- Each specialty adds one year of Active status
$375USD · per specialty
More ways to adapt. More ways to teach.
An Active IBBFA-CBI credential is required. Choose one specialty, or compare the Principal pathway for access to all four.
CEC recognition in the top bar applies to the CBI bundle; it does not imply that every specialty is recognized by all eight providers.
Find your next teaching focus
What would you like to teach next?
Choose by the students you want to support or the class format you want to offer. Each course builds on your Active CBI credential.
Keep experienced students challenged
Advanced Barre
Level 2 equipment work and Level 3 focused sequences for the upper body, lower body and core.
Two course levels · Class outlines · Written tests
$375 USD · 12 months access
What this specialty covers
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
Adapt classes for pregnancy and beyond
Prenatal & Postnatal
Trimester changes, exercise modifications, class planning and communication with prenatal students.
Sample sequences · Prenatal toolkit · Studio pitch preparation
$375 USD · 12 months access
What this specialty covers
Course topics include physical changes across trimesters, prenatal and postnatal considerations, coaching and communication, exercise modifications, and class planning. Sample warm-up, upper-body and lower-body sequences illustrate teaching choices. Apply the training within your scope as a fitness instructor; it does not replace individual medical guidance.
Active CBI required · 12 months access · +1 year Active status
Offer more ways to participate
Special Populations
Class, small-group and one-to-one settings, with barre, chair/ball and floor exercise options.
Adaptations · Class outlines · Written assessment
$375 USD · 12 months access
What this specialty covers
Explore class, small-group and one-to-one teaching settings, student goals and exercise adaptations. Course resources cover standing barre, chair/ball exercises, floor barre and class outlines. Certified instructors gain access to teach the trademarked Stretch and Tone® class format. This training supports fitness instruction within your scope; it does not qualify you to provide clinical rehabilitation or medical treatment.
Active CBI required · 12 months access · +1 year Active status
Add a different class format
Ballerobica
Classic, Boxing and HIIT, with demo classes and Barre-Less bonus material.
Three core formats · Four demos · Barre-Less bonus
$375 USD · 12 months access
What this specialty covers
Training for high-energy barre class formats, with music, sequencing and demonstration resources. Three complete formats: Ballerobica Classic (barre + aerobics + resistance), Ballerobica Boxing (cardio combos + upper body boxing sequences + lower body kicking), and Ballerobica HIIT. Ballerobica Barre-Less is included as bonus material (full class with zero equipment). 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
Each specialty requires active CBI, adds a distinct competency to your professional profile, and extends your Active status by +1 year.
Specialties extend the IBBFA foundation. IBBFA defines adaptive room management as a core barre instructor competency, the CBI-level standard for reading a real room of mixed levels and adjusting so the beginner is not lost and the experienced client is not bored. It is what most decides whether a class fills, and it is what every specialty here is built on top of.
Choose one specialty for $375, or explore the Principal pathway if you want access to all four. See the prerequisites, assessment and enrollment details below.
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 adds a defined area of training to your professional profile.
- Teach more class formats, Explore additional formats and programming options, including Ballerobica Classic, Boxing and HIIT.
- Develop population-specific teaching skills, Study modifications, communication and class planning for different participants while staying within your fitness-instructor scope
- 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 provides access to teach the trademarked Stretch and Tone® format
- Broaden your programming, Use specialty training to plan additional class formats and adapt your instruction for different participants
- 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
Not sure whether you are eligible?Review the Active CBI prerequisite and the options for new students.
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.
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, if you want to explore adaptations for class, small-group and one-to-one fitness settings, including chair/ball and floor exercise options
- →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 want the complete pathway, the Principal Track includes all four specialties and Board Review. Two individual specialties cost $750; the $898 CBI-to-Principal upgrade costs more and includes the additional pathway components.
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. For an Active CBI holder, two individual specialties total $750. The $898 Principal upgrade costs more than two specialties alone and adds access to all four specialties and Board Review; compare the pathway against your goals.
How long does each specialty take to complete?
Each specialty is self-paced; completion time depends on your starting point, study time and assessment readiness. 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 support@barrecertification.com 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 (trimester-related changes, exercise modifications, class planning and communication), Special Populations & Contraindications (12 chapters, three exercise tracks, exclusive Stretch and Tone® class access), Ballerobica, High-Energy Barre (three core formats: Classic, Boxing, and HIIT; Barre-Less bonus material; 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 support@barrecertification.com or +1 602-755-8995 (calls, SMS, WhatsApp).