CrossFit's Coaching Courses and Credentials Explained

In CrossFit, the caliber of trainer you work with matters. Whether you’ve been attending an affiliate for years or you’re considering CrossFit as your new group-fitness regimen, it’s important to understand the qualifications of your coach. Educated and experienced trainers will guide you along your fitness journey with a discerning eye for sound movement, capacity, and goal-setting, and they’ll bring a level of expertise to your experience that is unmatched in the fitness industry.

CrossFit’s education department requires a wide range of continuing education for our coaches in 13,000 gyms around the world. Each tier of our credentialing system builds on the last, making for a highly comprehensive educational experience that sets CrossFit coaches apart from trainers at other fitness studios and commercial gyms. The rigorous work that goes into defining what it means to be an effective and successful coach puts CrossFit at the forefront of innovation in coaching development.

The Starting Point: The CrossFit Level 1 Certificate Course

The CrossFit Level 1 Certificate Course (CF-L1) or the Online CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course (CF-OL1) are the starting points for anyone interested in coaching CrossFit. Participants attending the in-person Level 1 (CF-L1) will complete a two-day seminar run by experienced CrossFit Seminar Staff trainers who provide expert education on CrossFit through classroom instruction, small-group breakout sessions, and coach-led workouts.

The classroom portion of the course includes lectures from CrossFit’s world-class coaches on our foundational movements, the CrossFit methodology, nutrition, and programming. The breakout sessions focus on improving individual participants’ mechanics while instructors engage participants in a dialogue that illuminates and reinforces effective coaching strategies. The workouts provide examples of how to conduct a group class, hold a standard of proper mechanics when working at high intensity, and scale movements for any ability level.

The CrossFit Level 1 is an ANAB-Accredited Certificate Issuer program under the ANSI/ASTM E2659 Certificate Issuer’s accreditation standard. Adherence to ANAB’s accreditation standards ensures the highest levels of quality and integrity for the Level 1 Certificate Program.

The Online Level 1 (CF-OL1) is a self-paced online course that provides an introductory education on the fundamental principles and movements of CrossFit from the comfort of home. At the end of the course, participants will attend a live webinar, where they will engage in a Q&A with CrossFit’s top coaches as well as receive coaching through foundational movements in a small group setting.

Upon completing the course and passing the Level 1 Test, participants will have learned how to coach others to improve their fitness and health using the CrossFit methodology and earned the credential necessary to work as a CrossFit trainer.

While holding a Level 1 Certificate does meet the eligibility requirements to be a trainer, it is only the foundation for continued learning and development as the trainer progresses through the following tiers of credential opportunities.

Upleveling Your Skills: The CrossFit Level 2 Certificate Course

The CrossFit Level 2 Certificate Course (CF-L2) is the second step on the road to mastery for a CrossFit coach. This course builds on the concepts and movements introduced at the Level 1 and provides development opportunities for any CrossFit trainer serious about delivering quality coaching. The Level 2 is an intermediate-level training course meant to provide students with improved skills, a strong sense of their strengths and weaknesses, and actionable ways to improve.

Prerequisites:

• A current Level 1 Certificate.
• It is recommended that prior to attending the Level 2, trainers complete the online training courses Lesson Planning, Scaling, and Spot the Flaw to enable a deeper level of understanding and engagement throughout the course.

Trainers who pursue the Level 2 Certificate have committed to further developing their expertise and enhancing their understanding of the CrossFit methodology, program design, and implementation. They are given the opportunity to get real-time feedback on their coaching methods from their peers as well as from the best coaches in the world on CrossFit’s Seminar Staff.

Level 2 attendees complete two days of classroom work, one-on-one training, and group sessions. Participants are expected to be deeply engaged throughout the course (classroom sessions are discussion-based), and each student will lead individual and small-group sessions.

Trainers who hold a Level 2 Certificate have demonstrated they have advanced to an intermediate level in their ability to identify good movement, correct movement flaws, and program CrossFit workouts. In the absence of any other information, one can assume a CF-L2 trainer is a more experienced and self-aware CrossFit trainer who has spent time identifying their strengths and weaknesses, as well as learning actionable methods for improvement and professional development.

A Professional Pathway: Certified CrossFit Trainer, Level 3

While the CF-L1 and CF-L2 credentials are earned through certificate courses, the Certified CrossFit Trainer exam (that awards the CF-L3/CCFT credential) is a certification course. Let’s explore the difference. Certification courses provide training and coursework in a specific subject and then assess knowledge attained during the course. A certification is an assessment only (e.g., an exam). A certification exam tests an individual’s current skills and expertise gained from an entire body of knowledge across a given profession. This is the proper designation for the CCFT. Individuals are tested on their capabilities across the profession of CrossFit training.

Two pathways can fulfill the prerequisites for attempting to earn the CCFT:

Pathway 1

• Current CrossFit Level 2 Trainer Certificate.
• 375 hours of coaching CrossFit for groups or individuals. Hours must be accrued while Level 1 or 2 is current and must have been accumulated within the last five years.

Pathway 2

• 1,000 hours of active strength and conditioning coaching at the collegiate or professional level. Hours need to have occurred for groups or individuals during employment at a college/university or professional sports team and must have been accumulated within the last five years.

Additionally, candidates must possess a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate. Ongoing maintenance of CPR training is required every two years.

The purpose of the CCFT is to ensure an individual possesses the knowledge and competency required to train clients safely and effectively. The CCFT designation identifies an experienced trainer who has demonstrated a higher level of CrossFit coaching knowledge and ability.

To attain this credential, individuals must meet all eligibility requirements, pass the CCFT examination, and commit to a long-term standard of professional accountability and growth. This includes completing continuing education, which can be accomplished by taking CrossFit courses, approved third-party courses, and more. CrossFit is an ANAB-Accredited Personnel Certification Body accredited under the ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation standard. The CCFT Program’s accreditation under the ISO/IEC 17024 demonstrates an investment in ensuring the highest levels of quality and integrity under a globally and internationally recognized accreditation standard.

The Mark of an Expert: Certified CrossFit Coach, Level 4

The Certified CrossFit Level 4 Coach (CF-L4) is the highest credential offered by CrossFit. The Level 4 performance evaluation assesses a trainer’s ability to effectively coach CrossFit movements and run a successful class. This assessment best mirrors the environment in which coaches need to excel every day to better the health and fitness of their clients. Qualified candidates are evaluated across six coaching domains and the evaluations take place in person in real time — a rare requirement in the fitness industry.

Only experienced trainers who have been coaching CrossFit in a group setting for several years can pursue the CF-L4. The credential is earned by trainers who have significant coaching experience, a comprehensive educational background, and CrossFit’s prerequisite certification — the Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer credential.

Prerequisites for the CF-L4:

• Several years of coaching CrossFit in a group setting.
• Current Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer.
• Current CPR certificate with AED instruction.

The development of the CF-L4 evaluation was led by CrossFit content experts, longtime coaches, and successful affiliate owners who combined passion and subject-matter expertise with industry-standard rigor in testing and evaluation development to create something exceptional.

Earning this credential is no small feat. It means an individual has demonstrated advanced coaching abilities through a real-time performance assessment. This is an essential milestone in a coach’s career and one that signals coaching mastery developed over many years — the mark of an expert CrossFit coach.

In an industry full of false promises and quick fixes, it’s easy to get confused and discouraged in pursuit of health and fitness. Ensuring you are working with a coach who has put the time and effort toward developing their skills and expertise will put you on the right path to reach your desired goals and results. Consider the quote below from CrossFit’s Chief Brand Officer Nicole Carroll:

“An educated trainer possesses a solid knowledge of movement mechanics, programming, nutrition, and the surrounding disciplines relevant to physical well-being and performance. A more advanced trainer applies this knowledge to program design, discerns sound from unsound movement mechanics, and displays the ability to correct the unsound to maximize safety, efficiency, and efficacy.

“A great trainer, or coach, builds upon this skill set and approaches each client with a genuine desire to get the best results. A coach, in the relentless pursuit of excellence, tailors an approach to meet individual goals, needs, and motivations. A great coach recognizes that each client has limitless potential and helps them realize this through fostering a trusted relationship and building a strong and supportive surrounding community.”

Curious about which credentials your local CrossFit coaches hold? Visit the CrossFit gym finder and scroll to the coach section for gyms in your area to find out.

Related Topics

“How To Choose the Right CrossFit Gym for You”
“What To Expect at Your First CrossFit Class”