Golf instructors receive training and certification from a variety of sources, with some golf pros self-taught, since there are no laws requiring that golf instructors obtain any certification. After your initial training and any certification you take, you can continue to upgrade your knowledge with specialty courses. Apprenticing yourself to an established golf instructor is another option for learning how to teach golf.
PGA
The Professional Golfers' Association is the oldest golf instructor certifying body in the U.S. To become certified, you must go through a multi-year program, either enrolling in their PGA PGM Apprentice Program, or attending the PGA Golf Management University. Both require work experience, a playing test and an internship or employment period. Training covers all aspects of the sport, on and off the course.
USGTF
The United State Golf Teaching Federation is a training and certifying body originally started to offer golf driving range professionals and others an alternative to the expensive and time-consuming PGA certification. The USGTF offers four levels of certification, culminating with a master professional designation. The first level of certification covers only golf teaching, not business or other aspects of the profession. You received affiliate member status upon successful completion of a 25-question written test taken after you complete an in-person or home-study course. Subsequent courses offer more training and education.
PGTAA
The Professional Golf Teachers Association of America lets you train and certify online, studying at home or at one of its five-day certification workshops. Certification is a five-step process, including modules on teaching, business, tips, playing test and written test. The PGTAA has associate member and master levels. Master pros pass all five parts of the certification process, with at least an 85 percent score on the written test. You receive associate member status if you take the PGTAA course and fail one or more of the sections.
NRPGI
The National Registry of Professional Golf Instructors offers online training and certification, similar to the USGTF and PGTAA. The organization is run by the same group that operates the online training and certification organization, the U.S. National Tennis Academy.
Private Training
In addition to trade associations, private bodies offer golf instructional training, with or without certification. Schools such as the Golf Academy of America, National University Golf Academy, Kaiser University College of Golf and others offer college-level programs covering all aspect of the golf business, including teaching, exercise physiology, business, equipment, course design and maintenance, sport psychology, food and beverage and other aspects of golf course management.
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