More than one organization offers certifications in tennis instruction, but they all focus on the same basic principles. Certified instructors must be able to demonstrate a high level of skill; teach skills, rules and strategies to children and adults; have a strong general knowledge of the game; and possess the organizational skills to run a tennis program. Certified instructors are eligible for jobs at tennis clubs, resorts, recreational facilities and other places where tennis lessons are offered and where tournaments, camps and other tennis activities are staged.
Professional Tennis Registry
The Professional Tennis Registry focuses instruction and certification in three distinct areas: Junior Development, Adult Development and Performance. A Master of Tennis certification in Junior Development qualifies you to teach children and teens and run programs such as after-school tennis leagues and summer tennis camps. Adult Development includes a range of adult tennis instruction, from private lessons to groups. Performance certification is primarily for instructors who wish to coach competitive professional tennis players or coach tennis teams at the high school or college levels.
United States National Tennis Academy
The United States National Tennis Academy makes it clear to applicants that certification is not about rewarding your skill, but about acknowledging your ability to teach those skills to others. The USNTA provides online and book-based learning in 20 lessons. Once you have certification, you may be eligible for jobs at tennis facilities, though the USNTA does not guarantee job placement. The Academy, however, does promise to help recently certified instructors find employment.
United States Professional Tennis Association
The United States Professional Tennis Association focuses its certification program on two distinct tracks: Recreational Coach and Professional Development. Recreational Coach certification is for professionals who are coaching, who want to coach in high school or recreational programs or are part-time instructors who want to be full-time teachers. Professional Development certification readies instructors for coaching players at the highest levels, such as professionals or college players. The USPTA boasts more than 15,000 members, most of whom teach in the United States, but also are represented in 80 other countries.
Considerations
Tennis is a game played around the world, so the need for certified tennis instructors is truly global. But many resorts and tennis facilities can have high turnover among their instructors, which can be good news for job hunters, but a concern for anyone looking for real job security. If you're willing and able to pick and move frequently, you may be able to see the world, serving as a tennis instructor at upscale resorts looking for someone to teach lessons to guests and sponsor tournaments and leagues for residents who live near the resorts.
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