AEA Aquatic Fitness Professional (AFP) study plan

Map the Domain 1 blueprint into a one-page outline covering exercise science foundations, class design, and leadership

Define and differentiate aquatic-specific terms (buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, drag, relative density, metacentric height) in your own words

Explain how water's physical properties change exercise intensity, joint load, and heart-rate response compared with land

Build a personal glossary of at least 25 aquatic fitness terms with plain-language definitions

Describe the acute cardiorespiratory and muscular responses to immersion at shallow, mid, and deep depths

Identify the primary muscle groups and joint actions for each major aquatic exercise category (cardio, strength, flexibility, mind-body)

Compare shallow-water, deep-water, and transitional-depth programming for intensity control and participant capability

Draft a 10-exercise bank tagging each move by target muscle group, depth, and intensity

Apply the components of a class (warm-up, conditioning, cool-down) to a 45-minute shallow-water session

Write measurable intensity progressions using RPE, talk test, and target heart-rate ranges adapted for immersion

Sequence exercises to balance muscle groups and avoid overuse within a single session

Build a complete 45-minute class plan with timed blocks and cueing notes

Adapt the class plan for older adults, deconditioned participants, and prenatal participants with specific modifications

Identify contraindicated or high-risk movements and substitute safer alternatives

List the components of a pre-participation screening and health-history intake for aquatic exercise

Revise your class plan into three participant-specific versions

Outline a facility emergency action plan including roles, communication, and evacuation for an aquatic setting

Describe rescue-response priorities and the boundary between fitness instruction and lifeguard duties

Identify environmental hazards (depth transitions, deck surfaces, water temperature, chemical exposure) and control measures for each

Draft a one-page risk-assessment checklist for a group aquatic fitness class

Explain supervision ratios, participant-to-instructor limits, and depth restrictions relevant to group aquatic classes

Summarize infection control, hygiene, and equipment inspection practices for shared aquatic equipment

Describe instructor responsibilities for informed consent, confidentiality, and scope of practice

Write a scope-of-practice statement and a short informed-consent talking-points script

Integrate safety cues and risk controls directly into your 45-minute class plan

Practice delivering the class plan aloud and time each segment against the plan

Create a 20-question self-quiz spanning both domains and score at least 80%

Log every missed self-quiz item with the correct concept and a one-line explanation

Review all missed-item logs and glossary entries; re-explain each weak concept aloud without notes

Complete two full-length timed practice sets weighted 50/50 across domains

Refine the final class plan and risk checklist based on practice-set gaps

Build a one-page pre-exam summary sheet of high-yield facts for each domain