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Step 1
You should be at least a National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) 4.0 Tennis Player.
This means:
You have dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand sides on moderate-paced shots. You can use lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys with some success and occasionally force errors when serving. Rallies may be lost due to impatience. Teamwork in doubles is evident. -
Step 2
You need to be a good communicator and outgoing
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Step 3
You must be in good shape
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Step 4
Most Certified Public Accountants skill levels are about the same. However, this is certainly not true of teaching tennis pros. A teaching pro does not have to be certified. The major teaching associations certify pros at many different levels and [unfortunately] do not require continuous learning.
In the United States there are two major organizations that certify tennis pros. The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR). Qualification requirements can be found at the web sites at the bottom. Both organizations require written, playing, and lesson giving tests. -
Step 5
USPTA:
At this time, they do not require additional exams of long-term members or mandatory education because they want to be inclusive of every tennis teacher, regardless of level. And, even if they would like all of members to participate in our education program, a mandatory system will not work until employers require it. Also, it's difficult to mandate education because tennis teachers are not required by law to obtain or maintain certification and education based on state or federal standards. As you'll read below, we USPTA once had a mandatory education program. And, although continuing education is not required today, it was the motivation behind their subsequent push to build what they consider is now the most extensive tennis education program in the world for members or nonmembers who chose to upgrade their knowledge and skills. USPTA does not mandate education, but anything is possible as they continue to revise their education and testing.
When USPTA was founded in 1927, membership did not require an exam, since it was formed mainly to represent professional players of that time who also taught tennis to make a living. As you might know, before the open era, players who took money to play tennis were not allowed to compete in amateur tournaments, including the grand slams. It wasn't until the 1960s that USPTA began to institute a testing system, one that has become an example for most of the world's other tennis teaching groups. The testing system continues to evolve each year, and technology has allowed us to offer online education and testing.
After testing was nationalized, our board and Executive Committee's interest in education expanded. This prompted the creation of test preparation courses, advanced teaching courses, the production of manuals, and the availability of other subject-specific seminars. Education is also the cornerstone on which all of our World Conferences and division conventions are based. Speakers at these events are experts on tennis and tennis-related disciplines. [Unfortunately most tennis pros cannot afford to go to these events]. -
Step 6
PTR:
This organization has similar testing programs and certification to the USPTA. The majority of their certified instructors teach in the United States. However, they also have certified instructors around the world.
The Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) is in a period of transition. Dennis VanDeMeer (Billy Jean King's coach for her match against Bobby Riggs) and the same group of managers have led PTR for a long time. Dennis's legendary memory has started to fail him. The PTR is now set up to exist without his input. The PTR Master Pros will play a bigger part of the support for the PTR. The USPTA has proposed that the two organizations merge and this could come to pass in the next few years.
