Introduction: Suitable knowledge about physical culture sciences by community exercise instructors is important to ensure the safety and quality of programs for the elderly. Objective: Analyze the academic background of instructors and the frequency of application of two safety parameters in the implementation of physical exercise programs for the elderly. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted of 155 instructors of groups of elderly people in Bucaramanga, Colombia. An ad hoc questionnaire was used to collect the