So you are looking to become a Pilates Teacher and are looking for help and advice on the courses that are available to you. We have you covered and will detail everything you should have on your check list in order to become a successful Pilates teacher!
Qualifications
It may sound obvious to start here but check the providers you are considering deliver the qualifications you need. Many course providers offer the training but not actually the qualification. This won’t matter if you are studying for personal interest, but the minute you look to run a Pilates business this all changes due to insurance.
Insurance is a must once you run a business, due to the risks you will carry with personal injury to clients (a rare problem but one you can’t ignore). You’ll be able to gain insurance without a qualification (much like when insuring your car the insurer won’t request your driving license) but once a claim is made you can guess the first thing the insurance company will look into!
There are some great Pilates courses that don’t have a qualification attached but if you want to future proof yourself, we recommend you pick a provider who offers the Level 3 Mat Pilates qualification using an accredited awarding body. This qualification is mapped to the UK framework with OFQUAL (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) who are the government department that regulate qualifications in the England. Those looking to progress further can also complete the Level 4 Mat Pilates qualification.
A qualification for Reformer Pilates is also in progress but not yet widely available. Both Reformer Pilates and training on specialist equipment such as the Cadillac, Wunda Chair, Ladder Barrel and Spine Corrector form the requirement for becoming a Comprehensive Pilates teacher. These courses are currently unregulated and don’t have a recognised qualification mapped to a UK standard with OFQUAL so are classified as CPD courses (Continuing Professional Development). The common practice is to add these to the Mat Pilates qualifications. For both Reformer Pilates and training on specialist equipment we’d recommend you look for a provider who offer these as well as the Level 3 and Level 4 Mat Pilates qualifications. This way you can be confident you can progress to become a Comprehensive Pilates teacher either now or in the future.
Experience
Aspiring Pilates teachers most often will have a previous depth of experience with Pilates through attending classes themselves. However good course providers will allow flexible learning journeys to meet the needs of beginners as well as those with years of experience.
Our main tip is regardless of your previous experience to only consider Pilates course providers who include face to face in person workshops. Professional Pilates teachers can gain a lot from online learning and virtual sessions but these should complement live face to face training. Check your course provider uses a blended learning approach with a mixture of these different learning methods (online, virtual and face to face).
You’ll also want to check if the course provider offers Classical and/or Contemporary Pilates training depending on what you are looking to offer to your clients.
Finally it’s a consideration if you want to use a course provider who offer Pilates as an addition to their Personal Training courses or one that specialises in Pilates.
Cost
Prices for Pilates courses vary greatly from one provider to the next. Some won’t disclose their costs until you send them your personal information. As a guide you can expect to spend from £1000 to £2500 for your Level 3 and Level 4 Mat Pilates qualifications (depending on the provider). Adding Reformer Pilates will be an additional £1000 to £2500. Fewer providers offer specialist equipment course on the Cadillac, Wunda Chair, Ladder Barrel and Spine Corrector but those that do vary from £1000 to £3000. Consider locations and the number of workshops as most providers are located in London and this could add costs for hotels and travel.
Summery
Check your chosen Pilates course provider meets the guidance we’ve given for qualifications and experience. Then you choice comes downs to costs and locations. We feel our courses will meet all your needs, please do contact us to find out more.