# Read teacher credentials

Lesson 1 of [Vet a studio before you commit](https://studiofinder.ca/academy/vet-a-studio-before-you-commit.md), 15 minutes.

Training matters, but it is only part of the answer. Check the credential. Then watch how the teacher teaches.

## Credentials are not licences

In most countries, no government licence is needed to teach yoga, Pilates, barre, hoop dance or pole. Private bodies, schools and brands set their own standards. A credential tells you what training a teacher reports. It does not guarantee skill.

## Yoga

Yoga Alliance is a non-profit registry based in the United States. Registration is voluntary.

- **RYS**: Registered Yoga School. A school that meets the Yoga Alliance standards.
- **RYT 200**: Registered Yoga Teacher. The teacher has told Yoga Alliance that they finished a 200-hour training at a registered school.
- **RYT 500**: the teacher finished 500 hours of training at registered schools, in one programme or in two parts, and has some teaching experience.
- **E-RYT**: Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher. The teacher also has teaching experience.

You can search the public registry on the Yoga Alliance website. Many good teachers are not registered. Ask what training they did. Yoga Alliance is changing its credentials, so check its website for the current rules.

## Pilates

Pilates has no single governing body worldwide. These are the main names:

- **National Pilates Certification Program (NPCP)**: runs a national certification exam for Pilates teachers in the United States.
- **Pilates Method Alliance (PMA)**: a professional association for Pilates teachers.
- **STOTT PILATES**: a training programme from Merrithew.
- **Balanced Body**: an equipment maker that also runs teacher training.

Ask which programme the teacher completed and how many hours it took. A comprehensive course for equipment usually takes many months. A weekend course on one machine is not the same.

## Barre, hoop, aerial and pole

No single worldwide body trains or certifies all teachers in these fields. Some barre brands train their own teachers. Ask what the teacher trained in, and for how long. For aerial classes, also ask about rigging and safety training.

## General fitness credentials

Some teachers hold a fitness credential. Examples of bodies that issue one are the American Council on Exercise, the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) is part of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. It accredits certification programmes. Ask whether the teacher's credential comes from an NCCA-accredited programme. Many studios also ask teachers to hold current CPR and first-aid training.

## What to ask

Ask: "Who teaches this class and what is their training?" A good studio answers in a clear sentence. Check a Yoga Alliance claim in the public registry. For Pilates, ask which school issued the training certificate and check with that school.

## Sources

- Studiofinder guide: How to Tell a Good Instructor: Certifications and Signs (updated 2026-10-27)
- Yoga Alliance (yogaalliance.org), checked 2026-11-04
- National Pilates Certification Program (nationalpilatescertificationprogram.org), checked 2026-11-04
- Pilates Method Alliance (pilatesmethodalliance.org), checked 2026-11-04
- Merrithew, STOTT PILATES instructor training (merrithew.com), checked 2026-11-04
- Balanced Body instructor training (pilates.com), checked 2026-11-04
- American Council on Exercise (acefitness.org), checked 2026-11-04
- NCCA, Institute for Credentialing Excellence (credentialingexcellence.org), checked 2026-11-04

Also on the [web page](https://studiofinder.ca/academy/vet-a-studio-before-you-commit/read-teacher-credentials).