How to Choose the Best Pilates Certification Program for Your Goals

Choosing a Pilates certification program is an important decision. The right choice depends on:

• what you want to learn;
• how you want to study;
• the Pilates tradition you want to follow;
• the level of training you need;
• the total cost.

Don’t choose a program just because it appears first in a search result. Start with the questions that matter before you enroll.

1. Do you want Mat training, Reformer training, or complete Pilates training?

Start with the type of instructor you want to become.

Mat training is a practical starting point if you want to learn the Pilates Mat repertoire without needing equipment. PCO’s Complete Mat Program covers the Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Mat levels and includes end-of-level quizzes.

Reformer training focuses on the Reformer repertoire and how to teach Reformer exercises. It is a natural choice if you want to work in equipment-based Pilates settings.

Complete Pilates training is for students who want education across all the major apparatus. PCO’s Complete Pilates Program covers Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chairs and Barrels across the Basic, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

You do not have to begin with the largest program. Choose the path that matches what you want to teach.

See the Complete Mat Program, the Complete Reformer Program and the Complete Pilates Program, or view all PCO courses.

2. Is the program Classical or Contemporary?

The word “Pilates” can describe different teaching traditions.

Classical, Authentic or Traditional Pilates follows Joseph Pilates’ original system, with its established repertoire, sequence and teaching principles.

Contemporary Pilates may add modern exercise science, equipment variations, new sequencing or other changes.

Don’t accept either label just because it appears in a title. Ask who developed the curriculum, what repertoire is taught, what tradition it follows, and whether the program can explain its teaching lineage.

PCO follows the Authentic/Classical Pilates tradition. It traces its history through The Pilates Studio® of Los Angeles and Dr. Melinda Bryan’s work with Romana Kryzanowska.

Read more in Classical vs. Contemporary Pilates: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters, or learn about PCO’s certification programs.

3. Is online training the right format for you?

Online training opens professional education to students who cannot relocate or attend fixed training dates.

Before enrolling, ask:

• Can I study at my own pace?
• Can I review lessons more than once?
• Are the course materials available when I need them?
• How are assessments handled?
• What practical training or apprenticeship requirements apply?
• How is the final certification examination reviewed?

PCO offers self-paced video courses with 24/7 access. When you complete the Advanced level, you receive a Course Completion Certificate. That certificate makes you a Pilates Apprentice, and you begin logging supervised practical hours. Certification is completed with a final video examination.

Studying online does not replace teaching practice. Before you enroll, make sure you understand the full certification requirements and can arrange the practical experience your program requires.

To learn more, read How Our Pilates Programs Work and Pilates Certification Online vs In-Person.

4. How are your knowledge and teaching ability checked?

A certificate is only meaningful when the program clearly explains how students are assessed.

Ask whether the program uses:

• end-of-level quizzes;
• written examinations;
• practical teaching assessments;
• video review;
• instructor feedback;
• apprenticeship records.

At PCO, end-of-level quizzes are part of the online courses and are included in the course price. You may retake each end-of-level quiz up to three times at no additional charge.

The final certification examination is separate from the quizzes. It is a video review of your teaching, with a $195 video review and certification fee.

5. What training materials and resources are available?

Look beyond the videos. Ask whether the program provides:

• a structured curriculum;
• supporting manuals;
• exercise references;
• teaching guidance;
• testing information;
• resources that stay useful while you study and after you start teaching.

PCO provides video instruction across its certification programs. Dr. Melinda Bryan’s Pilates training manuals are available in 14+ languages, with ePub editions from $19.99.

You can see the training manuals or browse the manuals in the shop.

6. What language do you want to study in?

For international students, language can matter as much as location.

PCO’s video courses are available in five languages:

• English
• Spanish
• French
• Japanese
• Korean

The training manuals are available in 14+ languages. You can study the course in one of the five course languages and use a manual in any of the 14+ manual languages. PCO serves an international community in 75+ countries.

7. What is the total cost, not just the advertised tuition?

Compare the full cost. Ask about:

• course tuition;
• examination fees;
• retesting or resubmission fees;
• manuals;
• required studio access;
• equipment;
• apprenticeship or supervised practice;
• travel and accommodation, if any;
• renewal fees.

PCO courses are a one-time purchase, with no monthly plan. Prices are:

• Mat courses: from $89.99.
• Complete Mat Program: $487.99.
• Complete Reformer Program: $649.99.
• Complete Pilates Program, covering all apparatus: $1,899.99.

The final exam’s video review and certification fee is $195. If you need to resubmit the final exam video, the resubmission fee is also $195. PCO certifications do not expire and do not require renewal.

For every program price and how the costs add up, see How Much Does Pilates Certification Cost? Prices can change, so check the course page before you enroll.

8. Who created the program, and what experience stands behind it?

A certification program should make its leadership easy to identify. Look for:

• named instructors and program directors;
• a documented Pilates training history;
• a clear teaching tradition or lineage;
• relevant professional credentials;
• a record of actually educating Pilates instructors.

PCO grew from the teacher-certification program of Performing Arts Physical Therapy (PAPT) / The Pilates Studio® of Los Angeles, which in 1992 established the world’s first professional, medically vetted Authentic/Classical Pilates teacher certification program. In 2010, PCO launched the world’s first professional online Pilates teacher certification program, bringing that Classical curriculum online.

The program is led by Dr. Melinda Bryan, DPT. Her background combines physical therapy with Pilates education, and her training history connects to Romana Kryzanowska.

Read the 1992 history.

Already trained somewhere else?

If you hold a certificate from another program and want PCO’s Classical training, see the PCO Bridge Program.

Questions to ask before you enroll

Before paying for any Pilates certification, ask the provider to answer these clearly:

1. What exactly will I be trained to teach?
2. Is the program Classical, Authentic, Contemporary, or a combination?
3. Who created and teaches the curriculum?
4. How is my knowledge tested?
5. How is the final certification examination reviewed?
6. What practical or apprenticeship requirements must I complete?
7. What is the total cost, including examination fees?
8. What materials and manuals are available?
9. What languages are offered?
10. Does the certification require renewal?

Clear answers let you compare programs on what you are actually buying, not just on their advertising.

Frequently asked questions

Make the decision based on the training, not the headline

A good certification decision starts with the education itself:

• the curriculum;
• the teaching tradition;
• the assessment process;
• the leadership;
• the practical requirements;
• the materials;
• the languages offered;
• the total cost.

Compare these before you enroll, then choose the program that fits your goals, your circumstances and the kind of Pilates teacher you want to become.

Your next step: explore PCO’s Pilates certification programs, view all PCO courses, or read the FAQ first.