The qualification – STOTT PILATES Certification

STOTT PILATES certification is only awarded upon successful completion of each course and a written and practical exam. At the conclusion of each intensive course you receive a "letter of completion" and the relevant continuing education credits. Upon receiving this letter you are qualified to teach pilates to that specific course level for a period of up to 6 months after completion. During this time you are a STOTT PILATES Trained Apprentice Teacher but it is not until you pass your examination that are you a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor.

You can certify in stages by taking an exam after each course or following a series of courses. The examination must be taken within 6 months from completion of your last course and is in addition to the course fees.

N.B. Most instructor insurance in the UK through Fitness Professionals or REPs, which are underwritten by reputable companies such as Norwich Union, will only cover you to teach for a period of 6 months from completing your course to taking your exam. This is regardless of whether you take another course in the meantime.

If I am a STOTT PILATES certified instructor will that automatically give me REPs accreditation?

The quickest answer to this question is NO. However, it is possible to gain REPs accreditation at Level 3 and achieve an industry qualification that is the equivalent to 2 A-Levels in addition to your STOTT PILATES certification. Read on to find out more about this additional qualification:

The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) is a list of instructors who meet industry agreed standards in their qualifications and experience. Qualifications are split into three levels - 1, 2 and 3.

In August 2005 an additional standard for pilates teachers was devised and agreed by the REPs organisation at level 3. Prior to this, there was only the level 2 standard available for pilates instructors.
There are two ways of becoming a level 3 recognised pilates instructor on this Register. The first is to take a course with a school that has achieved industry recognition at the level 3 standard. At present the schools ‘Future Fit’ and ‘Body Control Pilates’ have been assessed as meeting these industry standards but their courses do not lead to a national qualification. The second way of being recognised at the level 3 on the Register is to be awarded a National Qualification in Pilates at Level 3. At present only ‘STOTT PILATES’ and ‘Modern Pilates’ have reached this higher standard – this is the equivalent to being awarded 2 A Levels.

The qualification was approved by the governing body, QCA, and placed on the National Qualifications Framework in January 2006. The qualification is designed by CYQ (Central YMCA Qualifications) and it is the only Pilates Level 3 qualification available within the UK to date.

Completion of this qualification will allow full access to the REPs at Level 3.

In order to achieve this qualification, all students must complete the following with Active Training/YMCA Fitness Industry Training:

• STOTT PILATES IMP Level 1
• Exercise and Fitness Knowledge (Level 3) Theory Paper
• Case Study (12-week progressive programme)

For students who have certified in STOTT PILATES Matwork and who hold already an existing fitness qualification at Level 3, the requirement will only be to conduct a case study on a client and to attend an assessment meeting to discuss this.

Students who do not already hold a Level 3 fitness qualification will need to study modules covering, amongst other areas, cardiovascular fitness, nutrition, energy systems and anatomy and physiology – this is a distance learning module and at the same time as the meeting to discuss the case study you will sit a multiple choice written paper covering the information in the modules – the cost of this module is £250.

To help you complete the full qualification, YMCA Fitness Industry Training has designed home study units to prepare you for the Level 3 exercise and fitness knowledge theory paper. A student file has also been designed outlining the whole qualification and necessary assessment paperwork needed to complete the full assessment. This additional resource will help you prepare for all parts of the mat pilates assessment.

Together, Active Training and YMCA Fitness Industry Training have worked closely with STOTT PILATES Canada to ensure that all certified STOTT PILATES instructors have the opportunity to achieve Level 3 in Matwork Pilates if required by the student.

From 1st October 2006, students who have certified in Matwork are eligible to enrol with YMCAfit to complete the transition modules and an examination that results in the Level 3 National Qualification.