WASC accreditation signifies that an educational institution meets rigorous standards of quality and effectiveness IS evaluated by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It ensures that the school provides a strong academic program, qualified faculty, and meaningful support for student learning and development. This recognition also enhances the credibility and transferability of the institution’s credits, degrees, and diplomas.

Most pilates studios focus on giving you a workout. You are completely dependent on the instructor to lead you through the exercises. The Pilates School SF teaches you the exercises and the why behind them so you can create your own independent workouts for YOUR body to keep consistent years later. The goal of this Classical Pilates training is an affordable program in which students will develop an independent pilates practice. Our goal is for you not to need an instructor. Graduation from our program signifies that you have gained the knowledge to maintain independent Classical Pilates practice for life.

This School is for someone looking for a structured Classical Pilates program with built in accountability systems. You should pick the Pilates School SF because our goal is to use Pilates to make a permanent life-long change in fitness, access, awareness through around two years of consistent dedication to your practice.

• Pre-Pilates Options: Full Pre-Pilates Course work – 120 hours of training time/ 60 hours of written/ reading study (for student with preexisting moderate to serious body consideration) OR;
• Abridged Pre–Pilates Coursework – 48 hours of training time/ 12 hours of written reading study. (for a relatively healthy body with minor body concerns
• Intermediate II Coursework- 120 hours of training time/ 60 hours of written/ reading study
• Basic Coursework – 160 hours training time/ 60 hours written/ reading study
• Intermediate I Coursework-  160 hours training time/ 60 hours written/ reading study

After completing you may apply for a comprehensive exam which takes about 12 hours of training/ exam time for most to complete/ pass.

Students are limited to SIX make-up classes per Fall and Spring semester, and THREE make-ups in the Summer semester. If you are unable to attend a required class, you must cancel at least 72 hours prior to the start time and are responsible for finding a make-up class or session that week. If you cannot find a suitable make-up option, please text/email Student Services to schedule a private session. 

Success in these programs is highly dependent on your ability to attend the 2 required classes per week.If you’re unable to commit to a consistent day and time for these required classes, we understand that schedules can be challenging. In that case, we highly encourage you to stay mindful of your personal and work commitments and make it a priority to schedule One Classical Core and One Small Group Training  session each week—even if it means attending on different days or times each week.

In terms of school policy 6 late cancel in combination with up to 2 no shows can result in your dropping from good standing requiring a student check-in appointment to either:

• Be transitioned to the Custom Practice model where you have  The other option is also the Traditional Model which offers flexibility and accommodations of all schedules.
• Be put on provision status and given 1 semester to attend 2 classes per week. Some students are encouraged to start attending classes virtually when their personal or work schedule becomes chaotic.  You may be required to buy an additional private 1-2 times per month with a lead or expert teacher. 

Yes we have classes for our graduates as well as unlimited open studio workouts as well as booking classes, as space allows..  There is no attendance requirement. The cost as a graduate is $185 per month.

YES!

1. The ratio of student to teacher is, at most, 6-1 vs the traditional model which involves private 1 on 1 sessions to reach your goals. 
2. In Person Practice emphasizes active interaction and learning within a small group setting. Custom Practice is 95% taught in a 1:1 curated learning environment completely tailor to the student expressed and exhibited learning styles.
3. The In Person/ At Home program has a rigid and strictly adhered to weekly curriculum which needs 2x a week regular attendance, the Traditional is completely open ended to the students expressed goals. 
   

• Student-to-teacher ratio: In In Person Practice, it’s typically around 6 students per teacher at most. In the Custom Practice, you mostly get private, 1-on-1 sessions where everything is focused on helping you reach your personal goals.

• Learning style: In Person Practice is all about active learning in a small group setting, while Custom Practice learning is more flexible, while the majority of classes are 1-on-1 and customized to fit your learning style.

• Schedule and structure: The In Person Practice/At Home practices have a set schedule with a strict weekly curriculum that requires you to attend at least twice a week. The Custom Practice, on the other hand, is way more open-ended and centered around your own goals, so it’s more flexible in terms of timing and content.

The In Person/ At Home Practices are designed for affordability without watering down the training effect. You have one monthly set rate that covers up to 90% of all activities. The Custom Practice is 2-3x more expensive because it is primarily taught in a 1:1 environment.

No. The monthly payments are for access to the coursework, classes, sessions, and independent workouts. Session credits roll over to the next month if unused. Your payments are your student tuition separated into monthly payments. Unlike a gym, you can not arbitrarily pause, freeze or suspend your training.  The program has a pre-determined academic calendar with breaks around major national holidays.  The summer sessions are optional to attend. 

It depends on the student, the number of days a week you commit to your training, and how dedicated you are to the written coursework. In general, a student starting in the Pre-Pilates program AND participating in two summer intensives can graduate in 14-24 months. 

YES! You must be able to commitment to the two required classes per week:

• Classical Core: All concepts and weekly curriculum is taught in this class.
• Session Group Training (GTS): This session is where you get hand-on modification to develop your Pilates practice.

The School Models can accommodate occasional travel or students who can commit to classes two times a week but need to change their schedule on a weekly basis. Our school policy limits make-up sessions for required coursework to six per semester and two in the summer intensives months.

It is similar to the In Person School requirements. Plan to set aside 3-4 hours per week for classes and at home assignments; Regularly attend your two required weekly classes (ln-Person, or Virtual); and make satisfactory progress and proficiency in the study of Classical Pilates. Difference being that there is less course content, and the graduation level tops out at low intermediate since you are not training on any equipment.

Yes with prior approval from the Student Services Department.

Student Services Department would intervene to see if modifications need to be made and if private sessions are needed.

No. The Virtual School will certified you as proficient in at-home versions of Pilates exercises up to the Intermediate I level. You would not be cleared for graduate privilege for any in studio open studio sessions. To be a graduate with full privileges you must complete the In-Person School. We offer a bridge program for graduate of the Virtual School. It is offered in the summer semester for $1200.

YES! You must be able to commitment to the two required classes per week:

• Classical Core: All concepts and weekly curriculum is taught in this class.
• Session Group Training (GTS): This session is where you get hand-on modification to develop your Pilates practice.

With this model there are open ended private 1 on 1 sessions. Unlike the In Person school there is not a two year curriculum or a requirement to attend a certain number of sessions per week.  This is the most expensive option with costs averaging is $125 per session.

Yes there is an option to purchase a series of classes once you have met with your instructor and they have assessed your needs.

• Intern: First year of their teacher practice and on their way to getting certified. Depending on the needs of the student, a lead teacher may or may not be supervising.
• Apprentice: Second Year of their teacher practice and on their way to getting certified. Most likely will not be supervised by a lead teacher.
• Graduate: Certified teacher with 0-10 years of experience.
• Lead Teacher: has 10-25 years of experience
• Expert Teacher: has 25 + years of experience

In the TPS app students can filter by instructor.

This is a common issue. We have a time-tested system to help students who need the affordability of the In Person Practice, but have serious injuries/ chronic health issues. Thus, making the school models unsafe for them. This transition varies by student. The average is 4 months with sessions twice a week. Your consultation teacher will be able to assess your body and give you an idea of the cost to heal your body to transition into the school models.

Our mission is to make this transition affordable.

Your consultation teacher can better answer this question.  The Custom Practice is an open-ended system.  You can commit to as much or as little as you desire.  On average, most Custom Practice students stay with us for 12-14 months. 

Short answer is no. Yet we encourage our Custom Practice student to try their best to maintain their Pilates practice twice a week. In general we strongly recommend that Custom Practice Students keep up to 10 sessions booked on our schedule to hold their preferred days and times.

You must have working knowledge of the equipment safety and how to manage your body issues in a group environment. You also must meet the prerequisite of the class/ independent workout as listed in the In-Person Pilates School catalog.

A key Pilates School policy is that all students must maintain regular private sessions to continue to have access to classes and independents. The only students allowed to attend classes without regular sessions booked are our graduate students.

As stated above we are a WASC accredited institution. We offer the most comprehensive 2100 hour program that also provides job placement and professional development plans for graduates. We also offer up to a five year mentoring program after graduation.

Join a comprehensive, fully in-person Classical Pilates certification program designed with a strong focus on BIPOC and LGBTQIIA+ inclusion and empowerment. This accredited program not only provides in-depth, hands-on training in the classical Pilates method, but also supports your long-term academic journey.

Educational Benefits:

• Accredited & Transferable: Up to 80% of your completed units are transferable to two- and four-year institutions—making it easier to pursue advanced degrees in related fields such as kinesiology, physical therapy, dance, or health sciences.
• Inclusive Learning Environment: Prioritizing representation, safety, and community for BIPOC and LGBTQIIA+ individuals in the wellness industry.
• Career-Ready Curriculum: Gain real-world skills and mentorship through immersive, in-person instruction that prepares you for professional certification and teaching.

It will allow you to take the next step toward a more inclusive and academically enriching Pilates education.

Learning the true intentions behind Joe Pilates original work on his designed equipment Any exploration into more modern versions of his work you’ll have not only the capacity understanding and expertise to teach you’ll far exceed the teachers who only receive certification from non classical pilates-type studios. ( Ray calls them BS certifications)

Here is an overview of the Admission Process:
Your journey begins with a one-on-one consultation. Based on this initial meeting, applicants will receive one of the following admissions outcomes:

• Fully Accepted – Ready to begin the certification process.

• Provisionally Approved – May begin training with certain conditions.

• Referred to Foundation Track – Required to complete preparatory in-person coursework to meet minimum entry qualifications.

Training Structure:

Once admitted, students progress through a clearly defined sequence designed to build both technical skill and teaching confidence:

1. Lecture & Theoretical Foundations
2. Student Observation of Certified Instructors
3. Guided Lab Work (Apparatus & Mat)
4. Supervised Practice Teaching
5. Formal Assessments & Exams
   

This cycle is repeated through the following stages of training:

• Pre-Pilates
• Basic System
• Intermediate System
• High Intermediate System
  

Certification Outcome:

Graduates of our program complete training with demonstrated proficiency up to the high intermediate level of the Classical Pilates system. They leave equipped to teach with confidence, clarity, and a strong foundation in traditional Pilates principles

Your body must be proficient at the high intermediate level in order to be considered a highly competitive candidate in our application process

Full-time students are expected to make a commitment of 10 hours a week in studio practice and 5 hours a week and at home study and practice the part-time students are expected to commit to 5 hours a week in studio practice and 3 hours a week at home practice there will be times where you will be required to increase the number of hours based on the programming offer and full-time students are expected to graduate in two to two and a half years part-time are expected to graduate and three to three and a half years

$11,500 + materials. 10% deposit required upon acceptance to the program. The program is 2-2.5 years full time or 3-3.5years part time.

Includes all lectures, observation, Labs, practice teaching classes, studio time, exams and evaluation.The only other out-of-pocket costs you need to come up with outside of tuition is your cost of textbooks some gear some apparel

All students are welcome to complete their certification at the Pilates School SF. For those coming from a classical Studio you’re most likely looking at a one-for-one transfer rate, keeping in mind that our program tends to be twice as long 2100 hours versus 1,000 for the average for others. Those coming from programs that only had 400 hours or less may find that they may need to complete our entire program for comprehensive certification.

The National Pilates Certification Program and PMA are certifying organizations—they test individuals to see if they meet certain standards in the field. However, they are not accredited schools. The Pilates School SF is an accredited, post-secondary school. That means its program has gone through a rigorous review process to ensure it provides a high-quality education. If you complete the program at The Pilates School SF, you don’t need additional certification from those organizations to prove your qualifications. In short, graduating from this school already gives you official, recognized credentials to work as a Pilates professional.

The National Pilates Certification Program and PMA are certifying organizations—they test individuals to see if they meet certain standards in the field. However, they are not accredited schools. The Pilates School SF is an accredited, post-secondary school. That means its program has gone through a rigorous review process to ensure it provides a high-quality education. If you complete the program at The Pilates School SF, you don’t need additional certification from those organizations to prove your qualifications. In short, graduating from this school already gives you official, recognized credentials to work as a Pilates professional.

Financial assistance is available for those who qualify that comes in two forms:

• A 50% scholarship for those who meet predetermined Financial need
• All students qualify for our work study scholarship which starts as soon as the student completes their pre Pilates exam and it’s 50% through their basic system coursework.

• You must complete the 2100 hour coursework at a B+ average or higher
• Submit an apprentice project to the governance board.
• Once it is approved, then apply for your graduation
• Lastly, submit your final exams to be approved by the governance board.

Achieving true proficiency in Classical Pilates is a journey that typically takes 5 to 7 years. The first 2 years are dedicated to intensive foundational training, followed by 3 to 5 years of close mentorship with a seasoned Classical Pilates teacher—someone with 15 to 25 years of teaching experience.

Our mentorship program is designed to support you every step of the way. It offers guidance in:

• Job placement
• Finding your unique teaching voice
• Navigating your professional path within the Pilates industry

Whether you aspire to work in a major fitness center, establish yourself as an independent instructor, or open your own studio, we are committed to mentoring you toward long-term success and mastery within the Classical Pilates tradition.