About the Certification Apply Take the Practice Test Contact


The Certified Pilates Teacher (CPT) Examination has been designed to measure skill and knowledge at the level of a person who has received comprehensive Pilates teacher training (to include 450 hours or more of lecture, self study, apprenticeship, and assistant teaching hours). While candidates are not required to have formal comprehensive teacher training, they must meet certain other eligibility requirements to sit for the examination. By awarding the title of Certified Pilates Teacher, PMA is formally recognizing the Pilates teacher who has provided evidence that he or she meets accepted professional standards.

Applications to sit for the examination are accepted on a continual basis. The examination is computer-based and is offered on-demand, following approval of the application.

The 150-item multiple-choice CPT examination was developed by the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA), a non-profit association dedicated to the teachings of Joseph H. and Clara Pilates. The PMA's mission is to protect the public by establishing certification and continuing education standards for Pilates professionals. Its goals are:

  1. To unite the Pilates community.
  2. To create an organization of qualified, dedicated professionals who share in Joseph H. Pilates' vision.
  3. To maintain the highest standards for Pilates education and information.
  4. To support research on Pilates exercise.

The PMA-Certified Pilates Teacher creates and implements safe and effective individualized programs for apparently healthy clients to improve health and fitness through exercise and physical activity (the goal of a PMA-Certified Pilates Teacher is to impart the knowledge, skill, and confidence for clients to exercise for a lifetime). The PMA-Certified Pilates Teacher is at least 18 years of age with certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and is knowledgeable of current exercise sciences and related fields.

CASTLE will do its best to accommodate your test site and date request. These are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, based on test center availability. Occasionally, the center and date you request may not be available, in which case CASTLE will work with you to find an alternative time and location to best meet your needs. Although this system may not in every case be able to accommodate your desired date and time, it is a great improvement over the more traditional approach of holding an examination at limited sites on only a few occasions each year.