Best Online Pilates Certifications Ranked

The fitness industry can feel oversaturated and undereducated, but Pilates is bucking that trend and creating opportunities for new instructors every day. If you’re looking for the best online Pilates certification, there’s real opportunity here right now. A recent survey from Balanced Body found that 77% of Pilates studios report growth, and nearly 40% of studio owners say they need more instructors. Talk about opportunity!

If you’ve ever thought about getting certified in Pilates, this guide breaks down the best online Pilates certifications to help you compare your options and find the right fit. Whether you’re looking to niche down your career or make a more profitable pivot, this could be a strong next step.

How We Chose the Best Online Pilates Certifications

If you search the internet, every organization will tell you why they’re the best choice, but we like to keep things real and transparent. We assessed each program based on the following criteria:

• Organization and program credibility – Is the certification offered by a well-known and respected organization, or was it thrown together by someone on the internet looking to make money?
• Curriculum – Is the curriculum in-depth or surface-level? How does it compare to in-person training options? Do you need a background in fitness, or can you jump in with no prior experience?
• Format – Is the course easy to follow and use? Does it accommodate different learning styles?
• Support and Community – Does the course offer live sessions, Q&A sessions, or individualized feedback? Are there opportunities to engage online with instructors and other students?
• Cost – Is the expense reasonable for the average person? Are there payment plans or work-study options available?

With those criteria in mind, here’s how the best online Pilates certifications compare.

The Best Online Pilates Certifications

Here’s the short list of the best online Pilates certificates. Keep reading for an in-depth look at why each certification made our list. It’s important to note that each of these certifications is for Mat Pilates. While some organizations offer online or hybrid training in reformer and other apparatus-based methods, mat training is generally the most accessible option for online learners because it requires less equipment and less hands-on supervision.

1. Power Pilates Complete Mat Academy – Best Classical program and crowd favorite.
2. ISSA Mat Pilates Instructor Course – Best for fitness professionals and niche-seekers.
3. BASI Mat Flex Program – Best for Pilates career and education seekers.
4. AFPA Pilates Fitness Instructor Certification – Best for gym and group fitness instructors.
5. Balanced Body Mat Instructor Training – Best for individualized training options.

A Detailed Look

1. Power Pilates Complete Mat Academy

Power Pilates was created by a community of Pilates instructors rooted in Classical Pilates. This certification is a crowd favorite (according to the people of Reddit) and one of the most independent-learning-friendly options if you’re looking for a complete mat certification. Power Pilates offers a bundle of their Beginner (Mat I), Intermediate (Mat II), and Advanced (Mat III) mat courses that build on each other to help you go beyond the basics of mat Pilates. 

Another plus is that the first two courses can count toward ACE continuing education credits, which makes this a strong option for people who already hold a certification in personal training or group fitness and want to earn CECs along the way.

You can start with just their Core Mat I class or sign up for all three at once, whichever you prefer. Their Complete Mat Bundle is listed at$1700 and includes digital course of materials. If you prefer hard copies, they are offered for an additional $250. 

The program format includes manuals, videos, animated lessons, quizzes, workouts, and optional live practice sessions. The final practical exam can be completed either in person at a partner studio or by live video conference with a teacher trainer.

Pros: Follows a more studio-style experience; provides advanced training.

Cons: Expensive for an online program; limited mention of one-on-one support.

Ideal for: People who want a full mat certification with the flexibility of online learning and the depth to prepare for studio or gym instruction.

2. ISSA Mat Pilates Instructor Course

ISSA, or the International Sports Science Association, has been providing fitness education since 1988. Their certification is the place to start if you want to get your feet wet before jumping into a big investment or career change. Many in-person and some online programs can get pricey and intensive very quickly, which can be a turnoff if you’re still figuring out whether this path is right for you. ISSA makes that first step feel a lot more approachable.

The course offers a straightforward introduction to Mat Pilates, covering anatomy and physiology, foundational Pilates principles, and how to build safe, effective programs for clients.

Pricing is also relatively straightforward compared with some other programs. ISSA regularly runs promotions and offers payment plans, which makes this a good option for people who do not want to put a large amount of money down all at once.

The course is fully online and self-paced. It includes video and audio learning options, quizzes, digital course materials, and ready-to-use client forms. The final exam is open-book, open-note, and can be completed from home.

Pros: Beginner-friendly; flexible payment options; fully online and self-paced.

Cons: Less immersive than studio-based training

Ideal for: Aspiring instructors, personal trainers, or group fitness professionals who want an accessible way to add Mat Pilates to their skill set.

3. BASI Mat Flex Program

BASI stands for Body Arts and Science International, and has been providing Pilates education for more than 30 years. This certification serves as BASI’s introduction to mat training and can also prepare students for more comprehensive study through the organizations other programs.
This course covers topics including anatomy, posture, cueing, and exercise adaptation. It also requires 85 student hours, broken down into 40 hours of self-practice, 15 observation hours, and 30 hours of practice teaching.

This course is unique in comparison to the other two listed as it incorporates both independent elements and set online class times. It takes place over the course of 4 days, where you’ll spend half of each day in live online work. 

The program cost is $500, and BASI says 50% of that tuition can be applied toward a Mat and Reformer or Comprehensive course if you continue your training. Tuition includes digital versions of the study guide, movement analysis workbook, and written exam. There are also extra costs to keep in mind, including the BASI Interactive monthly subscription at $10 per month, possible studio fees for completing your required hours, and a $150 testing fee for the Mat certificate.

To earn the certificate, students must complete the program, finish the 85 required student hours, and pass the written and practical exam.

Pros: Includes required live online time for people who do better with structure and accountability; lets you apply part of your tuition toward a future course.

Cons: Specific time commitment; a lot of requirements to pass the course. They also state that they can cancel or postpone your scheduled class time if they don’t have enough students, which could potentially be inconvenient. 

Ideal for: Individuals who want the accountability of scheduled class time and prefer to complete their certification on a faster timeline.

4. AFPA Pilates Fitness Instructor Certification

AFPA’s Pilates Fitness Instructor Certification leans more fitness/gym focused than some of the more studio-style options on this list, which makes sense given AFPA’s broader catalog of health and fitness certifications. The course focuses on fundamental mat exercises, along with Pilates principles, anatomy, and class structure.

The certification is another single-course offering, much like ISSA’s. It does not have required observation hours or other outside elements, making it more accessible for those without a Pilates studio nearby. It is a fully online, self-study course. AFPA says students can move through the material at their own pace, with many of its online certifications designed to be completed within a period of months rather than on a fixed class schedule.

The course is currently on sale for $499, but is regularly priced at $599. AFPA offers in-house payment plans and monthly payments with Affirm, giving you options to fit your budget.

To complete the course, there is a 100-question open-book exam. AFPA’s online certification format also typically allows students to save their progress and return later, which is helpful if you cannot finish everything in one sitting.

Pros: Affordable course; low-pressure final exam format.xamination.

Cons: May feel too basic for some students; likely not robust enough for those seeking more advanced teaching preparation.

Ideal for: Group fitness instructors or personal trainers who want to add to their skillset without breaking the bank.

5. Balanced Body Mat Instructor Training

Balanced Body has been in business for nearly 50 years, primarily providing Pilates equipment and education. They offer one of the more complete mat training paths among online-friendly options, with coverage that reflects both classical and contemporary Pilates approaches.

Their mat certification is made up of three separate courses: Mat 1, which introduces the method and covers beginning and intermediate exercises; Mat 2, which moves into intermediate and advanced exercises; and Mat 3, which focuses on props and enhanced mat work. All three are required for full Balanced Body Mat certification. Each course is 16 hours long, usually taught over two days.

The way the courses are administered will either make or break it for you. Rather than having a single streamlined approach, Balanced Body offers each class from many approved instructors and studios around the world. That means students can choose from a range of online and in-person options, but the experience and pricing can vary by instructor and location.

The cost varies quite a bit depending on the training center, but Mat courses commonly fall in roughly the $450 to $600 range per course. Balanced Body has a $50 manual fee and a $10 streaming fee for many online course options, which puts the full three-course investment at around $1,700.

To become fully certified as a Balanced Body Mat Instructor, there is a bit of a laundry list of qualifications. They recommend their course Anatomy in Three Dimensions, and then require the Balanced Body Movement Principles course along with the three Mat courses described above. 20 personal sessions, 15 observation hours, and 35 teaching hours are also required, alongside a final written and practical test.

Pros: More extensive course of study than many online options; flexibility to learn from different teacher trainers and studios.iners.

Cons: Course selection is somewhat confusing and overwhelming; a lot of overall requirements to complete.

Ideal for: People who love to pick every detail of their certification and value mentorship by specific teacher trainers or studios.

Final Thoughts

Online education, especially in the fitness industry, sometimes gets a bad rap. It is true that no amount of fantastic visuals or world-class textbooks can replace hands-on learning and adjustments, but online learning offers many benefits that in-person coursework does not. For many people balancing work, school, family, or other responsibilities, in-person training simply is not realistic. Sometimes, it is the difference between getting an education and missing out altogether.

Pilates training is no exception. The courses on this list represent some of the strongest online Pilates training options available, making it possible for people in a wide range of situations to learn, grow their careers, and make a positive impact on others.