STOTT PILATES® Exam FAQs

The following questions and answers explain the procedure to obtain your STOTT PILATES® Certification.

Topics

General information
Requirements
Proctored exams
Intensive & Comprehensive
SPX
Rehabilitation

How long do I have to complete my course examination?

You must take your exam within six months of completing your last STOTT PILATES Education course (this includes ISP). We encourage you to take some time afterward to practice and synthesize the information prior to taking the exam; however, you are welcome to take the exam immediately after you complete the course if you and your instructor agree you are ready.

What exams should I take?

The following exams are available in a Level 1 (Essential and Intermediate), Level 2 (Advanced), or Combined Levels 1 & 2 format:

Matwork
Reformer
Matwork & Reformer
Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels

If you take the CMR, IMP, IR or ICCB you are eligible to take a Level 1 exam.

If you take AM, AR, or ACCB courses you are eligible to sit for a combined Level 1 & 2 exam.

If you choose to examine at Level 1 (written and practical components) and wish to upgrade to Level 2 certification at a later date (practical component only), there is a separate fee.

If you hold Matwork certification and want to certify in Reformer or vice versa, you must take a combined Matwork and Reformer exam so that we can test your ability to program various equipment repertoires together. You are not obliged to take (and pay for) two or more exams if you are planning to take more than one course. You may wait until completion of the second or final course to take a combined repertoire exam.

If you prefer to pause between courses, you may take an exam to become certified in one course only, and other combined exams (after completing the second or subsequent courses) to become certified in all the work. In this case, separate exam fees would apply.

You are eligible to take a Full Certification exam if you have completed all levels of training on all pieces of equipment and have also taken the Injuries & Special Populations course.

The written component must be conducted at a location where you can be monitored. This can be at a STOTT PILATES Licensed Training Center or a library (public, college or university).

The practical component must be conducted in the presence of an instructor trainer at a STOTT PILATES Licensed Training Center. Alternatively, the exam can be submitted by videotape (guidelines follow).

The written and practical components may be taken on different days but must be taken within 7 days of one another.

Level of certification

If you have only taken Intensive or Comprehensive courses covering Level 1 (Essential and Intermediate) repertoire and have not taken the Level 2 (Advanced) repertoire course(s), you may only take a Level 1 exam.

If you have taken the Level 2 repertoire course(s) and do not hold a Level 1 certification, you may choose to take either a Level 1 or a combined Levels 1 & 2 exam. If you have taken the Level 2 repertoire course(s) and already hold a Level 1 certification, you are only required to take the Level 2 exam, which is practical only.

You may also choose to examine at Level 1 on a certain portion of the repertoire and at Level 2 on another portion. However, as a general rule, we do not recommend only testing on part of the repertoire learned. We encourage you, if at all reasonable, to test on all levels and all repertoire for the courses you have taken. Exceptions can be made if you and your instructor trainer feel it impossible for competency to be reached in all areas within the prescribed time period, with the provision that you will not teach that repertoire.

If you test for a Combined Levels 1 & 2 (Essential, Intermediate, and Advanced) certification and only do well on the Level 1 (Essential and Intermediate) repertoire, you will be awarded Level 1 certification. If you are taking a combined Matwork and Reformer exam or a combined Matwork, Reformer, CCB exam and testing for Level 1 & 2, you may be awarded Level 1 in a certain portion of the repertoire and Level 2 in another portion.

What is a passing score?

You must receive an average score of 80% (practical and written) and achieve a minimum score of 75% on each portion in order to pass. Both of these requirements must be met in order to achieve certification.

What if my course finished longer than six months ago?

If you have failed to meet the six-month requirement to complete your examination, you must complete private review hours with an instructor trainer to reinstate your eligibility. Material covered will be specific to your needs to better prepare you for the exam. The number of hours required is based on the course material that must be covered and the demands of the course repertoire.

The minimum private session requirements are:

Matwork – 1 hour
Reformer – 1 hour
Matwork & Reformer – 1 to 2 hours
Matwork, Reformer & CCB – 2 to 3 hours

The Instructor Trainer may recommend further private sessions or additional study as preparation.

What will I be asked to do for my practical exam?

The time allotment for each practical exam is as follows:

Matwork – 1 hour
Reformer – 1 hour
Matwork & Reformer – 1.5 hours
Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels – 2 hours

The initial five to ten minutes of the exam are dedicated to information gathering. You are required to ask your subject pertinent questions regarding history, physical condition and goals.

For the postural analysis portion of the exam, you are required to analyze the subject from both sides, and from front and back views, using visual observation and palpation, verbally relaying your findings to the examiner. You are also required to give a general description of your planned workout including: which muscles / muscle groups will be targeted, what alignment issues will be addressed, and what props or modifications may be necessary.

For the next five to ten minutes you will take your subject through the Five Basic Principles in proper sequence, using clear imagery and movement cues to help the subject properly achieve biomechanical body awareness. You must clearly explain why each of the principles is important.

The Five Basic Principles

1. Breathing

In through the nose, out through the mouth with pursed lips.
Emphasis is on 3-D breath, especially into the posterior and lateral aspects of the rib cage, because these tend to be under-utilized areas.
Exhaling deeply can help activate the deep support muscles by engaging the transversus abdominis.
The transversus abdominis stabilizes the lumbo-pelvic region, especially in neutral position.
Gentle contraction of the deep pelvic floor muscles also aids in firing the transversus abdominis.
This breath pattern helps avoid unnecessary tension in the neck and shoulders.
This breath pattern helps relaxation.
The rib cage opens out and up during an inhale, promoting spinal extension, and closes in and down during exhale, promoting spinal flexion.

2. Pelvic placement

In neutral pelvic placement, the natural lordotic curve of the lumbar spine is present.
ASIS and pubic symphysis lie approximately in a horizontal plane drawn parallel to the floor when lying supine.
Neutral promotes good shock absorption and efficient movement patterns throughout the body.
Neutral is usually used during closed kinetic chain activities.
Imprinted position is a slight posterior pelvic tilt with slight lumbar flexion, often used during open kinetic chain activities.
Imprint involves shortening of obliques without activation of glutes.

3. Rib cage placement

Emphasis is placed on breathing into the posterior and lateral aspects of the rib cage.
The abdominal wall attaches to the lower ribs – maintain abdominal engagement and avoid popping the ribs.
Abdominals stabilize the rib cage and therefore the spine during movement of the arms.
Used to keep the spine neutral and stable.

4. Scapular movement & stabilization

The scapula lacks bony attachment to the ribs and spine (only attaching to the clavicle), providing mobility to the upper limb, which must be counterbalanced with stability.
It is important to balance the surrounding muscles and control the movement of the scapulae.
The scapulae should lie flat on the rib cage and glide without winging.
Available movements include protraction, retraction, elevation, depression, upward rotation and downward rotation.
Stabilizing the scapulae is necessary during the initiation of every exercise.

5. Head & cervical placement

The cervical spine should hold its natural curve (anterior convex) and the skull should be balanced directly above the shoulders in sitting or standing.
Pads or pillows may be needed in supine or prone positions to prevent hyperextension of the cervical spine.
The cervical spine should continue the line of the thoracic spine in neutral, during flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation.
Cranio-vertebral flexion (flexing the cranium on the first two vertebrae of the cervical spine, without jamming the chin into the chest) occurs initially when flexing the upper torso from a supine position.
These methods are used to dynamically stabilize the cervical area and avoid strain.

The remainder of the practical exam is dedicated to taking your subject through an appropriate workout. The following areas will be evaluated:

Postural analysis.
Stated focus of the workout.
Application of the Five Basic Principles, taught separately from the warm-up in Matwork and applied to all exercises.
Teaching manner and energy (attitude, motivation, verbalization skills), guiding your subject with control and developing rapport.
Ability to cue (imagery, verbal cues, and tactile cues) to guide the subject through exercises and transitions; cues should be specific to your subject and reinforce all basic principles.
Ability to correct (imagery, verbal cues, tactile cues) to ensure correct alignment and proper execution of exercises; applying knowledge from the course(s) to achieve dynamically stabilized, conscious and safe movement.
Knowledge of content: relevant repertoire of exercises, corresponding movement and breath patterns, and minimum number of exercises for each piece and level.
Exercise progression and rationale for the exercises chosen, including adaptations and modifications as necessary.
Rhythm and pace of the workout: fluid transitions, a pace that challenges the individual without compromising the Five Basic Principles or causing overexertion, and cueing that supports proper timing of movement and breath, within the required exam time.

Expect to be questioned periodically on the exercises and your choices. This is to evaluate the depth of your understanding of the exercises and how to administer them.

After working on each individual piece of equipment you may be asked to teach a few exercises of the examiner’s choosing to “spot-check” your knowledge of the entire repertoire.

Completed Observation and Practice Logs must be brought to the practical exam. Exams will not be processed unless accompanied by these logs.

The number of exercises listed after each type of exam below is the minimum requirement. More exercises can be included where time allows.

Note: an exercise with variations counts as one exercise. For example, if Footwork positions 1, 2 and 5 are shown, it counts as one exercise, not three. Advanced versions that differ only slightly from the intermediate version (e.g., Short Spine) do not count toward the minimum requirement of advanced exercises, but may still be included.

Matwork exam

Following the postural analysis and Five Basic Principles you will guide your subject through a 40–50 minute workout that combines Essential and Intermediate level exercises.

Level 1: Minimum eight Essential and four Intermediate exercises.

Combined Levels 1 & 2: Minimum four Advanced exercises (in addition to the above). It is important to incorporate the Fitness Circle® resistance ring, Flex-Band® exerciser and possibly the Arc Barrel into the workout.

Reformer exam

Following the postural analysis and Five Basic Principles you will guide your subject through a 40–50 minute workout that combines Essential and Intermediate level exercises.

Level 1: Minimum six Essential and four Intermediate exercises.

Combined Levels 1 & 2: Minimum six Advanced exercises (in addition to the above).

Matwork & Reformer exam

Following the postural analysis and the Five Basic Principles you will guide your subject through a 70–80 minute Mat and Reformer workout that combines Essential and Intermediate level exercises.

You are allotted approximately thirty minutes for Matwork exercises and 40–50 minutes for a Reformer workout.

For the Matwork portion, it is important to incorporate the Fitness Circle® resistance ring, Flex-Band® exerciser and possibly the Arc Barrel into the workout.

Exercise requirements

Level 1:

Matwork – minimum six Essential and three Intermediate exercises.
Reformer – minimum six Essential and four Intermediate exercises.

Combined Levels 1 & 2:

Matwork – minimum three Advanced exercises (in addition to above).
Reformer – minimum four Advanced exercises (in addition to above).

Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels exam

Following the postural analysis and the Five Basic Principles you will guide your subject through a workout for the remaining 1 hour and 40 minutes to 1 hour and 50 minutes that combines Essential and Intermediate level exercises.

You are allotted approximately 20 minutes for Matwork exercises and approximately 30 minutes for a Reformer workout. For the Matwork portion, it is important to incorporate Fitness Circle, Flex-Band and possibly the Arc Barrel into the workout.

The remaining 50 to 60 minutes are dedicated to a workout using the Cadillac (15 minutes), Stability Chair (15 minutes), Ladder Barrel (10 minutes), Spine Corrector (5 minutes), and Arc Barrel (5 minutes) that combines Essential and Intermediate level exercises.

Exercise requirements

Level 1:

Matwork – minimum four Essential and three Intermediate exercises
Reformer – minimum six Essential and three Intermediate exercises
Cadillac – minimum two Essential and two Intermediate exercises
Stability Chair – minimum two Essential and two Intermediate exercises
Ladder Barrel – minimum one Essential and one Intermediate exercise
Spine Corrector – minimum one Essential and one Intermediate exercise
Arc Barrel – minimum one Essential and one Intermediate exercise

Combined Levels 1 & 2:

The following exercises must be done in addition to the above requirements:

Matwork – minimum three Advanced exercises
Reformer – minimum three Advanced exercises
Cadillac – minimum two Advanced exercises
Stability Chair – minimum two Advanced exercises
Ladder Barrel – minimum two Advanced exercises
Spine Corrector – minimum one Advanced exercise
Arc Barrel – minimum one Advanced exercise

Important general info about all exams

The subject you choose must be capable of doing the required exercises safely. The time allotted for the workout portion of the exam will not allow for completion of all exercises in the full repertoire. You must ensure that the exercises chosen represent a well-rounded workout that addresses all aspects of movement (e.g., flexion, extension, rotation) and meets the required number of Essential, Intermediate or Advanced exercises, while being appropriate for your subject.

Level 2 – practical only

You do not need to do a postural analysis, stated workout focus or the Five Basic Principles.

Your subject should be someone who is capable of executing at an Advanced level.

The test is designed to evaluate the depth of your understanding of the exercises and how to relate them to your subject. Fitness Circle®, Flex-Band® and Arc Barrel may be incorporated into the Matwork portion.

The Advanced Matwork exam should be no longer than thirty minutes and include at least six Advanced exercises after a brief warm-up.
The Advanced Reformer exam should be no longer than thirty minutes and include a brief warm-up and approximately nine Advanced exercises.
The Advanced Matwork/Reformer repertoire exam should be no longer than forty-five minutes and include a brief warm-up on the mat, approximately three Advanced Matwork exercises and nine Advanced exercises on the Reformer.
The Advanced Matwork/Reformer/Cadillac, Chair & Barrels exam should be one hour long and include a brief warm-up on the mat, approximately two Advanced Matwork exercises, six Advanced Reformer exercises, four on the Cadillac, two on the Chair, two on the Ladder Barrel, and one each on the Arc Barrel and the Spine Corrector.

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