What is required to set up a Pilates teacher certification course?

Hi Michelle. You are located in Seattle correct? I am also planning on offering a teacher training program except in Redmond. We are incredibly short on Pilates instructors here on the eastside. What I have discovered so far is that in WA state you must be licensed as a private career school through the workforce board. For those who are following this thread not from WA apparently most states have a similar entity that you need to register with. The WA requirements can be found at http://wtb.wa.gov/Licenserequirements.asp and they are as follows:

Business plan, containing, at a minimum, descriptions of:
a. The school and its operations.
b. Capital equipment and supplies.
c. Market and competitive analyses.
d. Advertising and sales strategies.
e. Loan information and credit line (if applicable).
f. Breakeven analysis.
2.Educational program descriptions for each proposed program including:
a. Title, objective, and outline showing course sequence.
b. Number of clock or credit hours of instruction and how this is figured.
c. Instructional method, such as distance learning, lecture, lab, computer-assisted.
d. Instructional aids and facilities, including pictures of building/space.
e. Type of completion document (certificate or diploma).
f. Maximum number of students per class.
g. Charges including tuition, registration fees, books, supplies, lab fees, etc.
h. Primary occupations for students completing the program.
3. Financial Statement: If the school was in business in the past year, a financial statement covering the most recently completed fiscal year must be provided.
4.A Recent Scored Credit Report from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion or other credit rating firm recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
5.The “Ability-to-Benefit” test the school will use if it accepts students without a high school diploma or GED. (Develop your own test or use a standard test recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.)
6.License Fee and Tuition Recovery Trust Fund Fee payable to the “Washington State Treasurer.” (See the Fee Schedule to calculate these fees.)
7.Auxiliary facility and sales agent fees, if applicable.
8.The school’s draft Catalog and Enrollment Agreement with the Debt Acknowledgement Notice. (Click here to see an enrollment agreement checklist, sample enrollment agreement and debt acknowledgement template. Then view a catalog checklist that identifies the items that must be included in the catalog.
9.Bank and Other Major Credit Reference forms, listing three different credit references, one of which must be a financial institution.
10. A Sample Transcript and Sample Registration Form.
11. A Distance Learning Application and a contract addendum describing the refund policy for distance learners, if your school offers distance learning.
12.Copies of other state licenses or other documentation verifying the applicant school is legally authorized to conduct business as a private vocational school, if the school’s physical location is not in Washington.

I spent some time on the phone with them and they consider a Pilates training program to be a vocational school so we definitely need their license and most reputable programs in the area such as Bodycenter Studios in Fremont, Metropolitan Pilates, Fairview Pilates studio etc. are all licensed through the workforce board. I’ve also heard through the grapevine that they’ve actively shut down a few studios programs for not going through proper channels. I hope this is helpful to get you started.