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The International Sports Sciences Association has opened a waitlist for three online Pilates credentials, including its first reformer-specific instructor certification. The program is intended for a growing market: Sports & Fitness Industry Association data show 13.8 million Americans participated in Pilates in 2025, though ISSA has not said when enrollment will begin.
The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) has opened a waitlist for three online Pilates instructor credentials, including its first reformer Pilates certification, as participation in the activity grows in the United States. The launch gives the fitness education provider a new route into reformer instruction, while the enrollment date and program pricing have not been announced.
The planned credentials are a Mat Pilates Instructor Certification, a Reformer Pilates Instructor Certification, and a combined Mat + Reformer pathway. The new programs will replace ISSA’s previous mat Pilates certification, according to Athletech News. All are to be delivered online through self-paced coursework; the organization has not yet said when students can enroll.
The standalone reformer course is designed for people who already hold a mat Pilates certification from ISSA or another nationally recognized program. Its stated curriculum covers equipment safety, spring mechanics, cueing and a repertoire of 27 exercises. ISSA developed the curriculum with Pilates master trainer Josh Vela, whom the report describes as having more than 18 years of experience in studios, gyms and digital fitness.
ISSA CEO Andrew Wyant linked the launch to rising participation and the need for qualified instructors. The figures cited in the report come from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA): 13.8 million Americans participated in Pilates in 2025, compared with 12.9 million in 2024 and 9.9 million in 2020. SFIA also reported 3.38 million core participants in 2025, defined as people who practiced at least 50 times that year, up from 3.1 million in 2024.
Training for Expanding Reformer Programs
The certification launch reflects a change in where Pilates is offered: reformer classes, once closely associated with specialist studios, are also being added to programming at mainstream gym operators, according to the source report. That expansion can increase the need for instructors who can work with the equipment and teach classes safely. ISSA’s move adds a new training option for people seeking to enter or develop in that part of the fitness workforce.
The participation figures suggest a larger audience for Pilates, but they do not by themselves establish how many instructors are needed, how many jobs are available or whether the new credentials will lead to employment. For prospective students, the practical value will depend on the program’s cost, recognition by employers and the skills it equips graduates to demonstrate. Those details have not yet been released.
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ISSA Enters Reformer Training
ISSA previously offered a mat Pilates certification. The newly announced lineup replaces that credential and extends the organization’s education offering to reformer training. The reformer course is a first for ISSA, rather than the first reformer training program in the fitness industry.
The timing comes amid broader growth in reported U.S. participation. SFIA’s figures show an increase from 9.9 million participants in 2020 to 13.8 million in 2025; the source report does not provide a methodology or additional comparison details beyond those annual counts. Its measure of core participation is narrower, counting people who practiced Pilates at least 50 times during the year.
““Pilates is one of the fastest-growing areas in fitness.””
— Andrew Wyant, ISSA CEO, as quoted by Athletech News
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Enrollment and Recognition Details Pending
ISSA has not announced when enrollment will open or supplied pricing in the source report. Details about course length, assessment requirements, continuing education, certification renewal and any practical training component are also not provided. The description of the reformer credential establishes a prerequisite and lists curriculum topics, but does not explain how student competence on equipment will be evaluated.
It is also unclear how widely gyms and studios will recognize the credential, or whether the new pathway will translate into additional instructor hiring. The reported growth in participation indicates demand for the activity, but does not quantify employer demand for ISSA-certified instructors.
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Waitlist to Enrollment Timeline
The next concrete milestone is ISSA’s announcement of an enrollment date and the full terms for each credential. People on the waitlist can look for information on pricing, course schedules and assessment requirements, as well as how the combined Mat + Reformer pathway differs from taking the credentials separately.
Once enrollment opens, further details may clarify how the online course prepares students for hands-on reformer instruction and how employers view the qualification. Until ISSA releases those terms, the program’s accessibility and workplace value remain difficult to assess.
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Key Questions
What Pilates certifications has ISSA announced?
ISSA has announced an online Mat Pilates Instructor Certification, a Reformer Pilates Instructor Certification and a combined Mat + Reformer pathway. The new offerings replace its previous mat Pilates certification.
Who can take the standalone reformer certification?
According to the source report, applicants must already hold a mat Pilates certification from ISSA or another nationally recognized program.
What does the reformer course cover?
The stated curriculum includes equipment safety, spring mechanics, cueing and a 27-exercise repertoire. ISSA has not provided further details about assessments or hands-on training.
When can students enroll, and how much will it cost?
ISSA has opened a waitlist, but has not announced an enrollment date or pricing in the source report.
How many Americans participated in Pilates in 2025?
SFIA data cited by Athletech News put participation at 13.8 million Americans in 2025, compared with 12.9 million in 2024. Its core-participant count, defined as practicing at least 50 times annually, was 3.38 million.
Source: rss
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