Where can I take my exam?
Option 1:
It is strongly recommended that you take your written and practical exams at our Toronto Corporate Training Center or at any of our Licensed Training Centers or at a Hosting Center. The written and practical components may be taken on different days but MUST be taken within 7 days of one another and completed at the same venue or both portions submitted via proctor. If you are not able to complete both portions within 7 days, the exam will be void.
Option 2: By proctor
Written exam:
If you are unable to complete the written portion of your exam at a Training Center you have the option of writing the exam by proctor. Use of a public library is standard protocol for most STOTT PILATES course examinations as these locations proctor a variety of examinations for various organizations.
The conditions of a proctored exam include the following:
- A third, uninterested party (notary or public library) must oversee/supervise the written exam
- Exam must be taken within the six-month period after the last STOTT PILATES® Education Course (this includes ISP and Functional Anatomy) was completed. For Comprehensive Program students, apprenticeship is also to be completed within the six months after the last course date
- Exam fees (practical and written) must be paid in full prior to sending the written exam to the specified proctor
Proctored exam procedures
Contact our Education team at, 1-800-910-00010800-328-56761-416-482-4050 or email, exams@merrithew.com to express your intent to write an exam by proctor.
You will need to provide the following information:
- Exam location (i.e. public library), mailing address and phone number
- Contact person supervising the written exam
- Method of payment (VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, or money order)
The exam package will be sent to the contact person at the specified exam location. It will contain the following:
- STOTT PILATES certification course written exam (1 copy)
- Receipt of payment (2 copies)
- Pre-addressed return envelope
Student responsibilities |
Proctor responsibilities |
Student responsibilities
- Set time and date to write the exam
- Provide up-to-date contact information (phone numbers and email address) on the written exam so that we can notify you of the results
- Complete Observation and Practice Logs. The practice logs must be submitted on your exam date (either written or practical exam). If the student fails to submit all the logs within 7 days from the last portion of the exam, the entire exam will be void
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Proctor responsibilities
- Receive the examination package
- Supervise the examination process (date, time, and location to be agreed upon by the proctor and student)
- Seal the pre-addressed return envelope (with completed written exam and receipt of payment enclosed) and sign the back portion of the sealed envelope to ensure authenticity. The student is responsible for postage for this package
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Practical exam:
The practical component exam can be submitted by DVD, USB stick/key or secured link. The purpose of the practical examination is to observe you as you lead a ‘subject’ through a workout. The subject must be familiar with the STOTT PILATES repertoire covered in the exam and be capable of performing required exercises safely (student, certified instructor, client, etc.). The videotaped workout will be one hour for the Matwork or Reformer exam, 1.5 hours for the Matwork & Reformer exam, and 2 hours for the Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels exam.
Technical considerations:
- Position the camera to observe a side view of the subject’s body and allow for an additional three feet on either end ensuring enough room to move about. Keep the view close enough to allow details in the movement and the interaction between you and your subject
- Test the video equipment and sound level and make sure that it records properly and that your voice can be heard on the tape
- Face the camera (instruct on the far side of their subject to not obstruct the view).Camera adjustments should be performed at natural breaks in the examination process (i.e. between the postural analysis and Matwork or between the Matwork and Reformer)
- The recording should NOT be stopped at any point during the examination. The workout should be continuous
- Video editing is NOT permitted
- The use of notes including postural analysis check list or manuals is NOT permitted
- The submission must be sent in by DVD, USB flash drive or secured link
Conducting the practical exam:
Please read all information about practical exams for more details. Follow the timelines and minimum requirements outlined. State your name and the name of your exam as you start recording.
How do I schedule an exam?
Contact our Toronto Corporate Training Center or a Licensed Training Center to make arrangements to compete your exam in person. To proctor your exam contact our Education team at, 1-800-910-00010800-328-56761-416-482-4050 or email, exams@merrithew.com to express your intent to write an exam by proctor.
How much does it cost for each exam?
Prices will vary depending on region and location. Contact individual training centers for up-to-date pricing information.
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 and Functional Anatomy courses as they are considered STOTT PILATES education courses). Prior to booking your exam please ensure that you have completed all necessary documentation of your required Practice Teaching, Observation and Physical Review hours. You will need to submit your Logged Hours to the Instructor Trainer on your exam date (either written or practical exam). For Comprehensive Program students, your apprenticeship is also to be completed within the six months after the last course date. 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.
How can I complete the practice teaching, observation and physical review hours?
A minimum number of hours of observation, practice teaching and physical review are required for all courses and should be completed between instructed sessions at any STOTT PILATES facility. Practice teaching and physical review hours must be logged outside of class time. The practice logs must be submitted on your exam date (either written or practical exam). If the you fail to submit all the logs within 7 days from the last portion of the exam, the entire exam will be void.
Observation, practice teaching and physical review
In order for your course to be considered complete, a minimum number of hours of observation, practice teaching and physical review are required and should be completed between instructed sessions at any Merrithew Training Center, at home or at a facility with a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor/Instructor Trainer. Additional training may be required before certification. Practice teaching and physical review hours must be logged outside of class time. The practice logs must be submitted on your exam date (either written or practical exam). If the student fails to submit all the logs within 7 days from the last portion of the exam, the entire exam will be void.
Observation
Observation hours can be logged during relevant course homework or after a STOTT PILATES course and can be accrued by watching a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor/Instructor Trainer teach clients (in-person or online), as well as observing the relevant course videos on DVD or through Merrithew Connect™. We recommend 50-80% of your hours be completed by watching a Certified Instructor/Instructor Trainer. Please ensure you receive permission from the Merrithew Training Center and/or presenting Instructor well in advance.
Physical review
Physical Review hours means physically performing the exercises learned in class. Physical review of the material is very important to ensure full understanding within your own body first, before attempting to teach someone else. It is also very important to ensure your body is prepared for the increased challenge at each level of repertoire as you move through your STOTT PILATES Instructor Training. Taking a class with a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor/Instructor Trainer or working out with relevant course videos on DVD or through Merrithew Connect can qualify as physical review hours, and can be completed individually or with other students.
Students can participate in an online Pilates session or join an online group Pilates class that teaches STOTT PILATES repertoire with a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor/Instructor Trainer. Students can also attend a Merrithew Online Workshop (offered by Merrithew Training Centers worldwide or the Corporate Training Center).
Practice teaching
Practice Teaching hours can be fulfilled by teaching STOTT PILATES course repertoire to family, fellow students, friends or clients, cueing and correcting them through a workout. Practice Teaching can be done in-person or by using a video conferencing program, such as Skype or Zoom. Physical review of the material is very important to ensure full understanding within your own body first, before attempting to teach someone else. It is also very important to ensure your body is prepared for the increased challenge at each level of repertoire as you move through your STOTT PILATES Instructor Training.
What exams should I take?
The following exams options are available:
Level 1 (Essential & Intermediate) |
Level 2 (Advanced) |
Combined Levels 1 & 2 (this can be a variety of possibilities) |
Level 1
Format: Written and practical
- Matwork; or
- Reformer; or
- Matwork & Reformer; or
- Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels
If you have only taken CMR, IMP, IR or ICCB courses and have not taken the Level 2 course(s) but wish to certify, you may take only a Level 1 exam.
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Level 2
Format: Practical only
- Advanced Matwork; or
- Advanced Reformer; or
- Advanced Matwork & Reformer; or
- Advanced Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels
If you have taken AM, AR, or ACCB courses and already hold a Level 1 certification, you are only required to take the Level 2 practical exam.
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Combined Levels 1 & 2
Format: Written and practical
- Levels 1 & 2 Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels
If you have taken all of the relevant courses but do not hold a Level 1 certification, you are eligible to take a combined Level 1 & 2 exam.
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Note
- If you hold STOTT PILATES Matwork certification and then want to certify in STOTT PILATES Reformer (or vice versa), you will be required to take a combined STOTT PILATES 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 choose to examine at Level 1 and wish to upgrade to Level 2 certification at a later date, a separate fee will apply
- If you test for a Combined Levels 1 & 2 certification, you may be awarded Level 1 certification only (and need to re-test on Level 2) or you may be awarded Level 1 in a certain portion of the repertoire and Level 2 in another portion. A separate fee will apply for any re-testing
- You may 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
- 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
- A breakdown of marked exams provided upon request, however copies of the exam will not be sent
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. If you have to retake a portion of or the entire exam, this should happen within six months of the date of the original exam. This ensures that the information remains relatively fresh but allows time to study and improve in the necessary areas.
If the six-month time limit has passed, you must take both the written and practical exams again and it is highly recommended that you also book privates with an Instructor Trainer.
If you take your exam for the first time and fail both portions, you have one more opportunity, within six months, to successfully pass the exam. If you fail both portions the second time, you must wait six months before retesting.
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 reinstatement session with an instructor trainer. 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: 1–2 hours
- Matwork, Reformer & CCB: 2–3 hours
The Instructor Trainer may recommend further privates or study as preparation.
Note, the reinstatement is valid for 60 days and will not provide the student an additional six months to complete their examination.
How long does it take to receive notification of my results?
Exam results will be sent directly to you, normally by email. The LTC and/or Instructor Trainer will also be informed of the marks. Expect to receive your results within 4–6 weeks from the date of your exam. Note, exams are not returned but can be reviewed upon request.