Pilates Education and Professional Standards in the UK

Scopes of Practice, National Register Reforms and Strategic Adaptation for Training Organisations (2025–2027)

Chris Onslow

Pilates Business Consultant   

October 2025

Executive Summary

The UK sport and physical activity sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation.  Strategically led by Sport England, UK Sport and partners, a new national coaching standards and registration framework is being introduced to raise workforce standards, improve accountability, and strengthen governance across all sports and physical activity disciplines.

The national registration scheme is currently in pilot, and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are working toward meeting agreed deployment standards.  Once fully implemented in 2026, this will include Pilates instructors in all their varied forms.

For Pilates; a field historically characterised by fragmented standards and multiple training traditions, these reforms represent both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity.  The reforms are not simply about qualifications; they are about defining scope of practice: what an instructor is trained and authorised to do and aligning compliance and deployment standards with these scopes.

It is expected that there will not be a single “Pilates Instructor” standard, but rather a family of scopes reflecting the diversity of practice across fitness, method-based, apparatus-specific, group, clinical, and special population contexts.

Training providers: including international schools such as Merrithew/Stott Pilates, Balanced Body, Polestar, BASI, and domestic organisations such as Alan Herdman, Mbodies Training Academy, Pilates Foundation, Pie Studios, HFE, and Level 3 Matwork-compliant providers in colleges and further education must act now.

They will need to adapt curricula, map qualifications to emerging scopes, develop bridging routes for legacy instructors, and build CPD infrastructures.  Insurance companies are expected to align rapidly with register compliance, ending tolerance for experience-only cover.

This paper outlines the background to these reforms, explains the emerging multi-scope model for Pilates, analyses NGB registration pathways, and provides strategic recommendations for training providers.  It is written from a consultancy perspective to guide training organisations through the 2025–2027 transition period, enabling them to thrive in a more professionalised and transparent environment.

1.  Policy Background and Sector Context

1.1  Strategic Leadership and Sector Scope

The reform programme is strategically led by Sport England, UK Sport and partners, covering the entire sport and physical activity sector.

Following the Whyte Review (2022), which exposed significant safeguarding and governance failures in British Gymnastics, the UK Government committed to introducing a universal coaching register, shared standards, and strengthened workforce governance across all sports and physical activity disciplines.

1.2  The Whyte Review and Systemic Failures

The Whyte Review revealed serious safeguarding and governance shortcomings in British Gymnastics, including:

·        Inadequate vetting of instructors and coaches

·        Inconsistent qualification standards

·        No single mechanism to track individuals moving between organisations

These gaps created risks for participants and undermined public trust.  The Review became the catalyst for a comprehensive workforce reform programme affecting every physical activity discipline: including Pilates.

1.3  The National Coaching Register (Pilot Phase)

A national register for coaches is currently in pilot, with NGBs working toward meeting shared deployment standards.  These include mandatory requirements for safeguarding, DBS, insurance, CPD, and appropriate qualifications.

Once fully operational in 2026, the register will be public and will allow for both compliance recognition and removal of individuals who fail to meet or maintain standards.

The term “coach” is used broadly to include anyone who teaches, instructs, supervises, or leads physical activity, whether paid or voluntary, across all ages and ability groups.  Pilates instructors are explicitly included in this definition.

1.4  CIMSPA and Professional Standards

CIMSPA (the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity) is not an NGB but a commercial body and Chartered Institute that has been tasked by Sport England and NGBs to develop professional standards across the fitness and physical activity sector and support NGB’s in their preparation to be register ready.  These include but are not limited to Pilates Matwork, gym instruction, group exercise, personal training, and population specialisms.

These professional standards define the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required for safe and effective practice in each role.  They form the benchmark against which NGBs align their discipline-specific scopes and compliance frameworks.

1.5  Deployment Standards

Alongside professional standards, there are standards for deployment onto the register that apply across the sector.  These cover the compliance prerequisites required to be listed as “deployable” on the register, and may typically include:

·        DBS clearance

·        Safeguarding training (adults and children)

·        First aid qualifications

·        Appropriate insurance

·        CPD (10 hours per year or 30 hours over three years, 60% verified / 40% self- certified)

·        Relevant mapped qualification(s)

Qualification alone will not guarantee compliance.  Instructors must also meet and maintain these deployment standards.

1.6  EMD UK’s Role

EMD UK has been recognised by Sport England as the National Governing Body (NGB) for Group Exercise, and plays a central role in shaping Pilates scopes of practice.

In addition to its group exercise remit, EMD UK also has membership for personal trainers and one-to-one instructors, which gives it a broader reach across the physical activity workforce than group instruction alone.

2.  Pilates and the National Register

2.1  Pilates is Included in the Coaching Definition

Although Pilates has historically sat uneasily between the fitness, wellness, and clinical

worlds, the national reforms explicitly bring Pilates under the coaching umbrella.

Whether teaching group mat classes in gyms, leading boutique reformer sessions, working with athletes in performance contexts, or integrating Pilates into clinical rehabilitation, instructors will be required to register and comply with relevant professional and deployment standards.

2.2  Compliance Will Be Public

The National Coaching Register will list compliant and non-compliant individuals.  Instructors who initially meet compliance but subsequently lapse (e.g., expired DBS, missed CPD requirements, or uncovered qualification gaps) will be moved into non - compliant status after a defined rectification period.

This transparency is intended to support safeguarding, employer due diligence, and insurance risk management.

2.3  Insurance Will Follow the Register

Insurance companies that have historically accepted experience-only evidence for cover (e.g. Balens, FitPro and other specialist fitness insurers) are expected to align underwriting with register compliance.

Insuring a non-compliant instructor would create liability exposure.  In practical terms, instructors not appearing as compliant will find it very difficult to obtain or maintain professional liability insurance.

3.  Scopes of Practice in Pilates (Multi-Route Model)

3.1  Why a Single “Pilates Instructor” Standard is Insufficient

The Pilates sector is unusually diverse.  It spans:

·        Group fitness classes (mat and apparatus)

·        Boutique studio instruction

·        Apparatus-based training

·        Clinical integration

·        Performance enhancement

·        Wellness and lifestyle programming

It also includes classical, contemporary, and fitness-oriented traditions.  Attempting to define all of this under a single standard would be unworkable and would fail to reflect real-world practice.

The emerging model, led by EMD UK in partnership with the Society for the Pilates Method (SPM), is to develop multiple scopes of practice for Pilates, each with clear competency frameworks, prerequisites, and deployment expectations.

Early indications suggest there could be 10–20 distinct scopes covering different contexts, apparatus types, and teaching models.

3.2  Emerging Scope Families

Fitness-oriented Pilates scopes

• Fitness Pilates (Mat)

• Fitness Pilates (Reformer)

• Other apparatus variants (Tower, Chair, Barrels) for group exercise settings

Pilates Method-oriented scopes

• Method Mat (contemporary and classical)

• Method Apparatus (Reformer, Tower, Chair, Barrels, etc.) for individual or small-group teaching

Group vs Studio distinction

• Group settings emphasise class management, simplified repertoire, and health & safety

• Studio settings emphasise assessment, goal setting, and individualised programming

Population specialist scopes

• Post-rehabilitation, older adults, long-term conditions, antenatal/postnatal, etc.  These are likely to draw on existing CIMSPA population standards layered on top of core Pilates scopes.

Clinical Pilates

• Delivered by regulated healthcare professionals (e.g., physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors), combining their clinical licence with Pilates-specific competencies.

3.3  Apparatus and Class Size Considerations

Apparatus changes both the risk profile and pedagogical approach.

For example, group Reformer classes require very different competencies from one-to- one, method-based apparatus sessions.  EMD UK has already issued guidance on group reformer class sizes, recommending a maximum of around 10 participants, although there is some discussion that this may be set at 12.

3.4  Titles and Public Transparency

Each scope will provide clear information about what an instructor is qualified to do.  For example, a Fitness Pilates Mat Instructor will be distinct from a Classical Pilates Apparatus Teacher.

This transparency will make instructor titles on the register meaningful for employers, insurers, and the public.

3.5  Implications for Training Providers

Training providers will need to map their courses to specific scopes, rather than offering generic “Pilates Instructor” qualifications.  Alternatively, they may seek formal acceptance of their existing courses by Pilates Advisory Committees of relevant NGBs, in whole or in part.

Modular pathways will be essential.  For example:

·        Core Pilates Method training

·        Group Exercise add-on for those teaching groups of 5+

·        Apparatus-specific modules (Reformer, Tower, Chair, etc.)

·        Population specialism CPD

·        Fitness-oriented routes for instructors teaching in gym contexts

Providers will also need to develop bridge routes for legacy instructors to align with the most appropriate scope(s) for their actual practice.

For entry into the industry without an existing compliant degree or first fitness qualification, there will be a minimum bridging requirement for Anatomy & Physiology, and a maximum price cap for courses offering this bridging certification.  This is designed to prevent barriers to entry.

4.  NGB Registration Pathways

4.1  EMD UK and Group Instruction (5+ Participants)

EMD UK is the recognised National Governing Body (NGB) for Group Exercise in the UK.  Under the register framework, group exercise is defined as instruction for groups of five or more participants.

Any Pilates instructor teaching groups of five or more: whether Mat, Reformer, Tower or other apparatus, will fall under EMD UK’s jurisdiction for registration and compliance.  EMD UK will determine:

·        Which Pilates scopes apply to different group formats (e.g., Fitness Mat, Group Reformer, Method Mat in a group setting)

·        The deployment standards attached to these scopes, including safeguarding, first aid, DBS, insurance, and CPD

·        Apparatus-specific safety guidance, including recommended or compulsory maximum class sizes.  A compliant instructor teaching above this number may face disciplinary action.

·        Ongoing CPD and professional recognition requirements to maintain compliant status.

For most group-based Pilates delivery, EMD UK is the default registration route.

4.2  Individual and Small-Group Instruction (1–4 Participants)

There is currently no single NGB with exclusive responsibility for Pilates instructors working with individuals or small groups (1–4 clients).  These instructors must choose the NGB pathway most relevant to their scope of practice, client base, and professional orientation.

Options include:

• EMD UK – for instructors whose work aligns with Method Mat or Method Apparatus scopes, even in a studio setting.

• Personal Training / Gym NGBs (CIMSPA) – for instructors delivering Pilates in PT, strength & conditioning or gym-based contexts.

• Dance – for Pilates teachers embedded within dance schools, conservatoires or performance companies EMDUK will be their NGB.

• Sports Coaching NGBs – for those working in conditioning roles within sports clubs or performance environments.

• Clinical / Allied Health pathways – for physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors and others using Pilates adjunctively within clinical practice, under their statutory professional registration.

4.3  Why NGB Choice Matters

The chosen NGB pathway determines:

·        Compliance standards – safeguarding levels, first aid needs, CPD frameworks

·        Recognised scopes of practice – how the instructor’s role is defined and displayed on the register

·        Required qualifications – which professional standards must be met

·        Accepted CPD routes and renewal processes

·        Governance culture – e. g.  group exercise vs personal training vs clinical environments

Examples:

• A group Reformer instructor in a boutique studio will register through EMD UK, because their delivery model fits group exercise governance.

• A studio apparatus instructor working mainly one-to-one might register through the Personal Training pathway, aligning with gym-based deployment standards.

• A dance-focused Pilates teacher will register through EMD UK, if their work is integrated into dance curricula and involves group teaching.

• A physiotherapist using Pilates clinically would rely on their statutory registration but may add a Pilates clinical scope for their Pilates-specific competencies.

4.4  Implications for Training Providers

• Training organisations must:

• Understand the multiple NGB pathways relevant to Pilates graduates

• Map their qualifications to multiple scopes and, where appropriate, multiple NGB pathways

• Advise students on choosing the appropriate NGB route for their career plans

• Consider offering modular “add-on” components (e.g., Group Exercise module vs Personal Training module) to give learners flexibility

• Prepare legacy instructors to make informed NGB choices during the transition period This NGB choice is strategic, not cosmetic.  It determines which standards instructors must meet and maintain.

5.  Instructor Implications

5.1  Legacy Workforce

The UK Pilates workforce includes thousands of experienced instructors who are currently:

·        Teaching without mapped or regulated qualifications

·        Insured through experience-based policies

·        Operating across diverse contexts (fitness, wellness, clinical, performance)

These instructors will not be exempt from the register.  They will need to choose an appropriate NGB pathway, align with one or more scopes of practice, and meet the relevant compliance standards within a transition period.

5.2  Insurance Realignment

Insurance providers are expected to rapidly adopt register compliance as their underwriting criterion.  This means:

·        Instructors listed as non-compliant will become uninsurable or face

significantly higher premiums if insurance is offered at all.

·        Experience-only evidence will no longer be accepted

·        Coverage will depend on maintaining valid DBS, safeguarding, first aid, CPD, and qualification status

This will particularly affect legacy instructors who have been working for years without

formal certification.

5.3  CPD Obligations

All registered instructors, including Pilates instructors, will be required to complete:

·        10 hours of CPD annually or 30 hours over three years (illustrative criteria; final figures are under discussion)

·        Approximately 60% verified CPD (assessed, quality-assured learning)

·        Approximately 40% self-certified CPD (e.g., reflective practice, supervised observations) with documented evidence

Attendance-only CPD events will no longer count toward verified CPD requirements.  Pilates instructors used to informal or workshop-based CPD will need to adapt to more structured, assessed CPD.

5.4  Market Segmentation by Scope

The multi-scope model and NGB pathway flexibility mean Pilates instructors will increasingly be identified and publicly listed according to their scope of practice, for example:

·        Fitness Pilates Mat Instructor (Group, EMD UK)

·        Method Pilates Apparatus Teacher (Studio, Personal Training pathway)

·        Group Reformer Instructor (Fitness Apparatus scope, EMD UK)

·        Pilates for Dance Specialist (Dance NGB pathway)

·        Clinical Pilates Practitioner (Statutory clinical registration + Pilates scope)

This segmentation will clarify roles, but may also require instructors to add scopes over time as their careers develop.

6.  Implications for Training Providers

6.1  Curriculum Mapping to Multiple Scopes

Training providers must move away from “one-size-fits-all” Pilates qualifications.  Instead, they need to:

·        Map existing courses to specific Pilates scopes (e. g. , Fitness Mat, Method Apparatus, Group Reformer)

·        Develop modular pathways allowing learners to build scope recognition progressively

·        Identify where additional content (e.g., safeguarding, A&P, apparatus safety, group teaching skills) is needed to meet deployment standards

6.2  Modular Pathways and NGB Alignment

Providers should consider offering core training plus modular add-ons that allow

learners to register through different NGB pathways.  Examples:

·        Core Method Mat qualification

·        Add-on Group Exercise module (EMD UK pathway)

·        Add-on Personal Training module (gym/PT pathway)

·        Apparatus-specific modules

·        Population-specialist  CPD  add-ons

This reflects the real career pathways of Pilates instructors, who often work across multiple contexts.

6.3  Bridging Routes for Legacy Instructors

A significant proportion of future learners will be experienced, uncertified instructors

seeking to regularise their qualifications.  Providers should:

·        Develop Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) frameworks to credit prior teaching, observation, and self-practice hours

·        Deliver assessment-only or assessment-plus-top-up routes, including written theory exams and practical teaching assessments mapped to relevant scopes

·        Build capacity for high volumes of bridging candidates between 2025 and 2027 Early movers in this area will be well positioned to serve a large transitional market.

6.4  CPD Infrastructure

Training providers must become CPD providers as well as qualification centres.  This

involves:

·        Designing verified CPD programmes with assessment and QA

·        Providing templates and guidance for self-certified CPD

·        Offering annual CPD packages to alumni to support ongoing compliance

·        Partnering with NGBs or CIMSPA to gain CPD endorsement

6.5  International Providers

International training organisations (e.g., Merrithew/Stott, Balanced Body, BASI,

Polestar) must create UK compliance bridge modules addressing:

·        Safeguarding and DBS

·        UK first aid standards

·        Anatomy and physiology depth aligned with UK fitness baseline

·        UK scope of practice definitions and deployment standards

Alternatively, they may partner with UK providers to offer compliance top-ups to their graduates.

7.  Transitional Workforce Strategy (2025–2027)

7.1  Anticipated Demand Surge

The introduction of the National Coaching Register and the development of Pilates scopes of practice are expected to trigger a significant transitional wave in the workforce.

Thousands of experienced but uncertified instructors will seek:

·        Recognition of prior learning and bridging assessments to become compliant

·        Clear guidance on which NGB pathway and scope(s) best reflect their current and intended practice

·        Structured CPD opportunities to meet deployment requirements

·        Information on insurance implications and deadlines

Training providers who are prepared for this surge will be able to support the workforce

effectively and position themselves as trusted leaders during the transition.

7.2  Phased Implementation Approach

Training organisations should adopt a three-phase approach between now and 2027:

Phase 1 (2025): Audit and Design

·        Audit all current qualifications against emerging Pilates scopes

·        Identify gaps in safeguarding, first aid, anatomy & physiology, apparatus safety, group teaching skills, and CPD provision

·        Design modular pathways, bridging routes, and CPD offers

·        Engage with NGBs and CIMSPA to ensure mapping alignment

·        Train assessors for RPL and bridging assessments

Phase 2 (2026): Pilot and Prepare

·        Pilot bridging pathways with small groups of legacy instructors

·        Begin delivering scope-mapped modular programmes

·        Test data sharing with NGB registers to ensure graduates can be listed as compliant smoothly

·        Scale up CPD provision

Phase 3 (2027): Scale and Consolidate

·        Expand bridging assessment capacity to meet peak demand

·        Fully integrate modular pathways into marketing and recruitment

·        Establish annual CPD cycles for alumni

·        Monitor register developments, including changes to deployment or CPD standards

7.3  Communications and Workforce Support

A successful transition depends on clear, early communication to instructors.  Training providers should:

·        Develop guidance materials explaining scopes, NGB choices, compliance criteria, and timelines

·        Offer webinars or briefings for legacy instructors

·        Liaise with insurers to clarify cover implications for non-compliance

·        Work closely with EMD UK and other relevant NGBs to ensure messaging is consistent and authoritative

7.4  Partnerships and Networks

The transition period presents opportunities for collaboration between providers:

·        International schools may partner with UK providers to deliver compliance bridge modules

·        Regional training centres may share assessment capacity for bridging routes

·        Providers can collaborate with specialist organisations for population-specific CPD

Such partnerships can ease capacity pressures and strengthen the sector’s collective response to reform.

8.  Recommendations for Training Organisations

1.     Map to multiple scopes

Stop designing one-size-fits-all Pilates courses.  Map each programme to specific

scopes of practice (e.g., Fitness Mat, Group Reformer, Method Apparatus).

2.     Offer modular pathways

Build flexible training pathways allowing learners to register with different NGBs

depending on their intended career direction.

3.     Develop bridging routes now

Create assessment-based RPL pathways for experienced instructors.  This transitional market will be substantial.

4.     Build CPD infrastructure

Provide verified CPD with assessment and QA, plus templates for self-certified CPD.  Offer alumni CPD packages to support annual compliance.

5.     Address compliance content gaps

Integrate safeguarding, DBS, first aid, and UK A&P depth into core or add-on modules.

6.     Prepare for insurance realignment

Liaise with insurers early.  Make sure your graduates can demonstrate register compliance to maintain cover.

7.     Educate instructors about NGB pathways

Provide clear guidance on choosing the right NGB registration route.  This determines compliance criteria and career trajectory—and helps retain alumni for ongoing CPD.

8.     Engage with policy development

Stay close to EMD UK, CIMSPA, and Sport England as Pilates scopes are finalised.  Early engagement will help shape standards and keep programmes ahead of the curve.

9.     Invest in assessor training and QA

High-quality, scalable assessments are essential for bridging routes and scope-

based qualifications.

10. Lead, don’t follow

The organisations that act early will become sector leaders during this period of change.

9.  References / Source Report

(Note: References are not embedded in the text; this list provides the evidence base.)

·        Whyte Review (2022)

·        Sport England and UK Sport – National Coaching Register policy updates (2024– 2025)

·        CIMSPA Professional Standards (e.g., Pilates Matwork Instructor Level 3; Gym Instruction; Group Exercise; Personal Training; Population Specialisms)

·        EMD UK Workforce Governance and Registration Roadmap (2025)

·        EMD UK Pilates Scopes of Practice (Fitness Pilates Mat, Pilates-based Studio Reformer Instructor (Group), Pilates Method Studio Reformer Instructor, Pilates Mat-based Instructor)

·        EMD UK & SPM announcements regarding multiple Pilates scopes (2025)

·        EMD UK guidance on group reformer class sizes and safety considerations

·        CIMSPA CPD Policy and Professional Status Framework

·        UK Coaching Standards for Deployment guidance

·        Insurance sector communications (Balens, FitPro) regarding qualifications and underwriting

·        UK statutory regulators for clinical professions (HCPC, GOsC, GCC) on scope of practice and registration

Closing Note

The next two years represent a pivotal moment for the Pilates training sector in the UK.  The shift from fragmented qualifications and informal practice to structured scopes, transparent registers, and universal compliance standards will reshape how instructors are trained, registered, insured, and developed.

For training providers, this is not simply about meeting new rules; it is about strategic positioning.  Those who act early: by mapping to multiple scopes, developing modular pathways, building bridging routes, and educating their communities, will not only survive the transition but lead it.

Pilates has always been diverse.  The new register and scope system will not diminish this diversity; it will make it legible, accountable, and professionally sustainable.

Prepared by: Chris Onslow

Pilates Business Consultant  October 2025