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Yoga Teacher Training FAQ

Application & Enrollment

How do I apply?

Visit https://www.miracosta.edu/admissions-and-aid/index.html.

How do I register in classes?

Click on the SURF button on the top navigation of the screen.

Can I enroll in the Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program even if I’m not sure I want to teach yoga?

Definitely! Many students enjoy taking the YTT program to develop their personal yoga practice and learn more about the philosophy of yoga.

Courses & Programs

What is the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program?

The 200-hour Yoga Instructor Certificate of Proficiency (7 units) includes the following three classes:

  • KINE 145: Yoga Teacher Training Foundation (3-unit lecture/lab)
  • KINE 147: Yoga Teacher Training Development (3-unit lecture/lab)
  • KINE 150: Beginning Yoga (1-unit activity class)

The program is great for anyone interested in learning more about yoga and developing their personal practice, as well as anyone aspiring to become a registered yoga instructor. The Yoga Instructor 200-hour certificate prepares students, if they are interested, to meet the requirements for Yoga Alliance® to become a 200-hour registered yoga teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance®. You can find more information on the 200-hour Certificate of Proficiency below under "Timeline" and "200-Hour Training and Prerequisites". 

Upon completion of the 200-hour program, students can enroll in the 300-hour program to become a 500-hour Registered Yoga Instructor with Yoga Alliance®.

What is the 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program?

The 300-hour Yoga Instructor Certificate of Achievement (12-13 units) includes the following four (4) required classes:

  • KINE 149: Yoga Teacher Training Integration (3-unit lecture/lab)
  • KINE 154: Intermediate Yoga (1-unit activity class)
  • KINE 159: Yoga Teacher Training Implementation (3-unit lecture/lab)
  • HEAL 205: Integrative Health and Wellness (3-unit lecture)

Plus a minimum of 2-3 Units from the following major electives:

  • HEAL 108: Meditation (1-unit actvity class)
  • HEAL 222 Stress Management (3-unit lecture class) 
  • KINE 155: Advanced Yoga (1-unit activity class)
  • KINE 292: Internship Studies (1-3 units)

The Yoga Instructor 300-hour certificate prepares students to meet the requirements to become a 500-hour registered yoga teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance®. You can find more information on the 300-hour Certificate of Achievement below under "Timeline" and "300-Hour Training & Prerequisites".

Note: Students will need to document 100 teaching hours with Yoga Alliance® to apply for the 500-RYT.

Cost & Supplies

How much will the certification at MiraCosta cost?

  • Currently $46.00 per unit plus textbooks.
  • Estimate for 200-hour program with 7 units: $322 plus one textbook.
  • Estimate for the 300-hour program with 12-14 units: $552 plus one to two textbooks.

Note: MiraCosta is a few thousand dollars cheaper than most programs!

What supplies will I need?

MiraCosta College provides yoga mats, blocks, bolsters, blankets, wedges, straps, and cleaning supplies. Most students bring a bottle of water and some students bring their own mat.

What should I wear to class?

Comfortable and appropriate clothes for yoga activity.

Timeline

200-Hour: How long will it take to complete the 200-hour program?

This depends on your schedule and availability. If your schedule is flexible, the program can be completed in one semester. There are three required classes (KINE 145, KINE 147, and KINE 150) offered in the fall and spring semesters. KINE 150 is offered during the summer session as well.

300-Hour: How long will it take to complete the 300-hour program?

This depends on your schedule and availability, but it can potentially be completed in just one to two semesters. There are four required classes (KINE 149, KINE 154, KINE 159, and HEAL 205) offered in the fall and spring semesters. 

There are five elective courses (HEAL 108, HEAL 222, KINE 155, KINE 292, and/or KINE 299), from which you will take 2-3 units, that are typically offered in the fall and spring semesters as well.

The activity courses (KINE 154 and KINE 155) and KINE 292 and KINE 299 are also offered during the summer session.

200-Hour & 300-Hour: Will I be able to teach yoga when I finish?

Yes! Students can apply for teaching jobs after completing the 200-hour certificate. Students completing the 300-hour certificate can apply for jobs and are eligible to register as a 500-hour RYT through Yoga Alliance®. You can find more information on the completion of the program and registering with Yoga Alliance® below.

200-Hour & 300-Hour: What is the participation policy?

In order to meet Yoga Alliance® requirements, we have strict participation policies set in every class to ensure each student meets the required hours. Contact your instructor if you will be missing more than three classes during the semester.

200-Hour & 300-Hour: Can I take yoga classes if I have an injury?

There are many modifications to yoga poses to meet individual needs. Students are advised to contact their yoga instructor and inform them of injuries and ailments to best assist each student. In some cases, the instructor may ask for a physician's release form.

200-Hour Training & Prerequisites

Are there any prerequisites for the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program?

There are no prerequisites for the 200-hour YTT program.

Can I waive KINE 150 if I have many years of yoga experience?

No. The classes are taken in progression of one another, per academic requirements and per Yoga Alliance® policy of meeting 200 training hours.

Can I enroll in all three classes (KINE 145, KINE 147, and KINE 150) at the same time?

Yes! The classes are blocked together specifically to accommodate student schedules.

Can I enroll in 300-hour courses concurrently with 200-hour courses?

Yes, but it depends on which courses. Students can enroll in the following 300-hour courses while taking 200-hour courses: HEAL 108, HEAL 205, and HEAL 222.

  • KINE 150 is a prerequisite for KINE 154 and cannot be taken during the same semester.
  • The 200-hour courses, or a 200-hour Yoga Alliance® certificate, are prerequisites for KINE 159. KINE 292/299 hours need to be completed after students have completed the 200-hour program.
  • KINE 149 is recommended to be taken after completion of all 200-hour courses.

Do I need to have teaching experience to register through Yoga Alliance® as a RYT?
200-hours: No documented teaching hours are required to register for the 200-hour RYT through Yoga Alliance®.

200-Hour Completion

How do I complete the 200-hour program?

During the semester of completion of the program, students need to complete steps A, B, & C below:

  1. Complete the Certificate of Proficiency Application form: 
  2. Once the certificate application is signed electronically, it will automatically be forwarded to Daria Davis via email during the semester leading to the completion of the certificate program. Daria may be reached at dadavis@miracosta.edu.

    Note: Unofficial transcripts for courses being applied to this certificate from any other colleges attended (or concurrently attending), approved substitutions and waivers, educational plans, and any other necessary documents must be on file in the Admissions & Records Office before a student submits the Certificate of Proficiency Application form. Petitions submitted after the semester of completion may be processed in the subsequent semester. Certificates of Proficiency are processed after final grades are posted at the end of each semester. Please allow 6-12 weeks for certificates to be processed and mailed.

  3. Students may register with Yoga Alliance® as an RYT 200. See steps under "How do I register through Yoga Alliance for my 200-HOUR and/or 300-HOUR?" below.

300-Hour Training & Prerequisites

What is required of KINE 292 Internship Studies?

Internships and Co-ops are designed to provide MiraCosta students with workplace experience and new or improved skills.

Students have a choice to complete 1 to 3 units of Internship Studies:

1-unit unpaid internship: 60 hours
1-unit paid internship: 75 hours

KINE 292 Internship Studies and KINE 299 Cooperative Education are elective courses to provide workplace experience and to assist students in attaining a portion of their teaching hours, as Yoga Alliance® requires 100 teaching hours before applying for the 500-hour RYT.

Learn more about the Internship Process.

The Student:

  • Qualifies for and finds an internship on JAIN.
  • Creates an updated resume approved by the Career Center. Once approved, student gains access to the internships in JAIN, selects relevant internship sites and applies.
  • Develops workplace learning objectives with the instructor.
  • Meets with the instructor at the internship site twice during the semester. (At the beginning of the internship and at the end of the semester).
  • Reports monthly hours on Canvas verifying time worked. For each unit of credit, students must intern a minimum of 60 non-paid hours or 75 paid hours.
  • Completes required assignments.
  • Adheres to the program requirements as outlined in the Syllabus.
  • Submits assignments and monthly hours reports via Canvas. Please contact the Student Help Desk or the Career Center if you need assistance.
  • Completes the Student Orientation.
    Find out the roles and responsibilities of the instructor and the employer.

More information on Internship Studies can be found at Get an Internship or Co-Op.

Do I need to have teaching experience to register through Yoga Alliance® as a RYT?

300-hour: You will need 100 hours of documented teaching experience in your account in Yoga Alliance® to register for the 500-hour RYT through Yoga Alliance®. Teaching experience can only be documented after completion of a 200-hour training. Students can begin documenting teaching hours in KINE 149 and KINE 159 as part of their Yoga Alliance® 100-hour requirement.

Are there prerequisites for the 300-hour YTT program?

Yes. KINE 150 Beginning Yoga is a prerequisite for KINE 154 Intermediate Yoga and KINE 155 Advanced Yoga, which are required courses for the 300-hour YTT.

Additionally, KINE 159 has prerequisites of KINE 145, KINE 147, and KINE 150. OR, if you have completed a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher 200-hour certificate, you may submit a Challenge Form. Send a copy of your RYT-200 certificate and Challenge Form, along with a written statement explaining how the student meets the prequisite(s), to Admissions & Records to bypass all of the prerequisites mentioned above. Students will receive an email confirmation once the Challenge has been submitted and will be enrolled in or added to the waitlist for the class(es) on their assisgned registration date and time.

Can I waive KINE 150 if I completed a similar course from another college?

Yes. Complete a Petition for Course Substitution/Waiver Form and submit it to Department Chair Casey McFarland at cmcfarland@miracosta.edu for signature and processing. 

Once the department chair and dean have both signed the form, you will receive a copy back via email for your records.

Can I waive KINE 154?

No. All four of the required courses are needed to fulfill the 300-hour requirement.

300-Hour Completion

How do I complete the 300-hour program?

During the final semester of completion of the program, students need to complete steps A, B, & C below:

  1. Complete the Petition for Certificate of Achievement and submit to the Admissions & Records by the 30% deadline of the final semester leading to your graduation (The deadline is listed in the Class Schedule each term. Students intending to graduate during the summer intersession may submit their petition during the spring semester.)

    Note: Unofficial transcripts for courses being applied to this certificate from other colleges attended (or concurrently attending), approved substitutions and waivers, educational plans, and any other necessary documents for the Certificate of Achievement must be on file in the Admissions and Records Office before a student submits their petition. Petitions submitted after the deadline are automatically processed in the subsequent term.

    Note: If you have any questions regarding the procedure for MiraCosta College, please contact: Admissions & Records at 760.795.6620 or the Counseling Office at 760.795.6670.

  2. If registering with Yoga Alliance®, complete at least 100 hours of documented teaching experience to record in your Yoga Alliance account, post completion of training from a RYS 200 or RYS 300.
  3. If interested, register with Yoga Alliance® as a RYT 500. 

I completed the “old” 200-hour Certificate of Achievement. Please advise.

Students who have completed the “old”  (200-hr. Certification of Achievement) WILL NOT be awarded the “new” (300-hr. Certification of Achievement) by MiraCosta College. The State Chancellor’s Office will not let us give out the same certificate of achievement to the same student. Students who have completed and been awarded the “old” 200-hr. yoga certificate of achievement will need to email their transcripts (unofficial are fine) to Stacy McCarthy at smccarthy@miracosta.edu. She will confirm they have completed the required courses for the 300-Hour and email them a version of the certificate. Students will then submit this as proof of completion of our 300-Hour program to Yoga Alliance®.

Can I waive KINE 150 if I completed KINE 152 (class no longer offered)?

Yes. Complete a Petition for Course Substitution/Waiver Form and submit it to Department Chair Casey McFarland at cmcfarland@miracosta.edu for approval and processing. When both the department chair and dean have signed the form, a copy will be emailed back to you for your files.

How do I register through Yoga Alliance for my 200-HOUR and/or 300-HOUR?

After you complete your 200-HOUR or 300-HOUR, you are eligible, but not required, to register to become an RYT through Yoga Alliance®. 

Complete steps 1-5 as outlined by Yoga Alliance® and listed below or go directly to the website at: https://www.yogaalliance.org

Step 1 - Create an Account / Access Your Account

  • If your Registered Yoga School (RYS®) created an account for you, you should have received an email inviting you to register with Yoga Alliance®, with a link to reset your password and access your account.
  • Alternatively, you can create an account yourself. Enter your basic information (name, email, password) to create a new account.
  • Either way works and will lead you to Step 2, below!

Step 2 - Submit Your Training Program Information

  • From your new account dashboard, click on “Register Now” under Teacher Registration.
  • Select your desired designation to show the registration Requirements for that designation.
  • Enter your training program details:Select the designation of the training you completed.
    • Enter the start and end date of the training.
    • Identify your RYS. Enter the name of the school where you completed your training. Select your RYS from the list of schools. If you are registering as RYT 500 and your RYS appears as invalid, please confirm whether your school is a RYS 300 or a RYS 500.
    • Upload an electronic copy of your certificate. Browse for your file. The file size of your certificate may be up to 12 MB and must be in an acceptable format (PDF, JPG, GIF or PNG).
    • Send Request. Use the “Send Request” button to submit your Program Confirmation Request to your RYS.
  • Enter your teaching hours: Except for RYT 200, all designations require teaching hours for registration or upgrade. The teaching hour Requirements for the designation you selected will be shown in the teaching hours section. Please note teaching hours must be entered with a start and end date after the completion of your first RYS training program. You can enter teaching hours in groups by date range or class type.

Step 3 - Wait for RYS Confirmation

  • Your RYS must confirm that you completed training. When you submit your Program Confirmation Request your RYS will be notified. Once someone from your RYS confirms you completed the school’s yoga teacher training program, you will be notified via email and invited to complete your registration.
  • Pay Fees
    • When you’re ready to complete your registration, login to your account to pay your membership fees. Click the green “Pay Now” button to submit payment by credit card or PayPal (they do not accept checks, cash or money orders).

Step 4 - Review Your RYS

  • Once your payment has been processed, click the “Review Now” button to complete a survey of your RYS. If you do not complete the review immediately after submitting your payment, you can return to your dashboard and the “Review Now” button will appear. Your registration is not complete until you have filled out a review of your training.

Step 5 - Publish Your Profile

You must publish your profile in order to appear in the Yoga Alliance Directory. You will be prompted to edit your profile when you complete your review. To edit your profile at a later time, use the My Profile link on your teacher dashboard.
Set your privacy settings to public, including your first and last name.

Note: If you have any questions regarding the Yoga Alliance® procedure, please contact: 1.888.921.9642 or email info@yogaalliance.org