You can take several roads to become a Tai Chi instructor. Several reputable organizations offer certification in different styles and at different levels of Tai Chi performance. The one you chose will depend on the requirements of the organization at which you'd like to work, the style of Tai Chi you practice, the time commitment you'd like to make and the money you're comfortable investing.
Step 1
Learn Tai Chi by studying with a master or from an organization that practices the style you want to teach.
Step 2
Choose a certification program consistent with your teaching and practice philosophies. The Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, the American Tai Chi and Qigong Association and Tai Chi Healthways are just a few programs that offer instructor certification.
Step 3
Consider specialty courses if you plant to work with a specific population, including Tai Chi for the aging body or prenatal Tai Chi.
Step 4
Take the courses and get the teaching experience required for your program, which average from 200 to 700 hours of study and instruction, depending on program and level of mastery.
Step 5
Take and pass exams, whereupon you will need to demonstrate your mastery of Tai Chi and your ability to teach it well. Pay any fee required to join professional organizations or get your certificate.
Step 6
Apply to fitness, wellness, and spiritual centers that offer Tai Chi classes. If you're already employed at a center or have one in mind, check their instructor guidelines. Use that information to help you choose a certification program.
Step 7
Continue to expand your knowledge and practice of Tai Chi. Check if your program requires ongoing education to maintain certification. Certification might have a defined time frame, but true dedication to Tai Chi is a lifelong learning and sharing process.
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