Become a Registered Yoga Teacher

RYT 200

Teachers can obtain the RYT 200 credential after completing a 200-hour yoga teacher training registered with Yoga Alliance.

RYT 500

Teachers can obtain the RYT 500 credential after completing a 500-hour yoga teacher training registered with Yoga Alliance. The 500 required hours of training can be completed either in a single, 500-hour program, or by combining a 200-hour training with a separate 300-hour advanced training. In the case of separate 200-hour and 300-hour trainings, the two programs may take place at different yoga schools if each school holds an active RYS designation.

Prior to obtaining the RYT 500 credential, applicants must complete at least 100 teaching hours.

View RYT Standards

E-RYT 200

Teachers can register as an E-RYT 200 after successfully completing a 200-hour yoga teacher training registered with Yoga Alliance and teaching for a minimum of two years post-training. Training must take place in a single 200-hour RYS program; shorter or partial trainings (from the same RYS or across multiple RYSs) cannot be combined to meet the required number of hours.

Applicants must complete 1,000 teaching hours after they have successfully graduated from an RYS 200 yoga teacher training to qualify for this designation.

E-RYT 500

There are two paths to qualifying as an E-RYT 500:

1. Teachers can register as an E-RYT 500 after completing a 500-hour yoga teacher training registered with Yoga Alliance and teaching for a minimum of four years post-training.

The 500 required hours of training can be completed either in a single, 500-hour program, or by combining a 200-hour training with a separate 300-hour advanced training. In the case of separate 200-hour and 300-hour trainings, the two programs may take place at different yoga schools if each school holds an active RYS designation.

Applicants must submit 2,000 teaching hours for this designation. 1,500 hours must be taught after completing a RYS 200 or RYS 500 yoga teacher training. The remaining 500 teaching hours must be taught after completing a RYS 300 or RYS 500 yoga teacher training.

Once registered, an E-RYT 500 can provide Continuing Education workshops to other teachers and/or be a Lead Trainer of a 200, 300, or 500-hour teacher training.

–OR–

2. Teachers demonstrate that they meet the Experienced Teacher Pathway criteria (see Standards for RYT Guide for more information)

View E-RYT Standards

RCYT (Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher)

RYTs of any designation can register as a Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT) after completing a 95-hour children’s yoga teacher training registered with Yoga Alliance. Teachers may complete their RCYT and RYT programs in any order but cannot register as a RCYT until the RYT has been completed.

Applicants must submit 30 teaching hours in children’s yoga, which must be performed after completing a yoga teacher training with a Registered Children’s Yoga School (RCYS).

RPYT (Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher)

RYTs of any designation can register as a Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RPYT) after completing an 85-hour prenatal yoga teacher training registered with Yoga Alliance. Teachers may complete their RPYT and RYT programs in any order but cannot register as a RPYT until the RYT has been completed.

Applicants must submit 30 teaching hours in prenatal yoga, which must be performed after completing a yoga teacher training with a Registered Prenatal Yoga School (RPYS).

View Specialty Standards