Instructor Certification
Tai Chi Healthways is internationally recognized as a leader in Tai Chi/Qigong
education and instructor’s certification. Our mission is to uphold and pass on the traditional teachings of this unique Chinese martial art and healing art. We are committed to setting and promoting the highest teaching standards in the industry today in order to preserve and carry on the classical teachings of Tai
Chi and Qigong. Tai Chi Healthways supports diversity and encourages the advancement of all styles of Tai
Chi and Qigong.
We are proud and honored to follow the proven teaching methodology of Professor
Li Deyin, one of the foremost Tai Chi experts in the world today. We are dedicated to providing the highest-quality training. We provide a comprehensive set of resources, including individual and group training, supplemental educational training aides such as DVD videos and manuals, and opportunities for convenient distance learning.
Our instructional DVDs provide teacher's reference for all major styles/routines
with suggested class-hour to meet the demand of growing class. To enhance the learning process, we host several workshops annually, which are conducted by world-renowned Tai Chi Grand Masters. Three of today’s most respected Grand Masters,
Chen Zhenglei, Zhu Tiancai, and Abraham Liu, act as Tai Chi Healthways honorary advisors. We also offer continuing education programs in order to provide our instructors with
ongoing support.
Your application will be processed by our Certification Committee Members: Master Jesse
Tsao; Katharine Iskrant, Master of Public Health; Dr. Larry
Cammarata, Ph.D., licensed consulting psychologist; and Sheryl Wilde, three-time USA national Tai Chi
Grand Champion.
Tai Chi is the fastest-growing practice in the fitness and wellness industry.
The need for great class teachers and private instructors is quickly
expanding. If you are interested in helping others improve their health, relieve stress, and develop energy and vitality – all while improving your own health and well-being – this instructor certification program is for you!
Let Master Jesse Tsao be your mentor. There are no prerequisites. New students can simply enroll in any of our regular classes to begin accumulating class credit.
If you have previous Tai Chi experience and can perform any short or long routine/form, you are eligible to enroll in our leadership training class. Your prior Tai Chi training can come from any school. Tai Chi Healthways certification is based on your knowledge of the Tai Chi Classics and is not limited to a particular style. The leadership class teaches you not only the practical, day-to-day skills necessary to excel as a Tai Chi instructor, but gives you the theoretical knowledge you need to succeed as well. Workshop hours hosted by Tai Chi Healthways count as credit, and private lessons with Jesse Tsao may also count as credit.
We offer weekend leadership training for people living out of San Diego area.
Potential instructors will be evaluated by our Certification Committee Members based upon ability to meet the following criteria:
- Perform and name moves or postures accurately.
- Describe guidelines of each move or posture.
- Demonstrate ability to effectively adjust clients into proper alignment.
- Complete a written exam: write a handout to demonstrate your ability to research Tai Chi philosophy or its health benefits. This handout could be used later when you teach your own class or for presentations.
- Explain applications to be used in self-defense and the major energy points for self-healing (Senior Instructor and above).
Each Certificate Level requires progressive development and refinement of skills as determined by the Committee.
| Certification Level |
Hours of Tai Chi class credit |
Hours of leadership training |
| Associate Instructor |
200 |
20 |
| Instructor |
300 |
30 |
| Senior Instructor |
500 |
100 |
| Executive Instructor |
700 |
150 |
Potential instructors must meet both the abovementioned Guidelines for Certification and Minimum Credit Hours to fulfill certification requirements. The required class credit hours can be earned from our school or another accredited school. If you have studied at another school, a letter from your former teacher stating your class hours would be helpful; however, the final decision regarding certification will depend on the Tai Chi Healthways Certification Committee’s evaluation of your skill level.
Special Offer: There is a large and growing demand for qualified Tai Chi instructors. To accommodate this need, we are offering a special
Entry-level Instructor Certificate now! Personal trainers and group fitness instructors are especially welcome. The Entry-level Instructor Certificate will qualify you to teach Tai Chi’s basic skills and lead exercises safely and effectively. Not only is this program an excellent way to expand your repertoire of wellness and fitness knowledge, but it will also increase your success and value.
A minimum of 40 class hours, plus 3 hours of leadership training, are required to become an
Entry-level Instructor. Once you are certified, you can begin teaching Tai Chi’s basic easy movements, providing a valuable resource for your community!
Instructor candidates living outside of the San Diego area can simply order the
Tai Chi Fundamentals for Beginners DVD for at-home self-study, with no workshops to attend and no expensive travel. Leadership training materials will be e-mailed to you for self-study. When you are ready, go to the next step for
evaluation (See below the "Distance Learning".)
After completing the program, you will be properly equipped with everything you need to turn your passion into a rewarding career. A student will be awarded certification when he or she demonstrates the required proficiency level to carry forward the Tai Chi tradition.
A 60-minute evaluation can be scheduled in advance for those who come for
evaluation in person.
The total cost for evaluation and certification is $175. Once you have become a Certified Instructor, you will become a member of Tai Chi Healthways Association, receive free referrals by Tai Chi Healthways for your local
area. No
monthly or annual dues to Tai Chi Healthways. Life long
valid after you become a certified instructor.
Instructors can be certified from anywhere in the world through Tai Chi Healthways' convenient Distance Learning
certification program. You don't need to make a trip if you can
provide enough evidence, and your video shows your skill well enough
for the certificate level you are applying for. Here is how:
- The first step is to register as a long-distance instructor trainee. We will send you
the instructor’s training materials package, which includes:
- (1) The Tai Chi Fundamentals for Beginners DVD through regular mail.
- (2) Leadership Manual. We put a 20-hour self-study materials through internet file, so you can study and train at your home. We keep this Leadership Manual as an e-book continually updated with the most useful information.
- (3) The Exam for Tai Chi Instructor Certification.
- When you are ready, return your exam answers to us and send us a videotape,
video file, or DVD of yourself doing Tai Chi movements. You can
send the answer of exam and video through internet. www.YouTube.com
and some other website provide free video sharing hosting.
You can just upload your video and send us the links. We will review and evaluate it and will be happy to issue you the teaching certificate. If your postures, movements or routines need more
works, we will provide corrections and suggestions for you to improve. No
monthly or annual dues to Tai Chi Healthways. Life long
valid after you become a certified instructor, but we do hope you
can come to workshop once every two years to update your skills.
- The total cost for this Distance Learning Certification program
(including materials package, exam, evaluation, and certificate) will be $175. You can click through PayPal, or send a check payable
to Master Jesse Tsao, 5051 Sterling Grove Lane, San Diego, CA 92130
- For Associate Instructor level and above, you also need to choose an instructional DVD from which to learn a standard or traditional routine/style through home study. Many Tai Chi and Qigong DVD’s are available on the "Videos and Books" page of this website. There is no need to order additional videos from
us if you have previous Tai Chi experience and already know a routine. The Entry-Level Instructor applicants need only demonstrate basic hand patterns and basic steps. No Tai Chi routine is
needed.
- Those who apply for Instructor level and above may need to attend our workshops or arrange
for weekend leadership training in San Diego, unless you can
provide us strong evidence that you possess the skill and
teaching experience. This will be the best fit if you are
a Tai Chi teacher already, but need a standard certificate to
gain more teaching opportunities. Our evaluation is based
on the Tai Chi Classic which applies to all styles or routines,
not only on Tai Chi Healthways curriculum. The weekend
training schedule is: Saturdays 8:00am -12:00noon, Sundays
12:00noon-4:00pm. The training cost will be $160 for the weekend, or $80 for each day. Basically, you learn how we teach
Tai Chi and Qigong for different groups of people so you will be able to bring the experience back to your city or country.
- You have the option of listing your name or school
permanently on Tai Chi Healthways website with a donation.
- To upgrade your certification to the next level, the processing fee
is $100. This includes one DVD of your choice and another
evaluation.
We offer a special program in conjunction with Somerset Skills and
Learning to attain the Tai Chi Healthways Entry-Level Instructor
Certification for only $95 if you are a qualified Open
College Network Tai Chi Foundation Instructor. OCN courses are accepted as qualifications in
England for people would work in health–cardiac nurses, occupational therapists, Tai Chi instructors running health classes, etc.
This fee includes the
Fundamentals DVD and an assessment, submitted by video to Tai Chi
Healthways, and exempts you from the Tai Chi Healthways written
test. You will need to submit proof of OCN qualification
before you receive the Tai Chi Healthways certification.
If you are currently an OCN student preparing to achieve both
instructor certifications, please click the payment button below for
the $95 Tai Chi Healthways assessment and Fundamentals DVD.
Tai Chi Healthways also offers Qigong Instructor Certification similarly to
the Tai Chi Instructor Certification program. There is no written exam,
but you must write an essay giving an introduction to Qigong. You will
also submit a video for assessments. The total cost for evaluation and certification is
$175, which includes one Qigong Essentials DVD of your choice for your
self-study. Successive levels of Qigong Instructor Certification will be
based on the skill level shown in your video upon review by the committee.
if you plan on purchasing many Qigong Essentials DVDs, please contact Master
Tsao for more information.
More About Our Certification Committee Members
Jesse Tsao, M.S., internationally known Tai Chi master, Qigong therapist, and alternative medicine and wellness consultant, is the founder of Tai Chi Healthways. He is specialized in the areas of self-healing, preventive therapies, stress management and mind-body wellness. Born and trained in China, he has been practicing Tai Chi for over 38 years, including 10 years of intensive study with world renowned grand master Li Deyin in Beijing, China. He was the gold medallist in the Beijing Collegiate Wushu Competition in 1980.
Katharine Iskrant, MPH, CHCA, is a tai chi practitioner and a public health auditor. Ms. Iskrant has conducted over one hundred health plan quality of care audits. Ms. Iskrant’s educational background includes a Masters in Public Health from U.C. Berkeley and a Bachelors in Psychology (Honors) from Columbia College of Columbia University. Ms. Iskrant is in the process of publishing a manuscript on the Tai Chi fundamentals.
Larry Cammarata, Ph.D. is a clinical and
consulting psychologist who maintains licenses in California and North
Carolina. He has practiced psychology for over 20 years and has
special expertise in the areas of mind-body wellness, hypnosis, stress
management, relationships, and men’s issues. Dr. Cammarata is a
professional speaker and workshop presenter who has made professional
contributions to local, national, and international retreats and
conferences. Besides his involvement in the profession of psychology,
Dr. Cammarata is a certified instructor of Tai Chi Chuan, an ancient
Chinese system of exercise, moving meditation, and self-defense. In
his spare time, he is a professional musician who has performed
locally, nationally, and internationally.
Sheryl
Wilde is a three-time International Tai Chi Grand Champion (2004
-2006) and a freelance writer specializing in corporate communications.
She has also written for television, magazines and newspapers for the past 15
years. She holds a B.S. in Accounting and has more than 20 years of
experience in the financial accounting industry.
Jesse Tsao/Tai
Chi Healthways
5051 Sterling Grove
Lane, San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 793-8939, E-mail: Jesse@TaiChiHealthways.com
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