AERIAL TEACHER TRAINING
Certification Levels

Aerial Teacher Certification is proof of in-depth safety and technical training for anyone who is currently teaching or wants to teach (or co-teach) Circus Arts to others. Gaining certification in one of the 3 certification levels is a way to verify to students that you are highly qualified to teach and have the highest professional standards and education.
3 levels of certifications are available through CAI: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
​There are different requirements for Teachers and Studio Owners.

 Teacher Certification LEVELS

Level
You Are Certified to Teach
Required Hours
Prerequisites
Beginner
Beginner-level group classes and private lessons on the apparatus you trained on.
• 25 hrs in-class instruction 
Practice Requirements* 
• 5-10 hrs observation/co-spotting 
• 30-60 hrs co-teaching (at a beginner level) 
• 5-10 hrs supervised teaching 
Supervision Requirements* 
• 5 hrs one-on-one trainer supervision ​
See Beginner Application here
- No aerial Training required, but must know or be in process of learning all beginner-level tricks in the Aerial Circus Training and Safety manual and other beginner-level tricks not found in the manual*
​AND
- CPR & First Aid certification
Intermediate
You are approved by the Circus Arts Institute to teach Intermediate-level group classes and private lessons on the apparatus you trained in.
• 25 hrs in-class instruction 
Practice Requirements* 
• 30-60 hrs co-teaching (at an intermediate level) 
• 10 hrs teaching (at an intermediate level) 
Supervision Requirements* 
• 5-10 hrs one-on-one trainer supervision 
• 6+ hrs rigging education (in addition to the material covered in the in-class instruction at CAI)
See Intermediate Application here
- Beginner teacher training** (requires assessment and skill demonstration)
AND 
- Know or be in process of learning all intermediate-level tricks in the Aerial Circus Training and Safety manual and other intermediate-level tricks not found in manual*
AND
- Have purchased and read the book Introduction to Rigging: Aerialist Essentials
AND
- Minimum 2-5+ years as a Beginner teacher
​AND 
- Current CPR & First Aid certification
Advanced
Any-level group classes or private lessons and can train beginner teachers on the apparatus you trained in (with trainer supervision).
• 25 hrs of in-class instruction depends on previous instruction 
Practice Requirements* 
• 80-100 hrs co-teaching (at an advanced level) 
• 80-100 hrs teaching (at an advanced level) 
Supervision Requirements* 
• 10-20+ hrs one-on-one trainer supervision 
• 12+ hrs rigging education (in addition to the material covered in the in-class instruction at CAI)
See Advanced Application here
• Complete Emily Scherb's "Complete Aerial Anatomy" course (email us for the CAI trainee login)
- Intermediate teacher training** (requires assessment and skill demonstration)
AND 
- Know or be in process of learning all advanced-level tricks in the Aerial Circus Training and Safety manual and other advanced-level tricks not found in manual and more*
AND 
- Minimum 5-10+ years as a Beginner and Intermediate teacher
​AND 
- Current CPR & First Aid certification

 STudio owner Certification LEVELS

We require studio owners to have rigging education at every level and more, they are the ones ultimately responsible for the safety of the physical space. This additional training requirement ensures that the studio owner has ample rigging knowledge.
Level
You Are Certified to Teach
Required Hours
Prerequisites
Beginner
Beginner-level group classes and private lessons on the apparatus you trained on.
• 25 hrs in-class instruction 
Practice Requirements* 
• 5-10 hrs observation/co-spotting 
• 30-60 hrs co-teaching (at a beginner level) 
• 5-10 hrs supervised teaching 
Supervision Requirements* 
• 5 hrs one-on-one trainer supervision ​
Rigging Requirements* 
• 4+ hrs rigging instruction (in addition to the material covered in the in-class instruction at CAI)
​See Beginner Application here
-No aerial Training required, but must know or be in process of learning all beginner-level tricks in the Aerial Circus Training and Safety manual and other beginner-level tricks not found in manual* 
AND 
-CPR & First Aid certification
Intermediate
Intermediate-level group classes and private lessons on the apparatus you trained in.
• 25 hrs in-class instruction 
Practice Requirements* 
• 30-60 hrs co-teaching (at an intermediate level) 
• 10 hrs teaching (at an intermediate level) 
Supervision Requirements* 
• 5-10 hrs one-on-one trainer supervision 
• 6+ hrs rigging education (in addition to the material covered in the in-class instruction at CAI)
​See Intermediate Application here
-Beginner teacher training** (requires assessment and skill demonstration)
​AND 
-know or be in process of learning all intermediate-level tricks in the Aerial Circus Training and Safety manual ​and other intermediate-level tricks not found in manual*
​AND 
-Minimum 2-5+ years as a Beginner teacher
​AND 
-CPR & First Aid certification
Advanced
Any-level group classes or private lessons and can train beginner teachers on the apparatus you trained in (with trainer supervision).
• 25 hrs of in-class instruction depends on previous instruction 
Practice Requirements* 
• 80-100 hrs co-teaching (at an advanced level) 
• 80-100 hrs teaching (at an advanced level) 
Supervision Requirements* 
• 10-20+ hrs one-on-one trainer supervision 
• 12+ hrs rigging education (in addition to the material covered in the in-class instruction at CAI)
See Advanced Application here
• Complete Emily Scherb's "Complete Aerial Anatomy" course (email us for the CAI trainee login)
-Intermediate teacher training** (requires assessment and skill demonstration)
AND 
-know or be in process of learning all advanced-level tricks in the Aerial Circus Training and Safety manual and other advanced-level tricks not found in manual and more*
​AND 
-Minimum 5-10+ years as a Beginner and Intermediate teacher
​AND 
-CPR & First Aid certification
You may also be interested other trainings at the Circus Arts Institute:

COME TRAIN WITH US!