AERIAL TEACHER TRAINING
FAQS
For questions regarding Circus Arts Therapy® Training that are not answered below,
please contact Carrie Heller, MSW, LCSW, RPT at 404-549-3000.
please contact Carrie Heller, MSW, LCSW, RPT at 404-549-3000.
Who is the Aerial Teacher Training for?
Our teacher training certifications are designed for anyone interested in teaching circus arts to children, teens, adults, families and groups. Studio owners are encouraged to attend.
Why get trained at the Circus Arts Institute?
What does certification mean?
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 three certification levels is a way to verify to students that you are highly qualified to teach and have the highest professional standards and education. This is not a state or national requirement yet, but this certification might be useful in obtaining insurance for yourself and/or your studio.
Can I get certified without taking the Teacher Training?
No, because of our commitment to producing excellent, well-trained teachers, we require that all teachers certified through the Circus Arts Institute take the Teacher Training courses.
How do I get certified?
Our suggested certification process is:
I've been teaching for years, do I really have to practice teaching again?
No, relevant past teaching experience can be used to fulfill the Teaching Practice Hour Requirements.
Download and fill out the Beginner Teacher Certification Form here.
Are assessments included in the Teacher Training fee?
No, the certification assessment is a separate fee. The Teacher Training can be taken without seeking certification.
Why do I have to have a manual?
When it comes to Aerial Safety, Carrie wrote the book; Literally. So, instead of re-writing the book, she refers to the Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual. If you do not have one yet, you can purchase one online here.
If I have completed my teaching practice requirements for Certification, will I be Certified?
Not necessarily, the practice requirements are for you to grow as a teacher. Because of different personalities and backgrounds, the amount of practice required to be an excellent teacher will vary. We urge trainees to only request a Certification Assessment after your practice hours are compete AND you are confident that you will be recommended for Certification. During training's, Carrie advises all trainees on assessment readiness.
I would like to be certified in multiple apparatus:
Each training is apparatus-specific, so you can only train in one apparatus at a time. However, once the beginner classroom hours are taken, you can rejoin another beginner training and opt out of the didactic parts of the training (because you've already completed it). You will have to join us for the apparatus-skill training parts, of course! Another application form will need to be filled out for each apparatus.
When can I assess?
An assessment can be requested at any time once apparatus-specific spotting/co-teaching/teaching/supervision hours are completed. Assessments include a pre-assessment of 2 hours or more followed by an assessment with Carrie to demonstrate physical and teaching abilities and gain important feedback.
What is involved in an assessment?
How likely am I to certify?
Most trainees do not certify on their first time they take a training with us. This all depends on individual skill levels and amount of previous experience teaching. Many trainees will still have practice hours to complete before certifying. However, if you are a seasoned teacher with practice already under your belt with a reputable trainer at home, you are more likely to certify sooner.
I can't make any of the scheduled training's. How can I be informed of upcoming classes?
Enter your email address and select "Aerial Teacher Training/Certification" here and you will be placed on our mailing list for future Teacher Training's.
I don't have any certified trainers in my area to study under. What can I do?
I've been teaching for years, does that count?
We do give credit for teaching experience. We suggest writing down everything you can think of that could count towards the practice hours on the Teacher Certification Application and during or soon after the training you'll have a one-on-one where the trainer will help you decide what to use where, determine if you're ready for the assessment or give you a plan on exactly what is needed to get there.
I think I'll need extra hours to satisfy the practice hour requirements. Can I get those at CAI?
We do offer private lessons online which can count towards the supervised hour requirements (an hour at CAI counts up to double towards satisfying the practice requirement hours). Private lessons are $100/hour and can be shared, if desired. And you can attend another training course with CAI to acquire more practice hours during the training.
How do I register for an upcoming class?
How can I pay?
Deposits can be made with credit cards here.
What happens if I need to reschedule? Or if CAI reschedules or cancels?
Our teacher training certifications are designed for anyone interested in teaching circus arts to children, teens, adults, families and groups. Studio owners are encouraged to attend.
Why get trained at the Circus Arts Institute?
- The Circus Arts Institute has been in the business of training teachers both in-house and for other programs for over 30 years. Carrie Heller is a lover of the Circus Arts and wants all Circus Arts programs to operate at their highest safety standards possible.
- To this end, ACE, the American Circus Educators branch of AYCO, has evaluated our Teacher Training Program and we are proud to be the first Teacher Training Program in America to be nationally recognized for our excellent standards by The American Circus Educators Circus Arts Safety Network.
- The American Circus Educators (ACE) association established the Circus Arts Safety Network via specific guidelines for best practices in circus arts risk management. The Circus Arts Institutes' Aerial Teacher Trainings have been carefully evaluated and granted membership to the Safety Network. We are proud to be nationally recognized for our excellent standards by the ACE Circus Arts Safety Network.
- The trainings are conveniently online.
- Creating a safe and healthy learning environment includes not discriminating (or tolerating fellow learners to discriminate) based on age, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status. We'd love to have EVERYONE!
What does certification mean?
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 three certification levels is a way to verify to students that you are highly qualified to teach and have the highest professional standards and education. This is not a state or national requirement yet, but this certification might be useful in obtaining insurance for yourself and/or your studio.
Can I get certified without taking the Teacher Training?
No, because of our commitment to producing excellent, well-trained teachers, we require that all teachers certified through the Circus Arts Institute take the Teacher Training courses.
How do I get certified?
Our suggested certification process is:
- Take our Beginner Teacher Training (or the appropriate level-specific course for the Certification sought)
- Find a reputable studio and supervisor (see Carrie for suggestions in your area) and complete the practice hour requirements there. Really work on becoming an excellent teacher of the aerial apparatus you're focused on and an excellent classroom manager.
- Turn in all prerequisite information and Practice Hour Requirements on a Teacher Certification Application.
- Schedule an assessment with Carrie. Based on your performance, she will recommend you for certification or suggest a plan for gaining further practice.
I've been teaching for years, do I really have to practice teaching again?
No, relevant past teaching experience can be used to fulfill the Teaching Practice Hour Requirements.
Download and fill out the Beginner Teacher Certification Form here.
Are assessments included in the Teacher Training fee?
No, the certification assessment is a separate fee. The Teacher Training can be taken without seeking certification.
Why do I have to have a manual?
When it comes to Aerial Safety, Carrie wrote the book; Literally. So, instead of re-writing the book, she refers to the Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual. If you do not have one yet, you can purchase one online here.
If I have completed my teaching practice requirements for Certification, will I be Certified?
Not necessarily, the practice requirements are for you to grow as a teacher. Because of different personalities and backgrounds, the amount of practice required to be an excellent teacher will vary. We urge trainees to only request a Certification Assessment after your practice hours are compete AND you are confident that you will be recommended for Certification. During training's, Carrie advises all trainees on assessment readiness.
I would like to be certified in multiple apparatus:
Each training is apparatus-specific, so you can only train in one apparatus at a time. However, once the beginner classroom hours are taken, you can rejoin another beginner training and opt out of the didactic parts of the training (because you've already completed it). You will have to join us for the apparatus-skill training parts, of course! Another application form will need to be filled out for each apparatus.
When can I assess?
An assessment can be requested at any time once apparatus-specific spotting/co-teaching/teaching/supervision hours are completed. Assessments include a pre-assessment of 2 hours or more followed by an assessment with Carrie to demonstrate physical and teaching abilities and gain important feedback.
What is involved in an assessment?
- Physical Skill Demonstration: This includes a demonstration of warm up/cool downs and tricks from the appropriate-level skill progression. Carrie will choose, at random, level-specific tricks for a trainee to demonstrate, spot and/or teach. You will be graded on your technique, form teaching ability, knowledge of common mistakes, ability to troubleshoot on the spot, and more.
- Oral and/or Written Evaluation: This will be done to assess your ability to communicate directions to your students, your understanding of safety & rigging, skill progressions, injury prevention, anatomy and physiology related to Aerials, classroom rations, communication tools, learning modalities and evidence based teaching, how to write lesson plan and what to do if an injury does occur.
- Classroom observation: If your Practice Teaching Hours were earned outside of CAI, your mentor / supervisor at your home studio will be asked to fill out the supervision section of the Beginner Application form. We ask your mentor / supervisor to evaluate your ability to manage a class, physically spot and teach a variety of students.
How likely am I to certify?
Most trainees do not certify on their first time they take a training with us. This all depends on individual skill levels and amount of previous experience teaching. Many trainees will still have practice hours to complete before certifying. However, if you are a seasoned teacher with practice already under your belt with a reputable trainer at home, you are more likely to certify sooner.
I can't make any of the scheduled training's. How can I be informed of upcoming classes?
Enter your email address and select "Aerial Teacher Training/Certification" here and you will be placed on our mailing list for future Teacher Training's.
I don't have any certified trainers in my area to study under. What can I do?
- Attend the training and compare what your trainer is teaching you to what you've learned. If your home trainer isn't up to snuff, we'll try and help you to find another nearby.
- Attend the training, Carrie will advise you before taking an assessment, if she suggests practice hours before taking the assessment and if there is no one to train with at your home location, we can finish up any suggested training hours with our trainers (either book private hours or shared hours with our trainers or attend another training course at CAI to acquire more practice hours during the training).
- Attend with another teacher trainee so you can practice with them after attending the training.
I've been teaching for years, does that count?
We do give credit for teaching experience. We suggest writing down everything you can think of that could count towards the practice hours on the Teacher Certification Application and during or soon after the training you'll have a one-on-one where the trainer will help you decide what to use where, determine if you're ready for the assessment or give you a plan on exactly what is needed to get there.
I think I'll need extra hours to satisfy the practice hour requirements. Can I get those at CAI?
We do offer private lessons online which can count towards the supervised hour requirements (an hour at CAI counts up to double towards satisfying the practice requirement hours). Private lessons are $100/hour and can be shared, if desired. And you can attend another training course with CAI to acquire more practice hours during the training.
How do I register for an upcoming class?
- Register and pay deposit online here.
- After your deposit and registration form is received, you will receive confirmation of space in the training in your apparatus and details via email.
How can I pay?
Deposits can be made with credit cards here.
What happens if I need to reschedule? Or if CAI reschedules or cancels?
- In the event of a cancellation by the Circus Arts Institute, rescheduling will be attempted and if rescheduling is not possible, full refunds of all deposits and prepayments will be dispersed.
- If the participant informs the Circus Arts Institute of a change in plans to not attend the course 30 days or more before the first day of training, we will gladly refund* payments made.
- If the notice is given less than 30 days prior to the first day of training, the deposit will be held and further refund* status will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
- After the training packets have been printed and mailed (approximately 3 weeks prior to the start date of training), there are no refunds.
- *All refunds incur a $35 Administrative Fee. If your rig was visited virtually by our Safety Compliance Coordinator, an additional $50 Rig Visit Fee will also apply.
