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Instructor Certification
The objective of the Yang Family Tai Chi Instructor System is to train, nurture and sustain dedicated qualified teachers of Yang Family tai chi chuan who impart the high standards of the Yang Family in their teaching as well as in their behavior and actions in and out of the classroom.
The Training Standards department oversees instructor certification, the Instructors Registry, the Instructor Examiners and Authorized Instructor Seminars. Association members who meet the requirements to become instructors may apply. The application forms give specific instructions and can be obtained here
For more information contact: ts-dept@yangfamilytaichi.com.
Instructor levels are based on the instructor’s years of experience, proficiency as a student of Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan, proficiency as an instructor, and recognition and contributions to the community and Association. All instructors are required to continually participate in seminars and training events to grow and improve as instructors.
The five levels of instructor are: Associate Instructor, Certified Instructor, Academy Instructor, Senior Instructor and Master Instructor. New applicants for instructor must begin at the Associate Instructor level regardless of previous experience or background. The association’s instructor levels are sequential, and applicants may not skip any instructor levels.
The general requirements and the requirements for each level of instructor are detailed on the application form and must be met for the applicant to be successful. They include an assessment of the applicant’s teaching skills and the applicant’s commitment and adherence to the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Morals and Commandments.
Selected by the Association they are Academy or higher Instructors who can assess in 6 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. They can assess the instructor applicant’s teaching performance either in person or by video.
Can assess the teaching performance of Associate, Certified and Academy Instructor applicants by observing the applicants directly in person or by accessing a live stream class. They will not perform video assessments.
A list of Local Examiners is available here.
Instructors interested in becoming Local Examiners must apply to the Training Standards Department by submitting the application form available here.
Renewal Cycle for Instructors
The continuing education requirements by instructor levels, for instructors renewing their certification are described below:
Attend at least one (1) seminar every two (2) years with Master Yang Jun, or one (1) authorized seminar every two (2) years with an Academy Instructor, Senior Instructor or Master Instructor. Five (5) hours of on-line courses taught by Master Yang Jun or by Academy Instructors or higher-level instructor qualify as one seminar and may be attended at different times
Attend at least two (2) Directors and Instructors Seminars every four (4) years.
Attend at least two (2) Directors and Instructors Seminars every five (5) years.
The required documents for renewal are listed in the Instructors Renewal Application form. Instructor certification should be renewed two months before the expiration date of the instructor certificate.
In extraordinary circumstances where instructors are unable to meet all the renewal requirements, along with the application form, they should send a letter to the Training Standards Department stating their case for consideration.
Association authorized instructor seminars qualify for meeting seminar requirements for instructor applicants and for Associate and Certified Instructor continuing education requirements. They can only be offered by Academy, Senior and Master Instructors who have submitted a request for course authorization at least two months in advance of the date of the event to the Training Standards Department at
All association Instructors are expected to:
Continuing education and skill improvement in Yang Family Tai Chi and tai chi chuan in general is expected of all approved instructors of the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association. Seminars, training events, and special events offered by the association will help all instructors to meet this expectation.
School and center directors, association officers, department and division heads are available to assist members and instructors. Instructors may arrange for additional assistance and evaluation of their teaching and performance. It is recommended that new instructors work with their local school or center, National Training Headquarters and academy instructors to continuously improve their teaching skills.
For more information, contact the Training Standards Department at
or by mail at:
Training Standards Department, IYFTCCA
P.O. Box 345
Birmingham, MI 48012 USA