Train to teach.
Instructor Course
Why FONV
More than a certification.
An education that shapes how you teach.
Taught in person
80-plus hours of in-person training, led by FONV-certified course educators.
Recognised internationally
The PMA-accredited FONV Mat & Reformer Level One — Villa is the official FONV training centre in Australia, part of a network across Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.
Hands-on from the start
Ten required practice-teaching hours across the three Villa studios — real classes, real equipment, no external placement to arrange.
A structured path
Mini-tests along the way, practical teaching hours, and a final written and physical examination — then post-course guidance and studio access outside class hours.
Pilates is not just something you practise — it’s something you learn to understand, refine, and eventually pass on.
Level One
Level One, in depth.
- Mat
- Props
- Reformer
- Basic Anatomy
- Postural Analysis
- Cueing & Communication
- Teaching Practice
Who it’s for
Passionate Pilates clients ready to go deeper, aspiring studio owners, and fitness professionals adding Pilates to their practice.
Where it leads
Graduates are eligible for international insurance and can teach globally — especially across Asia’s wellness markets, from Seoul and Tokyo to Singapore.
The Summer Intake
Learn in class. Practise in the studio.
The December intake falls across one of Villa’s quieter training periods — giving this cohort greater flexibility to use our studios for independent self-practice, observation and practice teaching outside scheduled course hours.
You’ll have the opportunity to spend more time with the equipment, repeat movements covered during training and build confidence teaching before examination — suited to students who want the space to develop their teaching gradually, rather than simply completing their required course hours.
More time to practise.
More time to teach.
More time to find your own teaching style.
Melbourne CBD 
Glen Waverley 
Carlton
Inside the Academy
What training actually looks like.
FONV Level One goes beyond learning a repertoire of exercises. You’ll learn to understand movement, observe different bodies, communicate clearly and confidently lead a Pilates session — supported by educators throughout the course, on the Academy’s own reformers, cadillacs and mat floor.
In Their Words
From student to instructor.
Three Villa teachers on training with the Academy — why they started, what surprised them, and where teaching has taken them since. Unscripted, straight from the studio floor. Press play to listen.
Jill · 0:23 Nini · 0:36 Kayli · 0:36
After the Certificate
Your certificate is the beginning.
After Level One and your final examination, you can begin applying for instructor opportunities in Melbourne, across Australia and internationally. Teach locally, take the qualification overseas, build experience alongside your current career — or eventually open a space of your own. There is no single pathway after certification.
Train here. Teach here.
Villa regularly looks for new instructors across our studios, and Academy students and graduates form our internal hiring pool. A position is never offered automatically — selection is competitive, weighing teaching ability, cueing, confidence, movement knowledge and fit with the Villa teaching style — but your training gives our team the chance to watch you develop, from your first practice teach through to examination.
Melbourne → London → Melbourne
Vivian Chen
After completing her training through FONV Melbourne, Vivian took her teaching overseas — six months as a Pilates instructor in London — before returning home. She now teaches at Villa Pilates.
Medan, Indonesia · Batch 3 Graduate
Celine
After her FONV certification in Melbourne, Celine became an instructor and studio owner in Medan, Indonesia — creating In Pilates Mood, now on Instagram as @inpilatesmood.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia · Ex-Villa Instructor
Annabel
After being certified by FONV and teaching at Villa Pilates, Annabel became a studio owner in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — creating Arise Pilates studio and the Arise Wellness Community.
Employment at Villa Pilates is a separate, competitive recruitment process — never guaranteed by course completion. International opportunities are subject to each studio’s, employer’s and country’s own hiring, visa and qualification requirements.
Intakes & Applications
Upcoming intakes.
LV1
December 2026
Applications open
View timetable (PDF), December 2026 intake
$6,500AUD · full course
LV1
March 2027
Applications to be confirmed
Apply for the December 2026 intake
Tell us a little about you.
You don’t need to already be an instructor. Our Level One students include passionate Pilates clients, future studio owners, career changers and health or fitness professionals wanting to expand their practice.
Complete the short application below and our Academy team will be in touch regarding the December intake and upcoming course dates.
Beyond Level One
Level Two, when you’re ready.
Level Two takes certified instructors deeper — advanced Mat and Reformer work, then the Cadillac, the Chair and the Barrel, with advanced anatomy and postural analysis for one-on-one and clinical settings.
Entry is FONV Level One. Trained in Mat, Reformer and basic anatomy at another institution? A passed bridging exam opens the same door — book the bridging exam over WhatsApp.
FONV graduates join local and international seminars — with 25% off all future training.
FAQs
Asked and answered.
What does Level One actually involve?
The course runs 28 hours of theory, 20 hours of practice and 76 hours of training, blended across online study and in-person sessions at the Villa studios — closing on the final written and physical examination.
Who can do the course?
Anyone serious about teaching — no fitness background required. Cohorts span career changers, allied health professionals like physiotherapists and osteopaths, certified instructors deepening their practice, and international students.
What do I need to teach in Australia?
Graduates can apply for national Pilates instructor insurance on completing the course. A Certificate III/IV in Fitness is only required by commercial gyms — boutique studios and clinical settings accept certificate-trained instructors.
Where do graduates end up working?
Teaching group classes and private sessions, mentoring newer instructors, and working in studios around the world — the certificate travels. A place at Villa is never automatic: our graduates interview like any other applicant.
What happens if I miss a day?
Two make-up sessions are covered within your course fees. Each session beyond those is $150.
Have a question before applying?
Not sure whether the course is right for you? Questions about prior Pilates experience, course structure, payment or future teaching pathways are always welcome — chat to the Academy on WhatsApp.
The Association
The association behind the certificate.
FONV certifies instructors through official training centres across Asia and Australia — Villa is its Australian home. Explore the global network, or follow the association on Instagram.