AYUSH YCB vs Yoga Alliance: which certificate do you need?

We have written separately and in detail about what Yoga Alliance RYS and RYT really mean. This page sets it beside the Indian system, because the two are often confused, and some schools blur them on purpose. For the bigger picture, start with how to choose a 200-hour yoga teacher training.

YCB and Yoga Alliance side by side

Figures change, so confirm current fees on the YCB and Yoga Alliance websites before you plan around them.

What the Yoga Certification Board is

YCB was set up by the Ministry of AYUSH to give India a single, government-backed standard for yoga professionals. It approves training institutions, and it approves personnel certification bodies to run its exams. Candidates sit a written test and a practical assessment of their own practice and teaching.

The levels are progressive. Level 1, Yoga Protocol Instructor, qualifies you to lead the Common Yoga Protocol, the standard sequence used on International Day of Yoga and in public programmes. Level 2, Yoga Wellness Instructor, qualifies you to teach yoga for general wellness. Level 3, Yoga Teacher and Evaluator, is for experienced teachers who also assess others.

Foreign nationals can take YCB exams; some Indian embassies have acted as exam centres through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. In practice most YCB candidates are Indian, and the certificate carries most weight inside India.

What Yoga Alliance is

Yoga Alliance is a register, not an examiner. A school submits a syllabus that meets its 200-hour standard and pays a fee to become a Registered Yoga School. Its graduates can then pay to list themselves as Registered Yoga Teachers. Nobody from Yoga Alliance watches you teach.

That is not a criticism; it is simply what the organisation does. Its value is that it is the name studio owners abroad recognise, and some insurers and gyms ask for it.

Which one do you need?

• You want to teach in India, in schools, corporate wellness or government programmes: YCB is the credential that counts. Many Indian employers now ask for it.
• You want to teach in a studio or gym abroad that asks for RYT: you need a course at a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School. Ask the studio first; many do not ask.
• You want to teach independently, run your own classes or retreats, or deepen your practice: neither is required. Your students will judge you on your teaching.
• You want both: it is possible. Some Indian schools are approved by both, and some teachers sit the YCB exam after an RYS training.

Before you pay a deposit anywhere, email the two or three studios where you would most like to teach and ask what they require. It takes ten minutes and settles the question for your situation, which no article can.

How to check what a school claims

Both registers can be checked, and you should check them. Yoga Alliance has a public directory of schools on its website. YCB publishes lists of approved institutions and certification bodies. A school that says "government certified" should be able to tell you exactly which board and which level.

Watch for wording that implies more than it says, such as "Yoga Alliance standard syllabus" from a school that is not registered, or "AYUSH approved" for a course that only teaches the protocol. These are covered in our red flags guide.

Where our own course stands

Since we are asking you to check everyone else: our 200-hour teacher training in Fort Kochi is not a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School course and is not a YCB certification. Graduates receive the school’s own 200-hour certificate, from a school whose founder, Master Aksharanand A S, trained in the Sivananda tradition, has taught in Fort Kochi for over fifteen years and has led more than seventy international teacher training batches.

For many students, that trade is right: €899 all-inclusive for 28 days, small groups and a traditional teacher. For some it is not, and they should choose a registered course with our blessing. Our article on what a 200-hour training in India really costs sets out how registration affects the price.

Common questions

Is YCB certification better than Yoga Alliance?

Neither is better in general. YCB is a government exam that carries most weight in India; Yoga Alliance is a private register that studios abroad recognise most. Choose by where you plan to teach.

Is Yoga Alliance recognised in India?

It is widely known, especially in tourist areas and international studios, but for government and institutional jobs in India the YCB certificate is usually what employers ask for.

Can foreigners get YCB certification?

Yes. Foreign nationals can sit YCB exams, and some Indian embassies have acted as exam centres. Check current arrangements on the YCB website.

How much does Yoga Alliance registration cost?

A one-time US$50 application fee and US$65 a year in membership dues, according to Yoga Alliance. Your course must be at a Registered Yoga School.

Do I need any certification to teach yoga?

In most countries no law requires one. Studios, gyms and insurers set their own requirements, so ask the places where you plan to teach.