How to become an Alexander Technique teacher in the UK

Becoming a teacher of the Alexander Technique involves a substantial period of practical training and personal development. In the UK, the profession is self-regulated, with standards set and maintained by the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT), the principal professional body.

Training requirements

In order to qualify as a teacher, it is usual to complete a training on a recognised course. STAT-affiliated courses are required to provide a minimum of 1,600 hours of training, together with 800 hours of home study, normally undertaken over a period of at least three years. Most courses accept both part-time and full-time students.

The training is not primarily academic in the conventional sense. It is based on practical, hands-on work, through which students develop both their own use and their ability to communicate the principles of the Alexander Technique to others. Most courses are structured around a predominantly practical approach, supported by reading, discussion and reflection.

While full-time training typically takes place over three years, many courses - including MATTS - also offer part-time routes, allowing training to be completed over a longer period.

Prior experience

Training courses are intended for students who already have a substantial personal experience of the Alexander Technique, usually through a course of individual lessons and other classes over a period of time.

Many prospective students take time to become more familiar with the training process before deciding whether to undertake professional training. It is generally advised to visit at least one training course and participate in classes, or attend more intensively on a provisional basis as part of this process.

Nature of the training

Training as a teacher involves a combination of:

hands-on practical work
observation of teaching
discussion and reflection
the gradual development of teaching skill

The process is cumulative and cannot be meaningfully accelerated without loss of depth. For this reason, training is spread over several years, allowing time for changes in a student's own use of themselves and understanding of the principles of the Alexander Technique to become established.

Qualification and professional recognition

On successful completion of a STAT-approved training course, graduates are eligible to apply for membership of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT).

Graduates of some courses (including MATTS) are also eligible to apply for registration with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) without further examination. CNHC registration is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) and is increasingly required for professional practice in healthcare and educational settings.

Personal and professional outcomes

Many students undertake the training initially for personal development or as a way of deepening a long-standing engagement with the Technique. And, although this is not required in order to train, most graduates go on to teach the Alexander Technique as a profession, either in private practice or in educational, healthcare or performing arts settings.

The training can therefore be understood both as a professional qualification and as a sustained course of study in its own right.

Training at MATTS

MATTS offers a STAT-approved teacher training course based near Manchester. The course fulfils and exceeds all the requirements for STAT approval and CNHC registration and follows the established framework outlined above.

A distinctive feature of MATTS is its flexibility. While full-time training is available, most students train part-time, attending classes in a way that fits their individual circumstances. Students are completely free to determine their own pattern of attendance, allowing the training to develop alongside other professional and personal commitments.

Further information

For a fuller understanding of training and how it is experienced in practice, you may find the following pages helpful:

→ Deciding to train as an AT teacher
A more detailed look at the process of considering and undertaking training.

→ What training is like at MATTS
An overview of the day-to-day experience of training on the course.

→ Why train at MATTS
Further information about the teaching environment, structure, and approach.

→ Visit Us
Practical information about visiting the course, including location and times.

→ Training FAQs
Answers to common questions about training, structure, and expectations.

→ Training course handbook
Complete details of the course, including policies, structure, and requirements.