Assessor in Training (AIT) Program

Prospective AITs Must:

  1. Be an IYNAUS member and CIYT in good standing, and be acting as a mentor or teacher educator
  2. Have held a Level 3 or higher certificate for at least three years
  3. Be currently teaching
  4. Be acting as a formal mentor and have mentored at least two students who have passed their Level 1 assessment
  5. Be living in the US
  6. Have attended in-person classes at RIMYI or an in-person RIMYI sponsored intensive since 2017
  7. Be in good health and have the ability to contribute effectively prior to and during the assessment weekend
  8. Demonstrate congenial behavior and graciousness towards candidates, fellow assessors, Zoom hosts, and volunteer students
  9. Have the ability to easily navigate the basic function of the Zoom platform
  10. Meet all the qualifications for assessors (see below)

How to Apply

Prospective AITs can apply via a google form available from the assessment chair, assessment.chair@iynaus.org. Arrange for one active assessor in good standing to provide a recommendation of your ability to work effectively as a team member. Fill out the application form and share the link to the assessor recommendation form with the recommending assessor. The assessment chair will send the applicant and their recommending teachers the application forms to complete.

After review of the application and recommendation, prospective AITs will be informed of their acceptance to the AIT program.

Considerations for Recommending a Candidate to be an AIT

Teaching experience, ongoing professional development, participation in IYNAUS committees or events, attendance at IYNAUS conventions, ability to work in committees, and attendance at RIMYI (in person or online) should be considered when recommending a candidate. Candidates should be fair and flexible-minded, able to work in a team setting, and have excellent oral and written communication skills.

The AIT Program

AITs for Level 1 assessments will attend one training with the AIT Committee and one assessment with assessor panels that do not include their recommending teacher. AITs must be present at all events and deliberations of the assessment, where they will practice scoring candidates. They may be asked to participate in discussions at the discretion of the assessors. The AIT’s scoring carries no weight at an assessment, but it allows them to become familiar with the scoring system and to compare their evaluation of the candidates with those of other assessors. The individual assessors and AIT will be invited to fill out an evaluation webform immediately following the assessment.

After the AIT has observed an assessment, the IYNAUS Assessment Committee will review the AIT’s evaluation forms and either write a letter of acceptance, recommend further study as an AIT, or recommend withdrawal from the program. Upon full acceptance, new assessors are asked to commit to assessing for four consecutive years after completion of the program.

What a Graduate AIT is qualified to do

Completing the AIT program will qualify the AIT to assess Level 1 assessments. Graduates must meet all the qualifications of an assessor as outlined below before they are assigned to their first assessment.

All Assessors Must:

  1. Be a member of IYNAUS and a CIYT in good standing. (See below for certification level requirements.)
  2. Be currently teaching.
  3. Be currently acting as a mentor. 
  4. Be current with the teachings of Iyengar Yoga.
  5. Have attended in-person or online classes with RIMYI or an in-person RIMYI sponsored intensive, or month-long period of study since 2017.
  6. Be in good health and have the ability to contribute effectively during the long assessment weekends. 
  7. Demonstrate congenial assessor team behavior and graciousness towards candidates, fellow assessors, Zoom hosts, volunteer students, and host venues.
  8. Have the ability to easily navigate the essential functions of the Zoom platform.

All assessors may assess Level 1. To assess Level 2, assessors must complete two Level 1 assessments and either complete a Level 2 assessor training with the Assessment Committee or observe a Level 2 assessment as an AIT. To assess Level 3, assessors must have been an assessor for both Level 1 and 2 assessments and complete a Level 3 training with the Assessment Committee or have observed at least one Level 3 assessment as an AIT.

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