Yoga Certification Board

What Yoga Certification Board does

Yoga Certification Board (YCB) is a statutory certification body established by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, headquartered in New Delhi. It operates the only government-recognized framework for certifying yoga professionals in India across nine levels — Yoga Volunteer, Yoga Protocol Instructor, Yoga Wellness Instructor, Yoga Teacher & Evaluator, Yoga Master, Assistant Yoga Therapist, Yoga Therapist, Therapeutic Yoga Consultant, and School Yoga Teachers (Primary/Secondary). YCB delivers certification through a sanctioned network of 20 approved Personnel Certification Bodies (PrCBs) and 20 leading yoga institutions, supplemented by 59+ accredited Yoga Training Centers and 4 Yoga Therapy Centers, with international reach via the Japan Organization for Yoga Certification (JOYC).

The underlying technology consists of an online portal hosted on the Government of India's NIC infrastructure (yogacertificationboard.nic.in/mis) that supports registration, examination scheduling, certificate issuance, verification, and Continuing Yoga Education Programme (CYEP) renewal. The portal tracks over 539,918+ issued certificates with unique certification numbers, and PrCBs conducting assessments are required to hold NABCB accreditation. The board publishes standardized syllabi, information brochures (English and Hindi), and exam calendars through its website and social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube), and coordinates annual International Day of Yoga (IDY) activities with the Ministry of AYUSH.

YCB's business model is primarily government-funded rather than commercially driven, with supplementary revenue from enrollment fees (revised periodically via official notifications). Its go-to-market is sales-led via accredited institutions and PrCBs, with distribution tiered by certification level — entry levels delivered through broad training-center networks and advanced/therapeutic levels concentrated at premier institutions such as MDNIY, S-VYASA, Patanjali Yogpeeth, Isha Foundation, Kaivalyadhama, KYM, and The Yoga Institute. Leadership rests with Dr. Kashinath Samagandi as Head of Institution, and the organization operates with a lean staff of approximately 34 employees.

Name

Yoga Certification Board

Legal name

Yoga Certification Board, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India

Website

https://yogacertificationboard.nic.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yoga Certification Board (YCB) is a Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India statutory body that certifies yoga professionals across nine competency levels through 20 approved PrCBs and 59+ accredited institutions, serving individual practitioners, yoga schools, and K-12 teachers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yoga Professional Certification

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) & Pilates Instructor Training (HSADACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Training (Teaching/Instructional Design) Certifications (EDAAANAM), General Yoga Instruction (Hatha/Vinyasa/Flow) (HSADACAA)

Keywords

• Yoga professional certification
• Yoga institution accreditation
• Continuing yoga education
• Government yoga certification
• Yoga curriculum standards

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Fees: YCB charges enrollment fees from yoga professionals seeking certification at various levels. The board has issued notifications for revised enrollment fees. Revenue supports certification operations, assessment activities, and administrative functions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Yoga Certification Board (YCB) is a government-established certification authority that issues standardized yoga professional credentials across nine levels (from Yoga Volunteer to Therapeutic Yoga Consultant) and accredits yoga institutions, training centers, therapy centers, and Personnel Certification Bodies (PrCBs) in India. Operating under the Ministry of AYUSH, YCB also delivers a Continuing Yoga Education (CYE) programme and a School Yoga Teacher Certification track through its online portal and approved PrCB network.

Product overview

Yoga Certification Board (YCB), established by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, operates a certification and accreditation platform for yoga professionals and institutions. The core offering includes a multi-level certification system (Yoga Volunteer through Therapeutic Yoga Consultant) administered through an approved network of Personnel Certification Bodies (PrCBs) and validated via an online certificate portal tracking over 500,000+ certifications. The platform also provides institutional accreditation for yoga training centers, therapy centers, and educational institutions, along with Continuing Yoga Education (CYE) programs for professional renewal. Supporting services include standardized syllabi, school-specific yoga teacher training, and downloadable informational materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Yoga Professional Certification (YCP) A standardized, government-recognized certification programme offered across nine progressive levels (from Yoga Volunteer to Therapeutic Yoga Consultant) for individual yoga practitioners, teachers, and therapists. The certification is delivered through approved PrCBs and the YCB online portal, and serves as the primary credentialing pathway under the Ministry of AYUSH.
• Accreditation of Yoga Institution/Center (YIAC) An accreditation scheme for yoga schools, training institutions, and therapy centers that authorizes them to deliver YCB-aligned training and conduct certification assessments. The programme covers Leading Yoga Institutions (LYI), Yoga Therapy Centers (YTC), and Personnel Certification Bodies (PrCB) designations.
• Continuing Yoga Education (CYE) Programme A continuing education programme that enables already-certified yoga professionals to renew and upgrade their credentials, stay current with YCB syllabus updates, and meet ongoing professional development requirements.
• School Yoga Teacher Certification A specialized certification track designed to train and credential yoga teachers specifically for school-based yoga instruction, supporting the integration of yoga into the national school education framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• 539,918+ yoga professionals certified with digital verification
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.

• Japan Organization for Yoga Certification (JOYC)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational partnership to implement the Indian Yoga Certification System in Japan. JOYC ensures proper environment and evaluation processes for certification management and promotes the certification system in Japan.
• Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutonomous organization under Ministry of AYUSH, fully funded by the ministry. Focal institute for planning, training, promotion and coordination of Yoga Education, Training, Therapy and Research. Emerged from Central Research Institute for Yoga established in 1976.
• Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeemed to be University, premier Yoga University in India, recognized as Centre of Excellence of Yoga and Yoga research by Ministry of AYUSH. Accredited with A+ Grade by NAAC and UGC as Cat-I University.
• Pragyan FoundationmajorTechnology or IntegrationPublic Charitable Trust registered under Indian Registration Act, 1908, with 12A and 80G approvals. Conducts assessment and certification of Yoga and other Professionals as per YCB guidelines.
• Indian Yoga Association-PrCBmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaiden effort by Government of India bringing together all leading Yoga Institutions following lineages of more than 25-30 years under one umbrella. Made PrCB approved under the Scheme for Voluntary Certification of Yoga Professionals.
• Bureau Veritas India Pvt LtdmajorTechnology or IntegrationOne of the leading training service providers in India with suite of training courses delivered by experienced trainers. Provides certification services including Yoga Certification under YCB.
• TQ Cert Services Private LimitedmajorTechnology or IntegrationRecognized as one of the world's leading certification and inspection organisations spanning over 41 countries with 16 offices. Accredited by NABCB in India. Provides Management System Certification, Food Certification, Yoga Certification, and Product Certification.
• Isha FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDedicated to raising human consciousness and fostering global harmony through individual transformation. Guided by Sadhguru, offers variety of programs exploring yoga science in all dimensions. Operates as Leading Yoga Institution.
• Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of Chennai's most well-known yoga landmarks, established in 1976 as non-profit Public Charitable Trust. Premier center of Yoga and Yoga Therapy in India, recognized by YCB as Leading Yoga Institute. Has SIRO recognition from DSIR.
• Patanjali Yogpeeth (Trust)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEstablished to impart vocational education among youth, induce indigenous art of living, and propagate and promote Yoga and Ayurveda. Operates as Leading Yoga Institution under YCB.
• KaivalyadhamacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLegacy of coordination of Modern Sciences and Traditional Yoga. Proposes research work and higher education in sociology, spiritual and physical culture. Founded in Lonavla, operates as Leading Yoga Institution.
• The Yoga InstitutecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounded in 1918 by Yogendraji, promotes Classical Yoga for householders. Awarded Prime Minister's Award in 2018 centennial year. Has contributed to holistic development of communities worldwide.
• Gujarat State Yog BoardmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirst Yog Board in India, created by Government of Gujarat. Acts as PrCB for yoga certification in Gujarat state.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Bureau Veritas India: Bureau Veritas India is an approved YCB PrCB and a leading global testing, inspection, and certification company. It is relevant as a service partner that YCB depends on for assessments and as a benchmark for how large commercial certification operators monetize their services.
• CCRYN (Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy): CCRYN is a Ministry of AYUSH autonomous research body that complements YCB's certification role with research, training, and policy input for yoga and naturopathy. It is part of the same AYUSH ecosystem and relevant as an institutional comparator on government-funded yoga infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Yoga Alliance: Yoga Alliance is the most comparable global yoga registry and certification body (RYT-200/500) headquartered in the US. It serves an analogous function as YCB—credentialing yoga teachers and accrediting schools—although it is a private membership organization rather than a government body, making it the closest product-and-functionality peer.
• International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT): IAYT is a US-based professional membership organization that certifies yoga therapists and accredits yoga therapy training programs—directly paralleling YCB's Yoga Therapist and Therapeutic Yoga Consultant tracks and Yoga Therapy Center accreditation scheme. It operates in the same credentialing-and-accreditation niche globally.
• Indian Yoga Association: IYA is a domestic yoga membership and self-regulatory body that aggregates institutions under the YCB Scheme and operates its own approved PrCB. It overlaps directly with YCB in standardizing Indian yoga credentials and rival membership-of-practitioners models.

Regional players

• Yoga Australia: Yoga Australia is a national-level membership and teacher registry organization providing minimum standards and credential recognition in Australia. Comparable as a regional alternative to YCB for certifying yoga professionals outside India.
• European Yoga Federation: European Yoga Federation is a continental professional federation providing standards and member accreditation for yoga teachers across Europe. It is comparable as a regional yoga credentialing body competing in the international mind-share market that YCB seeks to enter.

Broad incumbents

• Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY): MDNIY is an autonomous body under the same Ministry of AYUSH that delivers yoga education, training, and therapy. It functions as a sister institution to YCB—offering government-backed yoga instruction rather than certification—and together with YCB forms the AYUSH yoga ecosystem.
• National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB): NABCB is the accreditation body that approves PrCBs operating under YCB's voluntary certification scheme. It serves the same accreditation function YCB relies on, at a higher cross-sector level, and is core to how YCB's ecosystem maintains quality.
• Quality Council of India (QCI): QCI is the apex national quality body that previously operated YCB's certification framework and continues to accredit PrCBs via NABCB. It is comparable as a broader umbrella certification and accreditation authority that YCB sits within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YCB_YOGA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCggYECWeLSZyXJaoGVqu2vw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ycb18
• Instagraminstagram.com/yoga_certification_board
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yoga-certification-board

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yoga Certification Board