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September 30, 2026Additional Insured vs Certificate of Insurance: What’s the Difference?
If a yoga studio or event venue asks you for a certificate of insurance and additional insured status, you might assume they’re asking for the same thing.
They’re not.
While both terms usually come up when you teach outside your own practice space, they don’t have the same purpose. Knowing the difference between additional insured vs certificate of insurance can help you understand what an organization is actually asking for.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A certificate of insurance (COI) and additional insured status serve different purposes and are not interchangeable.
- A COI provides proof that a yoga instructor has active insurance and typically lists coverage types, policy dates, policy numbers, and coverage limits.
- Providing a COI does not change the terms of an insurance policy or automatically give a studio, venue, or other organization protection under the policy.
- Additional insured status gives another person or organization certain protections under the instructor’s policy, depending on the policy terms and endorsement.
- Yoga studios may request additional insured status when working with independent instructors so the studio has protection for certain covered claims arising from the instructor’s teaching.
- Event venues may also require additional insured status for workshops, retreats, or other yoga events, particularly when claims could potentially involve both the instructor and venue.
- A studio or venue may require both a COI and additional insured status: the COI verifies coverage, while additional insured status may extend certain policy protections to the organization.
- Instructors should obtain the organization’s exact legal name, required wording, minimum coverage limits, and other insurance requirements before submitting documents or finalizing an event.
- Insurance requirements can vary between studios, venues, and teaching opportunities, so instructors should ask whether they need a COI, additional insured status, or both.
- Understanding the difference between these requirements can help yoga instructors avoid administrative delays and ensure they have the correct documentation before teaching.
Why Yoga Teachers Often Confuse These Two Terms
A studio may ask you to “send your COI and add us as an additional insured,” which can make it sound like both are simply documents that prove you have insurance.
In reality, though, one shows that you have coverage, while the other gives another party certain rights under your policy. And yes, they’re related, but they aren’t interchangeable. Once you grasp this difference, it can save you from sending the wrong thing or assuming a COI does more than it actually does.
What Is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?
A certificate of insurance is a document that shows the basics of your insurance coverage. You can give it to a studio, venue, or other organization as proof that you have active coverage. Just remember, it’s not the same as your actual insurance policy.
What Information Appears on a COI?
A COI usually shows the name of the insured, the types of coverage, policy numbers, effective and expiration dates, and coverage limits. It may also show the insurance company providing the coverage.
So, when a studio asks you for a certificate of insurance for a yoga instructor, it’s asking for proof that you have coverage.
If you’re insured through beYogi, you can access your certificate of insurance through your member portal. This makes it easy to pull up your COI when a studio, venue, or event organizer asks for proof of coverage.
What a COI Does and Doesn’t Prove
A COI shows that you have insurance, but it doesn’t change the terms of your policy. It also doesn’t automatically give a studio or venue any rights under your policy. If they want additional protection, a COI alone may not be enough.
What Is an Additional Insured?
An additional insured is another person or organization that gets certain protections under your insurance policy, depending on the policy terms and endorsement. For a yoga teacher, this may come up when a studio wants protection related to your work there.
Additional insured status isn’t the same as showing that you have insurance. The other party gets certain protections under your policy instead of simply receiving a document that shows your coverage.
Why Studios Request It
A yoga studio may ask to be added as an additional insured when you teach there as an independent instructor. The idea is to make sure the studio has protection under your policy if a covered claim arises from your teaching.
For example, a student could get injured during a class and make a claim against you and the studio. Depending on your policy and endorsement, adding the studio as an additional insured can give it access to coverage related to that claim, including legal defense where the policy allows.
If you’re an independent contractor, check the studio’s insurance requirements before you agree to teach there. It may have specific requirements for instructors who teach on its premises.
Why Venues Request It for Events
You may run into a similar request when you host a workshop, retreat, or other yoga event at a venue. The venue may want proof that you have insurance and may also ask to be listed as an additional insured.
One main reason venues may ask to be added as an additional insured is to receive certain protections related to the event and your activities there. If someone is injured during your workshop and brings a claim against you and the venue, the venue may want your policy to provide protection for covered claims connected to your event.
If you have a beYogi policy, you can add an additional insured when you first purchase your coverage. If you already have an active policy and need to add a studio, venue, landlord, or other organization later, you can contact the beYogi customer support team for help completing the request. beYogi currently charges $10 per additional insured, with an option available for instructors who need to add an unlimited number of additional insured businesses.
Before submitting the request, get the exact legal name and any required wording from the venue so the additional insured information can be entered correctly.
A Real-World Example: Teaching at a Yoga Studio
Let’s say you’re hired to teach a weekly class at a local yoga studio as an independent contractor. Before your first class, the studio asks you for a COI and wants to be added as an additional insured.
This does two things:
- It gives the studio proof that you have the required insurance coverage.
- If something goes wrong and a claim arises from your teaching, the studio may have coverage for its part of the claim, depending on your policy and endorsement.
This is where COI vs additional insured can become confusing. Sending the COI alone when the studio specifically asks for both isn’t likely to satisfy the requirement.
A Real-World Example: Hosting a Retreat or Workshop
Now imagine you’re organizing a weekend yoga workshop at a hotel. The venue tells you it needs a COI and wants to be listed as an additional insured before the event.
The venue may also have specific yoga insurance requirements, such as the name that should appear on it or minimum coverage limits.
You don’t want to have your workshop planned and your venue booked, only to discover that your policy doesn’t meet one of the venue’s requirements. So, ask for those requirements before you finalize the event, then check with your insurer if anything is unclear.
When You Need One vs. Both
Additional insured vs certificate of insurance can be confusing, especially if you’re trying to figure out whether you need one or both.
You may need a COI when a studio or event organizer simply wants proof that you carry insurance. On the flip side, you may need additional insured status when an organization wants certain protections under your policy. In some cases, you may need both.
And because there isn’t one rule that applies to every teaching opportunity, your best bet is to ask exactly what the other party requires and then check your policy to make sure it meets those requirements.
Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Teaching Opportunity
Before you agree to teach at a studio or retreat, ask a few basic questions about its insurance requirements. Find out if you need to provide a COI, add the organization as an additional insured, or provide both.
You also want to ask when the documents are due and whether the organization has any specific wording or other requirements. Remember to check your own policy before you accept the opportunity. When something about the request isn’t clear, ask your insurer.
Don’t have coverage yet? beYogi Yoga Teacher Insurance can help you protect your teaching practice and meet the insurance requirements that may come with different teaching opportunities.
FAQ
Is a COI the same as additional insured?
No. A COI shows key details about your insurance coverage. Additional insured status can give another party certain protections under your policy.
Why do yoga studios ask for additional insured status?
A studio may ask for it so it has certain protections under your policy while you’re teaching there. The exact coverage depends on your policy and endorsement.
How quickly can I get a certificate of insurance?
If you purchase coverage through beYogi, you can access your certificate of insurance as soon as your policy is active. Your COI is available through your member portal, so you can download it when a studio, venue, or event organizer asks for proof of coverage.
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