CHOOSING A COURSE - CAREER

STEP 1 - DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO WORK

Choosing which country you want to work in as a ski instructor is where it all begins. It might sound like we have this all in-reverse but there is a very good reason for this.

Every country has its own qualification system, some countries even have more than one. Those qualifications are not always recognised by other countries. So, you need to ensure you choose one that is recognised by the country you want to work in, or at the very least one that is well recognised across the globe. Having to retrain is expensive and time consuming.

For example, if you only ever want to work in Canada, then choosing a CSIA qualification could be your best bet. This is their own qualification and one they are proud of so getting a job will be easier. The downside of this is that CSIA qualifications are not well recognised in Europe so you would not be able to work as a ski instructor in French, Austrian or Italian ski resorts.

On the other hand you have BASI. This is recognised across Europe and will allow you to get a job in Canada, although you will need to spend a little longer on your CV. This gives you far greater flexibility.

STEP 2 - CHOOSING A SKI INSTRUCTOR SYSTEM

Once you have decided where you want to work, it is time to choose the best ski instructor training system for that area. We mentioned two earlier BASI which is the British Association of Snowsports instructors and CSIA the Canadian Ski instructors Alliance.

We have a detailed page on our website explaining where each qualification system lets you work, but in general; the Austrian, British, French and Italian systems give you the greatest amount of freedom with unrivalled international recognition.

The American or Canadian systems give you the highest chance of gaining employment in those respective countries but can be severely limiting in Europe.

The Southern Hemisphere systems are well recognised in Australia, New Zealand or Japan. Although you are unlikely to find the same level of local favouritism as you would in Canada or the US. The Australian system can be used in parts of Europe but is not viewed with the same level of prestige as many European qualifications and will never allow you to teach in France or Italy.

STEP 3 - CHOOSING A SKI INSTRUCTOR COURSE

Once you know which system you want to train in, then the process gets much easier. Most systems have training partners who offer courses at every level of the qualification and are monitored to ensure quality stays high. We for example are a BASI business partner.

Your chosen system will be able to point you towards these providers, a quick google search will do the same.

Now that is done your main focus is choosing a course that fits your needs. Some courses include more training, some will include jackets, some will be shorter, longer, or run through the summer. The options are almost endless.

Beware of hidden extra charges - All course providers will have similar costs that they need to cover. If one course is dramatically cheaper than another, there will almost certainly be a good reason for this. Do a detailed check to find out what if anything is missing. Have they left the exam costs out (A common error in BASI courses is that they don’t include the BASI level 2). Is the accommodation any good? How much food do you get?

We have put a blank checklist at the back of this booklet that you can use to compare all providers on the things that matter.