Whether you’re new to teaching or a season veteran, certification is one of the best ways to advance your career as a ski instructor. Most ski schools offer increased pay and standing to certified instructors, with the benefits generally increasing at higher levels of certification. Once you become certified, you are required to maintain your certification by fulfilling the PSIA-AASI Continuing Education requirements.
The standards for each level can be found in the PSIA Alpine Certification Standards. For detailed information about the certification process for each level, please see the page for that level which is linked to below.
Level I
The Alpine Level I assessment is the first step in your exciting career as a ski instructor. Many instructors take this assessment their first season teaching. While this is an assessment event, coaching will be provided. This is unique to the Alpine Level I assessment. During the two days, your NRM education staff member/assessor will help guide you through the assessment in all three modules.
The assessment entails scored modules in Ski Performance, Movement Analysis and Technical Understanding, and Teaching and People Skills. You must pass all three modules to receive your Level I certification.
Level II
PSIA-certified Level II alpine instructors must be able to ski all green and blue terrain (including bumps and other un-groomed conditions) and groomed, moderate black terrain. Alpine Level II certified instructors are expected to teach adults and children through the Intermediate Zone.
The Level II assessment has 3-modules: Ski Performance, Movement Analysis/Technical Understanding, Teaching/People Skills. The modules can be taken in any order or succession the candidate prefers. Once a module is passed, the candidate does not need to retake that module again. You must pass all three modules to receive your Level II certification.
Level III
PSIA-certified Level III alpine instructors must be able to ski all green and blue terrain and black terrain (double black where available) in most conditions. PSIA-certified Level III alpine instructors are expected to teach adults and children through the Advanced Zone. According the PSIA Alpine Technical Manual, “Skiers in this zone range from those who can handle the easiest groomed black runs to experts who can apply a variety of turn shapes to control speed on any type of terrain, in any snow condition.”
The Level III assessment has 3-modules: Ski Performance, Movement Analysis/Technical Understanding, Teaching/People Skills. The modules can be taken in any order or succession the candidate prefers. Once a module is passed, the candidate does not need to retake that module. You must pass all three modules to receive your Level III certification.
