How to be a Ski Instructor

For anyone with a love for the mountains, becoming an instructor is the ideal job. You get paid to spend season after season in the mountains, doing what you love, and as you build up your qualifications you will be able to earn significant cash to pay your way. Another bonus is the recent extension to the Southern hemisphere winter season which means that ski instructors are now able to generate income year round.

In order to become a ski instructor and teach in the mountains you need to gain the necessary qualifications. There are a handful of qualifications on offer from various governing bodies around the globe, all of which are internationally recognized but have differing degrees of recognition.

There are a handful of ski instructor training organizations. Basecamp Ski and Snowboard have been operating since 2002, and offer both the British (BASI) ski instructor qualifications and also the Canadian (CSIA) ski instructor qualifications. As a rule of thumb a Level 1 and Level 2 ski qualification will be enough to work in the mountains, and Basecamp offer these two qualifications over their 11 week ski instructor course. On this programme you have 7 weeks of training, and 3 weeks of actual examinations.

In order to work as an instructor the following acts as a basic four step guideline:

1 Learn how to ski. It may be obvious, but you must be a proficient skier in order to become an instructor of skiing. If you don't already know how to ski, take lessons. If you have some skiing experience but need to brush up on your skills, take lessons. In general the instructor courses will offer you training as part of the programme, so you will need to be able to ski to a basic level and then the course will provide all of the training required in order to pass the qualifications.

2 Get certified. You need to consider which governing body you want to be qualified by. This will ultimately depend on which resorts and region you would like to work in. The British governing body is called BASI, and various training organizations run these courses around Europe. Basecamp were the first organization to offer these in the Alps. In Canada ski instructors will take the CSIA certification. Both are internationally recognized but will be accepted in different countries.

3 Find a job. Check out newspaper want ads, online want ads, Internet listings and other publications for available positions throughout the country (or the world) as a ski instructor. Many times, right at the onset of the winter season and just before the first snow, ski lodges and ski schools are actively looking for instructors to hire. Submit your resume to as many employers as possible, making sure you include all of your skiing experience, teaching experience and certifications.

The organization who train you may be able to find you work for the season. For example, Basecamp offer a recruitment service for all of their past Riders.

4 Stay current. Make sure that you regularly check the certification requirements as well as any new instructional suggestions that will keep you employable. You will also have the opportunity to upgrade your qualifications, as the further you move up the rankings the more employable you will be, and the more you will be paid.

5 Smile and make an impression! Getting continual work as an instructor is all about positive customer referrals and feedback. You need to grow a network of people around you, and ultimately you are able to work as a freelance instructor you will be able to earn more, and this will only come from having a handful of customers who love the way you teach, and enjoy spending time with you on the mountain.

Good luck! It’s a great way of life, and one that will keep you happy for many years to come!

Looking for the BASI ski during the gap year, then you should have a look at our BASI Ski Instructor course