Summit Ski School

Instructor qualifications

With so many qualifiying bodies and levels of ski qualification how do you know your teacher is actually qualified? Well the best thing to do is ask!

As a British school most of our instructors are qualified through the BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors) system. You can read here about what is involved in reaching each qualification in this system.

All instructors work their way through the system. Summit instructors generally move faster due to the training and level of support we offer withing the school.

Our training team is made up of 4 BASI level 4's one of whom is also a BASI Trainer/Examiner. Three of these also hold the Swiss Level 3 qualification.

Become an Instructor

If you are interested in becoming an instructor then there are a few different routes into the profession.

Independent booking

It is possible to simply look on the BASI website and book your level 1 and follow the progression from there. This can be a more cost effective way but it can be hard to get the required hours between courses at the early stages

GAP Courses

By booking on a GAP course such as The GAP Academy you have a lot of the logistics taken care for you. Usually they are in a 10 week format with a week or 2 training followed by the Level 1 course. Next you have around 6 weeks training and shadowing before meeting your next trainer for the Level 2 course. On succesful completion of this you can start looking for work in the Alps (except France!)

Other nations

If your languages are good and you are interested in learning in a country in particular then you can find out about that nations training system, most are pretty happy to let you enrol and start from the beginning.

 

 

 

 

THE BASI SYSTEM

Level 1

This qualifies instructors to teach in a non-mountain environment (eg on a dry slope). To achieve this qualification you must:

- Pass Level 1 technical/teaching module (1 week)
- Have a valid first aid certificate
- Have 35 logged hours of ski school experience

Level 2

This qualifies instructors to teach in the mountains. To achieve this qualification you must:

- Pass Level 2 technical/teaching module (2 weeks)
- Have a valid first aid certificate
- Have 35 logged hours of shadowing
(additional to the hours achieved for the Level 1)

Level 3

At this qualification instructors achieve their ISIA. The ISIA is huge achievement as it is an international standard, which is normally given out at the country’s top level. To achieve this qualification you must:

- Pass Level 3 teaching course (1 week)
- Pass Level 3 technical course (2 weeks)
- Pass the week common theory course (1 week)
- Pass the week long coaching course (1 week)
- Pass Level 3 mountain safety course (1 week)
- Pass the Level 1 in a second discipline (1 week)
- Speak a second language
- Have a valid first aid certificate
- Have 200 logged teaching hours

Level 4

At this qualification instructors achieve their ISTD (the International Ski Teachers Diploma). This is the top qualification in the British system and instructors with this qualification can work all over the world. To achieve this qualification you must:

- Pass Level 4 teaching course (1 week)
- Pass Level 4 technical course (1 week)
- Attend Euro Mountain Safety Training (4 days)
- Pass Euro Mountain Safety Assessment (3 days)
- Pass the European speed test
- Complete a research project
- Have an interview

For more information see www.basi.org.uk

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