SKI INSTRUCTOR

There are 2 levels of UK Snowsport instructor qualification. Each is designed to fulfill a specific role in the Snowsports workforce:-

  • The L1 Foundation Instructor licensed to deliver lessons to from beginner up to early intermediate

  • The L2 Instructor is licensed to deliver lessons at all levels from beginner to advanced

LEVEL 1 FOUNDATION SKI INSTRUCTOR

The L1 Foundation Ski or Snowboard Instructor qualification licenses candidates to teach beginners and early intermediates up to plough parallel at UK ski centres. The qualification can be used in UK artificial ski centres and also in Scottish mountain ski resorts, once the candidate completes an additional 1 day of mountain induction training.

LEVEL 2 SKI INSTRUCTOR

The L2 Ski or Snowboard Instructor licenses candidates to teach at all levels at UK ski centres. The qualification can not only be used in UK artificial ski centres but it can also be used in Scottish mountain ski resorts, provided the candidate completes an additional 1 day of mountain induction training.

Before attending the course candidates must first register as a instructor member of Snowsport Scotland and ensure that they are technically proficient at carved turns on artificial surfaces or blue and red runs.

THE PROCESS

Candidates should then sign up to attend the training course which will be delivered by an appointed Snowsport Scotland Tutor. In some cases training might be delivered in a series of shorter modular sessions.

At the end of the training the tutor will confirm to the candidate if they are at the required level of competency and provide them with 2 documents:-

  • An action plan detailing the skills and areas they need to work on

  • A logbook of tasks and work experience that must be completed in a ski school or club

Once the candidate has completed all the logbook tasks and can demonstrate competence in all the requisite skills they can be approved by their tutor for licensing.

BECOMING LICENSED

To become licensed by the governing body candidates must also ensure they hold:

…AND REVALIDATING

After 3 years, you will need to revalidate your license by providing:

WHAT NEXT?

  • Stay at that qualification level, keep working and keep developing your skills and knowledge by attending regular Continued Professional Development Courses

  • Move into a development coach role working in a regular annual coaching programme with a club with recreational participants

  • Move into a performance coach role working in a regular annual coaching programme training competitors and performance athletes in your chosen discipline

  • Move into an international instructing qualification pathway with BASI or IASI to gain an international ski instructor association (ISIA) award and work abroad.