OK, So What Else?
Here is our take on things:
At SIA, we recognise and respect all National Ski Associations around the globe and we understand that they all aim to maintain high standards within the snow sports industry. We encourage students to rigorously research the information within our website, and within any other snowsports training company, associations and industry leaders to make an informed decision based on your own short and long term goals.
Systems & Qualifications Of Popular Ski Associations:
Austria: Schneesportlehrer (ÖSSV / WSSV)
Level 1: This is a National L1 Qualification which enables you to teach in controlled environments, ie. Dry Slopes or Indoor Snowslopes and in rare cases on snow when supervised by a senior instructor such as some kindergarten areas.
Level 2 (Anwärter): After you pass this exams you can teach beginner to lower intermediate adults and kids on the piste
Level 3 (Landeslehrer): This is a high qualification and allows you to teach high intermediate to advanced skiers and is divided into 3 parts – Landes 1 (pt1), Landes 2 (pt2) and Alpinkurs (mountain safety course) – after completion of these exams you are qualified as a full Landeslehrer. Snowboard Landes is not split into two parts and done as one exam.
Level 4: Diploma – Staatlich geprüfter Skilehrer
Canada: CSIA / CASI
Level 1, first qualification; after you pass this exam you can teach the basics to adults and kids.
Level 2, after passing this exam you can teach more experienced people.
Level 3, classed as a Low Level ISIA. There are additional things that must be achieved to hold full ISIA
Level 4, after passing these exams you are ISIA qualified
UK: British Association Of Snowsport Instructors (BASI)
Level 1, Instructor Qualification which enables you to teach in controlled environments, ie. Dry Slopes or Indoor Snowslopes and in rare cases on snow when supervised by a senior instructor.
Level 2, Allows you to work on the piste teaching beginners to intermediate skiers.
Level 3, After passing this you are ISIA qualified.
Level 4, ISTD and is the diploma level for the BASI.
Switzerland: Swiss Snowsport instructor (SSI)
Basic Education, you are only allowed to teach children
Level 1, first qualification; after you pass these exams you can teach beginner to lower intermediate adults and kids
Level 2, after passing this exam you can teach more experienced skier & snowboarders
Level 3, after passing these exams you are ISIA qualified
Italy: Maestri Di Sci
You have take an entrance exam, after this you have the first part of your exams. If you pass these, you have to do an internship in a ski school. After the internship you have to take the 2nd part of the exams and pass these. Then you have to do another year internship as a ski school instructor assistant. Then follows the third part of the exams, pass these and you’re a maestro di sci, an Italian ski instructor.
France: Moniteur De Ski
You have one level, similar to Italy. The standard is a bit higher and to join you have to do an entrance examination. It’s very hard to get in and your standard of skiing has to be very high.
Only once you are a ski instructor you can then qualify as a snowboard instructor.
America: PSIA
Level 1, first qualification after you pass this exam you can teach the basics to adults and kids.
Level 2, after passing this test you can teach more experienced people.
Level 3, after passing these exams you are ISIA qualified.