We recommend starting by getting a job at a ski school.  Most schools offer training for new instructors to get their Level 1, you should inquire at your school what training they offer and when they offer it.  As a PSIA-AASI member, you can access study materials, e-learning courses, and attend on-snow exam prep or education clinics to supplement your training.  Look under the “Education” and/or “Event” menu for all the opportunities.  Once you’re prepared, sign up for one of our Level 1 Exams.  See the event calendar for a schedule and information.

Becoming a certified instructor requires a commitment to self-training, resort training, and PSIA-AASI-W education clinics. Your motivation to train and use of all the published educational materials will help prepare you for certification. These exams are your opportunity to be validated as meeting the national standards for certification. A dry land training program should be incorporated into your training for certification. Nutrition should also be considered as your certification nears. Proper diet and rest can assist you in becoming successful. From the Certification section of our website, read the guidelines listed within each discipline for further details on recommended resources.

Depending on the exam you plan to take, the format will be different.  Review the Certification section of our website for details on the discipline and certification level that’s relevant to you.

You put your certification in jeopardy if you do not stay in compliance with our requirement for ongoing education.

Step 1- We will send a warning letter via e-mail informing you of the problem, and giving you a certain amount of time (usually 1 season) to correct it.

Step 2- Members who ignore the warning will ultimately have their certification deactivated.

Step 3- You can request to reinstate at your former certifications pending completion of the required education.

Yes, however you may need to get permission from the Education Director in your ‘home’ region to take an exam in another region.  Contact the region you wish to take an exam in to get the full details.  region exam formats may vary.

Partial pass of an exam does not transfer to the new region (i.e. if a member passes the ‘Ski’ portion of an exam in the Western region they can not plan on taking only the remaining portions in another region), certification exams must be completed, in full, in a single region. However, a member can return to their old region to complete the certification.

Once certified, members need to pay annual dues and maintain their educational credits (6-CEUs per season or 12-CEUs every 2-seasons). Similar to other professional associations, you need to continue to receive on-going education to remain current with modern teaching and sharpen your skills. If you do not pay your membership dues or maintain your education credits, you will loose your professional benefits. If your membership or educational credits have lapsed, you can reinstate your membership.  View the Membership section of our website for more details on how to reinstate.

Yes, certification is nationally recognized and transferable throughout the 8 regions.

Petitions are the only way a member can receive an exception to our standard certification policies and prerequisites.  More information on petitions, including how to apply, can be found here: PETITIONS

Every day on snow is different due to the variables that affect snow conditions and an individual’s performance. The national standards set common guidelines but there are many ways to assess these areas. Due to the variables in our sport we have to accept that individual experiences, like snow conditions, vary from day to day and place to place. This does not mean that because of some variability in our sport, our exams are inconsistent or unfair.