Becoming a ski or snowboard instructor

Fancy spending every day outdoors, under blue skies, with the mountain as your office? Being a snowboard or ski instructor is one of the best jobs in the world. The aim of this page is to give you some helpful advice if you're planning to become an instructor; from the pros of taking an instructors course, to advice on obtaining a visa.

Becoming A Snowboard or Ski Instructor

There are two routes which you can take to becoming an instructor:

If you feel that you already ski or ride to a high enough standard, you can enter yourself for one of the instructor exams directly. Generally, these exams are made up of two parts - skiing/riding and teaching - which you will need to pass in order to qualify. Once you have passed, you can go on to apply for a job as an instructor.
The other alternative is to take an instructors course, such as the ones Nonstop offer. These courses will allow you to learn from top instructors, who will not only help you to improve your technique beyond your wildest dreams, but are also able to impart some valuable teaching knowledge. Nonstop courses can also be a great fast track into the industry. We are very well respected by ski resorts worldwide and, as a result, many of our past clients have easily found work and have also received fantastic feedback from the ski schools they work in.

Top tips on how to become an instructor

Wendy Lemoine explains the best way to get a job as a ski or snowboard instructor.

Wendy lemoine - Fernie Snow School Director

Work Experience

On your Nonstop course, you can take part in work experience, which is extremely beneficial when you are applying for a ski instructor job.

During our 11 week course, you will be able to shadow experienced instructors at the local ski school, where you'll learn new teaching techniques and get some hands-on experience. Having this on your CV will help you to stand out from the competition, and Ski School Directors will look favourably on the effort you have made.

Become an instructor...

...just like these guys

Nonstop Community days

At Nonstop we believe in giving as much back to the communities that we operate in as possible. Therefore we have developed our Community Days project in Fernie. Our Community Days project is designed to get local residents, who don't usually ski or snowboard, onto the slopes. These residents live in the mountains but can't afford to ski because of the costs associated. Therefore we have teamed up with local resorts so that they offer free lift passes and equipment and we provide our newly qualified instructors (that's you) for free.

The project has been a massive success in the past. As well as getting more people on the hill, our newly qualified instructors benefit massively from teaching people without supervision for the first time.

To read about last years Community Day click here

Community Days

“I just wanted to let you know that I am extremely impressed with the quality of instructors that the Nonstop program has produced. The ski pros that I have been able to recruit from your program have delivered exceptional customer service, demonstrated a solid technical and teaching background and most importantly have shown what great people skills they have. I would strongly recommend other Ski School Directors to look at the Nonstop program for recruiting efforts and would be more than happy to review applications from graduates of your program.”

Mike Manara, Mt. Washington Ski School Director, BC.

Qualifications

Nonstop Ski & Snowboard provides the opportunity to gain a wide range of Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance (CSIA), Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI), New Zealand Ski Instructor Alliance (NZSIA) and French system qualifications. Each qualification is divided into two parts - your teaching and your skiing. You need to pass both parts of the exam to gain full certification. All participants on our Candian and New Zealand instructor courses take their level 1 qualifications. For those on our 11 week Canadian courses and 12 week NZ courses, there is then the option to go further and take the Level 2 exam, as well as Park Courses or Race Coach courses. Being on a instructor course like ours makes it far easier to access such a wide range of courses:

CSIA Level 1 (skiers)
CSIA Level 2 (skiers)
CASI Level 1 (snowboarders)
CASI Level 2 (snowboarders)
NZSIA Level 1 (skiers)
NZSIA Level 2 (skiers)
CSCF Entry level course "trained" status (skiers)
CFSA Snow Park (skiers)
CASI Freestyle Coach Level 1 (snowboarders)

Find out more about the courses that include these qualifications:
Ski instructor courses
Snowboard instructor courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Visa Advice

British Passport Holders

To apply for a Visa to work in Canada, you must be a British citizen 30 or under. You can apply via BUNAC, who offer a complete visa application service for a cost of around £260, or directly through the Canadian Government (IEC Canada) – this is cheaper but you won’t get the same level of service and advice throughout your application. A limited number of visas are available, so early application is essential, and places are given on a first come first served basis. They release new visas in December each year so it may even be necessary to think a year in advance.

Through BUNAC
Start by applying to Work Canada via the BUNAC website, which if successful, will reserve you a visa. The cost varies so please check their website.

Through the Canadian Government
IEC Canada programme

Once you've been “reserved” a Visa, you'll be sent through an information pack which will include a Visa Application Form. You will then need to complete this form, and also submit a Police Background check, along with the Visa fee.

If going through BUNAC, they will apply for the Visa on your behalf. BUNAC will let you know when your Work Authorisation Letter has been issued. The Visa application process takes a minimum of 30 days so please ensure you have left enough time before heading out to work.If you opt for the IEC scheme then there is no hand holding - you go through the process on your own.

If you're an Australian, New Zealand or Irish passport holder, click on the links below to find out more about the Working Holiday Visas on offer to you.

Australia - http://www.whpcanada.org.au/
New Zealand - http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/whp/intro-en.asp
Ireland - http://canada.usit.ie/

Chris speaks about his time with Nonstop

Now a Level 2 ski & snowboard instructor

Chris Wooldridge, Fernie 05/06 11-week course

My name is Adam Hillier. I completed the 11 week ski improvement course in Fernie in the 05/06 season. I found Nonstop whilst in the process of researching for a uni project. The website and the testimonials were all I needed to convince me that Nonstop were the guys I wanted to train with and I have never looked back. From start to finish Nonstop were excellent. Their client care and organisation is second to none, and there was always someone on hand to answer any questions and offer sound advice. The main reason I wanted to become a skiing instructor is because I tried skiing and fell in love instantly, and whilst at uni I was not enjoying my course so I wanted to train in a career that more suited my personality and lifestyle as I am also an experienced traveller.

I started the course with a mere three weeks experience on snow and by the end I had successfully passed both my level 1 and level 2 ski instructors plus my level 1 race coach qualification (which in itself is an excellent qualification to gain as it makes you even more adaptable and employable. Racing and coaching is also an excellent way to develop personal skiing). I also completed a comprehensive winter first aid course which is a very handy thing to have, especially for those wanting to ride deep untouched pow in the vast backcountry of the Rockies. Since leaving Fernie, I have worked three ski seasons at Sun Peaks resort in the BC interior. I have since gained my level 1 and 2 snowboard instructors so now I teach both disciplines on a day to day basis which in itself is both rewarding and challenging. I am also half way to my level 3 ski instructors.

Through my experience since leaving Nonstop and continual training, I can vouch that the level of training recieved on the courses is the absolute best available in Canada. Most of my trainers were level 4. These guys are amazing and level 4 for a reason. The level 3 standard trainers were also superb. After questing after level 3 for two seasons I can tell you it is a high standard to reach and a great goal to aim for.

I can't praise the guys at Nonstop enough and I would recommend anyone to take a course with them, even if you don't intend on teaching skiing or boarding. The course is well worth the time and money- not to mention you'll come away ripping powder and tree lines like you'd never imagine!!

Careers Advice

Nonstop Careers Advice

As part of our Nonstop courses we offer a careers seminar. These are hosted by the Technical Director in your resort and often the local Ski School Director, plus and past Nonstop clients come along to give their advice on how they got their jobs.

You'll get a first hand and realistic view of working as an instructor and you'll learn how to apply for an instructor job and get yourself known. You'll also get advice on visa applications, especially for those over 30, who need to be sponsored by a ski school.

Nonstop Careers Manual

Nonstop provide a useful manual, which is a great introduction for anyone thinking of working in the ski industry. It includes:

Where to work | Where are CSIA/CASI qualifications recognised?
Your dream job | Advice on applying for instructor positions
Visas, costs & pay | Advice on securing visas, securing work and rates of pay
Case studies | Ex-seasonaires give advice on working as an instructor
Winter sports schools | Contact details of over 60 ski schools in 8 different countries
Sample C.V. | Preparing an effective curriculum vitae