During college, I was a ski instructor for three seasons.
90% of the lessons I taught were first-time skiers ranging from 4-year-olds to 54-year-olds. I spent all day on my skis chasing down my students and freeskiing during my lunch break.
To some, this might sound horrific, but I loved every minute of it and those three seasons cemented my love for skiing.
I think everyone who is passionate about skiing should be an instructor for at least one season. You will improve more than you thought possible and get an inside look into the ski industry.
So here is how to become a ski instructor.
How to Become a Ski Instructor
- Be a Proficient Skier
First, you need to be a proficient skier.
The job of a ski instructor is to teach others how to ski. So while you don’t need to be an Olympian, though it would help, you need to be a moderate to advanced skier.
The country you want to work in, the resort you want to work at, and the type of lessons you want to teach will determine how good of a skier you need to be.
For example, European ski resorts are known for having a very high standard for their instructors. Also resorts in the US that pride themselves on their ski schools such as Deer Valley and Beaver Creek will have higher standards for employment. But don’t let this scare you off, most instructors start at their local ski hill and move to a larger resort when they have more experience and certifications.
(Love skiing but don’t want to teach lessons? Learn how to be a ski bum here.)
- Get a Certification
To improve your chances of getting a job as a ski instructor, you can get certified by PSIA (The Professional Ski Instructors Association). Some resorts will require a certification while others won’t. Again this depends on the type of resort you want to work at.
The PSIA has multiple certification disciplines to choose from including adaptive, telemark, alpine, and cross country. Further, there is a Level I and a Level II certification for each discipline. Once you have your Level I certification your options expand even more giving you access to the multiple levels of Freestyle and Children’s Specialist.
Those three seasons cemented my love for skiing.
If you want to work at a resort that doesn’t require a certification I recommend getting the job first. Once you get the job the ski school will help you study and train for the certification. However, if you want to work at a more prestigious resort you will need your certification before you can apply. Thankfully PSIA offers study materials online and the majority of their courses include a day of practice before the exam itself.
Now with your certification in hand, it’s time to apply and start teaching lessons
- Apply and Start Teaching Lessons
Just like any job you have to apply to be a ski instructor. Since these are seasonal jobs most resorts start hiring mid-summer for the upcoming winter. You will have to submit a resume, some references, along with any certifications you have.
There will be an interview process and most resorts will require some type of on snow interview during the first weeks of the season. Once you’ve got the job it’s time to start enjoying it.
Being a ski instructor is far from easy, if it’s your first year there is a good chance you will be teaching little kids how to pizza and french fry. However, the other perks of the job are far more rewarding.
I encourage you to make friends with and ski with the more advanced instructors. This is a great way to get better and learn the tricks of the trade.
If you want to make this a career continue to get certifications to increase your knowledge. As you improve you can work your way from your local ski resort to the more prestigious mountains.
Remember skiing is about enjoying the moment and so is instructing. It can be tough when 12 8-year-olds are screaming at you but the good days make it all worth it.
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