How To Become A Certified Ski Instructor In Switzerland?
Want to become a ski instructor in Switzerland? We have created this ultimate step by step guide to help you.
What is a ski season like in Switzerland?
With some of the friendliest people in the world, spend your days shredding world class terrain engulfed by idyllic mountain ranges. Come home to a traditional wooden chalet home, indulge in raclette and nibble on some Swiss chocolate. This is winter in Switzerland.
On your days off explore the lakes, nature, and enjoy cozy little villages and incredible mountain scenery. Switzerland is the country that off-piste enthusiasts flock to, with Verbier in particular known for hosting several free-ride competitions. Switzerland has endless slopes and high mountain peaks that will leave you constantly planning your next backcountry mission.
The Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps offer an unparalleled skiing experience, with dependable snow, varied slopes, and breathtaking scenery. Catering to all skill levels, the Alps provide pristine powder, quick lifts, and incredible inspiring views. The adventure continues off the slopes with traditional Swiss dishes, adding a delicious touch to your ski days. You can also explore charming medieval villages and vibrant cities like Zurich and Geneva, where Swiss tradition meets modern life.
Being a ski instructor in Switzerland is truly an epic experience. You’ll wake up to stunning mountain views, spend your days carving through some of the best slopes in the world, and teach others to share your passion for snow. You'll meet clients from all over the globe, and while Switzerland is known for being pricey, the wages are typically high, and tips from clients can be generous. After skiing, it's all about unwinding with friends—whether that’s enjoying a cheesy fondue, hitting up a Swiss après-ski spot, or relaxing in a spa to rejuvenate.
Why do a ski season in the Swiss Alps ?
International instructors
Ski resorts in Switzerland attract instructors from all over the world, who gladly share their experiences and different cultures. Instructor courses in Switzerland are all in English, with the opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop German and French language skills.
Fantastic skiing
Switzerland is known for its versatile and challenging terrain, offering everything from easy descents to steep slopes and challenging off-piste routes - Switzerland has it all!
Charming towns
In addition to the versatile skiing terrain, Swiss towns have something very special to offer, with their excellent restaurants, and in some places, you almost live right on the slopes!! One of the very unique characteristics for Switzerland, are the cozy atmosphere in the charming mountain villages. They are often located very close to each other and makes such a beautiful scenery, with the many chalets made out of wooden beams.
Friendly people
It is characteristic for Switzerland that their locals are very welcoming. Which is something we appreciate a lot, and is a huge plus when being and instructor there are definitely good opportunities to make friends with locals.
What it's like living and working as a Ski Instructor in Switzerland At Saas-Fee Village
Jamie spent his winter living and working in the charming village of Saas-Fee in Switzerland. Check out this incredible edit and start planning your dream winter ski season.
So want to take on this epic lifestyle, then download our Switzerland Instructor Guide HERE
Switzerland Ski Resort Destinations:
Saas-Fee
Saas-Fee is famous for long runs and picturesque landscapes. Nowhere else in the world are you surrounded by so many 4000m peaks. Read more about our Sass-Fee courses here
Verbier
Verbier Ski Resort located in the Four Valleys is Switzerland’s largest resort, and one of the world’s largest linked ski areas. It should be on every skier's bucket list. Offering incredible views, epic terrain, reliable powder and your pick of après ski locations. This is a suitable destination for intermediate to advanced skiers looking for nightlife, radical skiing, and decadent Swiss cuisine. Find more info here
Listen to Jack from Ireland and hear his story about his winter In Verbier
Zermatt
Zermatt is one of the world’s ultimate ski resorts offering excellent skiing, and incredible mountain scenery. There is even a 21km long ski run! Find out more here
The 10 Step Guide On How To Become A Qualified Ski Instructor In Switzerland Starts Here!
Becoming a ski instructor in Switzerland can be an exciting adventure, whether you're taking a winter gap year, seeking a career change, or fulfilling a lifelong dream in hunt for perfect powder. Here are the ten steps to get you started:
Step 1. Is The Ski Instructor Lifestyle Right For Me?
Many people think becoming a ski instructor is their dream job. To carve it into a career path and make it to the top takes commitment, hard-work and tenacity, but the extraordinary lifestyle attached is incredible. It consists of exploring the world, living in the mountains, high job satisfaction and amazing après.
If you are considering a career as a ski instructor, you need to have a passion for the sport, patience, desire to learn, with potential to develop into a top skier. It’s a hard industry to break into, but the easiest route is via an instructor training course. You don’t need to be an amazing skier, but it is recommended to have some experience on the mountain.
When starting out as a ski instructor, you will be at the bottom and have to work your way up the pecking order. As a new instructor, you will be teaching a-lot on the magic carpet. While this may not be your end goal, it is extremely rewarding seeing the progression. As you do a few winter seasons, and progress through the instructor ranks, more opportunities arise. If you fully put your eggs in the basket, in the long term you may become a trainer for future instructors, manage a ski school, go down the adaptive instructing route, or become a guide. There’s many epic avenues this career can lead you!
For An Insight Into The Ski Instructor Lifestyle, Watch Loz’s winter ski edit HERE
A day in the life 📍Saas-Fee, Switzerland ~ the Pearl of the Alps
Saas-Fee is a picturesque, high altitude village full of traditional Swiss charm. Check out Loz 's video below
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6nmt9fSyfy8
Step 2. Have A Goal To Guide Your Journey In The Snow Sports Industry
It is important to have aspirations and goals for a career in the snow-sports industry. An end goal to work towards, to help you progress, improve and become a better instructor. Some decisions such as which instructor course to train with, may be influenced by where you want to work as an instructor. You need to choose a qualification that won’t limit your opportunities. A qualification from an internationally recognised instructor system, allows you to work throughout the world.
In the video below our training consultant Kang discusses the internationally recognised qualification we offer at EA Ski and Snowboard. We offer level 1 and level 2 qualifications, which is recognised by most of the ski schools throughout the globe. You can then chase snow, explore, and travel around working as an instructor!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ki8nHZKDztw
Step 3. Pick A Internationally Recognized Ski Instructor Qualification
In the world of snow-sports instruction, qualifications are the foundation and a prerequisite to launching a career in the mountains.
You need to get an international recognised qualification if you want to use skiing as your ticket to travel the globe. All of the qualification systems below are issued by a national governing body and are overseen by the ISIA (International Ski Instructors Association). The ISIA is the world body for professional ski and snowboard instructors. All these systems are highly regarded and popular systems around the world.
- NZSIA/SBINZ (New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance)
- CSIA/CASI (Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance)
- BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors)
- PSIA/AASI (Professional Ski Instructors of America)
Step 4. Pick A Qualification Level
For ski instructors, there are 4 levels of certification. The lowest level is Level 1, and the highest level is the Level 4 certification. Knowing what level you would ultimately like to achieve can help you plan out your career accordingly.
There are minor differences between each qualification, but they are similar. For aspiring instructors, the most popular qualification systems are NZSIA, CSIA, and BASI. These are very well recognised across the world and offer an achievable pathway to get started in the industry. All have very high standards for the final level, but allow you to begin working while training for these higher levels.
The qualification systems consist of three or four levels of certification, are internationally recognised offering employment prospects across the globe.
Step 5: Pick A Ski Instructor Course
To kickstart your career as a ski instructor, it is required to choose a ski instructor course. The course will help give you the fundamental ingredients to start your journey as a ski instructor. You will be trained on different criteria to pass the exam, have practical teaching experience, make industry connections, and have valuable career advice.
These are courses run by companies like EA Ski and Snowboard Training. We offer the following courses below:
Ski Instructor Training Course:
We offer instructor training courses from 4 - 11 weeks long. The Ski instructor course has been specifically designed to improve individual ski ability and provide program participants with world-class instructor qualifications. This is the perfect way to get a head start in the industry without committing to work.
Ski Instructor Internship Course:
This allows you to get qualification, train, and guaranteed job offer at a ski school all in one season. Although a ski training course gives you the qualifications you need to teach, a ski instructor internship will provide you with a guaranteed job offer so you can train and work in the same season. Step straight into a ski school and start earning money working as a ski instructor. This is our most popular course due to the guaranteed job offer
Step 6. Complete The Ski Instructor Training Course
Once you're up in the mountains, the real adventure begins. Your primary goal here is to solidify your qualifications, so it's crucial to stay focused during your training as you refine your technique and master the art of teaching others. But don't worry, it's not all work and no play; there will be plenty of opportunities for shredding, exploring the mountains, and enjoying some epic après-ski.
By the end of your course, you should emerge as a certified ski instructor with internationally recognised qualifications. It's important to seize any opportunity to gain hands-on experience by shadowing real lessons and getting involved in instructing whenever possible. This practical experience will not only bolster your skills but also make you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.
Step 7. Get A Job At A Ski School
After landing your qualification, it is time to apply for an instructor job. With EA Ski and Snowboard Training we guarantee a job offer. This is typically hard as most people become a qualified snowboard instructor and then struggle to find a job as most ski schools require practical experience. EA Ski and Snowboard eliminates this issue, as we have world class training and a reputable course that has relationships with ski schools to slot into a job and hit the ground running.
At EA Ski and Snowboard, our extensive network of ski school connections can be a valuable resource for you to tap into. Additionally, our trainers we offer will serve as excellent mentors.
Step 8. Get A Working Holiday Visa For Switzerland
You will have to rely on a working holiday visa to become a ski instructor overseas. As you work up the levels and become more experienced, you may be able to look to sponsorship. But to start off, you’ve only got the one option of a working holiday visa.
You can’t just become a ski instructor and start making money there—you’ve got to get some sort of visa for that. The whole visa process can get confusing, and our training consultants help guide you through the entire process, as well as secure you a guaranteed ski resort job with staff accommodation before you arrive in Switzerland.
To learn more about our training consultants, find out more HERE
Step 9. Soak Up The Epic Lifestyle Of Being A Ski Instructor
Life as a ski instructor is extraordinary. Get paid to teach your passion, work with like-minded people, and live an adventurous and exciting lifestyle!
Step 10. Career Development As A Ski instructor
Continuing professional development is indeed crucial for those aspiring to build a long-term career as a ski instructor. Progressing through certification levels and gaining experience over multiple seasons are key steps in this journey.
Typically, individuals spend 2-3 seasons at the level 2 instructor stage before having a crack at their level 3 certification. To ensure success in this career path, aspiring instructors should focus on gaining experience, pursuing higher levels of certification, and continuously honing their skills through professional development opportunities. By doing so, they can establish themselves as knowledgeable and skilled professionals in the field of instruction.
Why EA Ski and Snowboard Training?
EA Ski and Snowboard Training is the world's largest and most reputable ski and snowboard instructor communities. Besides being one of the worlds largest ski instructor communities, the unique opportunity to offer a job placement. This means that, as long as you pass the exam, we can guarantee a job offer at a ski school.
“So become a ski or snowboard instructor with us! Get training + qualifications + job offer – all in one season with EA”
Whether you're looking for a winter gap year or serious about an instructor career, Switzerland is one of the best places to learn, earn and play.
This video shows the benefits of doing a ski or snowboard instructor internship program or training course with EA Ski and Snowboard Training.
How To Make It All Happen?
The Next Step Is To Either DOWNLOAD OUR BROCHURE or See If You Qualify HERE
Don't miss this opportunity to live your dream in the Swiss Alps! Fill out your details and we’ll send you a full info pack to get you frothing to become a ski instructor.
