‍How To Become A Certified Ski Instructor In The USA?

‍Want to become a ski instructor in the USA? We have created this ultimate step by step guide to help you.

Skiing in America is all about pushing boundaries and transcending limits. Lake Tahoe in California offers some of America’s most sought-after ski. We know that fact may come as a surprise to some. We are talking about California, right? Yes. This is “California Dreaming” at 3,000 meters altitude!

If you are interested in becoming a ski instructor  in the USA download your free instructor guide to find out how you can become a instructor at one of our world-class ski resorts in California.

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USA Ski Resort Destinations:

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Lake Tahoe, one of the largest alpine lakes in the world, is home to two of EA’s ski resorts; Palisades and Northstar. These resorts deliver some of the freshest powder for skiing and snowboarding, incredible views, and bustling nightlife with top-notch après action.

‍Northstar is a one-of-a-kind winter oasis complete with freshly groomed slopes, world class park/pipes (Shaun White trains here and there is a 18 foot halfpipe), expansive mountains, fireside hot cocoas and s'mores and awesome burritos at Big Daves! It is a bit like a mini Disneyland for snowboarders and skiers.

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"I absolutely loved it here, meeting new friends and starting my way through a new career, everyone has been really friendly and helpful. The work was good and gave me so much more confidence going into the level 2 with that teaching under my belt."

Emma Ross Smith - Ski Instructor Internship, Northstar, U.S.A

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Palisades (formerly known as Squaw Valley) has a rad factor. Squaw Valley is a legendary resort known for its big terrain, powder and truly epic seasons. Here you'll find more than than more than 6000 acres of skiable terrain split across the two mountain resorts overlooking Lake Tahoe. This is a popular spot that has gained international notoriety with the infamous G.N.A.R film and associated game played out on the mountain.

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Why Do A Ski Season In The USA?

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Doing a ski season in California, is an epic experience. Here are some reasons why you should spend your ski season in Tahoe.

• Both Palisades and Northstar ski resorts are located in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range, which typically receives heavy snowfall each year. In the 2022/23 winter season we saw some of the biggest snowfalls in California's history, with Palisades receiving a whopping 18 metres yewww!
• In Tahoe you can enjoy a long ski season, with many runs open from November to April. In 2023, due to the wild and heavy snow, the ski season is ran until summer! Our interns would rip the slopes in tee-shirts and then have BBQ's at the lake!
• Both Palisades and Northstar offer a wide variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, from beginner runs to expert trails. This means that you can improve your skills and challenge yourself as you progress throughout the season.
• The Sierra Nevada mountains are renowned for their natural beauty, and skiing or snowboarding at Palisades or Northstar provides stunning views of the mountains.
• Lake Tahoe’s ideal location makes road trips down the coast of California a very realistic option. Hit the waves in Santa Cruz and explore all the funkiness and mouth-watering Mexican food San Francisco has to offer. It’s all just a short drive away – at least by American standards. It’s all yours for the taking.

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The USA ski experience is rather special. The spirit of the ski bum is still alive here. People are passionate about the mountain lifestyle. The ski community is strong and people really push themselves in the mountains here.  Think of Shane McConkey and Warren Miller ski films- this is the quintessence of skiing in the USA. The USA is more than just skiing. It is such a diverse country. After your season as a ski instructor, get a van and surf the California coastline listening to the beach boys, become a dirt bag and go rock climbing the national parks in Yosemite, get in the wilderness and do some amazing treks, pack raft the grand canyon. Its more than just a winter of skiing here. The opportunities of adventure here are truly endless. 

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The 10 Step Guide On How To Become A Qualified Ski Instructor In The USA Starts Here!

Becoming a ski instructor in the USA 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:

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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!

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For An Insight Into The Instructor Lifestyle, Read Kurt's Instructor Story HERE 

Kurt always dreamed about returning to Lake Tahoe one day and becoming a snow-sports instructor. Read how he achieved his dream with EA

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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

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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)

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Step 8. Get A Working Holiday Visa For The USA

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 the USA.

To learn more about our training consultants, find out more HERE

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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.

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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, the USA 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.

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‍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 the American dream! ⁠ The ski instructor lifestyle is pretty unbeatable; it’s a rare opportunity to work a job that supports the lifestyle you want to live. You will meet some amazing people while doing something you love. The community is tight-knit. In no time you will have the local happy hours memorized and even make the dangerous discovery that your favourite burger joint offers tequila on tap. Come join or USA ski instructor course, it will probably be the most fun working you’ve had yet.