10 Step Guide to Becoming a Snowboard Instructor
Snowboarding pushes progression, promotes creativity and offers an exciting lifestyle. Some of the best feelings we have ever had have been screaming down the mountain on fiber-glass. Add to that a new crew of shred friends, amazing scenery and local culture and you will know what we are all about. Feel good, have fun, meet interesting people in amazing places and evolve and progress in every way possible. If this lifestyle entices you, then having a career on the slopes as a snowboard instructor could be your dream job.
Whether you are thinking about endless winter ski seasons, or ready to commit to this epic career, this guide will help navigate your through the process of becoming a snowboard instructor!
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The 10 Step Guide To Becoming A Qualified Snowboard Instructor Starts Here!
Step 1. Is The Snowboard Instructor Lifestyle Right For Me?
Many people think becoming a snowboard 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 snowboard instructor, you need to have a passion for the sport, patience, desire to learn, with potential to develop into a top snowboarder. 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 snowboarder, but it is recommended to have some experience on the mountain.
When starting out as a snowboard 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 Snowboard Instructor Lifestyle, Read Marine’s Story HERE.
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 most stash laden ski resorts in the world such as Canada, USA, Europe, New Zealand and Japan.
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 Snowboard 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 snowboarding 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 snowboard 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.
Level 1 Instructor Certification:
A level 1 certification tends to allow you to instruct in the country of the issuing body. It is an entry level certification that allows you to teach beginners. Level 1 training will give you a great start into the world of snowboarding as well as provide a structured platform to improve and hone your own skills.
Level 2 Instructor Certification:
As instructors progress to Level 2 certification, their teaching scope broadens to encompass intermediate-level snowboarders. Level 2 instructors are adept at guiding students through more advanced techniques and terrain, offering enhanced instruction and support. Level 2 allows you to teach intermediate snowboarders on marked runs. A level 2 certification is recognised internationally and allows you to instruct in most countries around the globe. A level 2 qualification is the goal for the majority of people trying to make a career as an instructor. If you are looking to establish a long-term career in the ski & snowboard industry we recommend you aim to obtain an ‘Intermediate’ level instructional certificate.
Level 3/4 Instructor Certifications:
The next certification stages are the ultimate. They are high level qualifications that allow you to teach advanced skiers in varied terrain. It is a long road to get there as you need to be a well rounded proficient snowboarder. Employment prospects increase greatly with these qualifications under your belt.
The qualification system you should pick depends on your goals. This depends on where you want to work, and then do that country's qualification. For example, CASI is generally better recognised in Canada if you want to do a ski season eating copious amounts of maple syrup, having a higher hot cocoa intake than water, and carving through deep snow amidst trees everyday.
Step 5. Pick A Snowboard Instructor Course
To kickstart your career as a snowboard instructor, it is required to choose a snowboard instructor course. The course will help give you the fundamental ingredients to start your journey as a snowboard 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:
Snowboard Instructor Training Course:
We offer instructor training courses from 4 - 11 weeks long. The Snowboard instructor course has been specifically designed to improve individual snowboarding 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.
Snowboard Instructor Internship Course:
This allows you to get qualification, trained, and guaranteed job offer at a ski school all in one season. Although a snowboard training course gives you the qualifications you need to teach, a snowboard 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 snowboard instructor. This is our most popular course due to the guaranteed job offer.
Step 6. Complete The Snowboard 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 snowboard 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 The Country You Are Instructing In
You will have to rely on a working holiday visa to become a snowboard 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. Most countries provide visas for 18 – 35-year-olds and are easy to obtain in some cases. It can be a lottery for other countries, which can be somewhat nerve-racking and takes pre-planning.
You can’t just become a snowboard instructor and start making money there—you’ve got to get some sort of visa for that. There are limited numbers of VISAs available for many countries. For example, to work in Canada, you will need to secure a working holiday visa. If you are planning on working the ski season in Canada, we recommend applying as soon as possible. This is because Canada works on a pool-based system, whereby applicants are drawn according to specific country quotas. 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 Canada.
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 Snowboard Instructor.
Life as a snowboard instructor is extraordinary. Get paid to teach your passion, work with like-minded people, and live an adventurous and exciting lifestyle!
For a snippet into what the lifestyle is like as a snowboard instructor, watch Allison's instructor story video here. Allison did a snowboard instructor internship at Mount Hutt, New Zealand. The course opened her eyes into how fun a career in snowboard instruction is. Allison chose an EA Ski and Snowboard program because EA helped sort out her accommodation, you come in with a group of friends from the get go, and you get a guaranteed job offer at a ski school. The course made it super easy for her to move across the World and start a new career as a snowboard instructor.
Step 10. Career Development As A Snowboard Instructor
Continuing professional development is indeed crucial for those aspiring to build a long-term career as a snowboard 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”
We awaken the spirit of freedom and adventure by connecting skiers and boarders around the world with epic jobs at some of the most snow-laden ski schools in the World. EA is a community of like-minded souls that have a passion for the mountain lifestyle. The perfect slope. Ultimate Freedom. If you want a season in the snow, check out this video which shows the benefits of doing a ski or snowboard instructor internship program or training course with EA Ski and Snowboard Training
The video shows the benefits of doing a ski or snowboard instructor internship program or training course with EA Ski and Snowboard Training.
