Certification Secrets: Mount Snow Ski Instructor Christine Holden on Resources and Resilience
The “Certification Secrets” series features top instructors, examiners, and PSIA-AASI National Team members sharing their personal advice, experience, and insight on how you can start planning and practicing to reach your professional goals.
In the fifth installment of the series, Mount Snow, Vermont, ski instructor Christine Holden, a PSIA Level III Alpine, Children’s Specialist 2, Master Teacher, and Advanced Educator, talks about the importance of “the personal touch” and working with other on-snow professionals.
Q: Why would you recommend to other professional instructors that they aspire to gain certification/specialist credentials?
A: PSIA and AASI have established standards for each of the certification levels. No matter what level of instruction is necessary to advance the skill of the student, they should be able to secure it from any certified instructor at any resort. Achieving a level of certification means that a pro can teach to the same standard anywhere. Students have the right to expect that.
Q: How would you set up a strategy for members to achieve advanced certification or specialist credentials this season?
A: Educating prospective professionals on the testing process and the reason behind the criteria is crucial to their success. Whether a candidate is successful in achieving a certification or not, the testing process is extremely valuable in their continuing education. All preparation and training needs to emphasize that.
Having consistent training opportunities by qualified professionals is essential to successful results. Making training opportunities available at times and days is also essential.
Q: What are some key resources you would recommend to help guide new professionals?
A: PSIA-AASI have many resources available through their website and YouTube videos, but there is nothing like the personal touch. A strong mentoring program can guide new professionals, encouraging their professional development.
Q: Both good and bad, what are the key takeaways from your certification story?
A: I’m Level III Alpine, Master Teacher, Advanced Educator, and Children’s Specialist 2 certified. I’ve been through multiple testing and lots of coursework over the past 20 years. The “bad” takeaways have been the changes in the criteria for certification over the years, so adjusting to new standards and different testing protocols. The “good” takeaways are being used to the testing atmosphere and taking something back after each attempt (I took my Level III three times!).
Q: How do you build on your success? Or lack of success?
A: When I stood for my Level III exam, I was able to “bank” different parts each time, so I was encouraged to complete the process. I also felt I learned something each time I participated, making the experience a good one.
Personally, I like checking the boxes and earning the certification. Master Teacher, which morphed into Advanced Educator, gave me an opportunity to focus on the educational aspect of my work, while I worked on my skiing skills within the process.
I’ve been fortunate that my experiences have been positive. I do have co-workers who have not had good experiences and that seems to be working with evaluators who are inconsistent or confusing. If you don’t understand the results, you will not be content.
Q: What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
A: I’m not sure I knew the scope and length of the process when I started. I just kind of started checking the boxes. I do wish I had started when I was younger – I was 57 when I started and 70 when I finished my Level lll – so my skiing skills would have had the advantage of younger muscles!
***
Read the first four “Certification Secrets” Q&As: PSIA Alpine Team member Joshua Fogg; Mount Snow, Vermont, Ski & Ride School Senior Manager Maureen Drummey; 2021 Education Excellence Award Recipient Stacey Gerrish; and PSIA-AASI Eastern Examiner Bonnie Kolber.
