By Dave Schuiling, Director of Education and Credentialing
Since 2016, PSIA-AASI has been on a journey to align our national certification and specialist certificate standards. While some members may think alignment is only about assessments, the truth is bigger: alignment defines what great instruction looks like. It’s about setting clear, consistent criteria for teaching, people skills, and technical skills — the foundation of the job itself. Whether or not you are seeking certification, these standards support your daily growth as an instructor and strengthen our entire profession.
Building on the Learning Connection Framework
At the heart of this alignment is the Learning Connection Framework, which defines the three fundamental skills of every great instructor:
- People Skills – building trust and inspiring confidence.
- Teaching Skills – creating effective, engaging learning experiences.
- Technical Skills – performing and understanding the movements of skiing and riding.
Our national standards use this framework to outline clear learning outcomes that describe what success looks like for instructors, their students, and the industry.
This means the standards aren’t abstract or separate from the job. They define the job. When you train to the criteria in the standards, you’re not just preparing for an assessment — you’re building the skills that make you better at connecting with students, teaching more effectively, and delivering exceptional learning experiences on snow.
It’s About the Job
Historically, some instructors felt they had to “train differently” to pass a certification assessment, as if the exam were something separate from their day-to-day role. Today, our unified approach ensures the opposite: the best preparation for any assessment is simply doing the job well and reflecting on your experiences working with guests.
The assessment experience has been designed to reflect authentic, on-snow teaching. Success in assessment now mirrors success in your daily lessons. Whether you’re pursuing certification or not, the feedback and criteria built into the standards guide your growth as a pro, help you inspire future learning, and bring guests back for more.
National Consistency: Coast-to-Coast Alignment
In the last nine years we’ve made enormous progress toward consistency across the country. All national standards have been written using the same template, based on learning outcomes. The assessment criteria are evaluated with a unified six-point measurement scale, giving instructors clear, actionable feedback on how they’re meeting the outcomes and where they can continue to grow.
This national consistency means the experience is the same coast to coast. Whether you teach in Vermont, Colorado, or California, you’ll encounter the same expectations, criteria, and professional development pathway. We’re able to create national training documents, such as the performance guides and curriculum that directly support instructors in achieving your professional goals.
A Clearer Pathway for Professional Growth
Alignment also means that your professional development journey is easier to navigate. With clear outcomes, you know exactly what’s expected at every stage — and you have a choice in how you get there. A prescribed approach ensures instructors build skills for the largest populations of students who are learning on snow – kids! Additionally, individualized curriculum options help you target specific areas for improvement, with core elective choices grounded in the learning connection.
This balance of structure and choice empowers you to take control of your learning environment. It ensures that whether you’re a part-time pro teaching weekends and holidays or a full-time pro, teaching 500 plus hours/season, you’re supported with clear, relevant pathways toward success.
A Long-Term Vision, Now Within Reach
We are on the cusp of achieving a goal that dates back to the founding of PSIA in 1961: a consistent, nationally aligned approach to training and certification. By May 29, 2026, all eight regions will deliver fully consistent assessment processes for alpine and snowboard with other national standards credentials close behind.
This milestone fulfills Strategic Goal Three, “complete the transition in consolidation, consistency, and cooperation regarding education and certification” from the 2016 leadership summit, addressing decades of feedback from members who asked for more consistency. This leadership summit included members of the national board of directors, executive leadership, and education leadership representing the eight regions of PSIA-AASI. This strategic goal set the stage for our 10-year plan to achieve consistency in professional development and credentialing. It’s a direct response to the voices of our community, ensuring that professional development through PSIA-AASI is meaningful, clear, and universally recognized.
Why This Matters to Every Member
Even if you are currently not planning to take an assessment, this initiative is for you. The standards capture the essence of what it means to be a great instructor, and they provide a roadmap for continual growth. By training to the same criteria that define great teaching, you’re building the very skills that make you effective on snow and valued by your school and your students.
This is why alignment matters to every member, not just those standing for an assessment. It unites us as professionals under one shared framework of excellence and celebrates the pride we all take in the craft of teaching snowsports.
Looking Ahead
PSIA-AASI was founded to be the professional association for Americans teaching on snow. Today, with more than 34,000 members strong, we continue to honor that principle by setting clear standards, supporting your growth, and ensuring that the credentials you work so hard to achieve truly represent professional excellence.
Alignment is not just about assessments. It’s about raising the bar for all of us, creating better experiences for our students, and securing the future of our profession. Together, we are building a legacy of consistency, clarity, and pride in the job we all love.
