become a psia-aasi member

The Professional Ski Instructors of America-American Association of Snowboard Instructors, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to snowsports. Your journey toward personal development, professional certification, career growth, and community building starts with membership. When you join PSIA-AASI, you join an internationally recognized organization made up of passionate individuals dedicated to doing and sharing what they love. We are here to support and enable your career journey in snowsports instruction.

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Your Professional Development Journey Starts Here

Join today and become a Registered Member. That means you are starting your education journey and are not yet certified. You are not required to work toward certification; many snowsports industry professionals join to take advantage of our continuing education materials. For most, PSIA-AASI membership is the first step in their journey toward earning certification, a coveted pin, and all of the benefits that professional instructor credentials confer.

the psia-aasi community

More than 34,000 individual members
more than 300 snowsports school members
alpine, adaptive, cross country, telemark, and snowboard
8 psia-aas regions serving every state with a ski area
partners with 40+ international snowsports organizations
more than 60 years of experience and innovation

member benefits

Access Training and Education Resources

Become a better skier or snowboarder and a better teacher. Improve your knowledge in the areas of technical, teaching, and people skills with access to member-only resources, webinars, online courses, and events across the country. Stay on top of industry trends and round out your knowledge on everything from nutrition and injury recovery to equipment maintenance and career advancement.

Earn Professional Certification(s)

Membership is the first step on your journey to becoming a certified instructor. PSIA-AASI certification is recognized at ski areas nationwide and indicates you are uniquely skilled to teach skiing or snowboarding at various levels. The things you learn will help you whether you want a lifelong career in the snowsports industry or are looking to develop broadly useful professional skills.

Enjoy Ski and Snowboard Pro Offers

We partner with more than 50 outdoor, ski, snowboard, technology, soft goods, and sports insurance companies to support our members with exclusive pro offers! Save big on your next pair of skis or board.

Connect Locally with Regional Membership

When you join, you also become a member of a PSIA-AASI region. Eight regions cover the entire U.S. and ensure you have local knowledge and representation. Your region is your home for in-person events, certification clinics, instructor training, volunteer opportunities, and community building. Regions also offer scholarship, mentorship, and career advancement, alongside national-level offerings.

Utilize Our Snowsports Instructor Job Board

Our more than 300 PSIA-AASI member ski and snowboard schools post hundreds of jobs each season. Find your next instructing, management, or leadership role on our member job board.

Receive Our Member Magazine

32 Degrees is a print magazine crafted to support your ongoing education and delivered to your mailbox three times per winter season. Experts from across the country and representing all disciplines write about real-world scenarios and the practical applications of your professional instructor training. Gain insights, add to your bag of tricks, and learn about new and innovative programs.

Membership categories

1
registered member

You are a PSIA-AASI member starting your education journey and have not yet achieved certification.

2
certified member

You have achieved your Level I, Level II, or Level III certification from PSIA-AASI in any discipline. CEUs required.

3
alumni member

You’ve been a PSIA-AASI member for six (6) years or longer, and you no longer wish to maintain your certification. CEUs not required.

4
honorary membeR

You’ve been recognized by the PSIA-AASI Board of Directors for your outstanding service in the snowsports industry.

5
lifetime member

You’ve been recognized by your region and the PSIA-AASI Board of Directors. CEUs not required.

Are you ready to level up?

Join now

Please note, the membership renewal cycle coincides with our fiscal year, beginning July 1. All memberships expire June 30, regardless of join date.

Membership FAQ

PSIA-AASI is the largest organization in the world dedicated to snowsports, and the only one in the U.S. dedicated to resourcing, elevating, and advancing professional ski and snowboard education in this country. Here’s just a sample of what membership enables and offers you:

  • The ongoing development, publication and dissemination of world-class materials to support and drive your development as a professional instructor.
  • Professionally developed manuals for 5 disciplines and 3 specialties; more than 100 educational webinars a year at the national level, alone, plus hundreds more at the regional level; a weekly podcast; an educational magazine published by the national office 3x per year; and so much more.
  • Resources for snowsports schools to assist them in hiring and training the best ski and snowboard instructors.
  • More than 3,000 region-based certification, education, and community-building events taking place at a ski area near you.
  • National Academies: PSIA-AASI’s premier national events allow you to expand your knowledge, perspective, and network at a world-class ski resort.
  • The PSIA-AASI National Team: The 30+ pros on the team represent all disciplines and are on the leading edge of innovation and further development of snowsports instruction methods. They have decades of experience across teaching, leadership, and education development roles and, in addition to pushing your profession to new heights, are available to member schools as a resource.
  • Pro deals from nearly 60 outdoor gear companies. The savings you get on a new pair of skis or new board often cover the cost of membership, alone.
  • Dedicated, experienced staff who share your passion for skiing, riding, and teaching. This includes teams based in multiple states across 8 distinct regions, meaning there are staff on the ground who understand your unique experiences and represent them at a national level.
  • Recognition that those who wear the pin are the best of the best, and key to the future of the snowsports industry.

Anyone can join and take advantage of our educational and training materials to improve their professional skills. Once you decide to work toward attaining professional certification, everything you need is available via your membership. At that point, you will need to have on-snow teaching experience. Certification is not a learn to ski or snowboard program; it is professional credentialling for snowsports instructors.

PLEASE NOTE: Some regions have different policies and pricing structures related to in-person events in order to best serve their members and member schools, and to prioritize the continuing education of working instructors. In some locations, certain events are only accessible to Certified Members and/or those actively employed in snowsports instruction. Additionally, you may be able to access certain events as a Registered Member but at a higher rate than Certified Members. Thank you for your understanding.

PSIA-AASI and the eight PSIA-AASI regions work together to provide you the education programs and certification standards to help you become a better skier or rider and teacher.

PSIA-AASI works with leaders from across the country to write certification standards and train examiners, the people who teach other instructors how to teach, so you know what to expect from your certification exams and all certification exams are consistent. This means all certification clinics and exams – from Level I to Level III – follow the same format and use the same content, so you know what skills you’ll gain from achieving your certification and its consistent across the country.

PSIA-AASI also publishes education resources, such as technical manuals and 32 Degrees magazine, and partners with Official Suppliers to provide you access to Pro Offers.

PSIA-AASI regions support you on the regional level and hold events including training clinics and certification exams. Regions are your local resource clinics and certification. Regions also work closely with ski and ride schools to provide training resources for instructors so you can feel confident in your skills and job. If you want to pursue a leadership role, regions also have volunteer opportunities to help you get your foot in the door and advance your snowsports career.

Find your region on the map below or learn more here.

Testimonials

“I was a fast-footed rider with little teaching experience when I joined PSIA-AASI. Moving up into the snowboard school seemed to be the thing to do. I quickly found out at my Level I exam that I wasn’t as good as I thought I was. Luckily my examiner ripped! We rode a lot, but he coached us on teaching and how to become a better instructor. That’s when I found my direction in our industry. Since then, PSIA-AASI has opened many doors for me — as a supervisor, manager, school director, as well as with managing parks and consulting for resorts on park layouts and builds. PSIA-AASI can open more doors than you can even dream of. You will learn so much about this sport, get better at it, and, if you really want it, this organization can help you find a full-time career in this industry.”

Tommy Morsch, Former PSIA-AASI Snowboard Team Member

“PSIA-AASI has given me so much that has translated to my ‘regular life.’ I can’t think of another professional organization that blends so much opportunity, good times, and benefits for its members. For new members: you get out what you put in.”

Shannon Rucker: Alpine Level II, Snowboard Level I, Children’s Specialist 2, Freestyle Specialist 1. Liberty Mountain, PA

“I did try working in an office and decided that wasn’t for me, so I guess that was the first step (realizing what I didn’t want). I’ve branched out into different industries: ski instruction and coaching in the winter and outdoor guide and trip designer in the summer months. Living in Steamboat Springs, CO, I’m surrounded by people who follow their passions to live the lifestyle they want. This environment and support has made it easier to make my career happen.”

EMILY LOVETT, FORMER PSIA-AASI CROSS COUNTRY TEAM MEMBER AND COACH

Find Your Region

When you join PSIA-AASI, you also become a member of a PSIA-AASI region. Click the map to visit a region’s informational page.

Enter your zipcode above to find your region.

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