Ski instructors in Portillo Chile.

The International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA)

The ISIA upholds a standard for professional instructors that is recognized by most nations. It promotes collaboration in the areas of technique, methodology, didactics, and the question of safety ensuring the highest standards of professional practice. The ISIA was formed in 1971 and has 40 member nations, including the United States, representing the very best in instruction around the world.

ISIA WEBSITE

Get Your ISIA Passbook

Are you a certified Level III member planning a trip to Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Canada, or South America? Apply for an International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA) Passbook and it might help you in applying for a job at an international resort, or get discounted lift tickets. Note it is up to the individual resorts to determine if the ISIA Passbook confers discounts or benefits at that resort.

You must be a current Level III PSIA-AASI member and up-to-date on your continuing education units. You must also be able to instruct in another language and successfully complete a minimum of 320 hours of education and assessment broken out into several areas. See the PDF for complete details.

Upon receipt of your application, please allow up to two weeks for your Passbook/Stamp to arrive in the mail. Please plan ahead; and if you have a tight deadline call Member Services at 303.987.9390.

Apply for an ISIA Card

ISIA card process application coming soon

Soon, PSIA-AASI will be offering the ISIA Card. The card is the highest level of international snowsports certification and comes after the ISIA Stamp. To qualify, you must meet all requirements for the ISIA Stamp and complete an additional 130 hours of training, including an ISIA approved off-piste safety test and the ISIA Technique test. The required educational courses are intended to bring all levels of methodological, technical, and mountain safety/environment criteria to or beyond the ISIA Level 3 performance standards and are courses that fall outside of the standard PSIA-AASI Level 3 processes.

isia quality standard

Next ISIA Speed Test: March 30, 2025, Aspen, CO

The ISIA Speed Test is a required component of the ISIA Card certification. Participants will have two runs to meet the speed test standard. Final results are based on best run, not a combination of the two runs.

Standards will be determined by completing the course within the designated maximum time. Times are determined by FIS calibrated pace-setters and are slightly different for men and women.

This event is open to all PSIA-AASI members and certified members of other organizations such as BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors), NZSIA (New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance), etc.

info + registration

PSIA-AASI Foreign Certification Equivalency

This process is for snowsports instructors with foreign certifications seeking PSIA-AASI certification.

  1. Must become a member of PSIA-AASI.
  2. PSIA-AASI certification must be maintained by standard continuing education policy.
  3. Must be current and provide proof of active certification from another country/association.
  4. Reference the PSIA-AASI Foreign Certification Equivalency for recommended equivalent level of certification.
  5. Holder of equivalent foreign certification may take the equivalent level of PSIA-AASI certification or one level above, up to Level 3.
  6. PSIA-AASI certification is not granted until successful completion of the entire exam process including prerequisites.
foreign certification equivalency document