Two cross country skiers.
experience what it’s like to work on snow

Gain Valuable Skills While Doing What You Love

The PSIA-AASI Junior Instructor Program is offered in collaboration with some of our member snowsports schools and is designed to give you a taste of what it’s like to work as a ski or snowboard instructor with on-snow experiences. Teens and pre-teens are invited to earn certification and experience teaching skiing or riding. Participants develop valuable skills like communication, independence, discipline, professionalism, and managing group dynamics, while getting a foot in the door of the $1 trillion+ outdoor recreation industry.

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Junior instructor benefits

Whether you are considering a gap year after high school to head to the mountains, are interested in exploring an outdoor industry career, or just want to bolster your college application / resume with highly valuable skills that are transferrable to any profession, this experiential program offers a multitude of benefits to young skiers and riders.

gain insight into the outdoor industry
become a better skier or snowboarder
develop valuable career and life skills
Be more confident talking to adults
make friends who share your passion
learn how to be a snowsports instructor

program steps

This course is an educational opportunity that involves both online and in-person components. Each program is tailored to the local, host ski area and may involve just shadowing or teaching on snow.

four women snowboarders high fiving

Connect with a local snowsports school or Nordic center.

Reach out to the snowsports school nearest you to find out if they offer Junior Instructor Certification and to learn more about their specific requirements. Please note that not all snowsports schools offer this program but, if the school is a PSIA-AASI member, you can ask them to consider starting one!

find a school
A ski instructor giving a lesson on the hill.

Complete PSIA-AASI’s minimum program requirements.

Start with our online learning course. Then, complete 12 hours of on-snow training at your chosen ski area, shadow at least six hours of lessons, demonstrate a minimum ski or ride ability, complete a course portfolio with your supervisor, and write a letter of intent for why you want to be a snowsports instructor.

online course
Adaptive sit skiers.

Complete the school’s specific requirements.

Member schools have their own specific program requirements tailored to their terrain and guests. Once you finish the program, you’ll earn a junior instructor card and pin and your certification will be nationally recognized across our 300+ member schools.

Program FAQ and Resources

Please contact us if you have additional questions. Have fun out there!

The online course is just three hours and includes our module for new instructors plus “delivering the beginner experience” and “introduction to working with children.” The course is $25 and you’ll be able to manage your progress through the online portal.

You will be trained by a PSIA-AASI member certified at Level II (or above) in the snowsports discipline that, when possible, matches your skillset (alpine skiing, snowboarding, or cross country skiing). Each school will choose the instructors who deliver the training for this program.

A minimum of 12 hours with your school trainer are required, plus six hours spent shadowing lessons. PSIA-AASI recommends to the schools that are participating in this program that they structure your training to be movement-based, fun, and exciting, so that you’re inspired and want to come back to work in the outdoor industry and at your snowsports school one day! The 12 hours of training will be movement-based and model an experiential approach to learning.

PSIA-AASI does not have a minimum or maximum age range. Setting those parameters for participation is up to each school, resort, or participating program. PSIA-AASI looks to partner with schools in order to offer programming to pre-teens and teens to grow the overall snowsports workforce industry.

After successfully completing the program, you’ll have learned what it’s like to work in the snowsports industry. You can add the skills you’ve learned in this program to your resume and college applications to highlight that you’ve participated in and completed a national certificate program. Also, all successful participants receive a PSIA-AASI Junior Instructor card, a certificate of completion, and a PSIA-AASI Junior Instructor pin.

Partnership with Penn State University

Professional Snowsports Education Program Certificate

Penn State’s Certificate Program for Professional Snowsports Education prepares individuals for a career in snowsports instruction. The online, nine-credit program will allow students to earn a PSIA-AASI Level I Instructor certification anywhere in the United States, integrating an online learning experience with hands-on, professional development at students’ local snowsports areas. Students can complete their PSIA-AASI Level I Instructor certification in alpine skiing, snowboarding, telemark skiing or cross-country skiing.

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