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PSIC v CSIA: Becoming Certified In Canada
Guide Summary
The Professional Ski Instructors of Canada is a new governing body established in Canada in 2023. The PSIC trains and certifies ski instructors in Canada, aligning itself with international standards set by the ISIA. Although not yet a member of the ISIA. The CSIA has been the main governing body in Canada for over 85 years and boasts a membership of over 20,000. For the first time in Canada, those wanting to become certified as ski instructors now have a choice: to become certified as PSIC or CSIA.
Becoming Certified In Canada
When deciding to become a ski instructor, something not to be overlooked is the association you wish to certify with. In Canada, for the last 85 years, the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance has been the only governing body to train and certify instructors, meaning the decision on which association to certify with was pretty straightforward. But as of last year, there is a new kid on the block: the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada.
Your options are, of course, not limited to Canada. You could become certified under several national associations, including Austria, Australia, New Zealand and British; check out our certifications page for more information on these governing bodies. For this blog, we’ll be taking a close look at the CSIA and PSIC, hoping to provide insight into each system and help you decide which system is the right one for you.
What Is The PSIC?
“The Professional Ski Instructors of Canada offers a new system of training, education and certification to the ski industry and instructor community in Canada. A direct relationship and partnership with ski schools drives a curriculum that specifically caters to current and future ski school & industry demands. Principles of excellence, inclusivity and respect provide a superior learning environment to aspirational and ski teaching professionals.”
The PSIC is a new system founded in 2023, led by industry professionals, many of whom were closely associated with the CSIA. Looking to develop new ideas, they offer a new innovative approach to certifying ski instructors, adding value to the industry. The PSIC works closely with ski schools across Canada and tries to cater to the industry’s ever-changing demands. The PSIC is, like the CSIA, working with a traditional four-level system, with those becoming fully certified recognised as the best in the industry with expert skiing and teaching skills. The PSIC trains and certifies ski instructors in Canada, aligning itself with international standards set by the ISIA. Although not yet a member of the ISIA.
Like the CSIA, any instructor becoming certified with the PSIC will have full recognition of their certification in a Canadian ski school.
PSIC Level 1 Certification
The PSIC delivers an accessible Level 1 course and exam designed to provide skiers with an insight into the world of ski teaching and certify them to teach beginner skiers, with a focus on teaching children. In order to complete the course you must be 14 years or older and undertake an E-Learning module and on-snow practical assessment lasting three days. Candidates should be competent parallel skiers on green and blue terrain. After success completion of the level 1 course, candidates can begin teaching at an entry level in Canadian ski schools. The PSIC Level 1 is comparable to the CSIA Level 1 and instructors certified at this level in both systems can expect to be well equipped to begin teaching beginner skiers.
What Is The CSIA?
The Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance is a non-profit organisation and the main governing body to train and certify future and current ski instructors across Canada. Internationally recognised as one of the best in the world, they have been around since 1938 and have over 20,000 members.
The pathway
Level 2 – Development of technical concepts and teaching methods. Qualifies instructors to teach intermediate skiers in situational environments. Consolidation of ski technique.
Level 3 – Able to demonstrate and ski to an advanced level. A Level 3 instructor has a deepened understanding of ski technique and can teach in various situations and terrain.
Level 4 – The highest level of certification, qualifying instructors to teach at the expert level and train instructors. Level 4’s help to inspire guests and instructors alike and seek to promote the growth of the ski industry.
International Recognition With ISIA
The CSIA has time and resources behind it. With over 20,000 members and a rich history, the CSIA has solid foundations and is a member of the ISIA. Because of this, it’s not hard to argue that the CSIA have more resources available to its candidates at this stage. Their methods and philosophies are structured, tested and well-rehearsed, meaning the quality of their courses are kept at the highest level. Being members of the ISIA, this gives instructors certified under the CSIA the opportunity to obtain their ISIA stamp and become internationally recognised. The PSIC has yet to obtain ISIA status, and thus, instructors qualified under the PSIC may find their work opportunities overseas to be more limited than their CSIA counterparts.
The PSIC has only been around for a year, so it’s challenging to give a conclusive answer about which is better. However, I think it’s safe to say that the CSIA’s longevity and membership signal it’s not going anywhere, and with ISIA membership, it is supported and respected by international associations worldwide—a safe bet for an instructor looking to work overseas and obtain ISIA status. The PSIC needs a little more time before the same conclusions can be made.
PSIC v CSIA
Both the CSIA and PSIC ensure that their methods around how to ski are supported by science, understanding turning forces, physics and other factors that influence a ski and a skier. This means the information delivered on HOW to ski is very similar between the two systems. If you’re a CSIA instructor looking to switch to the PSIC or vice versa, you’d find the terminology and language quite similar. It’s worth pointing out too that the current leadership team of the PSIC have close ties to the CSIA, many of them once working for the CSIA in senior leadership roles. This means you’re likely to see a lot of similarities and crossover between the two systems.
Taking A Course With The PSIC and CSIA
So far, it seems the most significant differences between the two systems are in how the courses and exams are delivered. The CSIA is a traditional four-level system, with each level getting progressively harder. This has resulted in a course and exam environment where the Level 2 course and exam take on quite a different process to the Level 1. Level 3 is quite a change from Level 2 with the introduction to a ski-off and uninterrupted teaching exam. Level 4 then takes on a whole new approach with the academy process. My Journey To Level 4 CSIA with Winter Sports Company
The PSIC, on the other hand, has adopted an approach where, as closely as possible, the course and exam environments are kept as linear as possible, meaning a candidate taking a Level 4 course and exam should get a similar experience to someone sitting a Level 2 exam. The teaching and skiing standards are, of course, totally different, but how the information is delivered and how the candidates are assessed are consistent. The goal is to create an environment where candidates focus more on learning and development during the course and exam process than on the outcome at the end, resulting in a more receptive learner and better instructor. However, a case could be put forward that the CSIA’s extensive curriculum and emphasis on strict teaching methods help to produce well-rounded and well-educated instructors, with those certified at Levels 3 and 4 regarded as some of the best in the industry.
Taking A Course With The CSIA
At this stage, the Winter Sports Company provides instructor training courses for those wanting to certify under the CSIA. We work closely with Sun Peaks, Revelstoke and Panorama Mountain delivering Level 1, 2 and 3 internships and training courses. We don’t currently offer the same products for PSIC. If you’re interested in becoming a ski instructor in Canada and working overseas, take a look at some of our most popular CSIA courses.
3-5 Week CSIA Level 1 Ski Instructor Course
Full Season CSIA Level 2 Ski Instructor Internship
6 Week Advanced CSIA Level 2 Ski Instructor Course
FAQs
A typical salary ranges from $17-19 as a Level 1 ski Instructor to $19-22 as a Level 2. A level 3 instructor can start to make a good living with more hours and a higher wage of $23-28, depending on the resort. Private lessons and tips will help increase your take-home pay. When you reach fully certified Level 4 standard, you can maximise your earning potential and hours and become a sought-after commodity. This level will significantly increase your employability and offer many other gateways to earn a considerably well-paid salary.
If you are a capable skier, simply attending a three- or 5-day course and examination will entitle you to become a level 1 ski instructor upon successful completion. If you still need to gain sufficient skills, then a standard timeframe to train to this level can be around 3-4 weeks for Level 1 and another 5-7 weeks for Level 2. The Level 2 exams are completed within six days after the preparation and training.
Gaining your basic ski instructor certification, with the correct existing skills, costs as little as $480 or £350. However, achieving those skills, should you need training, can cost considerably more as accommodation, lift passes, transportation, and food must be factored in whilst training and completing your exams. These costs can be in the region of £3500-£8500 for your Level 1 or Level 2, depending on the quality and duration of the programme.
With most governing bodies within the ISIA (International Ski Instructors Association) which has 38 nations conforming to an international standard, the accepted format of 4 Levels of skiing consists of the following. Level 1 instructor course teaches a basic introduction to skiing and assumes the instructor can parrallel ski. An introduction to children is often introduced at this level. Level 2 concentrates on more advanced techniques and allows you to instruct intermediate skiers. Level 3 Is a much higher certificate, centering around advanced technique on challenging terrain in all conditions. . Finally most governing bodies except the New Zealand system have a Level 4 which is the final level allowing the instructor to teach any level of skier.
