The Professional Ski Instructors of Canada (PSIC) has introduced the Big Mountain Pathway, the highest-level progression route for instructors who want to master extreme terrain. This pathway equips coaches with the skills to guide advanced skiers through double-black runs, mentor freeride athletes, and manage risk in steep, unpredictable environments. In this guide, we break down the pathway levels, explain who it’s designed for, and show how it can shape your career in ski instruction.
Canada’s newest instructor association, the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada (PSIC), has been making waves since its launch in 2023. It offers a four‑level certification system with principles of excellence, inclusivity and respect that create a superior learning environment. Beyond the entry‑level certifications, PSIC has recently unveiled a Big Mountain Pathway that will take advanced skiers and instructors into the highest ranks of mountain skiing. This guide summarises how the pathway works and why it’s a significant step forward for coaches and athletes who want to push their limits in Canada’s steep and challenging terrain.
Before PSIC appeared, Canadian instructors could only certify through the long‑established CSIA; now there is a choice. PSIC’s leadership team, made up of experienced coaches from across Canada, recognises that freeride and big‑mountain skiing are booming. Traditional instructor courses focus on groomed slopes, but many advanced skiers want to explore double‑black terrain, couloirs and bowls and even coach aspiring freeride athletes.
In a statement on the PSIC website, the organisation explains that its Big Mountain Pathway is designed to improve the skills of instructors who want to advance their skiing in double‑black terrain, coach freeride athletes, safely guide students through extreme and steep terrain and further instil the adventure of skiing into advanced skiers. Instead of back‑country guiding, the emphasis is on “front‑country” guiding, operating inside resort boundaries while fostering the risk‑management mindset needed for big‑mountain environments. The program was developed with input from freeride coach and commentator Derek Foose and other leading Canadian big‑mountain coaches.
The pathway begins after you have obtained a PSIC Level 1 certification or an equivalent qualification.
Entry level: PSIC Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 instructors all enter at Level 2 of the Big Mountain pathway, while PSIC Level 4 instructors start at Level 3. Candidates certified by other organisations must hold at least a Level 2 certification.
Membership: A current PSIC membership is required to register.
The pathway comprises three ascending certifications, Level 2 Big Mountain Coach, Level 3 Big Mountain Coach and Level 4 Big Mountain Coach. Each adding more complex terrain, coaching elements and guiding responsibilities.
The Level 2 program introduces coaching and guiding in moderate and advanced off‑piste terrain, typically ungroomed areas at treeline and alpine elevations. The detailed program overview describes Big Mountain terrain as moderate and advanced off‑piste ski areas accessible from many resorts. The program is a front‑country guide training, not a backcountry qualification. It emphasises the development of advanced skiing skills, terrain awareness and coaching techniques.
Format: The Level 2 course runs over five days and is split into skier development & terrain exploration and coaching & guiding development. In practice this means two three‑day modules (skiing and teaching).
Skills: Participants practice steep skiing, drifted and hop turns, side‑slipping, navigating bumps and controlling speed on ungroomed slopes.
Guiding & Teaching: The course introduces safe guiding techniques, hazard identification and a decision‑making framework focused on probability and consequence. Candidates learn to engage learners with verbal, visual and experiential methods, employing terrain features to enhance skill development.
Assessment: Evaluation is continuous, there is no single final exam, and a personalised development plan is provided upon completion.
Fees for Level 2 vary by location but typically range from US$950–US$1,110 for the five‑day course. Graduates earn their PSIC Level 2 Big Mountain Coach certification once they have successfully completed both the skiing and guiding components.
Building on Level 2, the Level 3 program aims to enhance versatility and adaptability in big‑mountain skiing, guiding and coaching. Big Mountain terrain at this stage refers to advanced off‑piste terrain, including steeps, entrances, bowls, couloirs, chutes, drops and cornices. The program fosters a deeper understanding of risk management; participants are still front‑country guides but must adopt a risk‑management mindset applicable to big‑mountain environments.
Format: The Level 3 program comprises an eight‑day course – a five‑day on‑snow training course plus a three‑day evaluation.
Skills: Advanced skiing skills are refined, including managing speed in steep, off‑piste terrain, hop turns, varied turns and controlling drops. Participants learn to navigate features like couloirs and steeps and to adapt their line through bumps and mixed snow.
Guiding & Teaching: Candidates must demonstrate competent guiding techniques, hazard identification and group management in advanced terrain. They practise advanced tactical teaching approaches and develop the ability to adapt lessons to changing terrain.
Assessment: A personalised development plan helps chart progression toward Level 3 certification.
Course fees at Level 3 are typically US$889 for the five‑day training and US$515 for the three‑day evaluation. Completion results in a PSIC Level 3 Big Mountain Coach certification.
The Level 4 program is PSIC’s highest big‑mountain qualification. It aims to refine versatility, adaptability and creativity in expert off‑piste skiing and coaching. The terrain at this level is expert and typically above treeline, steeps, entrances, bowls, couloirs, chutes, drops, cornices, bumps, features and cliffs, across varied snow surfaces from powder to crust. Participants are expected to become subject‑matter experts and leaders in the freeride arena.
Format: Level 4 has a modular structure. Mandatory components include online e‑learning (≈2 hours), a three‑hour online risk‑management course, a four‑day on‑snow skiing/teaching/guiding development camp and a four‑day evaluation camp. Optional top‑up camps focus on guiding, bumps, skiing development or teaching.
Skills: Candidates develop expert‑level skiing with controlled speed and precision, creative line choices and the ability to manage drops and cornices. Guiding skills require advanced hazard assessment, group movement and the ability to seamlessly blend teaching and travel.
Outcome: Level 4 graduates are recognised as expert big‑mountain coaches capable of guiding and teaching advanced and expert skiers through challenging terrain. Pricing will vary by location and was still being finalised at the time of PSIC’s announcement.
As the freeride scene grows, ski schools increasingly need instructors who can coach athletes on steep and variable terrain. The Big Mountain pathway gives you the technical, tactical and risk‑management skills to guide intermediate skiers into double‑black zones, lead freeride programmes and support aspiring athletes. It also builds credibility: the PSIC is widely seen as a forward‑thinking organisation with strong links to ski schools and industry demands. The association’s leadership includes experienced professionals who aim to deliver exceptional on‑snow education.
Winter Sports Company has trained hundreds of instructors through CSIA and PSIC courses. We now offer PSIC big‑mountain pathway training at select resorts, giving you access to world‑class coaches and terrain. Our course packages typically include accommodation, lift passes and mentorship from resort‑based instructors who know the local big‑mountain terrain intimately.
If you’re unsure about PSIC versus other systems, read our in‑depth comparison “PSIC vs CSIA: Becoming Certified in Canada”, which covers the strengths of each system and the decision factors when choosing an instructor pathway. For a personal account of what it’s like to join the PSIC, check out “The PSIC: An Instructor’s Perspective”.
This piece was last updated 03/09/2025
No. Although the PSIC operates in Canada, instructors from other countries who meet the entry requirements (Level 2 certification and PSIC membership) can take part. A cross‑equivalency process allows Level 2 certifications from other associations to be recognised
The PSIC emphasises front‑country guiding. Coaching and guiding within ski‑area boundaries. While the program borrows risk‑management principles from guiding, it is not a certification to lead clients in remote back‑country terrain
Yes. We run Level 1 programmes that include an e‑learning module and a three‑day practical assessment for aspiring instructors. Candidates should be competent parallel skiers on green and blue terrain. Our packages combine training with resort employment opportunities to give you a head start in the industry.
Yes! Many instructors work in the northern hemisphere during winter (December–April) and then head south (New Zealand, Australia, South America) for their winter season (June–October), allowing them to teach and ski all year.
Besides earning an income, you’ll enjoy perks like daily skiing, free or discounted lift passes, staff accommodation, and the chance to live in beautiful mountain resorts. Many instructors also love the strong community and international friendships they build.
