For the 2006-2007 season, PSIA-NRM had adopted a new format to guide Nordic instructors beyond Level III and into the realm of working as a ski area trainer and divisional clinician or examiner. This process will help us develop new Nordic education staff members and expand our expertise in the Nordic education program. A summary of the process is described below.
Accreditation Packet
The Nordic Education Staff (NES) Accreditation Packet describes the steps to join the Nordic Education Staff and has checklists to monitor your progress.
Professional Development and Proficiency Logs
These worksheets and checklists contain specific checklists and scorecards to guide your progress from Level III to becoming a Nordic Education Staff member. NES candidates can “check off” their participation in various activities and gain valuable educational experience relevant to their jobs as trainers and examiners. Note that different people will check the logs, including: verifiers; examiners; peers; school directors; alignment professionals and others.
Telemark Professional Development & Skills Proficiency Log
Cross Country Professional Development & Skills Proficiency Log
Summary of the Nordic Education Staff (NES) Accreditation Process
This excerpt is from the Nordic Education Staff Accreditation Packet; please refer to the full document for more information.
The first step in the NES accreditation process is for the candidate to be approved by the NES Staff as a NES-In Training (IT). The process for a candidate to be approved by the NES staff as a NES-IT is described below:
1. Prerequisites - Prior to applying for NES-IT, candidates must satisfy the following prerequisites:
a) Current PSIA-NRM membership;
b) Actively teaching Nordic Skiing within the NRM Division;
c) Current employment by a Snowsports School or Nordic Center;
d) Nordic Certified Level 3 instructor.
2. Attendance at Fall Division Clinician & Examiner (DCE) training:
a) The candidate shall submit the completed NES-IT Application Form to the PSIA-NRM Nordic Chair at least two weeks prior to the Fall DCE training;
b) The PSIA-NRM Nordic Chair shall inform the applicant within five calendar days of the receipt of the application regarding approval or disapproval of the candidate’s application;
c) The candidate shall enroll in the Fall DCE training in accordance with PSIA-NRM procedures and pay all applicable fees prior to the event;
d) The candidate shall attend Fall DCE Training and be available for an informal interview with a NES staff member following the event.
3. Informal Interview with NES Staff:
a) The candidate shall attend an informal interview with the appropriate NES staff members subsequent to Fall DCE Training;
b) The candidate will be provided with feedback regarding his/her attendance at Fall DCE Training, and informed of approval or disapproval as a NES-IT.
Once approved by the NES staff as a NES-IT, in order for the NES-IT to be approved as a NES staff member, the candidate shall complete certain on-hill training tasks. At a minimum, the NES-IT shall complete the on-hill training tasks listed below:
1. The NES-IT shall audit/shadow the following:
a) One clinic;
b) One Level 1 Certification Exam;
c) One level 2/3 Certification Exam;
d) Lead one clinic with a NES staff member as a mentor;
e) Lead one Level 1 Certification Exam with a NES staff member as mentor;
f) Assist one Level 2/3 Certification Exam with feedback from Lead Examiner following the event.
2. Completion of the applicable Professional Development & Skills Proficiency Log in conjunction with NES staff, the candidate’s Snowsports School Director, peers and alignment professional(s);
3. The NES-IT shall accumulate a minimum of 15 verifiable hours as an Instructor Training Clinic Leader.
Upon completion of the on-hill training listed above, the NES-IT may apply to the NES staff to be approved as a NES staff member. The following procedure shall be followed by the NES-IT and the NES staff to determine the candidate’s qualifications to be approved as a NES staff member:
1. NES Candidate Application – The NES-IT shall prepare and submit an application to the Nordic Chair consisting of the following:
a) A cover letter, addressed to the current PSIA-NRM Nordic Chair, stating the candidate’s desire to be approved as a NES staff member, and listing the contents of the application package, signed by the NES-IT;
b) The NES-IT/NES Candidate Personal Information Form;
c) Completed NES-IT/NES Candidate checklist;
d) Completed Professional Development & Skills Proficiency Log;
e) The Nordic Chair/Chief Examiner (CE) Recommendation Form;
f) The Snowsports School Director/Nordic Center Director Recommendation and Clinic leading Hours Verification Form;
g) The required application fee;
h) Optional letters of recommendation (limit 3).
2. NES Staff Approval/Disapproval – Upon receipt of the application by the PSIA-NRM Nordic Chair, the NES staff shall determine the approval or disapproval of the NES candidate’s application in accordance with the following procedure.
a) The candidate shall be informed in writing by the Nordic Chair if the application is complete within ten (10) calendar days of the receipt of the application, if the application is deemed incomplete, the application shall be returned to the candidate with a request for additional information;
b) Once the application is deemed complete by the Nordic Chair, the current NES staff shall vote to approve or disapprove of the candidate as a NES staff member, the approval or disapproval of the candidate’s application shall be made within twenty (20) calendar days of the
application being deemed complete, and the candidate shall be informed of NES staff’s decision in writing;
c) If the application is disapproved by NES staff, the candidate shall be provided with written feedback from the NES staff to the candidate stating the reasons why the candidate’s application was not approved;
d) Note that placement in the active NES pool shall be determined by staffing and scheduling needs, the staff member’s amount of involvement and commitment to the Nordic community, and physical location of the events.
For a complete description of this program, please refer to the Nordic Education Staff Accreditation Packet.
