This certification guide will help you plan for certification, understand the process and allow you to find answers to common questions. If you have specific questions that are not answered here, please contact the alpine chairperson. Good luck in your exam training and preparation!
Alpine Level I Certification
Level I resources: Level I Guide : Level I tasks : Level I Standards
What is Level I Certification?
Level I certification is intended for entry-level or first-year instructors. Level I certification designates that an instructor is knowledgeable in the fundamentals of ski instruction. This includes understanding the core concepts of snowsports instruction, having the ability to effectively to teach beginner lessons, and demonstrating basic skiing skills. More specific requirements for Level I certification are provided in the PSIA Level I National Standards.
The Level I certification consists of a 2-day evaluated clinic. This clinic includes a written test, skiing, teaching scenarios and technical discussions. Level I events are typically offered several times during each season at areas around the division. In some cases the Level I clinic is offered “in house,” meaning it is organized and subsidized by a specific snowsports school. Other Level I events are run by NRM and appear on the events schedule each year. To learn more about Level I events in NRM, check the event calendar or ask your snowsports school director to see if an in-house event is coming to your mountain.
How do I become Level I certified?
- You must be employed by a snowsports school, club, or other recognized instructional program. Your snowsports school does not need to be a member of NRM.
- You must have attained 10 hours of on-snow teaching experience.
- You must successfully complete a Level I evaluated clinic, including written test. A passing grade on the written test is 75% or better.
- You may take the Level I event before you have met the above requirements. Upon successful completion of your Level I event, you have one full year to meet the employment and teaching requirements for Level I certification. Once your requirements are met, you can apply to receive Level I certified status.
- Once you obtain Level I certification, you are required to obtain 6 educational credit hours every 2 years in order to maintain your Level I status.
Alpine Level II Certification
Level II resources: Level II tasks : Level II Standards
What is Level II certification?
Level II certification means you are certified to teach adult and children's lessons up through the intermediate level. In order to teach effective intermediate lessons, you need to have a good understanding of the core concepts of snowsports instruction, be able to explain the concepts involved in skiing through the intermediate level, and be able to perform skiing movements that would allow you to demonstrate effective movements to your students.
Requirements: 
- You must be employed by a snowsports school, club, or other recognized instructional program. Your snowsports school does not need to be a member of NRM.
- You must have attained at least 30 hours of on-snow teaching experience as a Level I instructor.
- You must take a prep clinic during the same season as your exam or the season prior to the exam.
- You must pass the Level II written test with a grade of 75% or better prior to attending an on-snow exam. The written test must be passed during the same season as your exam or the season prior to the exam.
Alpine Level II written test:
The Level II written test will be given during the prep clinic. The written test must be completed successfully with a grade of 75% or better prior to taking the on-snow portion of the exam.
The test is multiple choice and is based on the Core Concepts Manual, Alpine Technical Manual, and Children's Manual.
A passing grade on the written test is valid for the season it is taken and the following season.
If you do not pass the written test, you may take the test again for a $25 administrative fee. Any member of the alpine DCE program may administer the test. If you fail the written test the second time you cannot re-take it until the following season. Contact the alpine chair to arrange a re-take of the written test.
Alpine Level II Prep Clinic
You must attend a three-day Level II exam prep clinic during the same season as your exam or the season before your exam.
It is strongly recommended that you take the prep clinic in NRM, as other divisions have different formats for their exams and prep clinics. Prep clinics taken in other divisions will be considered on a case-by-case basis; so contact the alpine chairperson well in advance in order to determine if another division's prep clinic may be substituted for the NRM prep clinic.
If you fail the on-snow exam, you may retake the exam without repeating the written test and prep clinic as long as they were completed the same season or the season prior to your exam.
Exam Skill Development Clinics
At your prep clinic, the clinician may suggest an additional one-day clinic in either teaching methodology/movement analysis or skiing/tasks with movement analysis. These clinics are designed to provide further preparation for exams.
Alpine Level II Exam
The on-snow portion of the exam consists of a two-day interactive exam focusing on teaching, understanding and performing effective movement patterns in skiing. This will involve demonstrations, tasks, free-skiing, and teaching segments. The tasks, demonstrations and teaching segments are designed to allow every candidate the opportunity to demonstrate that they meet the Level II national standards.
All parts of the exam are scored, and you will be given both written and verbal feedback at the end of the exam.
Once you obtain Level II certification, you are required to obtain 6 educational credit hours every 2 years in order to maintain your Level II status.
Alpine Level III Certification
Level II resources: Level III tasks : Level III Standards
What is alpine Level III certification?
A Level III instructor is able to teach effective lessons to both adults and children at any level, beginner through expert. In order to achieve this, Level III instructors must possess a thorough understanding of the core concepts of snowsports instruction, must understand skiing movements, causes and effects, and must have the skiing skills and versatility needed to demonstrate a wide range of skiing movements to all types of students.
Requirements to take the Level III exam:
- You must be employed by a snowsports school, club, or other recognized instructional program. Your snowsports school does not need to be a member of NRM.
- You must have attained at least 30 hours of on-snow teaching experience as a Level II instructor.
- You must take a prep clinic during the same season as your exam or the season prior to the exam.
- You must pass the Level II written test with a grade of 75% or better prior to attending an on-snow exam. The written test must be passed during the same season as your exam or the season prior to the exam.
Alpine Level III written test:
The alpine written test will be given during the prep clinic. The written test must be completed successfully with a grade of 75% or better prior to taking the on-snow portion of the exam.
The test is multiple choice and is based on the Core Concepts Manual, Alpine Technical Manual, and Children's Manual.
A passing grade on the written test is valid for the season it is taken and the following season.
If you do not pass the written test, you may take the test again for a $25 administrative fee. Any member of the alpine DCE program may administer the test. If you fail the written test the second time you cannot re-take it until the following season. Contact the alpine chair to arrange a re-take of the written test.
Alpine Level III Prep Clinic
You must attend a three-day Level III exam prep clinic during the same season as your exam or the season before your exam.
It is strongly recommended that you take the prep clinic in NRM, as other divisions have different formats for their exams and prep clinics. Prep clinics taken in other divisions will be considered on a case-by-case basis; so contact the alpine chairperson well in advance in order to determine if another division's prep clinic may be substituted for the NRM prep clinic.
If you fail the on-snow exam, you may retake the exam without repeating the written test and prep clinic as long as they were completed the same season or the season prior to your exam.
Exam Skill Development Clinics
At your prep clinic, the clinician may suggest an additional one-day clinic in either teaching methodology/movement analysis or skiing/tasks with movement analysis. These clinics are designed to provide further preparation for exams.
Alpine Level III Exam
The on-snow portion of the exam consists of a two-day interactive exam focusing on teaching, understanding and performing effective movement patterns in skiing. This will involve demonstrations, tasks, free-skiing, and teaching segments. The tasks, demonstrations and teaching segments are designed to allow every candidate the opportunity to demonstrate that they meet the Level III national standards.
The exam teaching segments will involve teaching the other members of the group, rather than “canned” teaching scenarios.
All parts of the exam are scored, and you will be given both written and verbal feedback at the end of the exam.
Once you obtain Level III certification, you are required to obtain 6 educational credit hours every 2 years in order to maintain your Level III status.
