For many members, certification is their primary reason for becoming a member of PSIA. Whether you’re new to teaching or a season veteran, certification is one of the best ways to advance your career as a ski instructor. Most ski schools offer increased pay and standing to certified instructors, with the benefits generally increasing at higher levels of certification. Once you become certified, you are required to maintain your certification by fulfilling the PSIA Continuing Education requirements.
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 telemark 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 [wpfilebase tag=”fileurl” id=422 linktext=”PSIA National Certification Standards”].
Level I certification is achieved after passing the two-day Level I Evaluated Clinic. This clinic includes a written test, skiing, teaching scenarios, and discussions. In addition, you must complete the NRM Telemark Level I Workbook and bring it with you to the event. Level 1 events are typically offered several times during each ski 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 ski school. Other Level I events are run by NRM and appear on the events schedule each year.
More specific requirements for Level I certification are provided in the PSIA Telemark Certification Standards.
Level II and III certification is intended for upper-level instructors who have been teaching Telemark for several seasons, have Level I/II Telemark certification, respectively. A Level II instructor is certified to teach intermediate Telemark lessons, while a Level III instructor is certified to teach all levels of Telemark lessons. Level II and Level III certification involves a 3-day, all-inclusive, preparation clinic and assessment. This includes a written test, workbook, skiing, teaching scenarios and discussions. The Level II and Level III Telemark exams are offered together as one exam. Your intended certification level must be decided at the beginning of the clinic/assessment event. These events may be offered every other year if demand is low.
All candidates must complete the appropriate Level II online exam or the Level III online exam with a score of at least 80% a minimum of 48 hours before the clinic/assessment event.
Exceptions to the prerequisites may be granted by the Telemark discipline chair (nrm.nordic@gmail.com) by petition for qualified individuals with a telemark race or coaching background only. These candidates are required to send their petition and resume to the Telemark discipline chair.
More specific requirements for Level II and Level III certification are provided in the PSIA Telemark Certification Standards.
