Graduate ski instructor

How does one actually become a certified ski instructor?

The training for the Graduate ski instructor (state ski instructor training) is regulated by law in Austria. The regional ski instructor associations are responsible for the implementation of the diploma ski instructor training. Together with the provincial governments, the provincial ski instructor associations have decided that the diploma ski instructor training will be carried out at the Federal Institutes for Physical Education (Federal Sports Academy). Responsible for the entire training course here is the Federal Sports Academy Innsbruck.

The Diploma ski instructor training is the highest level of ski instructor training in Austria. It lasts two semesters and is divided into theoretical and practical parts. The core of the training, which places very high physical and technical demands on the candidates, is its polysportive character. This means that the participants are not only intensively trained in alpine skiing, but also receive high-quality training in snowboarding, cross-country skiing and trend sports. In addition, there is the comprehensive alpine training, which already begins with the alpine courses in the provincial ski instructor training and ends with the Ski guidewhich can be completed after the diploma ski instructor.

To get to the Diploma ski instructor training To be admitted, candidates must fulfil the following requirements Requirements fulfil:

• Completed national ski instructor training
• Completed snowboard candidate training of the cross-country candidate training programme
• completed 18 years of age
• Sports medical examination
• positively completed aptitude test
• Positive completion of the CTT technical test (formerly Euro-Test)

The Suitability test takes place in Maria Alm / Hinterreit in Salzburg in mid-March. During the aptitude test, your own ability and skills in school driving are tested.

Those who pass the aptitude test are then authorised to CTT technology test compete. The "Joint training examination - CTT technical examination" is a performance review coordinated at EU level with the aim of facilitating the Europe-wide recognition of professional qualifications. This means that anyone who has completed the highest level of ski instructor training in their EU country and has passed both the CTT technical examination and the CTT safety examination (in Austria the "Alpine course" of the diploma ski instructor training) is recognised and treated equally as a state-certified ski instructor in other EU countries such as France, Italy or Germany. The CTT technique test takes the form of a standardised giant slalom with two runs. The reference time is set by calibrated reference skiers sent by the participating EU countries. Of course, Austrian reference skiers will also be competing. A coefficient is used to determine the time limit for men and women from the running times of the reference skiers who start at the beginning and end of each run. Those who have already beaten the limit in the first round do not have to compete in the second round.

 Once both hurdles, the aptitude test and the CTT technique test, have been passed, the candidates can begin their diploma ski instructor training the following autumn. The first semester usually starts on the Pitztal Glacier. This is followed by further courses at the BSFZ Hintermoos, in Ischgl and in St. Christoph am Arlberg, the main training centre. The one-week alpine course is completed in January before the second semester starts in March. The second semester, including all final examinations, is held entirely in St. Christoph am Arlberg in the Ski Austria Academy held.

In total, the Snow sports instructor training In Austria, the training programme for ski instructors lasts around 120 days and is the most comprehensive ski instructor training programme in the world.