Registered Member
The biggest benefit of your membership is access to incredible learning opportunities and resources, so regardless of if your goals are something concrete like certification or a specialist program, or if you just want to be a better teacher and skier, you’re in the right place.
- If you haven’t already joined a snowsports school, now is a good time to do that. Most instructors do their initial training through their own school.
- Check out these FREE resources:
- This is a great time to start learning even more about your craft. Your membership comes with FREE digital access to these manuals or you can access printed manuals here.
- Teaching Snowsports Manual
- Alpine Technical Manual
- Teaching Children Snowsports Manual
- It’s also important that you spend time teaching lessons on-snow. Getting better at anything requires practice.
- If your goal is certification, develop a plan with your snowsports school director or training supervisor to learn what you need to know to be successful at Level I.
- As a registered member, you are eligible to take any event that doesn’t require certification as a prerequisite. Check out the Event Calendar to see your options!
Resources:
Telemark Level I Certification
Prerequisites
- Be a current Registered Member of PSIA-AASI in good standing and at least 14 years of age.
- Complete the Telemark Level I Professional Knowledge Exam prior to registering for the on-snow assessment.
- You should prepare by reading the Telemark Level I Assessment Guide and Telemark Technical Manual as well as the Teaching Snowsports manual. Digital versions of these manuals are available from the National office.
- PLEASE NOTE: While a school director’s signature is not required, we strongly encourage you to notify your director so that he or she is both aware of and can help ensure that you are prepared for a successful exam experience. When you register for a Level I Certification Assessment you are attesting that you have read and completed all prerequisites prior to taking the Level I Certification exam.
Requirements
- Successfully pass an on-snow assessment including the Assessment Criteria in the Telemark Certification Standards.
- At this assessment you will be expected to understand, teach and engage students in the Novice Zone.
- The candidate may attend any two (or more) day Telemark educational event, and declare interest in attaining Level I Certification as part of the registration process. Some events are excluded, such as Level II and Level III exam prep, or events where a Level I Certification could not be included.
- All participants must follow the PSIA-AASI Eastern Event Participant Safety Policy.
Once certified, click here for a summary of what is required to maintain PSIA-AASI Certification.
Resources
- Telemark Level I Professional Knowledge Exam
- Telemark Level I Assessment Guide
- Digital Manuals
- Certification Standards, Fundamentals and Performance Guides
- Event Participant Safety Policy
- Telemark Assessment Forms
- Digital Learning Hub
- The Matrix
- Member Customized Events
- Event Calendar
- Telemark Teaching Videos
- Nordic Assessment Prerequisites
Continuing Education
There are lots of options to continue your professional growth and maintain your certification both on and off snow.
*What is a member required to do to maintain certification?
For on-snow events, please see the Event Calendar.
Filter the calendar by:
- month
- discipline
- event location
- state
- resort
- and/or type of clinic to see options.
Find course descriptions and find the right event for you at our new Event Finder.
Online courses you can complete at your own pace:
If you need the flexibility of an online option, we have several e-learning courses you can take to earn credits:
Go to: Eastern Online Courses for the following options (6 CEUs each):
- History of Skiing
- History of Snowboarding
- Aging and the Senior Skier
- Teaching Students with Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities
Go to: Digital Learning Hub Courses for other E-Learning Courses:
- Skate to Ski (6 CEUs)
- Teaching Families and Groups (6 CEUs)
- Alpine Movement Analysis (1 CEU)
- ACL Strong – Knee Injury Prevention (2 CEUs)
- And more non-credit and 1 credit programs.
Prerecorded webinars that offer credits:
There are many prerecorded webinars you can watch at your convenience to earn CEU credits.
Go to: Eastern Webinars Eastern programs include the following and more:
- Exploring Common Movements Between Disciplines (1 CEU) with Kathy Brennan, Brian Donovan and Keith Rodney
- Converting Beginners into Lifelong Snowsports Enthusiasts (1 CEU) with Joe Forte
- Movement Prioritization (1 CEU) with Nate Gardner
- Stance and Alignment: The Alpine Boot and the Body (1 CEU) with Dave Taylor
Go to: Digital Learning Hub Webinars for National programs including and more:
- The Importance of Failure (1 CEU) with Mermer Blakeslee and Maggie Loring
- The Unified Assessment Form: An Examiner’s Perspective (1 CEU) with Eric Rolls
- Checking Under the Hood Webinar (1 CEU) with Krista Crabtree and Heidi Ettlinger
- The Art of Being (More) Emotionally Intelligent (1 CEU) with Fran Tone
- Create Your Own Place at the Table (1 CEU) with Amy Gan
Children’s or Freestyle Specialist 1
If you have a particular area of interest, now that you’ve achieved your Level I certification, you are eligible to take some of the specialist courses. These are nationally recognized “Certificate Based” programs that address teaching special populations or activities. The courses have an evaluative component, but they are also highly educational in nature. Take advantage of any of these educational opportunities that are focused on your particular area(s) of interest. If you are working toward your Alpine Level II certification, be aware that the Children’s Specialist 1 is a prerequisite course for the Alpine Level II Teaching Assessment.
Eastern Backcountry Education Program
The Eastern Backcountry Education Program consists of three different courses. The first course, Snow Sense and Planning, is a five-part webinar series. The second and third courses in the Eastern Backcountry Education Program, Collecting Data and Putting It All Together, are each two-day courses that are typically held at Maple Wind Farm in February and March.
Snow Sense and Planning
The first event, Snow Sense and Planning, is currently offered in a five-part webinar series.
This course covers the following topics:
- Avalanche Awareness: Weather, Snowpack, Terrain, Aspect
- Safe Travel and Rescue: Transceiver, Probe, Shovel, Route decisions, Reading snowpack
- Snow Analysis: Hasty, analysis along the route, Pit Analysis, Pit Tools and Reporting, Physics and Chemistry of Snowpack
- Orienteering: Bearing/Check, Pace, Reading Features, Maps, Triangulation, GPS and Phone
- Equipment/Clothing/Fuel-H2O/Athleticism: Discipline equipment, Skinning and equipment, Moisture Management, Endurance Pacing and Ability
Participants must attend all five webinars and fulfill the assigned assessments to receive six continuing education credits.
Collecting Data
During the two days, participants will put into practice what they learned in the webinar series. Topics will include: packing, equipment prep, hydration, food, course, orienteering, analyzing snow conditions and safety scenarios. Use of transceivers for pinpointing subjects will be reviewed as well as uphill and downhill techniques. Participants will analyze various situations and make decisions based on the information obtained. Includes small party rescue situations, traveling safely and addressing the effects from weather conditions.
Expect to be outside for 6-8 hrs. each day. Participants should be on Alpine Touring, Nordic or Split Board equipment.
Putting It All Together
The third course focuses on group activities including equipment checks and group travel in relation to food and hydration, route selection and safety. Participants will be using their newly acquired skills to make decisions and manage safety scenarios. An assessment at the end of the day will evaluate their progress. One of the days, we will be ascending to 4000 ft., weather permitting. Participants should be on Alpine Touring, Nordic or Split Board equipment.
Resources
Telemark Level II Certification
Prerequisites
- Alpine, Snowboard, Tele, Cross Country or Adaptive Level I Certified.
- Pass Telemark Level II Professional Knowledge Exam online prior to registering for on-snow portion.
- Attend a Telemark prerequisite course in the season you take the assessment or either of the two previous seasons.
Requirements
- Successfully pass a Telemark Level II on-snow assessment. Candidates will be evaluated on the Assessment Criteria of the National Standards as listed in the Telemark Certification Standards.
- All participants must follow the PSIA-AASI Eastern Event Participant Safety Policy.
Resources
- Telemark Level II Professional Knowledge Exam
- Telemark Level II & III Assessment Guide
- Digital Manuals
- Event Participant Safety Policy
- Certification Standards, Fundamentals and Performance Guides
- Digital Learning Hub
- The Matrix
- Telemark Assessment Forms
- Event Calendar
- Member Customized Events
- Telemark Teaching Videos
- Nordic Assessment Prerequisites
Children’s, Freestyle or Adaptive Specialist 2 or 3
If you want to continue your professional development in your particular area of interest, Children’s Specialist 2, Freestyle Specialist 2 or 3 or Adaptive Specialist 2 or 3 are great options.
Once you’ve achieved your Alpine Level II, you are also eligible to take any courses that require a Level II certification as a prerequisite, so even if you’ve achieved your certification goals already, there are still lots of opportunities to improve your skills in educational clinics. You can also consider some of the Level III Prep events as a way to keep moving forward in your professional development.
Telemark Level III Certification
Prerequisites
- Must be Alpine, Snowboard, Tele, Cross Country or Adaptive Level II Certified.
- Pass the online Telemark Level III Professional Knowledge Exam prior to registering for on-snow components.
- Attend a Telemark prerequisite course in the season you take the assessment or either of the two previous seasons.
Requirements
- Successfully pass a Telemark Level III on-snow assessment. Candidates will be evaluated on the Assessment Criteria of the National Standards as listed in the Telemark Certification Standards.
- All participants must follow the PSIA-AASI Eastern Event Participant Safety Policy.
Resources
- Telemark Level III Professional Knowledge Exam
- Telemark Level II & III Assessment Guide
- Digital Manuals
- Event Participant Safety Policy
- Certification Standards, Fundamentals and Performance Guides
- Digital Learning Hub
- The Matrix
- Telemark Assessment Forms
- Telemark Teaching Videos
- Nordic Assessment Prerequisites
Telemark Development Team
Are you a Level III instructor who would like to take it to the next level and join the Education Staff? The Dev Team is a group of highly skilled Level III instructors who are training to become Eastern Telemark Examiners. They are chosen by way of a demanding and competitive tryout. They receive training that focuses on sharpening their riding skills, their teaching skills, their people skills, and their professional knowledge. The goal is to develop highly effective clinicians to deliver a wide range of educational events to the membership.
Telemark tryouts are scheduled for March 18-19 at Killington, VT.
Application Requirements for the Development Team Tryout:
To be accepted to the tryout for the Development Team you must register for the tryout and submit the following before February 28, 2024 at 11:30pm.
- A professional resume not to exceed two pages. Please identify your professional high points (e.g., presentations, authored materials, relevant activities outside of teaching, foreign language competencies, special credentials, etc.) Document should be in docx, jpeg or pdf format.
- A cover letter describing why you are trying out for the team, your strengths, what specific skills can bring to the team and the organization, or any other information you feel would be relevant. Please do not exceed two pages. Document should be in docx, jpeg or pdf format.
- A letter of recommendation from your snowsports school director or manager. In the event you hold that role at your school, please provide a letter of recommendation from your immediate supervisor or manager.
- Contact details for a second professional reference
- Contact details for a third reference, professional or personal
Please use this form to submit the required documents prior to February 28, 2024.
Thank you in advance.
Eastern ACE Team
The ACE (Advanced Children’s Educators) staff is a highly trained and very experienced group of snowsports educators specializing in Children’s snowsports education. The ACE Team is responsible for delivering the Children’s focused events throughout the season. In addition to delivering these events, the ACE Team plays a key role in working with the entire education staff regarding Children’s snowsports education.
ACE Dev Team Candidates
To be eligible for the PSIA-AASI Eastern ACE Team, you must be:
- A current member of PSIA-AASI Eastern Region
- Level III Certified
- Actively teaching skiing or snowboarding for an accredited Snowsports School
Tryouts
Competitive, intensive skiing, teaching, people skills assessment and in-depth knowledge of teaching snowsports to children.
Successful Candidates
ACE Dev Team members:
- Serve a term of up to four years.
- Must complete a series of recommended understudies, during which the ACE Dev Team member will lead groups for a period of time while under the supervision of the ACE Team Examiner/Clinician.
- Must attend at least two days of annual education staff training.
- Fulfill requirements of ACE Team Coach.
ACE Team tryouts are scheduled for March 18-19 at Sugarbush, VT.
Application Requirements for the Development Team Tryout:
To be accepted to the tryout for the Development Team you must register for the tryout and submit the following before February 28, 2024 at 11:30pm.
- A professional resume not to exceed two pages. Please identify your professional high points (e.g., presentations, authored materials, relevant activities outside of teaching, foreign language competencies, special credentials, etc.) Document should be in docx, jpeg or pdf format.
- A cover letter describing why you are trying out for the team, your strengths, what specific skills can bring to the team and the organization, or any other information you feel would be relevant. Please do not exceed two pages. Document should be in docx, jpeg or pdf format.
- A letter of recommendation from your snowsports school director or manager. In the event you hold that role at your school, please provide a letter of recommendation from your immediate supervisor or manager.
- Contact details for a second professional reference
- Contact details for a third reference, professional or personal
Please use this form to submit the required documents prior to February 28, 2024.
Thank you in advance.
Telemark Eastern Team Tryout – March 15-16, 2023
The Telemark Eastern Team tryout is a 2-day tryout for members who are interested in competing in the PSIA-AASI National Team Selection in 2024. The Eastern Team tryout is not an event where you come “see how you stack up” or come to “see what it is all about.” You should have your mind made up that you are trying out for the PSIA-AASI National Team in 2024 prior to signing up for the Eastern Team tryout.
Becoming an Eastern team member is the first step on the path to being endorsed by the Eastern Region for the National team. The National Team Selection is open to all Level III Certified Members. It is not currently a requirement to be on the Eastern Team to apply for National Team tryouts. However, being on the Eastern team will be a way to prepare for the process and start to organize the content needed for National Team tryouts, both on snow and off snow. Being a member of the Eastern Team will help an individual to have the opportunity to secure a Regional Endorsement to attend the National Team Selection. Being an Eastern team member does not, however, guarantee an endorsement for all Eastern Team members. Eastern Team members earn their endorsement through their participation as a team member, as they prepare for the National Team Selection.
Membership/Certification/Experience requirements to attend the tryout for the PSIA –AASI Telemark Eastern Team and the National Team Selection process:
- Current PSIA-AASI member
- U.S. citizen or Permanent U.S. resident
- PSIA – Telemark – Level 3 certification
- Children’s Specialist 2 accreditation
- Encompass a broad, diverse, technical knowledge of skiing, teaching, professional development, and learning theory relevant to snowsports instruction.
- Possess superb and inspirational communication skills.
- On Snow: Highly skilled at group handling, delivering creative, innovative, and relevant content, as well as accurate demonstrations.
- Writing skills: Skilled in writing and able to contribute relevant ideas to communication topics. You should have a reasonable command of all communication channels including Social Media.
- Public speaking confidence for relaying inspirational education content and association messages.
- Be an athletic and inspiring role model.
- A Team Player focused on the vision and organizational Ends/Objectives of PSIA-AASI and its membership.
- You have a passion for providing exceptional guest service.
To be accepted for the PSIA Eastern Team tryout, you must register no later than 11:30 PM on February 15, 2023.
In addition to registering for the tryout, you must submit a registration packet no later than 11:30 PM on Feb 28, 2023, consisting of the following:
Please upload the following items.
Cover letter answering the following question:
- What are your professional goals and how would being on the Eastern Team help you achieve those goals?
- In what way do you want to give back to the Eastern Region, and how does being on the Eastern Team help accomplish those ideas, goals or projects?
- Are you interested in trying out for the National Team? If so, how would being on the Eastern Team help you reach that goal?
All files are to be named according to the following protocol: (member name) _ (file name). (file type) Example: Jerry McJibbons_Cover Letter.docx
Resume (two pages maximum) to be uploaded in docx, pdf or dox file format. All files are to be named according to the following protocol: (member name) _ (file name). (file type) Example: Jerry McJibbons_Resume.docx
- Include professional key milestones (E.g., presentations, authored materials, relevant activities outside of ski or snowboard teaching, foreign language competencies, special credentials, etc.)
References – Upload two recommendations. All files are to be named according to the following protocol: (member name) _ (file name). (file type) Example: Jerry McJibbons_References.docx
- Names and contact information, including phone number and e-mail address of one professional and one personal reference
Choose any discipline to find more about Certification and Professional Development
We have developed pathways for learning for each of the main disciplines and specialties. Click on a discipline to learn more about options for learning, whether you are looking to maintain your certification or earn a new one.