How to Choose the Right Ski Instructor Course: 10 Things to Look For
Choosing a ski instructor course is a big decision. After all, you’re investing your time, money and an entire winter into becoming a qualified instructor.
Most people start by comparing the resort, the price and the accommodation. While those are all important, they’re only part of the picture. The quality of your experience—and ultimately your success—depends on much more than where you’ll be living or how much the course costs.
After more than 20 years of running ski instructor courses in Verbier, we’ve learned that there are a handful of factors that make the biggest difference.
If you’re still deciding whether becoming a ski instructor is right for you, you might also like our guide on How Good Do You Need to Be to Become a Ski Instructor?
Here’s what to look for before booking your ski instructor course.
1. The Coaching Team
Your coaches will have the biggest influence on your skiing throughout the season.
Look for courses led by experienced BASI Level 4 trainers and coaches who have worked with instructor trainees for many years. Qualifications are important, but don’t stop there.
The best coaching teams combine technical knowledge with the ability to communicate clearly, motivate different personalities and adapt their coaching to each individual.
Remember, a great skier doesn’t automatically make a great coach.
At Altitude, we also believe there’s huge value in learning from coaches with different backgrounds. Alongside BASI trainers, our team includes experienced instructors from across Europe and beyond, giving you a broader understanding of skiing, teaching and different coaching philosophies.
2. Look Beyond the Pass Rate
Every ski instructor course advertises its pass rate, but it’s worth looking beyond the headline figure.
Ask questions such as:
- Are the results consistent year after year?
- Do they include both BASI Level 1 and BASI Level 2?
- How many students achieved those results?
- What support is available if someone needs extra help?
A high pass rate backed up by excellent coaching and consistent results tells you far more than a single statistic.
At Altitude Ski School, we’re proud to have achieved an average 95% pass rate over the past 20 years. We believe this reflects not only the quality of our coaching but also the personalised support every trainee receives throughout the season.
3. Choose the Right Resort
You’ll spend several months skiing here, so the resort itself is incredibly important.
Look for a resort that offers:
- Reliable snow conditions.
- A wide variety of terrain.
- Excellent beginner and advanced slopes.
- A modern lift system.
- Plenty of opportunities to ski outside your training sessions.
Verbier is widely regarded as one of Europe’s premier ski resorts for instructor training. From gentle beginner slopes to world-class off-piste terrain, it provides everything you need to develop your skiing throughout the season.
If you’re wondering why so many instructors choose Verbier, read our guide to Why Verbier Is One of the Best Resorts for Ski Instructor Training.
4. Ask About Group Sizes
Smaller coaching groups almost always lead to faster progression.
With fewer students, coaches can provide more individual feedback, spend time analysing your technique through video analysis and tailor sessions to your specific strengths and areas for improvement.
Quality coaching isn’t just about who teaches you—it’s also about how much time they can spend with you.
At Altitude, our training groups average around eight trainees, with even smaller groups during specialist clinics throughout the season. This ensures every student receives regular, personalised coaching rather than getting lost in a large group.
5. What Qualifications Will You Earn?
A ski instructor course should offer much more than simply improving your skiing.
Find out exactly which qualifications are included. These may include:
- BASI Level 1
- BASI Level 2
- First Aid certification
- Avalanche awareness training
- Teaching and customer service experience
Understanding exactly what’s included makes it much easier to compare different courses and assess the value they offer.
Not sure what these qualifications involve? Read our complete guide to the requirements to pass the BASI Level 2.
6. Will You Teach Real Clients?
One of the biggest differences between ski instructor courses is whether you’ll gain real teaching experience.
Learning to ski well is only one part of becoming an instructor.
Teaching real clients builds confidence, develops communication skills and prepares you for working in a ski school after you qualify. These are skills that simply can’t be learned through training alone.
As one of the largest ski schools in Verbier, Altitude is able to offer our trainees guaranteed teaching opportunities. Unlike some programmes that rely on finding work with external ski schools, we employ our own trainees and prioritise them when allocating teaching hours. That means you’ll gain valuable real-world experience before the season ends.
7. Do They Help With Equipment?
Buying skis and boots can be confusing, especially if it’s your first season.
A good course provider should help you choose the right equipment, recommend trusted boot fitters and, where possible, arrange discounts through local ski shops.
The right equipment can make a significant difference to your comfort and progression during the season.Not sure what equipment you need? Read our guide to The Best Skis and Ski Boots for a Ski Instructor Course, where our coaches explain exactly what to buy and why.
If you’d like more advice, check out our guide to choosing the best skis and ski boots for a ski instructor course. Our experienced coaching team is always happy to help you choose equipment that suits your skiing level, goals and budget.
8. Think About Life Off the Slopes
You’ll spend several months living with your fellow trainees, so the social side of the course is just as important as the skiing.
Ask about:
- Accommodation quality.
- Location.
- Group atmosphere.
- Social events.
- Pastoral support throughout the season.
Many people finish their instructor course with lifelong friendships as well as internationally recognised qualifications.
At Altitude, we organise regular social events throughout the winter because we believe the friendships and memories you create are just as important as the qualifications you earn.
If you’d like to know more about life on the course, read Why a Ski Instructor Gap Year Should Be the Best Winter of Your Life.
9. What Happens After the Course?
Your instructor course should be the beginning of your skiing journey, not the end.
Find out whether the provider offers:
- Help finding instructor jobs.
- Support progressing towards BASI Level 3.
- Opportunities to return for future seasons.
- Ongoing coaching and career advice.
At Altitude, many of our trainees continue their journey with us. We run BASI Level 3 training, offer guaranteed employment opportunities for successful trainees, welcome returning instructors during university holidays, and can introduce you to our network of ski schools in the Southern Hemisphere if you’d like to continue skiing year-round.
10. Think About Value, Not Just Price
It’s tempting to choose the cheapest course, but the lowest price doesn’t always offer the best value.
Instead, ask yourself:
- Will I receive excellent coaching?
- Will I gain recognised qualifications?
- Will I have opportunities to teach real clients?
- Will I enjoy living and skiing here for an entire season?
- Will this course give me the best chance of becoming a confident ski instructor?
Those are the questions that really matter.
Choosing the Right Ski Instructor Course
The best ski instructor course isn’t necessarily the cheapest or the longest.
It’s the one that combines expert coaching, recognised qualifications, plenty of skiing, real teaching experience and a supportive environment where you’ll enjoy every day on the mountain.
Take the time to compare your options, ask plenty of questions and choose a course that gives you the best opportunity to succeed.
At Altitude Ski School, we’ve spent more than 20 years helping aspiring instructors achieve their goals. We’d be delighted to answer any questions and help you decide whether our ski instructor course is the right fit for you.
## Further Reading
If you’re researching ski instructor courses, you may also find these guides helpful:
• How Good Do You Need to Be to Become a Ski Instructor?
• The Best Skis and Ski Boots for a Ski Instructor Course
• Why a Ski Instructor Gap Year Should Be the Best Winter of Your Life
