Alpine Level 3 ISIA Qualification

One of the pre-requisites for the Level 3 ISIA Technical and Teaching courses is 200 hrs Teaching Experience. These hours must be completed between successful completion of the Level 2 Instructor qualification and commencement of the Level 3 ISIA Technical or Teaching courses of the Level 3 ISIA qualification. It is strongly recommended that the majority of these hours are completed in a mountain environment. A maximum of 50 of these hours can be coaching hours and a maximum of 35 hours can be completed at slopes using Maxxtracks technology, such as Skiplex or Chel-ski**.

Please Note: The 200 logged, signed teaching hours (shadowing hours will not be accepted) must be on your Snowsport School headed paper or other official document and signed by the Snowsport School Manager or Director to demonstrate proof that you have completed this requirement. 

Students should have completed their teaching hours prior to booking the Level 3 ISIA Teaching or Technical course with the office to ensure they are accepted. 

It is recognised that some people may wish to book onto a course before completing all the hours. In order to accommodate this, BASI will accept a booking on the Level 3 ISIA Teaching or Technical prior to receiving the 200 hours, however it must be stressed that: 

If all the signed teaching hours are not received at the BASI office TWO weeks prior to commencement of the course, then you will not be eligible to attend the course and there will be no refund.

For a BASI Log Sheet Click Here

** Due to the nature of these slopes the instructor should always be mindful of how their lesson could be given on a dry slope, indoor snow slope or mountain environment where there are more slope users and a change of terrain (angle and underfoot conditions). Clients should be given instruction in accordance with the FIS code, particularly with regards to safety.

The Evolution of BASI is an online course which is split into two parts and can be accessed via your member area, or via this link ,  free of charge.

The course consists of an Interactive PDF module, for any BASI Member to access and read through and an online quiz, which is a requirement to complete the Level 3 ISIA qualification.

You can access the Evolution of BASI course through the ‘Online Courses’ section in your Member’s Area, at any time during your BASI journey. The quiz will be a module requirement for the BASI Level 3 ISIA qualification, for any BASI Member who has yet to begin the Level 3 ISIA journey. If you are already working towards your BASI Level 3 ISIA qualification, then this module will be optional, but we recommend taking it for your own personal knowledge.

Throughout the course the Trainer will monitor your participation and performance. They will provide frequent, ongoing information to each student on their strengths, areas for change and how to make these changes. During the course the Trainer and student formulate an ongoing action plan based on the students' participation. The written action plan provided by the Trainer at the end of the course available in your members area, aims to give students an agreed (between the Trainer and student) account of what students need to do to improve their performance an to progress and develop as a Ski Instructor.

Central Theme

• Perform all phases of CT on terrain appropriate to clients needs, without input from the trainer.

Beyond the Central Theme

• Perform all strands/techniques on all terrain found in a controlled/patrolled area to be able to demonstrate, inspire and keep safe advanced performers (e'g demonstrate in a controlled manner on red/black runs).

The ISIA minimum standards require a second discipline as part of the Level 3 ISIA Qualification. 

Successful completion of the Level 1 Instructor course in any of the BASI Disciplines is the minimum standard for this requirement.

Course Price: £505
This a 6 day course conducted in a mountain environment, starting on a Sunday.
The objective of the course is to train and assess instructors to lead parties off piste within the ski area boundary. Terrain used will be non glaciated with no planned use of the rope, axe or crampons - beyond that is the realm of the ISTD or Mountain Guide.

For full equipment list click here

Practical instruction is given in:

• Equipment selection for off piste use
• Choice of route and leadership techniques
• Use of skins or snowshoes for short uphill sections
• Off piste technique
• Group management and emergency procedures
• Avalanche assessment
• Use of transceivers and navigation

Theory lectures are given on:

• Snow and avalanches
• Navigation
• Mountain weather
• Hypothermia
• Emergencies and responsibilities of a leader

The assessment may be continual through the week however if 2 groups are running together then there may be a swap of trainers for 2 more formal days of assessment at the end of the course. 

Although not requiring bilingual fluency in a 2nd language you will be assessed on the following areas;
Vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar (to a lesser degree), your understanding of the assessor’s questions and the way in which you react and volunteer information. 
As an inidcative guideline the test seeks a standard of fluency at least equal to GCSE grade A and competency must be demonstrated in all the areas described above.

There are many useful online resources available to prepare for your language test. You may find the following websites useful:www.bbc.co.uk or www.about.com and select the language of your choice.
For French terminology specific to the snowsports industry, please go to: www.chamonix.ne

If studying online is not convenient, a good selection of language packages and publications are widely available from bookshops or the internet.

Course Price: £435
The BASI coaching Pathway is designed to equip the BASI instructor with an understanding and ability to adapt their education gained through their discipline specific instructors’ pathway to the competition environment.

The five-day coaching course is for the instructor to have the sound knowledge and competences to run competition training autonomously within the remit of the instructor qualification held.

View the equipment list for the Coaching - Ski course here. Please note there is no additional equipment required for the Coaching - Snowboard course.

In specific cases, such as course content not able to be completed on snow due to adverse weather, the trainer may ask you to complete the BASI Coaching Log Book which can be found here (with guidelines). (Do not feel restricted by the number of pages provided in this template; add more as you need to ensure you have a complete recording of all your experiences and learning.)