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The CSIA Level 1 course trains "people who can already ski" to teach others how to ski, rather than teaching "people who can't ski" how to ski.
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The CSIA Level 2 course is for instructors who hold Level 1 Certification and have more than one season of teaching experience.
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The CSIA Level 3 course is for "full-time" ski instructors with multiple seasons of teaching experience.
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Candidates who register only for the retest must have participated in the certification courses in 2023/24 or 2024/25.
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Those who have not attended the certification course within the past two years cannot take the certification exam only; they must retake the entire course.
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Those who have not paid their CSIA membership fees for the 2025/26 season must apply for a Reinstatement before registering for an exam.
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If you are already a member of another ISIA, and want to take the next level certification courses with CSIA, you must first apply for Affiliate Membership with CSIA. For example, a holder of the PSIA Level 1 can enroll in CSIA Level 2 courses.
Includes
✓ CSIA Course Conductor's salary
✓ CSIA Exam fee
✓ Level 1 Candidate's 2026/27 CSIA membership fee and pin
Not include candidate's
✗ lift tickets and gears(including ski, boots, helmet, wears, goggle)
✗ accommodation and transportation
✗ lunch and other personal expenses
✗ medical and accident insurance
＊ Please contact us about any other requests.＊
Level 1 Certification Courses Requirements
You must be 14 years of age or older to participate in the course.
Those who are under 18 years old at the time of registration must have a legal guardian sign a liability waiver.
Able to parallel turn comfortably and smoothly on red/blue slopes.
It is recommended to accumulate at least 30 days of skiing experience.
Level 1 Course Description
(CSIA Level 1 Certification Candidate Guide )
Day 1 (4.5 hours on-snow)
9:00 - 11:30 AM
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Ski Improvement: as a vehicle for understanding fundamentals within a fun, safe, want-to-comeback learning experience.
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Principles:
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Role of the Ski Pro (customer service, knowing your resort, being organized...)
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People Skills (collaboration, active listening, respect, building rapport...)
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Safety (mitigating risk)
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Student Engagement (making it fun for all)
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Fundamentals:
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Why we change direction (Balance and Ski Design)
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How we change direction (The Fundamentals and Movements of Skiing)
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12:15 to 14:15 PM
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Introduction to lesson planning and a collaborative approach (first experience Beginner through Intermediate)
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Review standards and evaluation criteria
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Homework:
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Candidates review lesson plans, common problems and solutions
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Day 1 Reflective Questions (in Candidate Guide)
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Day 2 (4.5 hours on-snow)
9:00 - 11:30 AM
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Teaching Practice
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Review and discussion of Day 1 fundamentals and reflections
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Assessment and Development
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Consolidating balance and movement fundamentals in practice, demonstrating ski principles and observing students
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Candidate lesson practice (lesson plans and progressions)
12:15 to 14:15 PM
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Lesson practice and on-snow debrief session
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One-on-one discussion and focus session
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Homework:
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Day 2 Reflective Questions
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Day 3 (4.5 hours on-snow)
9:00 - 11:30 AM
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Ski Improvement:
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Review and discussion of Day 2 lesson practice
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Address Day 2 Reflections
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Focus on Teaching Children
12:15 to 14:15 PM
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Teaching Practice (Teaching Children highlights)
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Ski Improvement/Review
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Results Presentation
Host | Program | Begin | End | JPY | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L1 L2 prep | 1/03 | 1/04 | 80k | Open | |
L1 course | 1/05 | 1/07 | 240k | Open | |
L3 course | 1/05 | 1/10 | 300k | Open | |
L2 course | 1/05 | 1/10 | 340k | Open | |
L1 prep | 1/06 | 1/07 | 80k | Open | |
L1 course | 1/08 | 1/10 | 240k | Open | |
L1 prep | 1/09 | 1/10 | 80k | Open | |
Pro Days | 1/11 | 1/11 | 55k | Open | |
L2 Retest | 1/11 | 1/11 | 80K | Open | |
L3 exam | 1/12 | 1/14 | 160k | Open | |
L1 course | 1/12 | 1/14 | 240k | Open | |
L1 prep | 1/13 | 1/14 | 80k | Open | |
TD prep | 1/15 | 1/16 | 80k | Open | |
TD course | 1/15 | 1/16 | 120k | Open | |
L1 course | 1/15 | 1/17 | 240k | Open | |
L1 prep | 1/16 | 1/17 | 80k | Open | |
TD exam | 1/17 | 1/17 | 120k | Open | |
L1 course | 1/18 | 1/20 | 240k | Open | |
L1 prep | 2/13 | 2/14 | 80k | Open | |
L1 course | 2/15 | 2/17 | 240k | Open | |
L1 prep | 2/16 | 2/17 | 80k | Open | |
L1 course | 2/18 | 2/20 | 240k | Open | |
L1 L2 prep | 2/21 | 2/22 | 80k | Open | |
L2 course | 2/23 | 2/28 | 340k | Open | |
L1 course | 2/23 | 2/25 | 240k | Open | |
L1 prep | 2/24 | 2/25 | 80k | Open | |
L1 course | 2/26 | 2/28 | 240k | Open | |
Pro Days | 3/1 | 3/1 | 55k | Open |
* The cost to retest 2-day Level 1 exam is JPY160,000.
The cost to retest 1-day Level 2 exam is JPY80,000.
FAQ
Q1 What is CSIA?
The Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance (CSIA), established in 1938 and officially registered in 1949, is a professional ski instruction organization. CSIA is a member of the International Ski Instructors' Association (ISIA). Instructors certified by CSIA can apply for a Japanese ski instructor work visa with the sponsorship of qualified ski schools in Japan, allowing them to work legally.
Q2: Can someone who only knows how to snowboard and has no experience with skis still register for the certification course?
A. No. The CSIA Ski Instructor Certification Course is not designed for inexperienced skiers. It is designed to prepare you to teach others, and honing your existing skiing skills.
Q3 Does the price include ski passes?
A. No. Candidates still need to pay for accommodation, lift tickets, lunches, equipment rental, transportations to and from the ski resort, insurance and etc separately.
Q4 How do I get to the resort? Where do we group up?
A. You can take the Hakuba Valley Shuttle Buses from Hakuba to Kashimayari Ski Resort. There are also free shuttles if you stay in the Omachi area.
Q5 What level of skier are the courses suitable for?
A. Level 1 candidates must be able to parallel ski on red/blue runs (intermediate slopes); Level 2 candidates must have Level 1 qualifications and be able to ski parallel on black runs (advanced slopes); Level 3 candidates must have Level 2 qualifications and be able to ski everywhere within resort boundaries; TD candidates must have Level 3 qualifications.
Candidates must be at least 14 years old on the first day of the course. We will verify your name, date of birth, and will ask to see a valid photo ID (passport) on the first day of the course.
Q6 What are the contents of the exam?
A. The Exam includes two portions: Skiing and Teaching. Each level has its own exam content. Please refer to the CSIA Certificate candidate guide on the CSIA official website for details.
Q7 What if I fail my exam?
A. There are two portions of the Exam, Skiing and Teaching . You will only be re-tested on the portion you failed. The Level 1 retest for the Skiing portion, is on the first and second days of the course. The Level 2 and above retests, takes place at the last two days of the course.
Q8 If I passed CASI Level 1, can I take CSIA Level 2?
A. The Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI) is for snowboarding, while the CSIA is for skiing. You need to pass CSIA Level 1 before taking Level 2.
However, if you already have Level 1from other International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA) member country, you can apply to CSIA to become a CSIA Level 1 Affiliate Member. After that, you can take CSIA Level 2 courses.
