Is PSIA still relevant?

Last spring I encouraged my teenage son to become PSIA Level 1 ski instructor certified. He has been teaching for a few years and I thought it would look good for college etc.
Almost none of his friends did it because of the the (unpaid) time and expense of the course and the PSIA membership. The very small raise you got for being level 1 would never cover the course and membership dues.
So my question is for those of you working ski schools around the USA: Does that level 1 help him get a job at a random ski area? Does anyone even care you have level 1? My son said the class was a joke, but he's a teen boy so everything is a joke.

I received the membership renewal card today and not sure if it's worth even renewing.

When he took the level 1 there were plenty of people taking the classes and most around here (northeast) were full.

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It depends upon goals and aspirations. Pay rate increases with Level 1, and goes up from there. Real pay rates (and tips) increase with Level 2. An instructor wannabe can get a job teaching kids (5-12) without Level 1.During her teen years, my daughter did this at Snowbird and Deer Valley. However, if you want to instruct adults ski blues/blacks or off-piste, wherever on the mountain that you want to ski, a Level 1 or 2 is usually required.
If a person wants to instruct for more than a couple of years, and the job is long-term, or even a career, then PSIA is important. Just my $.02

^^^ This.

whatever happened to epicski? This could be a 12 page thread there

Thanks. Kind of depends where the kid ends up going to college. Level 1 seemed easy. Level 2 you need several certifications.

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Originally Posted by schindlerpiste

It depends upon goals and aspirations. Pay rate increases with Level 1, and goes up from there. Real pay rates (and tips) increase with Level 2. An instructor wannabe can get a job teaching kids (5-12) without Level 1.During her teen years, my daughter did this at Snowbird and Deer Valley. However, if you want to instruct adults ski blues/blacks or off-piste, wherever on the mountain that you want to ski, a Level 1 or 2 is usually required.
If a person wants to instruct for more than a couple of years, and the job is long-term, or even a career, then PSIA is important. Just my $.02

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Originally Posted by schindlerpiste

It depends upon goals and aspirations. Pay rate increases with Level 1, and goes up from there. Real pay rates (and tips) increase with Level 2. An instructor wannabe can get a job teaching kids (5-12) without Level 1.During her teen years, my daughter did this at Snowbird and Deer Valley. However, if you want to instruct adults ski blues/blacks or off-piste, wherever on the mountain that you want to ski, a Level 1 or 2 is usually required.
If a person wants to instruct for more than a couple of years, and the job is long-term, or even a career, then PSIA is important. Just my $.02

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+2. Truth. tj

Short answer is no unless someone is really interested in becoming a long term ski instructor. Nobody really considers hiring anyone under cert 3 outside a cattle call for instructors and if you have any real experience and a decent recommendation from a respected ski school cert 1/2 is somewhat irrelevant.

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Originally Posted by Woodsy

whatever happened to epicski? This could be a 12 page thread there

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Fear not:
https://www.skitalk.com/forums/ski-school.6/
(Or maybe some of those threads are grounds for fear?)

As for the OP's q, I got $500 off my last car purchase via PSIA.
(Otherwise, I'm not quite sure why I still belong...)

Ski instructing is dick waving culture for sub skilled on-piste narcissist’s

Don’t ruin your kids life…

Why would a psia cert look good for college? Is this some Lori Loughlin shit we don’t know about?

If your kid has any aspirations to travel & ski outside the US, then PSIA cert could certainly help in getting a job in Japan for example.

You won't get an instructor job without certs.

One of my roommates in college pursued the PSIA route while in school, think he got to level 3. Got paid well at Steaux.

I instructed for a season at some little podunk hill in PA so I didn’t need to pay for a season pass (no cert). The only reason I’d ever consider pursuing PSIA level 1 is if I had future plans to get my 2/3. It would be easy to find an instructing job with those certs, and that could be kind of awesome to take a winter sabbatical a couple years after graduating when you’re sick of working full time for ‘the man’

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Originally Posted by east or bust

One of my roommates in college pursued the PSIA route while in school, think he got to level 3. Got paid well at Steaux.

I instructed for a season at some little podunk hill in PA so I didn’t need to pay for a season pass (no cert). The only reason I’d ever consider pursuing PSIA level 1 is if I had future plans to get my 2/3. It would be easy to find an instructing job with those certs, and that could be kind of awesome to take a winter sabbatical a couple years after graduating when you’re sick of working full time for ‘the man’

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Pretty sure that if you're teaching at a major ski area in the US you're working for "the man".

arguably,
If you are working (for) Epic,
one could claim you are working for Kirsten 😬🙊

skiJ

Surprised this has not been used;)

THanks helpful that it's recognized outside of the USA.

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Originally Posted by Mike Pow

If your kid has any aspirations to travel & ski outside the US, then PSIA cert could certainly help in getting a job in Japan for example.

You won't get an instructor job without certs.

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Well he would have been a trustafarian if I had made more money so now it's plan B (not talking about the pill)

Not all instructors are dick wavers. Just the ones you hang out with.

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Originally Posted by teamdirt

Ski instructing is dick waving culture for sub skilled on-piste narcissist’s

Don’t ruin your kids life…

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"still"

FWIW, I'd tend to agree that PSIA level 1 mostly makes sense if you plan to go beyond that. Level 2 is generally attainable by most people who want it (some with more work than others) and seems to be considered a more legit cert for pro-deal status, FWIW.

I have 2 friends on the national team. And a handful who have maxed out their certs and make bank with privates. All fed by the dues from the level 1 and 2 folks. It's a career track. That is the question you should be asking. You can easily make way more money bar tending at those levels.

I’m in the process of re-activating my coach’s license after a 23 year hiatus. I’m like 37 hours in to online modules & we’ve yet to cover any skiing!

Good to know that sext’n & human trafficking are not part of the approved coaching activities & certainly frowned upon if anyone involved has a head injury.

I have to believe with the staffing shortages, the PSIA will wither on the vine. Can’t imagine anyone youngsters caring or devoting that much time to the effort.

Attachment 420573

As mentioned above, if the kid even wants a solid winter break, spring break gig through college, I'd maybe even ramp up to the level 2.

As far as I can tell, PSIA certs are only relevant if you already have your realtor's license. Otherwise you're going to be teaching never-evers on the bunny hill and kid's programs, so your ability to sell overpriced condos and 8,000 sq ft "cabins" will be extremely limited.

I have had my certs for a long time. the level 1 will get you a job near at any smaller mountain. I did that in grad school, since I could not afford a lift tix.
The pro forms alone can be worth it. 40% off from Burton, great deals from Patagucci,
The clinics offered are great. I learned to tele through PSIA-e clinics.
Met some cool people, and you can always get a weekend warrior job.
Level 3 is recognized internationally.

You walk into a bar. How can you tell who is the PSIA certified ski instructor?

Don't worry, he'll tell you.

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Originally Posted by mogul5480

You walk into a bar. How can you tell who is the PSIA certified ski instructor?

Don't worry, he'll tell you.

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that’s a guide’s joke.

Also works for vegans and crossfitters

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Originally Posted by mogul5480

Also works for vegans and crossfitters

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and more and more "gravel bikers", yeah, we get it, you can't ride single track and/or keep up with the Wednesday night group rides on the road

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Originally Posted by sharcsplean

I have had my certs for a long time. the level 1 will get you a job near at any smaller mountain. I did that in grad school, since I could not afford a lift tix.
The pro forms alone can be worth it. 40% off from Burton, great deals from Patagucci,
The clinics offered are great. I learned to tele through PSIA-e clinics.
Met some cool people, and you can always get a weekend warrior job.
Level 3 is recognized internationally.

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These vids posted Oct-Nov 2023

https://youtu.be/I57Irkk0HeY

https://youtu.be/qa52l0Uw9ks

https://youtu.be/W65ySVTs7Xs

https://youtu.be/lw6zuBo5nCo

Our ski school training director just posted all those Nordica videos on Facebook.

I’m going to go with an out of the box answer here having taken the level 1 certification last year and already registered for the level 2 this season….

I found the content of the course fun, interesting, and useful even though I have already taught skiing several years and taught other outdoor pursuits like whitewater kayaking for several, too.

For a young person to learn about relating to people, adapting to their learning style, overcoming environmental conditions, and getting the technical “ski performance” learning as well - I think it would have been valuable for me at that age.

The level 1 is definitely a stepping stone, it’s the beginner zone - which most places let you teach without certs, so I think the further you take it the more beneficial it is as you can teach more advanced lessons.