1- Are the qualifications recognized internationally?
YES, the New Zealand Ski Instructors Alliance, the British Association of Snowsports Instructors and the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance are all members of the International Ski Instructors Association, which has 37 member countries.
2- Is one countries qualification considered better than the others?
This is a tricky question as each country considers there qualification to be better than the others, in our opinion all the major ISIA countries offer great products. The things to consider when choosing an organization to get qualified in would be:
- How easy is for me to further my qualifications in that system?
- How well recognized is the qualification, in the country I want to teach in?
3- How do all these certifications stack up against the each other?
| Country |
Entry Level |
Work Internationally |
ISIA Certified |
| New Zealand |
CSI |
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
| Britain |
Trainee |
Instructor |
ISIA |
| Canada |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
| USA |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
4- Can I cross credit one countries certification into another’s?
YES, but it is likely you will firstly have to sit the equivalent level you already have before you can progress further, for example, A NZSIA Stage 1 instructor will likely have to sit the CSIA Level 2 before being allowed to sit there Level 3 exam.
5- What are my chances of passing?
We have been training people for instructor exams since 1992, since that time we have averaged a 90% pass rate.
6- What are the employment opportunities like for me after the course?
Excellent, over the last 5 to 6 years we have developed a network of ski and ride schools throughout America, Canada and New Zealand that will employ our clients on our recommendation.
7- If I miss out on the exam can I still get a job?
YES, the job and visa application process needs to start in August this is before you have sat your exams, all that is effected is your rate of pay. They are also employing you based on our recommendation and that you have been through our course.
8- Am I guaranteed a job at the end of the course?
NO, we do reserve the right not to recommend someone for a position overseas if we feel they will potentially damage a relationship we have with that ski school. This is a rare, though.
9- If I am over 30 can I still get a work visa for the USA?
Yes, the ski school will sponsor you in on an H2B work visa, there are no age restrictions that we know of.
10- What’s not included in my course?
Flights
Meals
Ski equipment
11- How much are flights to New Zealand?
From the UK it will cost you between 1000 and 1200 pounds for a return flight to New Zealand this will take you to either Auckland or Christchurch from there you will need to take a domestic flight to Queenstown this should cost approx 100 pound return
12- How much will it cost me to live in Wanaka?
Based on previous seasons we would expect you to need approx NZ$200 a week to cover meals and some entertainment.
13- Do I need insurance?
Definitely, it is mandatory that everyone participating in our program has full medical and travel insurance, you are, of course, free to use whichever company you choose but we have done some research and believe that either www.worldnomads.com or www.thebmc.co.uk offer some very competitive products.
14- How old is everyone on the course?
The range of ages we traditionally get on our course is 18 through to 50, on average
40% are between 18 and 25
35% are between 26 and 35
25% are between 36 and up
15- Where does everyone come from?
We get a very diverse range of nationalities on our program, the majority come from the Europe, Australia and the USA but we have had clients from Bulgaria, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong and Israel.
16- Can I work while doing the course?
YES, every year we have clients on the course that will work a part time job to help cover some of there living costs, if you are not a NZ citizen you will need to apply for a work permit for NZ
17- What is the advantage in getting a qualification in the Southern Hemisphere?
Other than spending time in New Zealand the main advantage we see in gaining or furthering your qualification in NZ is it allows to start the following Northern Hemisphere winter teaching and making money not training for an exam.
18- Do I get my own room?
NO, the sleeping arrangements at Alpine Resort are shared, you will share a room with someone that is on the same course as you, we do endeavor to put people of similar ages into rooms together.
It is possible to reserve a room to yourself, these are limited and do come at an additional cost.
19- Can my partner come and stay?
YES, however there is added costs involved, (Alpine Resort charges us on a per head basis) if your partner does come over for the duration of the course, we will endeavor to accommodate you in a room with an en-suite.
20- What do you do on days off?
You have 3 days off a week, they are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. You will probably ski at least 1 or 2 of these days. When you take a day off-snow there is plenty of things to do around Wanaka, like Mountain Biking, Golf, Hiking, Rock Climbing (in-door and out), fishing and sky diving. It is also possible on the weekends to hire a car and go explore some of the other attractions around the area like Queenstown and Milford Sound.
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