The Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) is an organization offering training and certification for U.S. Ski Instructors, and trains the bulk of U.S ski instructors. Ski areas around the United States frequently host PSIA training and certification events.
The PSIA provides clinic leaders and examiners who can train and test at all levels from the novice to the expert instructor. Many ski areas in the United States base their hiring and pay scales on the PSIA certification levels of their instructors.
Having a nationwide organization allows students to move from one instructor to another, and one ski area to another, and find common threads of progression that tie the lessons together.
The PSIA also has an offshoot, the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI), which offers the same services and standards for snowboard instructors.
In addition to alpine skiing, the PSIA has an adaptive program for training instructors to teach those with physical disabilities, a Nordic program focused on telemark and cross-country skiing, and a children's instructor program.
The PSIA was founded in 1961 to provide national training standards and instructor certifications in the United States. Prior to this time, teaching systems from different countries were used at various resorts. The system used at an individual resort was usually based on the knowledge and experience of the ski school director. Some regional certification organizations existed and were attempting to provide some level of standardization. Three years later, in 1964, PSIA published "The Official American Ski Technique" manual.
PSIA has levels of membership based on the tested abilities of the members to ski and teach. The first level is a registered member. This is an unnumbered level giving access to the PSIA training resources. Instructors are certified at Level I (beginning), Level II, and Level III (full certification). Special training for teaching children, adaptive skiers, and seniors is available.
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