Ski Level 4 ISTD Qualification

One of the modules for the Level 4 ISTD is 200 hrs Teaching Experience. It is recommended that hours are to be completed between successful completion of the Level 3 ISIA Teaching Course and commencement of the Level 4 ISTD Teaching course of the Level 4 ISTD 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 50 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 are permitted to book on to Level 4 courses without the 200 hours Teaching Experience required for both/either the Level 3 and the Level 4 teaching qualification. However, students must have completed 200 hrs Teaching Experience as part of the Level 3 qualification prior to attending the Level 4 Teaching course. These hours must be submitted two weeks prior to the commencement of the course, otherwise you will not be eligible to attend the course and there will be no refund. It is recommended that the further 200 hours Teaching Experience should be completed prior to the commencement of the Level 4 Teaching course, but it is not a requirement.

Students need to complete 200 Teaching Experience for both the Level 3 and the Level 4 (400 hours total - minimum 200 hours before the Level 4 Teach) to achieve the Level 4 qualification.

Course Price: £479
This is a 4-day on-snow training and assessment course. 

At the end of the course students must demonstrate the necessary knowledge, ability and understanding to teach skiing to the highest level.

Level 4 Technical Courses 2023 – 2024

As a trial this upcoming winter, BASI will be running Level 4 technical courses in two locations only: Courmayeur and Hintertux. These locations have been selected for their appropriate terrain across all strands for Level 4 technical courses and their location neutrality for members.  

This decision came about after feedback received about the perceived differences in terrain and therefore the difficulty of tasks set between resorts. BASI Trainers are aware of the impact differences in snow and terrain across resorts have on performance and use skillful task setting to mitigate such differences to maintain fairness across course locations.  

However, we are also aware of how these perceived differences can impact performance amongst students, and how changing weather and snow conditions continue to increase the potential for differences in terrain difficulty and are therefore making this change for this upcoming winter season to take further action towards ensuring absolute fairness and consistency across Level 4 technical courses.

Course Price: £499
This is a 5-day on-snow training and assessment course  with lectures and seminars. The aim of the course is to increase the students technical competency and understanding of skiing.

Course Price: £479
This is a 4 day training course which progresses on from the BASI Mountain Safety course. It trains the student to lead tours out with the ski area boundary and deal with all the hazards which can be encountered while on day tours. Very little time will be spent revising ISIA material, so come prepared. The course can contain long days on the hill with big ascents carrying a rucksack. It may be necessary to be on steep, exposed terrain. A typical ascent may be up to 1000m. 

The full equipment list is included in the pre course email. 

Level 4 International Mountain Safety Log Sheet Click Here, for Log Book Guidelines Click Here and for the Log Book Policy Click Here

The course will train candidates in the following: 

Before attending the 3 day assessment course, students must have completed a minimum of 6 days of quality day-touring where students have been practising the role of leading, decision making and navigation. Map reading, snow profiling, transceiver searching and the use of ropes must already be very competent. This logbook must be given to the Guide on the first day of the Level 4 IMS Assessment Course.

Level 4 International Mountain Safety Log Sheet Click Here, for Log Book Guidelines Click Here and for the Log Book Policy Click Here

Important Note: 
Members will be able to book onto the assessment course without having completed the 6 logged days touring, but proof of the 6 logged days touring must be given to the Guide on the first day of the course. 
If proof of the 6 logged days touring is not given to the Guide, they may be allowed to proceed with the course however a deferral will be issued and an admin fee attached to the submission of their logbook. This fee is £200. 
If the 6 logged days touring are not to a satisfactory standard, they may be allowed to proceed with the course however a deferral will be issued and an admin fee attached to the submission of their logbook. This fee is £100.

Course Price: £399
This is a 3 day assessment course which if successful, completes the Level 4 International Mountain Safety. This qualification allows the holder to lead tours consistent with the laws of the country they are in. These tours must not include glacial travel, the planned use of axe, crampons or rope, any multi day excursions (using tents, snow shelters, bivouacs, manned or unmanned mountain huts or bothies), or setting out with the intention of leading a group in poor visibility. It is a 3 day course which may involve one day using uplift and the other two touring away from the ski area. The tours are big days and may contain up to 1000m of ascent carrying a rucksack. There may also be early starts to make use of winter’s limited daylight and stay safe before the sun warms certain slopes. Ratio 1:4 

The assessment will include all of the techniques learnt on the 4 day training course. The written paper includes: 

• Knowledge of safety 
• Off-piste skiing 
• Mountain weather and environment. 

Important Note: 
Members will be able to book onto the assessment course without having completed the 6 logged days touring, but proof of the 6 logged days touring must be given to the Guide on the first day of the course.
If proof of the 6 logged days touring is not given to the Guide, they may be allowed to proceed with the course however a deferral will be issued and an admin fee attached to the submission of their logbook. This fee is £200.
If the 6 logged days touring are not to a satisfactory standard, they may be allowed to proceed with the course however a deferral will be issued and an admin fee attached to the submission of their logbook. This fee is £100.
 

ISIA Speed Test  for Ski L4 ISTD

As stated in the Brexit Update on 5th May 2021, the CTT (formally known as Eurotest) will be replaced with the ISIA Speed Test at BASI Ski Level 4 ISTD. 

BASI members can enter any ISIA Speed Test event, hosted by other ISIA members, without having to become a member of another association. We will be sharing details on how to enter the ISIA Speed Test on our website over the next few months.  

BASI has also been given authorisation to hold our own ISIA Speed Tests. We are looking into various options for members that would be the most cost-effective and in line with our environmental policy. 

If you have already passed the CTT, this will mean that you do not have to complete the ISIA Speed test. 

BASI will keep a record of those who have passed the CTT because this may support any future bilateral agreements we’re able to make & because we no longer have access to the EU IMI database. It will appear as an ‘optional module’ on our website and in your qualification history for now. 

Any members who have successfully passed the ISIA Speed Test can upload their results under the External Qualifications section by clicking here.

Students are required to submit a Professional Development Portfolio, as part of the Ski Level 4 ISTD Qualification or the Snowboard, Telemark, XC and Adaptive Level 3 ISIA Qualification.

The Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) illustrates the process of converting your teaching practice into personal learning and provides evidence of your professional development.

It is a record of your teaching experience which highlights your own personal teaching philosophies, strategies, and themes. 

The PDP is a record of your development as a snowsports teacher. Engaging with the PDP will help you be a more successful teacher. The aim of the PDP is to use your teaching practice to think about your role as a snowsports teacher, to think critically about your teaching practice and to use that thinking to demonstrate your learning and development.

It will be marked on the following areas:

1. Candidates will provide a clear and reasoned discussion of at least 3 learning themes. They will link their learning to real experiences from their personal teaching practice. They will use evidence from their 200 hours and reflective journal to demonstrate inter-personal and intra-personal professional learning and development.

2. Professional Knowledge - Candidates will show an accurate understanding of BASI's technical knowledge. The language used should show that the candidate understands the fundamental elements, the central theme and beyond. There should be evidence of technical knowledge being used accurately within the descriptions of practice to enhance teaching sessions.

3. Candidates will demonstrate an ability to analyse how their understanding of BASI's teaching concepts informs their practice.

4. Candidates will articulate their approach to adapting professional knowledge to work with learners to focus on achieving safe, effective teaching within a range of contexts.

5. Candidates will assess their own strengths and areas for development in relation to effective teaching and learning in snowsports.

6. Candidates will have seriously considered the presentation of the project and have made some efforts to make it both interesting and easy to read. Projects can be presented digitally. Any standard word processing program is acceptable. Diagrams should be well identified and referenced. Page numbering should be used. The project should be of between 2,000 and 4,000 words or will include the suggested number of videos.

7. References and Bibliography – Candidates will identify any sources of information you have used in your project: Quotes from and references to books, academic papers, websites or speeches should be referenced accurately and as specifically as possible.

All the required information to complete the PDP can be found in your Members Area, in the "Workbooks and PIA's" tab.