Cross Country Level 3 ISIA Qualification

One of the pre-requisites for the XC Level 3 ISIA course is 200 hrs Teaching Experience. These hours must be completed between successful completion of the XC Level 2 Instructor Qualification and commencement of the XC Level 3 ISIA course. It is strongly recommended that the majority of these hours are completed in an outdoor environment and that some or all of these hours relate to the XC discipline.

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. 

If all the signed teaching hours are not recieved at the BASI office TWO weeks prior to commencement of the course, then you will not be eligible to attend the course and there will be no refund.

Course Price: £699

This is a 10 day training and assessment course delivered in a mountain environment. 

The following Technical aspects are covered: 

The aims of the courses are to increase the student’s technical competency and understanding of Cross-country skiing through the modules of Skating and Classic training. 

The following Teaching aspects are covered: 

By the end of the course, the student must demonstrate the knowledge, ability and understanding necessary to teach Cross-country skiing through the modules of Skating and Classic training in a variety of situations. 

If a candidate is exempt from Teaching or Technical, they can book onto the Level 2/3 re-assessment course to be assessed in Technical or Teaching to complete the Level 3 qualification.  

When a L2/L3 Combined course is running, members can book the first week for a technical reassessment, and the second week for a teaching reassessment. Please contact the office directly to book this.

**If the course is showing as full and you wish to only book one week, please contact the office as there may still be space available on your desired week**

The ISIA minimum standards require a second discipline as part of the Level 3 ISIA Qualification. 

Successful completion of the Level 1 Instructor course in any of the BASI Disciplines is the minimum standard for this requirement.

Course Price: £529
This is a 5 day training and assessment course conducted in a mountain environment, with a one day online pre-requisite. 
The objective of the course is to train and assess instructors to lead parties off piste within the ski area boundary - beyond that is the realm of the ISTD or Mountain Guide. Terrain used will be non glaciated with no planned use of the rope, axe or crampons.

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

Practical instruction is given in:

• Equipment selection for off piste use
• Choice of route and leadership techniques
• Use of skins or snowshoes for short uphill sections
• Off piste technique
• Group management and emergency procedures
• Avalanche assessment
• Use of transceivers and navigation

Theory lectures are given on:

• Snow and avalanches
• Navigation
• Mountain weather
• Hypothermia
• Emergencies and responsibilities of a leader

The assessment may be continual through the week however if 2 groups are running together then there may be a swap of trainers for 2 more formal days of assessment at the end of the course. 

The Second Language test is an oral and aural test designed to assess your ability to communicate in any of the following languages; French, German, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian and Japanese.

The test can be done either over the phone or in person with a member of staff or a trainer. The assessor will be bilingual and/or have a degree in the chosen language to be tested.

If you are on a course and your trainer is one of the nominated language assessors you may do the test if he/she agrees during your course.

The assessment test usually lasts 10 – 15 minutes and there is a charge of £10 per test. Please Note: This amount will be charged regardless of the result.  The office will send you a link so that his fee can be paid for online via your Member Area.

The main topics that will be assessed are based around safety, getting to know your clients and teaching.

Within the safety element of the test (which has the most weighting) you should give as much information as you would expect to give in an emergency situation to the emergency services. 
This should include a minimum of:

• Where you are on the mountain
• How many people are involved
• What you suspect the injuries are and how they were incurred
• Give your understanding on the scale of gravity
• You should also be able to explain how and where you would contact the emergency services in the event that mobile phone networks were not available

The test will progress to your ability to relay information to any next of kin or contact persons within the resort. This leads on to getting to know a client, which is gaining information relating to understanding what sort of learner they are and creating a pleasant learning atmosphere with your client whatever their age. People are always ready to talk about themselves and their interests and hobbies so you should be able to ask about these and understand their use for your teaching.

The last part of the test will involve you giving instructions on how to use the fundamental elements to create the manoeuvres within the Central Theme. It will also require you to demonstrate your vocabulary relating to the equipment.

The above are just examples of the type of questions you might be asked.

BASI has developed a module to help give students an idea of what they can expect to be tested on during their second language test. Please note, this module is a help-guide to get students started with some of the vocabulary they’ll need to know. However, knowing these phrases alone will not be enough in order to gain a pass and they must be able to hold a conversation with the examiner.  To access this module click 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.