In order to maintain the integrity of the certification, all members are recommended to participate in a recall activity at least once every 3 seasons. CSIA Recall can be updated by completing the Safety Awereness Training online module, or by participating in a CSIA Certification course, CSIA on-snow Course Conductor Training, CSIA Pro Day or a CSIA Pro Session.
It is in the Members’ best interest to keep their Certification up to date as it helps to maintain your Certification’s integrity, especially given the fact that numerous employers do verify the recall year.
Your CSIA Recall year is displayed on your downloadable Membership Card.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Anyone who achieved a CSIA Certification in the past and let their membership lapse, and would like to re-activate it, can apply for Reinstatement by filling out the online Reinstatement Application.
The Reinstatement allows past members to reactivate their CSIA Membership, without having to retake the CSIA Certification(s) previously attainded. To do so, you will be required to pay a Reinstatement fee ($100.00), in addition to the current season’s Membership fee and any applicable taxes. Note that Reinstatement fees and Membership fees depends on the number of organizations you are affiliated with and your status with each.
Promotion on reinstatement until October 31st, 2025:
For the 2025-2026 season the CSIA will waive their portion of the reinstatement fees (at $0.00). To take advantage of this promotion you must submit your reinstatement form by October 31st, 2025, and complete your membership dues payment(renewal) by the date stipulated in the email that will be sent to you by our staff.
Also, upon Reinstatement, Members may be recommended to participate in a CSIA Recall activity to ensure they are up to date on the current teaching methodologies. For further information on the Recall, please consult the Recall section.
If you are ready to apply for Reinstatement for the 2025-2026 season, please click here.
Upon reception of the Reinstatement Application form, the CSIA National Office will validate and send you all relevant information pertaining to Membership by email.
Due to high demand, your reinstatement may take longer than usual. We are processing requests in the order they are received, and processing times may exceed the stated timeline.
If you apply for reinstatement before October 31, you will still be eligible for the free reinstatement promotion, even if we have not contacted you before the deadline. Once you receive an email from us, a payment deadline will be indicated, and you will be required to complete payment within that timeframe.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
In an effort to reduce our environmental footprint, in 2020 the CSIA made a decision to forego the plasticized Membership card and keep only the electronic Membership card format (virtual). You can consult your membership card through your CSIA Member profile. Once you are logged in, please follow these steps to view your card:
Contact the Membership Services department (1-800-811-6428 ext. 221) if you notice errors or have questions related to your card.
The Regular Membership is for active Ski Instructors who are teaching and/or Members who wish to attend CSIA Program during the season. Regular Members enjoy a wide-variety of Member Benefits including Pro Deals, General Liability Insurance and Accident, Death and Disability coverage.
Consult the Insurance section for further information on Insurance. Certain conditions apply.
Cost of Membership varies depending on your status and on how many organizations you are affiliated with. To know the exact amount for your Membership please contact us here at the National Office.
The Associate Membership is an option for Ski Instructors who are not planning on teaching or taking any CSIA Program during the season, but still want to keep their Membership active. By changing your Membership to an Associate Member and paying the annual Membership fees, you will avoid having to pay a reinstatement fee.
For CSIA Members, the Associate Membership will allow you to continue to accrue your years of Membership, towards receiving a Recognition within the organization.
The Associate Member is eligible for the General Liability coverage when skiing on their own personal time; however is not eligible to the Accident, Death and Disability coverage*. Consult the Insurance section for further information. Certain conditions apply.
Cost of Membership varies depending on your status and on how many organizations you are affiliated with. To know the exact amount for your Membership please contact us here at the National Office.
The Affiliate Membership status is intended for Ski Instructors that have been granted an equivalency for their Foreign Certification. Affiliate Members can also take advantage of our Membership perks such as Pro Deals, Snow School job listings, Insurance Programs*, etc. Consult the complete list of Membership benefits below.
To become an Affiliate Member of the CSIA, Foreign Ski Instructors are required to:
Affiliate Members can register for a CSIA Program once the Affiliate Membership fee is paid for that season.
Affiliate Members will be considered Regular Members after successfully completing a CSIA Certification of equal or higher level than the Certification Level granted.
Affiliate Members can also apply for a Ski Instructor's position in one of the Canadian Snow Schools. Please click here to view the current Job Postings. Please note that Working Visas and/or legal papers are not provided by the National Office, but rather through your potential employer.
If you are ready to apply for the 2025-2026 CSIA Affiliate Membership, please click here.
Due to an ongoing AWS issue (which can be monitored at https://health.aws.amazon.com/health/status), some users may experience intermittent errors accessing the form. Try again later.
Upon reception of your Affiliate Membership Application and supporting documentation later this fall, we will treat your request and forward you all details by email. Due to the high demand please allow up to 15 business days for us to treat the request. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
*Certain conditions apply.
The 25 Year Membership is an exclusive Recognition given to CSIA Members that have paid their Membership fees for 25 consecutive or cumulative years. We also recognize 40 and 50 Year Members, with special certificates and pins.
Members having achieved this Recognition before or during the 2009-2010 season, as explained in the outcome of the April 2009 Special General Assembly communication, were grandfathered and would pay fees at a special rate in future years. These grandfathered members benefit from the same advantages as Regular Members, including Pro Deals, Insurance Coverage*, etc. For more information regarding the outcome of the April 2009 Special General Assembly, please click here.
Names of Members having received these Recognitions are listed below in “Hall of Fame and Recognition”.
Monday to Friday: from September to May
Monday to Thursday: from May to September
Telephone: 1-800-811-6428 or 514-748-2648
Fax: 1-800-811-6427 or 514-748-2476
401-8615 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Montréal, Québec H2P 2M9
Atlantic / Atlantique
Ron Betts -
1-800-811-6427 ext 100
Québec
Frédérik Lépine -
1-800-811-6427 ext 107
Ontario
Kayla Wickens -
1-800-811-6427 ext 102
Central / Centre
Craig Chapman -
1-800-811-6427 ext 112
Alberta
Karen Kjorven -
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BC
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Q: What is my Member Number?
A: Your CSIA Member Number is shown on your Membership Card as well as your renewal notices, confirmations & receipts. If you do not know your Member Number, please
Q: Where can I get Membership receipts?
A: All Membership receipts are automatically uploaded to your Member Area/My Invoices and Receipts, after you login. Please note there is no official Tax Receipt for Membership dues, only a paid invoice.
Q: Are Membership dues refundable?
A: All Membership fee payments are final. No refund will be issued.
Q: I have been inactive for three years. Do I have to pay 3 years of back dues?
A: No, you will not be required to pay back dues for all seasons that you were not a Member. When reinstating, you will be responsible to pay a Reinstatement fee plus the cost of the Annual Membership the season you reactivate. For information on Reinstatement click here.
Q: When will I get my Membership card?
A: As of the 2020-2021 season you will no longer receive a plasticized CSIA Membership card. This was a decision made in an effort to reduce the CSIA environmental footprint.
Q: I am a Level 1 Instructor and have been inactive for 12 years. Do I have to retake my Level 1 Certification?
A: Once you have passed your Certification, it is yours for life. However, upon reinstatement you will be required to complete a Recall of your Certification in order to get everything up to date according to CSIA Standards. For more information on CSIA Recall click here.
Q: How do I get the International Certification (ISIA) Sticker?
A: In order to qualify for the ISIA Recognition you must be a Regular or Associate Member of the organization holding CSIA Level 3 or above, and you must provide proof of a valid Avalanche Safety Training and First Aid Certification as well as have accumulated 320 hours of education. For more information and to apply click here.
Q: I passed my Level 1 in March and I just received a Membership Renewal Invoice in August. Isn't my Membership good for one year after becoming certified?
A: When you passed your Level 1, you became certified, and enjoyed all the rights and privileges of a current CSIA Member for the remainder of the current membership season. CSIA Membership runs from October 1st to September 30th every year. To retain your Membership and receive all the Member rights and privileges for another season, there is an annual Membership fee to be paid each fall. Login to your Member Area/My Renewal to access the Renewal.
Q: I am a CSIA Member who resides in Ontario, however I teach at a mountain in Québec. How do I go about changing the Region we are affiliated with, in order to be able to vote on CSIA Québec Regional matters?
A: A Member may have their permanent address of residency in a given CSIA Region, but choose to teach skiing or reside, on a seasonal basis, in another Region. Click here to consult the CSIA’s procedure to change your Regional Affiliation on a seasonal basis.
Q: How old do I have to be to take a Level 1 Program?
A: You must be 14 years of age by the first day of the Program. There are no exceptions.
Q: What type of skier must I be to take a Level 1 Program?
A: The Level 1 Ski Instructor Certification is for any skier over the age of 14 that is a competent parallel skier. The Level 1 Candidate can expect to be exposed to a variety of terrain, terrain features and snow conditions.
Q: But, I've never taught before.
A: No worries, that's what the Level 1 Program is all about. The Course Conductors are there to teach you how to instruct a lesson, so that you will be able to go out and deliver a great experience.
Q: So how much does a Level 1 Program cost?
A: The cost of the Program varies from Region to Region. You can find all the information pertaining to Program fees, please use Search and Register on the homepage or contact the National Office to get more details about the specific Region in which the Program will occur.
Q: I'm interested in taking a Level 1 Program this year. Where do I register?
A: All Level 1 Program are registered through the National Office snowpro.com website, using Search and Register.
Q: I took the Level 1 Program and was unsuccessful, what should I do next?
A: You must take a 2 day re-test on any scheduled Level 1 Program. To register please use Search and Register on the homepage.
Q: I've passed my Level 1 and want to take another Program?
A: Level 2 Certification, Snow Park Certification and Pro Days are your next possible steps. Check out the Certification tab for more information or use Search and Register on the homepage.
Q: What are the pre-requisites for Programs?
A: Please visit the Certification tab for a description of all Programs.
Q: If I only pass a portion of a Level 2 Exam, or 3 or 4 Exam, do I have to take it over again?
A: No. If you were unsuccessful meeting the standard on either, or both, portions of the Exam (Ski and/or Teach), you will not be required to attend the Skier/Teacher Development again. When coming back for a re-test on Exam, you will not be examined on the portion you've passed already; you will be re-tested on your failed portion only.
Q: I registered for a Program, what if the weather is extreme?
A: Programs take place regardless of weather conditions. The only time it might be cancelled is in the event of a lack of participants or when the Ski Area is closed for an extended period of time during the Program, due to extreme weather conditions (lack of snow, severe snow storms, lightning storms, intense high winds, etc.). Should the CSIA cancel, you will be contacted by the National Office and, if applicable, a full refund will be issued.
Q: Where can I get a registration receipts?
A: All receipts are located in your Member Area, under My Invoices and Receipts. Tax Receipts are made available in February for the previous year.
Q: I need to transfer or cancel my Program, how can I do so?
A: Simple transfers (i.e. same program, cost and provider) can be processed autonomously through the My Registration History section of your Member Area.
For any other type of transfer, including late transfers, which may be subject to a penalty, or refunds, please fill out the Refund and transfer form available here, and also linked from the My Registration History section.
Q: I am a CSIA Foreign Member and will be working as an instructor for a Snow School in Canada. If I were to injure myself while teaching, what coverage am I entitled to?
A: Although Foreign Members are covered under the accident, death and disability (AD&D) insurance program, the coverage is strictly limited to death and dismemberment indemnity, the principal sum being $25,000. The AD&D coverage is only for Members who are registered under a Canadian Provincial Medicare Program. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you investigate purchasing your own accident insurance coverage prior to travelling to Canada.
Q: I am a CSIA Instructor and I’m considering teaching independently at various Ski Resorts. Do I require the permission of the host resort to do so? If not, can you please explain why?
A: Each Resort will have its own policy on this. You will find that virtually NO Resort in Canada permits freelance instruction, where an individual not affiliated with the Resort accepts money to teach on the mountain. It is up to each Resort to set and enforce their policies. The CSIA has no involvement.
As a point of clarity, this has nothing to do with the many independent Snow Schools, operating across Canada. These organizations will have entered into agreements with the Resorts at which they operate. These agreements will likely include a requirement that the organization hold their own third party liability insurance and that the host Resort is provided coverage under that policy. Each Member must make their own choices with respect to their business activities. The CSIA works together with our Industry Partners for the good of the sport and the industry and we encourage each Member to make responsible, well thought-out decisions.
Q: As a CSIA Instructor, am I insured to teach privately or as an "Independent and Freelance Instructor" ?
A: No. coverage does NOT apply to instructors operating as an independent business. The intent of the policy is NOT to provide coverage for Snow School/Ski Camp operations under a paid Membership renewal. For further details on the insurance coverage available with your membership, please consult the information published under the Membership/Insurance section of our website or contact the National Office at 1-800-811-6428 Ext. 0, or by email at
Q: I am a CSIA Instructor and I would like to know if I am insured to teach outside of Canada?
A: No. You are only covered under our liability insurance program while teaching in Canada.
Q: I am a CSIA Member in good standing and still actively teaching in my 70's. However, I was told by a fellow Member that I am NOT covered by CSIA’s Insurance Programs. Is this true?
A: Our General Liability Policy does not have an age limitation. You are therefore covered for third party property damage or bodily injury while on the mountain, either while you are teaching under the employment of a recognized Snow School, or leisure skiing on your own personal time.
However, CSIA's Accidental Death and Disability (AD&D) policy does have an age limit for coverage of Members aged 70 years and over.
Q: Are Program Participants covered by the CSIA Accident, Death and Disability (AD&D) Policy?
A: The Accident Policy covers paid Members of the CSIA. Provided the participant is a paid Member, there might be coverage depending on the circumstances and the nature of the injury. It is best to contact the CSIA National Office to discuss this.
Q: I am certified from a foreign country, how can I become a CSIA Member?
A: You must send a copy of your current Certification and application form to the Membership Services Department to be granted an Affiliate CSIA Member status. For more information about the Affiliate Status and the link to the application form, please click here.
Q: If I want to become a CSIA Instructor, do I get any recognition for my other Certification(s)?
A: All Affiliate Instructors with legitimate Foreign Certification merit an assessed degree of recognition by the CSIA. Based on our charts, Affiliate Members will be assigned an equivalency to a CSIA Certification Level, which allows them to go straight to the next CSIA Certification Level.
