The formation to become a snowboard instructor or snowsports instructor is mainly a methodic / didactic formation, which focuses on how to teach and learn the snowboard specific movements. The formation is divided in various modules:

• admission course / Rookie Coach


• methodology module (ME)


• technique module (TE)


• emergency management (NM)


• security & rescue (SR)


• instructor module (IK)

The following modules are required to obtain the risk activity license:

• Backcountry riding & touring (VT)


• Addidional module RiskG/Off-Piste

Additional to the modules mentioned above the following modules are needed for the swiss federal certificate "snowsports instructor":

• backcountry riding & touring (VT)


• tourism & law (TR)


• elective module Ski, Air&Park, Freeride (WM)

The instructor formation is oriented towards good riders who would like to make their hobby a profession.
The following prerequisites are needed:

above average riding skills
good condition & coordinative skills
the possibility to learn new moves efficiently and quickly
pleasure to work with people of all ages and to teach them
ability to accept critique and continue to learn
minimum age 18

It depends: the modules have to be done in the right order and the exams have to be passed before the next module can be done.


Exceptions:

• Registration for the admission course / Rookie Coach can be done together with the methodology module (ME)


• The registration for the security & rescue (SR) module as well as for the emergency management (NM) can be done anytime after the methodology module has been passed successfully.

No, the admission course / Rookie Coach is an obligatory part of the formation. The course gives you insight into the formation structure and lots of information regarding the SSBS. There are some exceptions to this rule: for example if you have min. 5 days of Swiss youth & sport formation (Leiterkurs / Methodikmodul, or a recognised foreign snowboard instructor formation (min. 5 days)). Please contact the SSBS office to find out if you are eligible to enter directly into the methodology module and provide us with copies of your diplomas.

A good freestyle or freeride board is ok. Pay attention to the boots and bindings. If you have a tool (screwdriver), bring it along as well.

To keep an active status, all candidates and snowboard/ ski instructors are obliged to do a repetition course every second year. The following courses count as repetition courses:

all courses that continue the formation, methodology exam, technical director course or technical director repetition course and Air&Park course.

Our formation is divided in different modules whereof the admission course / Rookie Coach is the first part. The 5 days (2 days Rookie Coach Theory/ 3 days Rookie Coach Snow) give you insight into the structure of the formation, lots of information about the SSBS and is therefore an important base for the following modules. There will also be lots of riding training and an assessment of your riding skills, your condition, coordinative skills, pleasure to work with people and your ability to accept criticism.

The SSBS repetition course is valid two years.

You can register yourself for all official repetition courses on www.ssbs.ch or you can do a private repetition course with an SSBS expert (experts list
As an active SSBS member, you also have the opportunity to organise private revision courses. You are a group of instructors and define the location. We provide the class instructor and do the handling and invoicing.

The 40 days work experience certification is necessary to enter the instructor module (IK). The logbook, where you can enter your work experience is dispatched and explained during the admission course.

Please send us the correctly and completely filled out logbook as soon as the number of days is fulfilled. The logbook must be with us at least one month before the start of the instructor module.
Please note that you will not be admitted to the methodology examination in the instructor module SB/ instructor examination Ski if the logbook is missing or the details are not fulfilled.

So we can organise the methodology part of the technique and instructors module, each participant is obliged to find a pupil and bring him/her to the course. The pupils need to be registered for the respective course on www.ssbs.ch and you need to inform the office (by email or phone) whom you have registered as pupil. Its obligatory that you find a pupil for at least one of the modules. If you arent able to do so, you will be charged a penalty of CHF 200.- right before the instructor module which we use to recruit pupils ourselves.

Each active member who has paid their yearly SSBS member fee as well as done the bi-yearly repetition course (needs to be valid for the whole season, where the abonnement is bought for) can buy such an abonnement in our shop. The half-fare card is available for candidates who have passed at least the methodology module (ME)/ module ski 1 and the general card is avavailable for instructors who have passed at least the instructor module (IK)

The stamp of the International Snowboard Instructor Federation ISIF is available free of charge (provided your status is active and the membership fee is paid) and, together with the instructor or candidate card, enables partially discounted tariffs for ski resorts on an international level.

Yes, the SSBS education is based on the SSBS teaching material Snowboard or Ski and it must be taken to the courses. The teaching material is included as a pdf file in the admission courses Theory Snowboard and Ski. You can also order the teaching material separately on our Shop

The emergency management course is no longer offered by the SSBS as a two-day module. You have the option of attending this course with an external provider.
We recognise the following training courses in Switzerland: First aider level 1 IVR or the emergency aid course (min. 7 hours) plus BLS-AED complete course (min. 3 hours).
We recognise the following training courses in France: PSE1 (Premiers secours en équipe de niveau 1) or PSC1 (Prévention et secours civiques de niveau 1, min. 7 hours) plus BLS-AED Complete Course (min. 3 hours).
Please contact the office for training from other countries. Important, the courses must be completed before the instructor module and the certificate must be submitted at least 1 month before the course starts..

Each candidate must register one student for the methodology part of the technique or instructor module or ski module 2 or instructor examination. Student lessons are held with the students. You can find more information about the student lessons under the following link

By paying the yearly member fee of CHF 50.- as well as attending the bi-yearly repetition course you are an active member of the SSBS association. As an active member you have the following advantages:

Advantages membership>

All candidates and instructors are automatically members of the SSBS (subject to payment of the annual membership fee). The membership fee can be purchased via the online shop or the person receives a membership fee invoice every year.
Persons who have not completed SSBS training can also become members. This is done by means of cross-recognition and a based on licence or by means of proof of training without a licence.

If you are looking for a job as a snowboard/ ski instructor, it is best to contact the schools directly. You can find a list of all SSBS member schools
Under vacancies you also have the possibility to browse through existing job offers or to place a job search advertisement yourself free of charge

No, the instructors negotiate their wage directly with the schools. The SSBS has no influence and does not prescribe anything.

The following prerequisites are needed from the pupils:

• they need to have their own snowboard equipment
• beginner or intermediate riding skills
• flexibility
• minimum age of 18 (or accompanied by a supervisor)

The theory exam is a written multiple choice exam and the questions include information from the current SSBS teaching material snowboard or ski. In addition, 4 movement grids are asked.
If the exam is not passed, it can be retaken free of charge at the SSBS office during opening hours or with an SSBS expert for 50 Fr.

The theory exam is a written multiple choice exam and the questions include information from the current SSBS teaching material snowboard or ski. In addition, 4 movement grids are asked.
If the exam is not passed, it can be retaken free of charge at the SSBS office during opening hours or with an SSBS expert for 50 Fr.

The conversation on a snowboard relevant theme can be done in the following languages: german, french, italian, spanish or dutch.

You can repass the methodology exam 2 times a season, normally during the technique and instructor modules. The dates are published on Exams methodology

Technical directors need to take a repetition course every year.

The stamp of the International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA) can be bought by active SSBS Instructors who have paid the yearly member fee. It costs CHF 35.- and can be bought in the online store on www.ssbs.ch. Together with the instructor card you can get reductions at certain skilifts internationally.

Together with your course registration which we send to you by email, you receive a link of the ALLIANZ insurance. If you buy the insurance, all costs including course, hotel and liftticket) are covered in case of an accident or illness. The insurance costs 4% of the course price. You pay the amount directly to the insurance as described on the flyer. We strongly recommend that insurance, as otherwise all costs will need to be covered by yourself.

The formation to become a ski instructor is mainly a methodic / didactic formation, which focuses on how to teach and learn the ski specific movements. The formation is divided in various modules:

• admission course theory


• Ski Modul 1 (Sl1)


• Ski Modul 2 (Sl2)


• emergency management (NM)


• security & rescue (SR)


• instructor exam (IK)

Additional to the modules mentioned above the following modules are needed for the SSBS instructor ski with the risk activities license :

• backcountry riding & touring (VT)


• additional module RiskG/ Off piste

You are able to safely descend all pistes in the secured piste area and average terrain in the off-piste area.

The Carte Pro authorizes you to work as a snowboard instructor in France. It is necessary as much for the employees of a school as for the self-employed.

In order to be able to apply for the Carte Pro, you need a snowboard education diploma. With the SSBS Instructor diploma and the module backcontry riding and touring, you can apply for the Carte Pro. You can find the training overview in the download area under formation/Information on education.

As soon as you have the necessary diplomas, you can apply for the Carte pro at Ministère de la Ville, de la Jeunesse et des Sports (www.arquedi.sports.gouv.fr).

You can apply for the permit at the cantonal office in your place of residence.

An all-round or all-mountain ski is the best. A race or freeride ski is not suitable. Make sure you have a solid shoe. You should also bring a tool (screwdriver) if you have one.

Your registration is considered definite. In the event of cancellation after the registration deadline, the following cancellation fees will be due:
Cancellation from 30 to 10 days before the start of the course 50% of the course costs,
9 to 4 days 80%,
3 days before the start of the course 100% of the course costs. Cancellation insurance can be taken out with Allianz to cover these costs. Further information is available from us.

A distinction must be made between skiing on the secured piste area and off-piste. In addition, the conditions vary from canton to canton.
Off-piste, you need a risk activity permit from Fr. 1. In order to be able to apply to the canton, you need the Ski/Snowboard Instructor + Variants & Tours module + RiskG additional module and the practical training.
For safe piste areas, you do not need any qualifications unless the cantons stipulate otherwise. We are familiar with the cantons of Valais, Vaud and Grisons. In the cantons of Uri, Ticino and Bern, this is not specific to ski instructors, but is included in the economic law, for example.
It is also possible that no qualification is required, but that the canton demands professional liability and that this can only be taken out with the insurance company if the necessary qualification is available..

No, in the area of skiing there is no possibility to complete the training to become a snow sports instructor with a federal certificate. In the SSBS Ski Instructor training, the skiing techniques that are not necessary for the course (e.g. the art forms and competition) are omitted. The Ski Instructor training should be accessible and affordable for as many candidates as possible. The training can be continued with the additional modules Variations and Tours and the additional module RiskG, which then allows to apply for the risk activities permit.

The risk activity permit applies to risk activities offered on a commercial basis which are outside the area of responsibility of the ski lift and cable car facilities.
cableway installations. Since 01.05.2019, every provider is considered to be commercial from the first franc of turnover and must apply for a corresponding permit.
apply for a corresponding permit.

In the area of snowboarding, SSBS instructors have two options. One is the shortened SSBS training (51 course days/85 days internship): SSBS Snowboard Instructor with the modules Variants and Tours and the additional module RiskG.
Secondly, the training to become a snow sports instructor with a federal certificate (55 course days/85 days internship): SSBS Snowboard Instructor with the modules Variants and Tours, Elective Module and Tourism and Law.
In the area of skiing, SSBS instructors have an option. The shortened SSBS training (39 course days/ 125 days internship): SSBS Snowboard Instructor with the modules Variants and Tours and the additional module RiskG.

The license is issued for a limited period of four years. At the end of the four years, a renewal application must be submitted. Before renewal, a Freeride RC must be completed.

In order for us to be able to conduct the methodology part of these courses with pubils, each participant must find and bring a pubil. If you are unable to bring a pubil to one of the two courses, we will charge you an additional fee of 200 CHF at the exam, which we will use to find additional pubils.

We recommend that you allow 2-3 years for the instructor training.