BASI Level 1 & 2 Instructor Course – Autumn 2026

You qualify for both BASI Level 1 and BASI Level 2 - the two foundation qualifications of the British Association of Snowsport Instructors. Level 1 lets you teach beginners in controlled snow areas under supervision, and Level 2 is the key qualification that lets you teach beginners to intermediates on-piste and opens up paid ski-school work internationally. You can read the official standards at basi.org.uk.

No teaching or instructing experience is needed - most of our trainees have never taught before. What matters is that you're already a confident skier and keen to learn how to teach. We take you from keen skier to qualified BASI Level 1 and Level 2 instructor over the eight weeks.

You should be a confident parallel skier who can link turns comfortably on most pistes, including reds. You don't need to be an expert or a racer - the training is built to take your skiing from a solid recreational level up to a teaching standard. If you're unsure whether you're ready, send us a short video and we'll give you an honest answer.

The 8-week Autumn 2026 BASI Level 1 & 2 course costs CHF 9,950, with a 10% deposit of CHF 995 to secure your place. That price is fully inclusive - it covers your training, both BASI exams, accommodation in Zermatt, a full-season lift pass, and mentoring, so there are no hidden course fees to find later.

Almost everything you need for the season is included: 240+ hours of training, your BASI Level 1 and Level 2 exams, accommodation in Zermatt, a full-season lift pass, and mentoring from BASI Trainers Steve Jones and Hannah Bryans. You also get a freestyle session, video analysis, glacier skiing, avalanche awareness, a first aid course, equipment servicing, theory and teaching workshops, a child protection module, CV and interview prep, social events, and shadowing at a real working ski school. See 'What's not included' below for the few things you'll arrange yourself.

Your accommodation in central Zermatt is included in the course price. You'll stay at Haus Amanda in shared bedrooms with storage, with a fully equipped kitchen, a lounge, Wi-Fi, and ski storage on site. Its central location means you're close to the lifts and the heart of the village.

This BASI Level 1 & 2 course runs for eight weeks, from 3 October to 28 November 2026. That gives you 240+ hours of training plus time to shadow real lessons and prepare properly for both exams.

The course runs as an 8-week Autumn intake, from 3 October to 28 November 2026. Your place is confirmed 12 weeks before the start date, so it's worth applying early.

Yes - BASI Level 2 is the qualification that opens up paid ski-school work, and most of our trainees use it to find their first instructing job. It lets you teach beginners to intermediates on-piste, and ski schools across the Alps and worldwide recognise it. We include CV and interview prep and career guidance so you leave ready to apply, and newly qualified instructors typically earn around £3,000 to £6,000 a season depending on the role and country.

Yes — it's one of the most practical ways to spend a gap year, because you finish with two recognised qualifications, UCAS points, and the option to earn money instructing. You live and train in Zermatt for eight weeks as part of a small group, shadowing a real ski school rather than just sitting in classes. You come out a qualified instructor with independence and a skill you can work with anywhere there's snow.

If you don't pass an element first time, our trainers will give you clear feedback on what to work on and support you towards a reassessment. BASI sets the standards and reassessment process. Our aim is always to get you to the standard, and the 240+ hours of training are designed to prepare you thoroughly so you go into each exam ready.

You need to be fit enough to ski full days, several days a week, across an eight-week season. You don't need to be an athlete, but a base level of cardio fitness makes a real difference — skiing all day and training on top of it is tiring, and the fitter you arrive, the more you'll get out of every session.

You'll arrange a few things yourself: travel to and from Zermatt, your own ski kit and clothing, food and personal spending, travel and medical insurance, and BASI membership where it's required for the exams. Everything central to the training and your season - tuition, exams, accommodation, lift pass and mentoring - is already covered in the course price.