How to Become a Ski Instructor in France

For anyone who has dreamed about becoming a ski instructor, working in France is quite often the end goal. As you may well be aware, working in France is not easy, but contrary to popular belief it is not easier for the French than the British, and we are not given a hard time. The criteria and requirements are exactly the same regardless of nationality, it is just that some people have skied every day from the age of 3, and others have skied just once a week for 10 years and never raced.

What qualifications do I need to work in France?

To become a ski instructor in France, you need to be a ‘stagiere’ or fully qualified instructor. Unlike the British system of ski instructor training and examination, the French system does not have different levels of instructor. In the French ski instructor system, you are either formally recognised as a stagiere (which means trainee or apprentice), or you are fully qualified. There is nothing in between, no tiered levels representing differing degrees of competency. Stagiere status is achieved upon successful completion of the Test Technique – an entrance style slalom exam, which is then followed by a preformation course. With both of those boxes ticked, stagieres in the French system are able to instruct, but with limitations on what they can teach for up to 3 years, while they become fully qualified. If it takes longer than three years for them to qualify, then they will be unable to teach again until they have finished.

This is one of the main reasons that it is harder to work in France than in other countries. ‘Fully qualified’ level in the French system is equivalent to BASI Level 4, which too can take people many years to achieve.

However, individuals who do not hold their BASI level 4 can still work in France, they just need to achieve Stagiere Status. BASI qualified individuals can achieve stagiere status by successfully completing their BASI 2 and the French Test Technique. This then gives them the opportunity to work in France at a stagiere approved school for up to 3 years, while they complete either the BASI or French qualification system.

Is it worth doing my Test Technique?

If you have a strong race background then yes, it probably is. Being a stagiere is an incredible opportunity to see how some of the biggest ski schools in the world work and you will have opportunities to train for Eurotest on some of the best race pistes in the world.

However, if you have no race background and are completely new to ski racing, then we tend to lean towards no. The BASI ski instructor system is already incredibly expensive to work your way through. With no race background, you are looking at training for at least 8 weeks prior to sitting your first test technique, not to mention the cost associated with travelling to each. And there is no guarantee that you will pass. In a race environment, anything can happen and without the experience of those situations, it can get the better of you.

While 8 weeks of slalom training will do wonders for your skiing, it will cost a large amount of money that may be better spent elsewhere.