By Roland Searle, CSIA Level 4 Instructor and Course Conductor,
CSIA Interski Team Member 2027
Getting your Level 2 is a major milestone. But after the adrenaline fades, many instructors hit a plateau. The path to Level 3 can seem far off, unclear, or intimidating—what some call the Certification Cliff.
But here’s the truth: Level 3 isn’t about being “ready someday.” It’s about starting now—with the right habits, experience, and mindset.
Here are five ways to keep climbing:
| 1. Teach, Teach, Teach Real teaching experience is your best training. Level 3 expects you to go beyond progressions—you’ll need to coach real skiers toward real change. That can’t be faked, and it doesn’t come from training alone. Work full seasons for a snow school, teach all levels, and reflect often. |
| 2. Train with Purpose The candidates who succeed most often are the ones who work in a snow school, season after season, training consistently with peers and under mentorship. Many snow schools offer regular sessions led by Level 4s or 3’s for free. Show up. Ask questions. Learn how to teach better today while building the habits and language that lead to success on the course. Attending a Level 3 course is great, but it’s often not enough on its own. Progress happens when you’re part of a team, working with a mentor who knows your skiing, your teaching, and your gaps—and who helps you close them over time. |
| 3. Study the Marking Guide Print it. Read it. Understand terms like “applies development concepts to advanced skiing” or “imposes movements to affect ski snow interaction” The more fluent you are in the language of the exam and what the examiners are marking, the more confident and focused you’ll be in training and feedback. |
| 4. Know What a Pass Looks Like One of the biggest gaps is not understanding what’s actually expected. Level 3 isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistent, adaptable performance under pressure. The better you understand the bar, the less intimidating it becomes. The standards videos are a great place to start. |
| 5. Avoid Common Teaching Mistakes Here’s what we see often from aspiring Level 3s: Saying “Canadian Teaching Approach” Instead of Using It: You don’t need to name it. Just teach with it. Know the learner, create, assess, explore. Teaching Advanced Lessons Without Advanced Elements: If your speed, terrain, or challenge level doesn’t match your topic, the lesson won’t land—no matter how well you talk. Advanced objectives, advanced speeds and advanced terrain must feature in an advanced lesson. Demoing Your Favourite Drills: A drill isn’t good because you like it or you did it once on a course. It’s good when it directly targets the skills the skiers in front of you need to develop. Trying New Drills on Course Day: Never demo something for the first time in a teaching segment. You should know how it feels and what to look for. |
In closing, the Certification Cliff is real—but it’s not a dead end. Teach more. Train smart. Study the standard. And stay curious. Level 3 is a big step, but every step you take today makes it more reachable.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep moving forward.