Becoming a ski instructor

A ski instructor is anyone who professionally teaches skiing techniques in all their specialisations (alpine disciplines, cross-country disciplines and snowboard disciplines), practised with any type of equipment, on ski slopes, ski itineraries, off-piste ski routes and in ski excursions that do not involve difficulties requiring the use of alpine techniques and materials.

Exercise of the profession is subject to authorisation, which is obtained by compulsory attendance of special technical-practical and didactic cultural courses and passing the relevant examinations. To gain access to the training courses it is mandatory to have taken aptitude tests. A further requirement for exercising the profession is enrolment in the Register of Ski Instructors held by the Provincial Ski Instructors' College.

The attainment of the licence is divided into the following steps:

1. Aptitude test: Admission to the qualifying courses is subject to passing a practical aptitude test to be taken before the competent examining boards. The practical aptitude test is aimed at ascertaining the candidate's technical ability and aptitude to carry out the specific activity of the profession of ski instructor and consists of a timed giant slalom test (for Alpine skiing) and a series of tests carried out in the open field.

   Those who, in the three-year period preceding the application for the aptitude test, have officially been part of the national teams in their respective disciplines do not have to take this test but must submit prior communication for access to the courses.

2. Theoretical/practical training courses: After passing the aptitude test, it is possible to access the training courses organised by the Provincial Ski Instructors' College. The theoretical/practical training courses organised by the Provincial College of Ski Instructors are divided into:
   • Theoretical courses, aimed at acquiring notions preparatory to teaching;
   • Technical-practical and didactic courses aimed at acquiring the knowledge and practice of skiing techniques and teaching methodologies.
3. Qualifying examinations: After an initial training part, the candidate takes the examinations to obtain the qualification of "Trainee Master". The apprentice instructor can teach in ski schools recognised by the Autonomous Province of Trento. At the end of the training course, the candidate takes the final exams in order to obtain the professional qualification of ski instructor. The qualification to exercise the profession of ski instructor in the Alpine, cross-country and snowboard disciplines is also subject to passing the test known as the'Eurosicuritè', while the qualification to exercise the profession of ski instructor in the Alpine disciplines is also subject to passing the test known as the'Eurotest'; the certificates of passing these tests are issued by the authorised bodies, recognised by the national board of ski instructors. The training process takes place over a little more than a year and totals more than 90 days of actual training. The courses are divided into several modules lasting 5/6 days each.
4. Diploma: Those who successfully pass the tests are awarded a diploma by the President of the Provincial Council.

To exercise the profession it is then necessary to register in theProfessional Register of Ski Instructorsmaintained, under the supervision of the Province, by the Provincial College of Ski Instructors.

The admission requirements, enrolment fees and payment methods for access to the aptitude tests and ski instructor examinations are established in the resolutions of the Provincial Council approving the notices.

Once the practical aptitude test has been passed, the application for admission to the qualification courses (technical-practical, didactic, cultural courses) must be submitted to the Provincial Board of Ski Instructors.

Italian and European citizens.

Aptitude tests for access to ski instructor qualification courses are normally held annually for Alpine skiing and every two years for snowboarding and cross-country skiing.

The collection of applications for admission to the 2026 habilitation courses has been announced. The deadlines for submitting applications are as follows:

• For ski instructor of the cross-countrydisciplines, the deadline is on 9 January 2026 (notice of ski instructor of the cross-country disciplines);
• For ski instructors in alpine skiing disciplines, the deadline is 13 February 2026 (call for ski instructors in alpine disciplines).

The application for admission to the aptitude test for admission to the qualification courses must be submitted by applicants exclusively online by authentication with SPID, CIE, CPS/CNS through access to the digital platform accessed by clicking on the respective links below.

Students at the Lorenzo Guetti Institute of Education in Tione are exempt from taking the aptitude tests and, after obtaining their school-leaving certificate, they can directly take the qualification examinations by submitting an application for admission to the cultural, technical-practical and didactic examinations for ski instructor candidates.

For ski instructors in cross-country disciplines, the deadline is 9 January 2026.