Working as a Ski Instructor in Switzerland
Switzerland is a great place to spend a winter season and a great place to become a ski instructor. Many of the resorts in Switzerland have managed to avoid having the purpose-built blocks or tourist cubicles and stick with the more traditional picturesque chalet village feel.
Although at the moment Switzerland is quite an expensive place to spend a season, it really does have something for everyone. In Verbier alone, which is one of Switzerland’s most popular resorts, there are 400 kilometres of runs to explore.
What qualifications do I need to work in Switzerland?
In terms of qualifications, the Swiss authorities recognise and have different qualifications for skiing. In the past, some areas in Switzerland have been quite relaxed about how qualified instructors needed to be before they could teach, with some people having as little as 5 days in-house training before they were let loose in a mountain environment with clients. Luckily, this way of thinking is slowly dying out and many ski schools are insisting on employing instructors that have gained a qualification from a governing body such as BASI, and students with the BASI Level 2 qualification can work within Switzerland.
Additional Requirements
As Switzerland is not part of the EU, non-Swiss residents will need a work permit to work in the country. Instructors looking to work in Switzerland will need to apply to a ski school, get a job offer and contract before they apply for their work permit. Work should not commence until the permit is in place.
Who can I work for in Switzerland?
