Basic Avalanche Educator Membership- CP - Canadian Avalanche Association

Basic Avalanche Educator Membership—Competency Portfolio

Key Information

Basic Avalanche Educator membership permits the delivery of introductory recreational avalanche education content with limited avalanche terrain exposure as part of an established curriculum. Basic Avalanche Educators:

can teach introductory recreational avalanche education courses such as the Avalanche Canada Training program AST 1 and CRS courses;
work at the introductory level described within Guidelines for Instruction in Avalanche Terrain;
are restricted to travel in Simple ATES terrain;
are obliged to meet CPD requirements as set forth by the CAA for this membership category;
are not recognized to provide avalanche services outside of the educational scope defined above; and
are non-voting members
are required to pay membership dues of $147.63 + tax, billed annually in December.
are expected to follow the CAA Code of Ethics, Scope of Practice Statement and meet the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guidelines

For more information, contact Membership Services to discuss your experience and objectives, before applying to become a Basic Avalanche Educator.

If you are an existing Avalanche Practitioner or Avalanche Professional, you are able to teach AST in your current category, you do not need to apply to become an Avalanche Educator. You may only hold one type of CAA membership at a time.

The application process involves several steps—please review all of the drop-down menus below. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to collect and prepare all of the required items below before starting the online application form.

Alternative application processes

If you are an ACMG, CMBGA or CSGA member, or have completed Avalanche Operations Level 2, please see the recognized certification process .

If you have completed Instructing in Avalanche Terrain—Basic, please see our course-based application process.

Application requirements

Avalanche Operations Level 1
Introduction to Professionalism
Instructing in Avalanche Terrain—Foundations
Competency Portfolio
The ability to communicate clearly and effectively as demonstrated through the Competency Portfolio and application process.
A minimum of one reference submitted through this reference form (Only Avalanche Professionals can view this link).
Pay the non-refundable $50 application fee. This fee covers 2 application submissions within 6 months. Submissions made 6 months after initial payment will be subject to the application fee again.

Resources

Step 1: Preparation

The contents of your Competency Portfolio should be as brief as possible, while at the same time containing sufficient detail to prove you are competent in the knowledge and skills required to be a Basic Avalanche Educator. Review the resources above before beginning your application.

Step 2: Complete the Competency Portfolio

The Competency Portfolio provides an overview of who you are, your role in avalanche work, and what you do within that role on a daily basis. You are showing how you meet the proficiency level for the required competencies. You are required to show how you met the competencies in a professional avalanche related role. Recreational experience and non-avalanche related experience will not be assessed.

The Competency Portfolio template shows you which competencies must be addressed and which also require evidence. To show you meet the competencies, you must answer every question in the yellow boxes. Enter your answers in the pink box. If there is pink left on your application, it is not complete.

Using the Competency Portfolio document, start by inputting your avalanche-related work and experience into the top section labelled 'Avalanche History.' Complete all columns for each role you held. This is a summary of your career. You do not need to go into detail about how you meet any competencies in this section. You do not need to include any recreational activities or non-avalanche related work.
Next, work your way through the document by answering all of the questions in the yellow boxes.
Make sure every pink box has an answer written in it. If there is pink left, you have not completed the application.
You only need to address the competencies listed in the competency portfolio table.

If you have any issues downloading the Competency Portfolio, please contact Membership Services.

Step 3: Prepare Your evidence

Not all competencies require evidence. Templates are not provided for your evidence files; you must create or collect the evidence files in the format most appropriate for each.

For each competency needing evidence, create a digital evidence file that supports what you say in your Competency Portfolio. Save each file with a unique name/number (ex. Evidence1 - log book, Evidence2 - SW map).
Ensure you note in the pink box labelled 'Name of evidence file for competency' which evidence files are being used for each competency.
In the application form, there will be space to upload your evidence files. Ensure the numbers match your reference in the competency profile.
A single piece of evidence may be used for more than one competency, if appropriate. You do not need to provide a unique piece of evidence for every competency.
Please note, there is a maximum upload of 30MB. If your application is larger than this, please compress files and check that you have only included necessary files
If you are unable to get a piece of evidence from an employer due to confidentiality, please contact Membership Services.

Here are some examples of types of evidence you can use.

Step 4: Review application questions and prepare responses

Applicants will be asked to explain their reason for applying to become a Basic Avalanche Educator on the online application form. We recommend that you prepare and save your responses to the following questions in a text document, then copy and paste your responses into the online application form field once you begin the process.

Why do you want to be a member of the CAA?
Why should you be a member of the CAA?

Step 5: Contact professional references

Each application must be accompanied by a minimum of one reference from a CAA Avalanche Professional. References must complete the online reference form. (Only Avalanche Professionals can view this link, to share with your reference, right click and copy the link.)

References must read and attest to the applicant's "Competency Portfolio" portfolio document when they complete the online reference form. Please ensure that you provide the reference with this document when requesting their support. References do not need to verify an applicant's entire portfolio.

It is your responsibility to make sure their reference letters have been submitted. Reference letters may be submitted after submitting your membership application; however, your application will not be reviewed until your reference is received.

Step 6: Review application

Confirm all questions have been answered and there are no pink sections left.
Double-check you have provided evidence for all competencies that require it and that your evidence files are correctly labelled and linked in the Competency Portfolio.
Proofread everything for spelling and grammatical errors.
Your reference should also review your application and ensure you are showing you meet all the required competencies. If your reference is not able to review your application and attest to your meeting all the competencies, you should find another reference.

Step 7: Submit online application form

Submit your portfolio using the application form below.
You will be asked to upload your Competency Portfolio, evidence files, and course certificates.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have uploaded all of the documents needed by your portfolio.
The total maximum upload is 30 MB. If your application is too large, please compress any files possible.

If you begin the online application form and close the web browser or time-out before completing the full application, your work will not be saved. Have all documents above ready before proceeding.

Please note: It is recommended that you restart your computer and/or clear your browser history before beginning the online application form.

Application review and registration process

Application review

Processing times for applications depend on a number of factors. The committee aims to process applications within 3-4 weeks, however applications where referees or applicants need to be contacted for supplementary information often take longer.

Registration

Following approval, you will be notified and invoiced. Paying the invoice will complete the process of becoming a Basic Avalanche Educator. Annual dues cover December 1 - November 30. Half dues are charged for memberships starting from June onward. Dues invoices must be paid within 30 days of invoicing to complete the application to avoid being a member not in good standing.

If you are already a member and have paid dues for the year and change categories midway through the year, you only need to pay the difference between membership dues. If you are working on an application or waiting on a response from the membership committee, you should pay your dues for your current category to avoid becoming not in good standing and membership services will adjust your invoice if you are approved.

Member obligations

Once an applicant has successfully become an Avalanche Practitioner, they take on all the responsibilities associated with this membership class. All Avalanche Practitioners are expected to follow:

Confidentiality statement:

Information and documentation included in an applicant's portfolio will be reviewed only by the CAA's Membership Services staff, Membership Application Reviewers and the Membership Committee to evaluate the application for the purpose of membership. Information and evidence will not be shared with third parties. The CAA may follow up with references or employers to verify the information provided.

If you have any questions, please refer to the competency-based membership overview or contact Membership Services.

Reference Logistics:
First Name *
Last Name *
Phone *
Address Line 1 *
Address Line 2
City *
Location *
Zip/Postal Code *		Country *
Email Address *
Organization
Job Title (optional)
Reason for Application *Outline your reasons for applying to be a member of the CAA. 1. Why do you want to be a member of the CAA. 2. Why should you be a member of the CAA.
CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1 Certificate *Upload a copy of your certificate. If you have not completed the CAA Industry Training Program Level 1 course you can apply for equivalency through a Prior Learning Assessment. This should be done prior to submitting an application for membership.
Instructing in Avalanche Terrain- Foundations Course Certificate *Upload a copy of your Instructing in Avalanche Terrain- Foundations Course Certificate
Professionalism in the Avalanche Industry *Please upload your Professionalism in the Avalanche Industry certificate.
Competency Portfolio *Please upload your Competency Portfolio document.
Evidence 1 *Please upload your first evidence file relating to your competencies. A minimum of one evidence file is required.
Evidence 2Please upload additional evidence documents as needed to prove all competencies requiring evidence.
Evidence 3Please upload additional evidence documents as needed to prove all competencies requiring evidence.
Evidence 4Please upload additional evidence documents as needed to prove all competencies requiring evidence.
Evidence 5Please upload additional evidence documents as needed to prove all competencies requiring evidence.
Additional Certifications or Memberships
It is the applicant's responsibility to arrange for an Avalanche Professional to submit one reference on their behalf. The application will not be considered complete until this is submitted. Applicants can direct their reference to the Members Only section of the CAA website to access the reference forms.
Reference Confirmation *
Name of Referee(s) *As part of your application you must arrange for at minimum one current CAA Avalanche Professional to submit a reference using the "voluntary competency-based application reference form".
Scope of Practice
I acknowledge that as a Basic Avalanche Educator I have a limited scope of practice teaching under an Avalanche Safety Plan in ATES rated simple or non-avalanche terrain. I understand that at any point the CAA may request to see my Avalanche Safety Plan.
Acknowledgement of Scope of Practice *By selecting this, I agree to work within the scope of this membership category.
Continuing Professional Development Requirements
By selecting "I agree" I am acknowledging that I am aware of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements of becoming a Basic Avalanche Educator.
Acknowledge CPD requirements *
Declaration *I also declare that the information in this application is true, correct and complete. I also agree that I will continue to be invoiced for membership dues unless I resign in writing.

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