We often field inquiries on how to become an Avalanche Skills Training (AST) instructor or how to become a CAA Industry Training Program instructor. We encourage people who are interested in instructing avalanche courses to take a look below at what this entails.

Teaching Avalanche Skills Training courses

The Avalanche Skills Training (AST) program is administered by Avalanche Canada (AvCan). The AST curriculum was created and continues to be updated by AvCan. AvCan takes care of licensing, communication, and shipping AST materials. AvCan licenses AST Providers, whether organizations or individuals. Please visit their website on how to be an AST instructor.

One requirement of being an AST instructor is to be a CAA member in good standing. Learn more about CAA membership.

Teaching for the CAA Industry Training Program

The CAA's Industry Training Program (ITP) has a reputation for delivering high quality professional avalanche courses. This reputation is based on the strength of our instructors and curriculum specialists. An instructor is someone who has a great deal of experience in the field and also the ability to convey this knowledge to students in an easy to learn, approachable manner. Vetted potential instructors are asked to observe a course so both they and the ITP staff can decide if instructing is a good fit. The next step is then to teach as an assistant instructor and master the course's curriculum before becoming a full instructor.

The ITP welcomes new applicants for instructing at any time of the year. Please take a look at the Teaching for the CAA document and be in touch if you are interested.

CAA is now accepting applications for Instructing in Avalanche Terrain ITP Instructors. Click here for application information.