Childrens Education and Certification
Excel in teaching the future!
Childrens Specialist Events
Education Clinics & Workshops
Education Clinics:
The CS certification programs require instructors to ski or ride at the current discipline certification level and teach with more depth. The backbone of the CS program is understanding the ages and stages of child development and how to apply these concepts into a snow sports lesson.
Childrens Race Clinic
Recommended: Level I Certification or higher and/or 101 USST .
Why:The Midwest has countless Jr. Race programs. The Childrens Race Clinic is an excellent course for members who are looking to increase their coaching toolbox and also to share coaching knowledge.
What:This two-day course, led by a PSIA-AASI Central Education Staff member with a strong Childrens race coaching background. Will focus on beginner through advanced intermediate level racing. Course content will be based on the CAP model, the skiing fundamentals, and safety considerations. Facilitators may incorporate Props, terrain, and or Video. Use of drills(e.g., “The Little Teapot Exercise“), are essential components in this course and will be utilized as well.
Note:Although Childrens race facilitators may employ UST material, this course should not be considered a replacement for the UST 101 nor higher UST levels of certification.
Terrain: Green through Blue Terrain.
Online Webinars:
Webinars
- Have a childrens webinar topic request? Email info@psia-c.org.
- Hybrid Exams include online webinar components. Please check those exam descriptions for details.
Update Courses
Assessment Descriptions
Childrens Specialist I:
Please read these instructions in their entirety before registering for the CS1 event as it includes several deadlines for workbook completion and submission.
***Also check the prerequisites listed in the Certification Pathway below.
Who:
The Childrens Specialist 1 is open to all discipline-certified Level I and above members as the beginning specialist credential in their journey of providing children the best possible Snowsports education. The CS1 candidate will learn and demonstrate their ability to identify and describe developmental theory and concepts in teaching snowsports to children as well as how to perform a successful movement analysis on one fundamental in one phase of the turn.
What:
The Childrens Specialist 1 is a 16-hour Specialist program for all disciplines including a parallel event for Cross Country – Childrens Specialist 1. The clinic is designed around teaching children in groups utilizing the concepts and knowledge gained by studying the written materials and completing the Childrens Specialist 1 E-learning courses (or CS1 Cross country Workbook). The purpose of the program is to share and improve the candidate’s ability to provide great lessons to our largest customer base in Central, children.
Why: Children are the largest population we teach.
Understanding how the stages of ages of child development affect lesson planning and implementation is a critical step to successful snow sports lessons for children. Participants will learn tools for creating engaging and playful lessons. Play is how children learn. The CS1 program provides instructors a foundation on tips and tricks for creating age and stage appropriate fun for kids while providing a truly inspired safe, fun and educational experience.
How:
(Resources referenced in the following can be found in the Education Resources section at the bottom of this page.)
- Obtain and review resource materials to start your journey:
–Childrens Instructional Manual (2nd Edition) – legacy manual
–Teaching Children Snowsports Manual —NEW! (2021) - Completion of the recommended Central Childrens Specialist CS1 Workbook.
**Completion of this Workbook using the Childrens Instruction Manual (CIS) and/or Teaching Childrens Snowsports Manual will greatly reduce the time spent taking the e-learning course and it will serve as your permanent reference document. - Complete the CS1 Lesson Plan outline– this mandatory document prepares you for the on-snow and webinar portions of the program.
- Complete the CS 1 e-Learning course with a quiz at the end of each module to ensure comprehension of the learning material. **Completion of the e-learning must be 48 hours prior to the start of the online component of the assessment.
- Complete Children’s Specialist Teaching Log
(Resources referenced in these requirements can be found in the Education Resources section at the bottom of this page.) - Note: Cross Country members should do the downloadable Cross Country CS1 workbook. This downloadable workbook incorporates all of the components of the e-learning and has movement analysis questions appropriate for the cross country student. Completion of the e-learning must be 48 hours prior to the start of the first part of the assessment.
- Register for and attend the CS1 Assessment, which consists of 1 online webinar and 2-day on-snow validation.
Find and register for the assessment on the Events Calendar.
ONLINE SESSION:
Session includes a review of the assessment forms and participants will share their lesson plans. Followed by general discussions and including a QA to help prepare you for the on-snow portion.
ON-SNOW SESSIONS:
- Attend the on-snow assessment, practice implementing the topics learned on your CS journey and rock the lesson plan shared in the webinar!
- Participants will be assessed using the CS1 Unified Assessment Form. (See Education Resources below)
*Find and register for an assessment with the Events Calendar.
**All Written Exams & E-learning Courses must be taken online prior to registering for the assessment. See Education Resources below.
***Be sure to check other prerequisites in the Certification Pathways Guide below.
Childrens Specialist 2:
Please read these instructions in their entirety before registering for the CS2 event as it includes several deadlines for workbook completion and submission.
What: The CS2 candidate builds on the knowledge gained in the CS1 and the discipline level as it relates to an individual child in the intermediate to advance zones. The assessment will expect the candidate to apply and blend developmental concepts and theory and children’s concepts in their own words. They will be expected to compare and contrast these concepts for the ages and stages for each child in a group as well as learn how to perform a successful movement analysis on more than one fundamental in all phases of the turn.
How: The Central CS2 process includes:
(All resources referenced linked in the Education Resources section at the bottom of this page.)
- Reviewing the following educational materials:
- Teaching Snowsports Manual
- Children’s Instructional Manual (2nd Edition) – legacy manual
- Teaching Children Snowsports Manual (2021)
- Complete the Childrens Specialist 2 workbook and quiz.
**The workbook is scored and due no less than two weeks before the on-snow CS2 event (send to submissions@psia-c.org). The online quiz must be completed no less than 48 hours prior to the start of the on-snow assessment. - Complete the CS2 Lesson Plan- This mandatory document prepares you for the on-snow and webinar portions of the program- The CS2 Plan drills deeper into tactics to provide each child a unique experience within a group setting.
- Register for and attend the Childrens Specialist 2 Event, which consists of one online webinar session and a two-day on-snow assessment. Find and register on the the Events Calendar.
- ONLINE SESSION: Session includes a review of the assessment forms and participants will share their lesson plans. Followed by general discussions and including a QA to help prepare you for the on-snow portion.
- ON-SNOW SESSIONS:
2-day on snow validation session, practice implementing the topics learned on your CS journey and rock the lesson plan shared in the webinar!
Assessment: Candidates will be assessed using the CS2 Unified Assessment Form.
(See Education Resources section at the bottom of this page.)
- ON-SNOW SESSIONS:
***Be sure to check other prerequisites in the Certification Pathways Guide below.
Certification Pathway Requirements
Join as a Registered Member of Central – Join Now!
- Pay Central Region and National Dues
**Note: Maintain active certification status by paying annual dues and obtaining a minimum of 6 CEU’s every membership year (July 1 – June 30.) Any CEU hours greater than 6 obtained in a membership year will be applied towards the CEU requirement for the following membership year only.
Childrens Specialist Level 1
- 1. Pay Central Region and National Dues
- 2. Have attained a Level 1 certification or higher in any of the following disciplines: Adaptive, Alpine, Snowboard, Cross Country or Telemark
- 3. Have read and understood the National Standards, Performance Guides, and Sample Assessment Forms for CS Level 1 Certification
- 4. Complete and pass all other pre-requisites for the CS Level 1 Assessment, (see detailed description above) — including the Children’s Specialist Level 1 E-Learning Course –– prior to registering for the assessment.
- 5. Find and register for an assessment using the Central Events Calendar.
- 6. Attend and pass all online and on-snow components of the assessment.
- (Be sure to read Assessment Descriptions for more detailed information for each assessment day.)
- 7. Take continuing education every season to maintain certifications and active status. (Find CEU requirements here.)
Childrens Specialist Level 2
- 1. Have attained a Level 2 certification or higher in any of the following disciplines Adaptive, Alpine, Snowboard, Cross Country or Telemark
- 2. Pay Central Region and National Dues and be current with the required number of Continuing Education Units, (CEU).
- 3. Have read and understood the National Standards, Performance Guides, and sample Assessment Forms for Children’s Specialist Certification
- 4. Submit the Childrens Specialist 2 Workbook and the online Quiz (see Education Resources below)
**The workbook is scored and due no less than two weeks before the on-snow CS2 assessment (send to submissions@psia-c.org). The online quiz must be completed no less than 48 hours prior to the start of the on-snow assessment.
**Be sure to check and complete all recommendations for the CS2 Assessment. - 5. Find and register for an assessment using the Central Events Calendar.
- 6. Attend and pass all online and on-snow components of the assessment.
(Be sure to read the CS2 Assessment Description for more detailed information and prerequisites for each exam day.) - 7. Take continuing education every season to maintain certifications and active status. (Find CEU requirements here.)
Pathway to Education Staff
The Pathway to Education Staff Portal describes the various ways a Central Level 3 Instructor can work his or her way towards becoming a member of the Central Division Education Staff as a Staff Member or as an Examiner.
- 1. Alpine Level 3 Certified and/or highest level of certification in discipline desired to teach as Education Staff.
- 2. Have an active trainer role at home resort ski school
Open to anyone meeting the prerequisites.
- 1. Submit a written essay (required)
- 2. Submit a Video Portfolio of free-skiing and benchmarks (required)
- 3. After vetting/review, receive an invitation to the on-snow tryout based on materials submitted.
- 4. Prepare a 5-minute indoor presentation.
- 5. Participate in tryouts.
- 6. Upon successful tryout, to be hired immediately.
- 1. High degree of professionalism
- 2. Outstanding communication skills
- 3. Self-starter re: continued professional development in skiing and teaching abilities
- 4. Commitment to work when/as needed
- 5. Ongoing contributor to the PSIA-AASI Knowledge Base
For more information, contact a Central Discipline Administrator.
Education Resources
National Standards
- Children’s Specialist Standards
- Performance Indicator Guides
- Sample Assessment Forms
- (Know the things on which you will be assessed!)