• Mātauranga Māori
  • Outdoor recreation
  • Snowsport
  • Sport and community recreation
  • Aquatics

Qualifications for Snowsport

The snowsport sector goes to work each day in some of our most beautiful natural environments. This workforce provides skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, alpine walking and trekking.

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New Zealand Certificate in Alpine Resort Operations (L3)

This programme is designed to give people a good grounding in the skills and knowledge needed to work at an alpine resort in New Zealand.
Completing the Alpine Resort Operations certificate will prepare you to work in a variety of roles across resort departments, ensuring guests have fun, stay safe and make lifelong memories on the mountain.
Level 3

New Zealand Certificate in Mountain Facility Operations (L3)

This programme is for people who keep skiers and snowboarders safe on the mountain's lifts, roads and in its carparks.Completing the Mountain Facility Operations certificate will furnish you with the skills and knowledge to work under indirect supervision as a lift operator or road and carpark attendant on a mountain facility, including snowsport areas.
Level 3

New Zealand Certificate in Snowsport Equipment (L3)

This programme is for workshop technicians and rental services personnel working in the snowsport sector.
By completing the Snowsport Equipment (Level 3) certificate, you will gain foundation skills and knowledge to ensure people are safely equipped for mountain recreation.
Level 3

New Zealand Certificate in Snowsport Equipment (L4)

This programme is designed for experienced snowsport equipment technicians or bootfitters working in the snowsport industry.
By completing the Snowsport Equipment (Level 4) certificate you will hone your specialist skills and knowledge in delivering high-quality snowsport equipment services to skiers and snowboarders.
Level 4

New Zealand Certificate in Snowsport (Patrol) (L4)

This programme is designed for the superheroes of the snowsport industry - the patrollers who provide first aid, rescue and avalanche control services in snowsport areas.
By completing the Patrol (Level 4) certificate you'll demonstrate that you can independently perform daily ski patrol functions, and work in a patrol team under the direct and indirect supervision of an experienced patroller.
Level 4

New Zealand Certificate in Introductory Snowschool Instruction (Applied) (L4)

This programme is for people who are working as either ski, snowboard, cross-country ski or telemark ski instructors at a snowschool.
By completing the Snowschool Instruction (Level 4) certificate you will gain the skills and knowledge to work in a snowschool environment, as an entry level instructor or teaching assistant with beginner learners.
Level 4

New Zealand Certificate in Snowsport (Patrol Leader) (L5)

This programme is for people who will be leading a team of snowsport patrollers.
Completing the Patrol (Level 5) certificate will give you the skills and ability to operate as independent team leader under the general guidance of an area supervisor.
Level 5

New Zealand Certificate in Intermediate Snowschool Instruction (Applied) (L5)

This programme is for snowschool instructors who teach intermediate ski, snowboard, telemark ski or cross-country ski skills.
Te Mahi Ako has worked with the New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance (NZSIA) to ensure this qualification aligns with the NZSIA curriculum. Completing the Snowschool (Level 5) certificate will furnish you with the skills and knowledge to confidently instruct ski, snowboard, telemark ski or cross-country ski lessons at an intermediate level, to all age groups.
Level 5
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Map your career

There are many different ways that you can progress through the sectors, and lots of skills are transferable across different roles and practice areas. Our Career Maps will help you visualise key jobs and pathways.

Kōrero With Us!

For more information about the qualifications, please contact your regional advisor.

Explore the latest success stories from the snowsport sector

Liz Nelson
Ski instructor, Cardrona

How To Enrol

Ready to go? Just click the "Enrol" button in the top right-hand corner of this website, set up a new account in our Learner Portal if it is your first time, and then click the "Enrol here" button. Select your programme from the dropdown menu, and follow the prompts to complete the rest of the form.

Your enrolment form will be processed by your regional advisor, and then sent to your workplace manager to review and sign electronically. Once your manager has signed, the form automatically gets sent back to you, and your learner advisor, to review and sign.