Course Leaders Level 1

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of four winters professional leadership experience in backcountry terrain
• AIARE Level 3 certificate or CAA Level 2 certificate.
• Instructor experience on 3 or more AIARE courses. † 
• Letter of recommendation from a supervising AIARE Course Leader outlining courses taught, professional leadership experience and teaching experience.
• AIARE Instructor Training Course for Level 1 and Level 2. ††
• AAA membership.

Required Continued Professional Development

• Update teaching materials as they become available.
• AIARE IT/IRC Course (minimum every 3 years after initial IT course); or AIARE peer review.

Recommended Qualifications

• AMGA Ski Guide or Alpine Guide certification
• AAA certified instructor

Instructors Level 1

Required Pre requisite Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years personal experience with leadership and decision making in backcountry avalanche terrain
• AIARE Level 2 Course (or CAA Level 1 certificate)
• Recent observation of an AIARE Level 1 course.
• AIARE Level 1 Instructor Training Course
• AAA membership

Required Continued Professional Development

• AIARE IT/IRC course every 3 years as a refresher or AIARE peer review.
• Familiarity with updated teaching materials as they become available.

Recommended Qualifications

• AAA certified instructor
• AIARE Level 3 course
• Professional decision making experience for at least two years 
  

Apprentice Instructors

Instructors in training who have not met the Level 1 Instructor prerequisites. These apprentices are expected to fulfill the prerequisites prior to gaining instructor qualification. Apprentices will typically assist or audit AIARE courses with a AIARE qualified course leader prior to gaining instructor qualification.  Apprentice Instructors can only assist in the field and can not lead groups and can not affect the student to instructor ratios.

† Instructor experience on 3 AIARE courses either L1,L2,L3 or ITC or prove currency with AIARE L1 via AIARE Ed Comm.

†† Equivalent training/experience must be approved by the AIARE Technical Director.