AIARE PRO 1

The AIARE PRO 1 mirrors an operational environment in terms of pace and flow. Daily classroom sessions incorporate group work and instructor lectures around various topics foundational to workplace duties and safety. Guest speakers are brought in from local operations to facilitate learning objectives and expose participants to leading industry professionals. 

The design of the course only allows for minimal demonstration of techniques and explanation of concepts before participants are asked to perform as part of a team and individually. Coaching and evaluation often occur simultaneously and require participants to engage in discussions and demonstrate skills that may be underdeveloped prior to this course. While the PRO 1 is designed for early-career professionals, it pushes you to be a better observer and team member through rigorous tasks and deliberate self-reflection each day.

Depending on the venue location, there may be a focus on different operational contexts, i.e. ski areas, public forecasting, backcountry guide operations, and avalanche education providers. Instructor teams are designed with a variety of backgrounds in mind, coming together to help inform your perspective and instill durable learning of core skills and knowledge.

To be as prepared as possible for the PRO 1, we require that students meet the Essential Eligibility Critieria, and strongly recommend that participants have the following core skills well established prior to the course start:

• • Be proficient & consistent in companion rescue and multiple burial transceiver skills (find two transceivers buried up to a meter deep in a 75m x 75m area in under 7 minutes). Students will be examined on these skills early in the course and it is a mandatory pass element to complete the PRO 1. Familiarity with your transceiver's specific functions is essential. 
  • Be able to access remote weather stations, a weather forecast, and a regional avalanche bulletin on your laptop or phone. 
  • Have a working knowledge of the SWAG manual and know how to use it as a reference. Professionals keep this document handy in hardcopy and/or digital and do not memorize the entire publication. 
  • For snow profiles, develop a routine and pay attention to time management during practice.  Making the leap from a Level 1 profile to the PRO 1 standard for examination is difficult. Instructors will make every effort to provide detailed demos and coaching on course. Participants should be ready to perform near the standard and be prepared to integrate feedback throughout their field sessions.
  • Ability to read, orient, and utilize paper maps and compass for land navigation.
  • Be able to access digital mapping software/apps such as Cal Topo, On X, or Gaia from your laptop or phone.
  • Evaluate your ability to move through terrain at a consistent pace that does not compromise safety or objectives of the group. Be familiar and confident with track setting and moving through undulating/flat terrain on skins if you are on skis or a splitboard. Be able to confidently sidehill or navigate through tight forests if on a snowmobile. Anticipate mixed conditions and have the mobility skills to manage a variety of snow surfaces.
  • Practice self-care and maintain a growth mindset. Your ability to flourish in the course setting will hinge on your physical and mental health. Eat well, get an adequate amount of rest, and be prepared for long days during the course. Schedule gaps in your workload prior to the course to study and practice the above skills and complete the online materials.

You'll need to do the following in order to successfully enroll in a PRO 1 course:

1. 1. Develop a portfolio. Compile the proper materials from the list below.
   2. Choose a course, complete the online application, and submit payment. To be enrolled in the course, you will need to a) submitted payment and b) have your application approved by AIARE staff. A minimum deposit of $500 is required for all applications, regardless of scholarships or other financial aid status. This includes a $250 non-refundable administration fee.

Portfolio Creation
The following list represents all the items you will need to compile and include in the online application before enrollment in a course is complete. Incomplete portfolios will not be considered and will delay your acceptance onto a course. Click here to download a PRO 1 Example Application Portfolio.

1. 1. Pay the American Avalanche Association’s (A3) Professional Course student fee. Save the emailed receipt as PDF, and upload it into your application. This supports the ongoing administration of program oversight and guarantees the A3 can continue to ensure all course providers are meeting the standards required by the industry. A3 Membership for which you qualify is included in this fee. Please do not send proof of your A3 membership for this requirement.
   2. Create a resume: You must use the PRO 1 Resume Template (download or open in google docs) to detail your experience. Other formats will not be accepted. Learn more here about what can count toward your 20 days of experience, or reach out with any questions.
      • Internship experience must be supported by a letter of recommendation using these guidelines.
   3. Organize documentation: Three field days' worth of documentation to demonstrate that you have applied the Recreational Level 1 principles of decision-making in winter backcountry terrain. This could include a daily trip plan, field weather observations, avalanche and snowpack observations, and debrief notes. You may also submit copies of operational meeting forms. This documentation can be photos or screenshots, but all pieces must be consolidated into one PDF document.
   4. Gather prior course certificates: Copies of your certificate of completion for AIARE 1 & AIARE Avalanche Rescue* (or other A3-recognized Recreational courses) are required.**
   5. Read AIARE’s Participant Code of Conduct, Cancellation Policy, and Essential Eligibility Criteria.
   6. Sign AIARE’s Risk Acknowledgement Form.

AIARE suggests taking an AIARE 2 course prior to taking the PRO 1. This is a great way to bolster your knowledge if you have only met the minimum requirements.

*If you anticipate becoming an AIARE recreational avalanche course instructor in the future, all of your recreational courses will need to be AIARE-specific. Learn more about this requirement on the Instructor Training Course webpage here.

**If you believe you have met the equivalent learning outcomes of the prerequisites for this course through experience, on-the-job training, or other course work, you may apply for a Prior Learning Assessment (or open with google docs). This is an intensive process and incurs a fee based on the type of course you are applying for. All materials are required at time of submission and review will take place over a 2-week period. Fee structure:

• Level 1: $75
• Avalanche Rescue: $75
• Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue: $150

Email a complete PLA document and evidence to AIARE's Operations Manager.

Sample Agenda- Subject to Change

Each Day -  0730-17:30

Course assessment principles adhere to those described in the American Avalanche Association (A3) Professional Avalanche Training Guidelines and Proficiencies for the PRO 1 Course. Students are provided a description of the assessment plan and evaluation criteria before the course starts. A course grade of 70% is required to pass. In addition, 70% is required in each category to pass the course. Retests (after the course) are available for evaluation in Categories 1, 2, and 4. Category 3 is not retestable.

A comprehensive equipment list can be found here.

We know cost can be a barrier to completing professional training. That’s why AIARE offers tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship opportunities each season—to support aspiring professionals and welcome more folks into our community by reducing the cost barriers that can keep folks from seeking education.

The application period for AIARE scholarships opens August 1st, and any applicant who could benefit from financial assistance with their PRO course is strongly encouraged to apply.  A deposit of $500 is required for registration with all PRO 1 or PRO 2 applications. This includes a $250 non-refundable administration fee.

Travel Insurance

AIARE strongly recommends all course participants to purchase travel insurance to protect themselves should they need to cancel outside of the refund window.

Course Cancellation

Please visit the AIARE Course Cancellation page for detailed information about our cancellation policy, travel insurance, and course transfer fee.

Airborne Illness

Course participants who have an airborne illness are expected to refrain from participating in a course until they have been symptom-free for at least 1 day without the use of medication. Read more about AIARE's Airborne Illness Guidelines.