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AIARE Instructor Training Course

This five-day course trains experienced backcountry travelers and avalanche professionals to work with a team to meet the learning outcomes in AIARE’s recreational avalanche education curriculum, Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain. Course participants will work with the AIARE curriculum to practice and receive feedback on their instructional skills as well as adapting their skills as an avalanche professional to manage risk for an educational context.

The ITC does have an assessment component. Participants receive feedback on their curriculum familiarity and instructional skills, as well as next steps to continue their development as versatile avalanche educators. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be qualified to instruct AIARE 1, Avalanche Rescue, and AIARE 2 courses. AIARE Providers, who use the AIARE curriculum to independently offer high-quality avalanche education, often require additional training and certifications (such as first aid), as well as demonstrated skills in guiding and movement.

Course Format

The AIARE ITC is offered in two formats: a five-day in-person classroom and field-based course, as well as a hybrid course with four virtual sessions that take place via Zoom over the course of a month ahead of a three-day in-person field session.

Pre-course work will be required of all course participants. We use the book Presenting as a reference for building engaging lessons to meet a specified learning outcome. You will be expected to read this book, along with completing 3–4 hours of pre-course work on lesson and instruction planning, prior to the course.

The course descriptions and sample itineraries for the five-day in-person course and the hybrid course can help give an idea of what typically happens on a course. Individuals who successfully complete the course and meet AIARE Instructor qualifications will be eligible to apply for AIARE Instructor status.

Course Dates and Venue Details

Applications for the ITC will be accepted from Aug 2-23, 2022. See below for application details.

5-day in-person ITC Courses

Leadville, CO Details

Date: Dec 14-18, 2021
Course Tuition: $1,300
Course Type: 5-day in-person ITC
This course will be based on the Colorado Mountain College Leadville campus and will use field locations around Leadville and at Vail Pass. Lodging and food are not included in the course cost. Due to weather and road conditions, students should plan to stay in Leadville. The high elevation of this course requires extra consideration for acclimatization to altitude. If you know you need additional time to acclimate to high elevations, consider scheduling your arrival one extra day prior to the course.

South Lake Tahoe, CA Details

Date: Jan 9-13, 2022
Course Tuition: $1,300 for non-CA residents, $1,100 for CA residents
Course Type: 5-day in-person ITC
This course is run through Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) in South Lake Tahoe. All course participants will be required to register with AIARE and enroll at LTCC. Participants will be required to pay a combination of tuition to both LTCC and AIARE totaling the tuition listed above. Because the course is run through LTCC, California residents receive a discount. Lodging and food are not included in the course cost.

Park City, UT Details

Date: Jan 10-14, 2022
Course Tuition: $1,300
Course Type: 5-day in-person ITC
This course is hosted by White Pine Touring and will utilize classroom space in Park City and field venues on private terrain in the Uinta Mountains. Lodging and food are not included in the course cost. Classroom sessions for this course will be held at the USSA Center of Excellence. Per USSA protocols, students and instructors need to be fully vaccinated to access the classroom space.

Stevens Pass, WA Details

Date: Feb 14-18, 2022
Course Tuition: $1,300
Course Type: 5-day in-person ITC
This course will be based at Cascadia Basecamp, which is about halfway between Stevens Pass and Leavenworth. Field sessions will be held at Stevens Pass, as well as onsite at Cascadia Basecamp. Lodging and food are not included in the course cost. Please plan to stay on the east side of Stevens pass.

Stevens Pass, WA - Women’s Affinity Course Details

Date: Feb 27 - Mar 3, 2022
Course Tuition: $1,300
Course Type: 5-day in-person ITC
The avalanche profession is a male-dominated field. We are trying to change that through affinity courses taught by the women of the AIARE Instructor Team. This course is open to all women (trans and cis-gender) as well as non-binary people who identify with the women’s community. This course will be based at Cascadia Basecamp, which is about halfway between Stevens Pass and Leavenworth. Field sessions will be held at Stevens Pass as well as onsite at Cascadia Basecamp. The course includes a couple of shared meals as well as structured time for networking and informal “friend-tor-ship.” Because of this closer contact nature of this course, all students and instructors will be required to be fully vaccinated to participate on this course. Lodging and food are not included in the course cost. Please plan to stay on the east side of Stevens pass.

Togwotee Pass, WY - Motorized Course Details

Date: Mar 21-25, 2022
Course Tuition: $2,750
Course Type: 5-day in-person ITC
This course will take place exclusively on snowmobiles. Participants must meet the course essential eligibility requirements, including expert riding ability and proficiency with sidehilling, navigating through dense timber, and be accustomed to traveling long distances over varying terrain. The course will be based out of Togwotee Mountain Lodge and lodging is included in the course cost. Options are available to share lodging with other course participants for a reduced price (base tuition for the course is $1,700). Meals are not included.

Hybrid ITC Courses

Estes Park, CO Details

Field Dates: Jan 28-30, 2022
Virtual Sessions: Jan 4: 8 am - 12 pm MST
Jan 12: 8 am - 12 pm MST
Jan 19: 8 am - 12 pm MST
Jan 27: 6-8 pm MST
Course Tuition: $1,300
Course Type: Hybrid ITC
This course consists of 4 virtual sessions spread over a month prior to a 3-day in-person course that will primarily take place in the field in Rocky Mountain National Park. Participants MUST attend all sessions to complete the course. A device that enables both video participation and screen viewing and sharing (such as a laptop or large tablet) as well as sufficient internet bandwidth for video participation is required for the virtual sessions. Lodging and food are not included in the course cost.

Bluebird Backcountry, Kremmling, CO Details

Field Dates: Mar 1-3, 2022
Virtual Sessions: Feb 9: 8 am - 12 pm MST
Feb 16: 8 am - 12 pm MST
Feb 23: 8 am - 12 pm MST
Feb 28: 6-8 pm MST
Course Tuition: $1,300
Course Type: Hybrid ITC
This course consists of 4 virtual sessions spread over a month prior to a 3-day in person course that will take place at Bluebird Backcountry ski area, approximately 20 minutes from Kremmling. Participants MUST attend all sessions to complete the course. A device that enables both video participation and screen viewing and sharing (such as a laptop or large tablet) as well as sufficient internet bandwidth for video participation is required for the virtual sessions. Lodging and food are not included in the course cost.

Application Process

Thank you for your interest in becoming an AIARE Instructor! The application period for the 2021–22 season has closed. All courses are currently full.

Please use the form below to sign up to be notified when next season's courses are posted. We generally post course dates and locations in July and accept applications for a three-week period in August. Only complete applications (those having fulfilled all the prerequisites) will be able to register.

Becoming an AIARE Instructor is typically a multi-season process. Please review the course prerequisite and application process so that you can plan your winter work and education schedules accordingly.

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ITC Course Prerequisites

The AIARE ITC equips experienced backcountry travelers who also have entry-level training as an avalanche professional (a PRO 1 certificate) to teach the AIARE curriculum. To ensure the course can focus on curricular and instructional training, AIARE requires participants to have familiarity with current AIARE-specific curriculum and tools, and not just general recreational avalanche training. This requirement is with recent experience with all 7 days of the AIARE Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain Program (the AIARE 1, AIARE 2, and AIARE Avalanche Rescue).

To apply for the Instructor Training Course be sure you have the following:

A completed resume form that details 5 seasons of backcountry experience involving leadership and decision-making in avalanche terrain.
Check that your profile at https://avtraining.org shows you had recent attendance (2018–19 season or more recent) on an AIARE 1, 2, and Avalanche Rescue course. If you observed one of these courses, please make sure the provider adds you to that roster as an observer for this to appear appropriately in your AIARE record. This can easily be done retroactively by the provider. If you have questions about your profile, please contact AIARE’s Member Services Manager.
Your PRO 1 or Bridge Course certificate*. If you took your course from AIARE, this will show up in your profile. If you took your course from another provider, you will need to provide a PDF or JPEG of your certificate when you apply.
Review the following
1. AIARE’s course cancellation policy. Please review this policy so that you understand non-refundable costs associated with these courses. We strongly encourage you to purchase trip insurance.
2. Acknowledgement of essential eligibility.
3. Please read AIARE’s Course Participant Expectations of Conduct. AIARE does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, and bullying in any form. AIARE expects participants on its courses to contribute to and uphold a positive learning environment in line with the values described in our code of conduct.
4. AIARE’s COVID-19 Disclosure.
You will also be asked to fill out a brief medical form and provide emergency contact information.

Applicants that have not met all the prerequisites will be added to a waitlist, but will not be able to register for a course until the missing prerequisites are complete.

Finalize Your Enrollment

We will notify applicants of their registration status by early September. Enrollment is finalized when you make payment. Payment plans are available.

Scholarships

We recognize that cost is a barrier for professionals in the avalanche world advancing their training. Several new organizations have partnered with AIARE to offer scholarships this year. Please visit AIARE’s Scholarship Page for a detailed list of the exciting scholarship opportunities we have for the coming season. We look forward to continuing to grow this list.

*If you believe you have met the equivalent learning outcomes of this course through experience, on-the-job training, or other course work, you may apply for a Prior Learning Assessment.

Cancellation Policy & Travel Insurance

If you need to cancel your course, please notify AIARE as soon as possible. AIARE will refund course tuition less a $150 administrative fee for cancellations made at least 40 days before the start date of the course for an in-person classroom based course or 30 days prior to the first virtual session of a hybrid course. Inside of these time periods, there are no refunds or course transfers for cancellations.

We strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance (including medical and evacuation insurance) to protect your financial investment to cover the costs of in the event that you need to cancel from the course, you are injured prior to or during the course, or AIARE needs to cancel a course due to lack of snow or events beyond our control.

Please visit our AIARE Course Cancellation page for the full details of our cancellation policy. You will be asked to acknowledge that you have read and accept this policy upon application.

Review our Covid-19 Response.