Consent Preferences

GAP YEAR SKI & SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR COURSE

Turn your gap year into a career on snow.

Train, qualify and ski every single day in world-class alpine resorts. Finish the course a BASI-qualified instructor, with a guaranteed interview to join the PDS team.

10+

Years training instructors

BASI

Official partner school

6

Alpine resort bases

5★

Award-winning school

THE COURSE

A full winter of training, built to get you working.

Whether you’re on a gap year, sabbatical or looking to re-skill, our sole mission is to best equip you with the skills you need to succeed. You’ll train alongside top BASI coaches, log real teaching hours and leave qualified and employable.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

DATES & PRICING

Choose your winter.

Winter season 2026 / 27  ·  November – April  ·  limited places each intake

8-Week Instructor Course

The complete gap-year programme — arrive a skier, leave a qualified instructor.

Price From £8995

Work & Train Seasonal

Based in Zermatt — work as part of the team while you train toward your next exams.

Full-season placement

QUALIFICATIONS

The ladder to a snowsport career.

A clear, staged pathway — from your first qualification to the exams that let you work anywhere in the world.

STEP 01

BASI Level 1

4-day course

Your first qualification. A week of training then assessment — teach beginners on artificial and indoor slopes.

STEP 02

BASI Level 2

8-day course

The qualification resorts hire on. Teach on-piste at all levels, with terrain, group management and analysis.

STEP 03

Outdoor First Aid

16 hrs · Ofqual

A 2-day RQF certificate required to hold a valid instructor licence — delivered by our in-house trainers.

STEP 04

Your career

ISIA & Eurotest

Progress toward the ISIA Card and Eurotest — plus a guaranteed interview to work with PDS in the Alps.

RESORTS

Train where the pros ski.

Zermatt · CH

Our flagship base beneath the Matterhorn, world-class off-piste, glacier skiing and a proven path into a season of work.

Verbier · CH

Legendary terrain and vibrant resort life. Instructors who know the PDS ethos are always in demand here.

St Moritz Logo

St Moritz · CH

Arriving for booking winter  2027/28 

REVIEWS

A 5-star, award-winning ski & snowboard school.

★★★★★

“PDS went above and beyond to find us the perfect instructor. The progress we made far exceeded our expectations.”

Beginner group · Morzine

★★★★★

“A true professional with elite coaching experience — yet calm, encouraging and approachable throughout.”

Private client · Morzine

★★★★★

“Best thing we ever did was book PDS. Made me a better, more confident skier and gave us the best days we’ve ever had.”

Returning group · Zermatt

FAQ

Questions, answered.

No — but you should be able to ski parallel confidently on red runs before you start. From there, we build your technique up to full exam standard.

BASI Level 1 and Level 2 instructor qualifications, plus an Outdoor First Aid (RQF) certificate — the essentials to hold a valid instructor licence.

Yes. We guarantee an interview to join the PDS team at the end of the course, and we have hiring links with ski schools across Europe and the Americas.

Choose the intensive 8-week programme, or a full work-and-train season in Zermatt where you earn while you train toward your next exams.

Pricing depends on your resort, dates and accommodation choices. Send an enquiry and we’ll come back with a full, transparent breakdown.

Right through the winter season, roughly November to April. Places on each intake are limited, so early booking is recommended.

ENQUIRE

Ready for the best winter of your life?

Tell us a little about yourself and we’ll send full dates, pricing and everything you need to know. Prefer to talk? Give us a call.

France  ·  +44 (0)330 229 6889
Switzerland  ·  +41 (0)79 662 52 47
lessons@pdssnowsport.com