Firstly - the ban on ski hosting. Many tour operators have offered a ski hosting service on their ski holidays in various European countries for many years. The host skis with the guests, showing them the best pistes and restaurants on the mountain. Although some hosts might be qualified instructors they are not allowed to teach nor to go off-piste. In February this year, a court in Albertville ruled that the practice violated French law and compromised safety, effectively banning ski hosts unless they are ski instructors who are qualified to work in France.
The second big story this winter was that of a British ski instructor in Megeve being arrested for allegedly teaching skiing illegally. He was working for Simon Butler Ski, a chalet based holiday company which has long used its own instructors to teach in France and which in the past has won victories in the French law courts allowing them to continue to do so, at least until recently.
There has been much outrage in the UK media over both these stories. Some of it has been reasonable and well reasoned whilst other stories have seen the predictable French-bashing xenophobia so common from the tabloids.
In an attempt to shed some more clarity on this matter for those not involved in European ski teaching, here is a run down of the current situation as I understand it for France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria. Those who are involved will have their own opinions on what is and what should be the case. I should add the disclaimer that I am no legal expert so I apologise for any errors.
France -
For a French person to qualify through the French system they must first pass the Test Technique - a fairly difficult slalom test where the course must be completed in the time of an opener plus 22%. For those who have not been brought up ski racing every weekend and school holiday this is a lot harder than it sounds and will normally require many weeks of training along with some luck to pass. Having passed this they then take the pre-formation course after which they can begin teaching as a trainee in an approved ski school. Usually these are ESF but there are others. After this they have three years to pass the Eurotest (a GS exam with a pass time of 0 FIS + 18%). Usually the Test Technique and Eurotest have a pass rate of between 10% and 25% and candidates can have two attempts per year. After the Eurotest there are several more cycles of exams including teaching, technical and the Eurosecurité off-piste and mountain safety exam. After completion, typically taking five to ten years, the instructor is issued with a Diplome Moniteur National and the Carte Pro, which allows them to teach independently.
For a non-French qualified instructor, there is an agreement that EU nationals holding the highest level qualification from their own country can obtain the Carte Pro and work equivalently to a fully qualified French instructor as long as they have passed both the Eurotest and Eurosecurité. This agreement is not yet recognised in law but there are moves to write it into EU legislation on the free movement of workers.
For foreign instructors lacking the top qualification there are some possibilities to work as a stagiere but these vary depending on their country of origin. There are agreements between the French and different nations. Some countries' instructors can work with an ISIA level qualification, others need to pass the Test Technique. Whatever the rule for a particular country stagieres can only work for three years (sometimes extended to four) without gaining full equivalence.
There may be other opportunities for foreign instructors to work, including volunteer teaching, coaching regular clients from your home country or schoolteachers working with their pupils, but the rules are a little grey in these areas.
Italy -
The Italian system is quicker and more intensive than the French one but equally challenging. There is a very difficult entry test, including the Eurotest. Having passed this the instructor can gain the top (and only) qualification over a season.
Foreign instructors with a top European qualification can apply for equivalence and work full time in Italy. Other foreign qualified instructors were entitled to work in Italy for up to four weeks per season up to this winter, provided they had a suitable qualification such as BASI Level 2. There are strong rumours that this will be extended to seven weeks from next season. The rules may vary from region to region in Italy.
Switzerland -
A ski school can employ whoever they want as long as they have a sufficient number of instructors holding the Swiss Patent (the top Swiss ski instructor qualification - there are conversion courses available for top qualified instructors from other countries to gain this.)
Austria -
Rules vary from region to region, but they do have a three tier system and it is definitely possible for BASI/CSIA/PSIA/NZSIA Level 2 or 3 instructors to work in some ski schools although they might have to take an Austrian conversion course.
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