The International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA) is the worldwide association for professional snow sport instructors.

As an international organisation for the protection and promotion of the interests of professional snow sport instructors (skiing and other snow sports), the ISIA supports:

  • Stronger relationship between individual national snow sport instructor associations
  • Collaboration in respect of ski technique, methodology, didactic and questions of safety
  • The exchange of information
  • Internal and external opinion forming concerning the profession of snow sport instructor.

The task of the ISIA is to support the professional practice of ski and snow sports teaching in all its forms, and it collaborates with other associations from the worlds of snow sport and tourism. Research into ski techniques, methodology and didactic fields of skiing and every related branch is supported by the ISIA, within the realms of its ability.

Information for new ISIA members:

New members will only be admitted by the Assembly of Delegates after having lodged a written application with the required proof according to the requirements of point 5. of the by-law. Admission to the ISIA implies that the new member recognises the ISIA by-laws.

ISIA Questionnaire new members

Organisation and regulations are defined in different documents.

The By-laws of the International Ski Instructor Association (ISIA) in the applicable version in accordance with the decision of the Assembly of Delegates on May 22nd, 2008 in Jesolo (Italy)

Organisation chart of ISIA

The Rules of Internal Procedure regulate the management of the association in the applicable version in accordance with the decision of the Assembly of Delegates on March, 20th, 2019 in Pamporovo (Bulgaria)

ISIA quality standards for the ISIA stamp and ISIA card in the applicable version in accordance with the decision of the virtual Assembly of Delegates on October 6th, 2020.

Download of important documents for the ISIA Technical Test:

Inspection rules

Template invitation ski

Template invitaion snowboard

Evaluation form

Template certificate

The Rules for issuing ISIA stamps and ISIA cards govern the right of ski instructors to use the ISIA stamp and ISIA card agreed at the Assembly of Delegates on May 22nd, 2008 in Jesolo/Italy.

The subscription rules regulate the fees to be paid by the members in the applicable version in accordance with the decision of the Assembly of Delegates on March 20th, 2019 in Pamporovo (Bulgaria).

The first steps for creating ISIA were actually undertaken by the main Alpine countries, in 1962, during the Interski Congress in Monte Bondone (Italy). A first congress on a visioning for an International Association for the Professional Ski Instructors, was held in 1964, under the leadership of the French Gaston Cathiard.

ISIA was officially formed in 1970, when the first ISIA constitution was written, and when Karl Gamma became the first President. The legal site of the Association is in Bern. The headquarter was in Belp (CH) until May 2018 and is in Grainau (GER) since May 2018.

There are currently 37 member nations representing the very best in ski instruction around the world.