France is often regarded as one of the best places to be a ski instructor in Europe. The money is good and the resorts fantastic. But its not exactly the easiest place to begin teaching! There are 2 ways, as a 'Stagiere' or with your 'Carte Pro'. This guide should hopefully help you on your way to becoming employed as an instructor in France.

Becoming a Stagiere (basically)

The required minimum qualification is a BASI level 2 (or other equivalents i.e. Candian 2) with the 'Test Technique'. This allows you to apply for the Livret de Formation. You apply to the local DDJS for the region. You must apply with a hand-written letter! Emails will not get the process going, nor will a phone call. Once you have received you paperwork you can apply for work with French ski schools that hold training centre status. These will generally be the larger schools such as the local ESF/ESI not New Gen or BASS. You are now a 'Stagiere'. (entry level French instructor)

Now in more detail....

'Test Technique' this is a slalom based test. You apply for the Test Technique via the webistewww.jsra.org Then you clik on 'inscription'”. Then you follow the menus: sports de montagne, ski alpin, test technique. Follow the directions and fill out the forms, you can get euro stamps from most post offices for the return letters. The test is within 2 dates spread over 3 or 4 days, competitors run in groups of around 60-70 each day. You will receive your specific test day as little as 2 weeks before.

The test itself. Ultimately you must place within 20% (male) or 25% (female) of 0 FIS points. Openers are experienced athletes and often ex slalom racers from Europa or even WC backgrounds. They are each calibrated individually making the test as fair as possible. There is a meeting on the morning of the test you receive your start number and buy your ski pass, you must have your paperwork at this meeting, although most crucial is a passport! You have 2 attempts on your given day. With each attempt (assuming 2 are required) you are allowed inspection time of around 15 minutes and then get one run at the course. A low start number is obviously advantageous although a high number is not all bad. For the 2nd run (if needed) the order is reversed allowing those with late start numbers a decent chance in the newly set (and therefore smooth) course.

Okay, so you have passed your Test Technique, after passing you hand in your bib and get a printout that is proof of your pass, the organisers will have this ready for you at the finish area. You can now apply for your Livret de Formation. You have to hand write a letter and send it to the DDJS that controls your region (i.e DDJS Isere/Savoie etc). Details for the address can easily be found online with a quick Google. The paperwork can take some time to complete so get on it ASAP. Your Livret de formation expires after 4 years, in this time you have to complete the rest of your exams and the Eurotest to gain the Carte Pro, or you can no longer be employed. (extensions can be granted on the 4 year period)

Following the arrival of your paperwork you can apply for a job in a ski school. The only schools that can take on Stagieres are those with training centre status. They must therefore have a minimum of 10 fully qualified French instructors. These are normally the larger schools such as the Ecole du Ski Francais or the Ecole du Ski International.

Hopefully I will post some videos soon that demonstrate the level required to pass the test. Also worth mentioning is that the money as a stagiere is not the 50 euros an hour that you could make as a private instructor holding you Carte Pro.

Hope this was helpful!