I was leading a clinic yesterday at Cascade Mountain, and at night we went into certification training. Doing that has helped me remember that there are changes happening, so this post is about those changes, as I understand them. Of course, go to the Central Division website for the latest information.

PSIA Alpine Level 1 and Level 2 Exams: Central Division Specific

If you’ve heard “PSIA changed the exams,” you’re not imagining it. The big theme is consistency: divisions are aligning around the same national standards and national assessment forms, while still running events a little differently region to region.

This post is a Central Division focused overview of what the Level 1 and Level 2 alpine exam experience typically looks like today, including where “collaboration” shows up and how the modular pieces fit together. This is for the 2025/26 season and going forward, from what I understand.

The Big Shift: The Exam is Built Around National Assessment Forms

Instead of thinking “I’m being tested on random tasks,” it’s more accurate to think: you’re being assessed on the same categories that appear on the national score sheets, using activities as the evidence.

At both Level 1 and Level 2, the evaluation is organized around three broad areas:

• Skiing Performance
• Movement Analysis and Technical Understanding
• Teaching and People Skills

In Central, you’ll still ski tasks and you’ll still teach. But the “why” behind it is clearer: those activities are vehicles to show you meet the criteria on the forms.

Central Division Alpine Level 1: what to expect

1. The Level 1 Virtual Module comes first (Central specific)

Central Division added a required step that catches people off guard if they’re coming from old info: you must complete the Level 1 Virtual Module before you can do the on-snow portion. It’s run like an online clinic-style evening that introduces the organization, resources, teaching models, and what to study before you show up on snow.

If you’re planning your season, do this early. It removes a lot of uncertainty and gives you a clean target for what “Level 1 standard” actually looks like.

Central Division Alpine education page (Level 1 overview)

2. E-learning and workbook expectations (Central specific details)

Central uses the PSIA-AASI LMS for e-learning and workbooks. Practically, that means:

• You’ll use your thesnowpros.org login for the LMS.
• Central expects your workbook to be completed and submitted before you register for the on-snow portion.
• Bring a copy with you on snow so the clinician/examiner can reference it if needed.

Central LMS guide (what to submit and how)

3. The on-snow event is typically two days

In Central, Level 1 is typically a two-day experience. Day 1 is run more like a clinic designed to help you be successful on Day 2. You’ll ski, you’ll teach, you’ll get feedback, and you’ll have time to settle into what the examiner is looking for. Day 2 is where the assessment becomes more formal.

Central “Exam Day: What to Expect”

Important note: Central also supports an “in-house” one-day Level 1 option at certain resorts, by request, when the resort has an Education Staff member on payroll. That is not the standard public format, but it exists.

Central in-house Level 1 exam info

4. What you’re actually being evaluated on at Level 1

At Level 1, the expectation is that you can teach and ski confidently in the beginner/novice space, and show that you understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.

Here’s what “shows up” during the exam:

• Skiing performance: you’ll free ski, you’ll do demos while teaching, and you’ll complete a set of assessment activities (Central notes that every exam includes at least four assessment activities, in addition to free skiing and demos).
• Teaching and people skills: you’ll teach segments (often to peers), communicate clearly, manage pace/terrain/time, and keep the environment safe and positive.
• Movement analysis and technical understanding: you’ll describe what you see, connect it to fundamentals, and suggest a change that would help the skier improve.

Central Alpine resources (exam protocols and assessment activities)

5. Where “collaboration” appears at Level 1

Even at Level 1, collaboration is on the assessment form, but it’s very practical. At this level, it looks like selecting a basic progression with clear direction and focus after you’ve assessed your group.

In other words: you’re not just running “your favorite lesson.” You’re choosing what makes sense for this group, right now, based on what you see.

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Central Division Alpine Level 2: Modular, and Collaboration Matters More

Level 2 is where Central’s process starts to feel distinctly modular. You’re still working within the same three buckets (skiing, teaching/people, tech/MA), but in Central those are separated into modules with clear order and “banking” rules.

1. Central’s Level 2 modules (typical structure)

In Central Division, Level 2 commonly breaks into:

• Tech / Movement Analysis (Tech/MA): described as an evening online meeting with a pair of examiners.
• Teaching module: a single day assessment.
• Ski module: an on-snow assessment day focused on your skiing performance (including how you ski while teaching and while your peers teach).

Central also states an important sequencing rule: Tech/MA must be completed before the Teach or Ski modules.

Central Division Alpine Level 2 overview

2. “Two days” can still be true in Central

If you hear people say “Level 2 is two days,” they’re usually describing the on-snow experience as a teaching day and a skiing day. Central’s Exam Day page describes Level 2 exams as two days (teaching day and skiing day) and treats them as separate module passes.

Just remember that Central also has the Tech/MA module as a separate requirement, and Central wants that completed first.

Central “Exam Day: What to Expect” (Level 2)

3. Module passes can be kept (as long as you stay current)

Central explicitly states that if you pass a module, you keep that modular pass as long as you remain current in dues and education. That’s a big deal for planning, because you can focus your next attempt on the one area that needs work instead of repeating everything.

4. Where “collaboration” really shows up at Level 2

At Level 2, collaboration is no longer “pick a basic progression.” The language gets more direct: the expectation is that you collaborate with students to establish and adapt a lesson plan with clear direction and focus.

This is one of the reasons Level 2 teaching feels different. You’re expected to adapt in real time and keep the lesson anchored to an agreed-upon outcome, not just deliver a polished script.

5. Teaching segment timing (what’s typical)

Central’s Exam Day page notes a typical teaching presentation time range of about 20 to 30 minutes (set by the examiner/group leader). That’s plenty of time to teach something meaningful, but short enough that your plan needs to be focused.

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How to Prepare (Central Division-friendly Approach)

• Do the Virtual Module early (Level 1): it sets the target and reduces anxiety.
• Train the “skills behind the tasks”: don’t memorize a task list. Understand what each activity is meant to reveal about fundamentals.
• Build a simple teaching framework you can adapt: assessment, goal/outcome, one clear change, practice, feedback, and apply it in skiing.
• Practice collaboration on purpose: ask better questions, confirm goals, and adjust your plan when the group gives you new information.
• For Level 2, treat Tech/MA as its own prep project: get comfortable describing cause and effect, fundamentals through turn phases, and a clean prescription for change.

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FAQs About Level 1 and Level 2 Alpine Exams

Is Central Division Level 1 one day or two days?

Most public Level 1 events are run as a two-day format in Central (clinic-style Day 1, more formal assessment focus Day 2). There is also an in-house one-day option at select resorts by request, but that’s not the standard public format.

Is Level 2 “two days” in Central?

The on-snow portion is commonly described as a teaching day and a skiing day. Central also requires the Tech/MA module, and Central states Tech/MA must be completed before the Teach or Ski modules.

If I pass one part of Level 2, do I have to retake it?

In Central, module passes are retained as long as you remain current in dues and education.

Where do I find the exact current requirements?

Always check the Central Division event descriptions and the Central LMS guide for the most current prerequisites, workbook steps, and scheduling details.

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