Skills Development Program
This program encompases Introduction to Ski Patrolling, the Senior Program, and
the Certified Program, programs that affect the registration categories of
NSP members. You will also find information on the Mountain and Avalanche Awareness
course, a multi-discipline introduction to backcountry awareness.
Introduction to Patrolling
This course helps patrol candidates develop skills and knowledge to become familiar with the
tasks and responsibilities that ski area management may require, coaching
in toboggan handling, general on-hill operations, risk management, and the role
of a volunteer patroller.
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Prerequisite:
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- Acceptance by patrol for candidate training
- Current NSP member
- At least 15 years of age
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Time Commitment:
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One-to-two years as patrol candidate
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Fees:
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National—none; Division—varies; Local—varies
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Credential:
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NSP Certificate of Achievement
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Continuing education/refresher requirement:
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Annual on-the-hill/trail refresher focusing on local area skill requirements
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Instructor of Record:
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NSP instructor(any discipline)
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Required Text:
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Recommended References:
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Mountain and Avalanche Awareness
This course is designed as an elective for the novice mountain enthusiast and for
general public information. Patrollers and non-patrollers alike learn the basics
of mountain awareness and the principal contributing factors to avalanches. While
this course is an approved Senior elective, it is not a prerequisite for either
MTR 2 or Level II Avalanche.
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Prerequisite:
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None
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Time commitment:
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Six-to-eight Hours
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Fees:
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National—none; Division—varies; Local—varies
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Instructor of record:
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Instructors from NSP existing disciplines (OEC, Avalanche, Mountain Travel and Rescue)
or other local experts
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Recommended texts:
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Senior Program (Alpine, Nordic, Auxillary)
The Senior Program is designed to provide a forum in which patrollers can enhance personal skiing/snowboarding
and toboggan-handling proficiency, improve their ability to manage emergency scenarios,
and expand their overall patrolling knowledge and skills. It also prepares patrollers
for leadership roles within the NSP. This course consists of core and elective requirements
and is designed for alpine, Nordic, and auxiliary patrollers, with appropriate variations
in requirements for each. This course is administered at the division level.
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Prerequisites:
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- Current NSP member (status: patroller)
- Patrol Representative's Recommendation
- Senior Candidate Application
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Time Commitment:
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Each core component includes local and division training clinics and evaluation
clinics—time commitment varies by division
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Fees:
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National—none; Division—varies; Local—varies
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Credentials:
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NSP Certificate of Achievement
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Continuing Education/Refresher Requirements:
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Varies with component
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Instructor of Record:
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Division-trained Senior Instructor or Senior Evaluator
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Required Text:
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None
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Recommended References:
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Certified Program (Alpine)
The Certified Program enables patrollers to build on those experiences gained while patrolling and through
other NSP programs, including Outdoor Emergency Care, Avalanche, Mountain Travel and
Rescue, and Instructor Development. It helps patrollers identify and supplement training
resources, and provides training clinics, skill checkpoints, and verification
of personal progress. The program requires independent training and advanced research,
and participants must complete all modules to receive certification. The National
Certified Committee strongly recommends that all patrollers complete the Senior
Program before entering the Certified Program.
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Prerequisites:
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- Participation in a division-authorized orientation or safety clinic on terrain and
conditions approved for a Certified clinic. Must obtain a recommendation signature
from division-certified supervisor or designee.
- Completion of the NSP Senior skiing component or a division-approved equivalent
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Recommended Prerequisites:
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- Completion of the NSP Level II Avalanche Course or a training curriculum comparable
to that contained in the lesson guides from the NSP Avalanche Instructor's Manual
- Completion of the NSP Senior Emergency Management component or a division-approved
equivalent
- Completion of the Emergency Care study guide (obtainable from the Ski Patroller's
Manual)
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Time Commitment:
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Varies (approximately two days)
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Fees:
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National—none; Division—varies; Local—varies
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Credentials:
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NSP Certificate of Achievement; Certified number
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Continuing Education/Refresher Requirements:
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(Certified Skiing and Toboggan Skills Recertification)
- Completion of an evaluation of skiing skills at the certified performance level
on a certified-rated hill once every three years
- Completion of an evaluation of toboggan-handling skills at the certified performance
level on a certified-rated hill once every three years
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Instructor of Record:
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Division Certified Program Supervisor (or delegate)
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Required Text:
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None
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Recommended References:
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- NSP Policies and Procedures
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