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Certification Viewer

Want to know your certification history? Coaches can use the USSA Coaches Database to access your individual educational history. You will find a listing of all clinics attended, your certification level, as well as scores on exams and online courses. 


Continuing Education

In order to obtain your USSA coaching certification, Continuing Education credit is required every two years. For more information on how to receive continuing education credit, please click here.


Level 100 Certification

The Level 100 certification is designed for entry-level coaches with at least 1-year of coaching experience. It is an introduction to the fundamentals of alpine ski racing and coaching.

 
All coaches beginning the certification process will need to successfully complete the following requirements in order to be a Certified Level 100 Coach:
 
  1. Alpine Ski Fundamentals on-snow clinic
  2. Alpine Ski Fundamentals online exam
  3. First Aid and CPR Course

 

NOTE: The ASEP and NFHS basic coaching courses are no longer a part of the Level 100 Certification requirements.  The ASEP Coaching Principles online course will now be apart of the Level 200 Certification.  NFHS will no longer be an option.

 

All new and current coaches who have achieved their Level 100 Coach Certification will be required to complete a continuing education credit every 2 years. Click here for details on continuing education opportunities. 

 

All Level 100 Certified coaches will be required to maintain up-to-date CPR and First Aid certifications in order to remain current. Coaches may obtain their CPR and First Aid certifications from any recognized organization such as the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

 

All coaches must have a current USSA Coaching Membership. If coaches let their membership lapse, their status will become "inactive". They will not lose their certification status; however, they will be considered an "inactive coach" and their certification level will not be recognized until they are back in compliance. A coach will also go "inactive" if they do not fulfill the continuing education credit requirement or if they allow their CPR and First Aid certifications to expire. Once membership is renewed and all necessary continuing education credits have been completed the coach will regain their "active coaching" status and their certification level will be recognized.

 
Lastly, coaches must be a fully certified Level 100 coach for one calendar year prior to achieving their Level 200 Certification. Coaches may begin taking the Level 200 courses once they have completed all Level 100 courses, however, should a coach complete both the Level 100 and Level 200 certification requirements in one calendar year the coach will not be recognized as a Level 200 Coach for one year from the date that they completed all Level 100 Certification requirements.

Level 200 Certification

The Level 200 Certification process is designed for coaches with one or more years of coaching experience who have already achieved their Level 100 Certification. The Level 200 curriculum introduces alpine tactics and its relationship with technique.

 

Starting in 2010, candidates for the Level 200 on-snow clinic must either take the Introduction to Course Setting clinic, or submit a course setting recommendation from a Level 300 certified coach or Level 2 or higher Referee or Chief of Race, prior to registering for the Level 200 clinic. Download the Course Setting Recommendation form here.

 

All coaches beginning the Level 200 certification process will need to successfully complete the following requirements in order to be a Certified Level 200 Coach:

 

  1. ASEP Coaching Principles online course: http://www.asep.com/asep_content/org/ussa.cfm
  2. Level 200 Alpine Technique and Tactics clinic:  Complete the 3-day clinic and pass subsequent on-line exam
  3. Sport Science: Review two of the three Elite Performance Series CD-ROMs, then complete the corresponding on-line exam. Coaches may choose two of the three listed below:
    • USSA Sports Psychology
    • USSA Strength and Power Training
    • USSA Sports Nutrition
  4. Alpine Officials Level 1 Referee (see Alpine Officials clinic schedule here)

  5. First Aid/CPR License: Current certification 

 

All Level 200 Certified coaches will be required to maintain up-to-date CPR and First Aid certifications in order to remain current. Coaches may obtain their CPR and First Aid certifications from any recognized organization such as the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.  Level 200 coaches also must keep a current referee certification.

 

All coaches must have a current USSA coaching membership. If coaches let their membership lapse, their status will become "inactive". They will not lose their certification status, however, they will be considered an "inactive coach" and their certification level will not be recognized until they are back in compliance. A coach will also go "inactive" if they do not fulfill the continuing education credit requirement or if they allow their CPR and First Aid certifications to expire. Once membership is renewed and all necessary continuing education credits have been completed the coach will regain their "active coaching" status and their certification level will be recognized.


Level 300 Certification

All candidates must either be a certified Level 200 coach, a certified Regional or higher coach under the "old" system, or a coach that has passed the Le200 Tactics and Training Environment on-snow courses, but has not completed the remaining L200 requirements.

 

There are 9 USSA Educational requirements, including one USSA Alpine Officials requirement, for Level 300 certification.  The requirements are:

 

  1. Alpine Sport Specific: 3 courses - Slalom Technique and Tactics, Speed Technique and Tactics, and Giant Slalom Technique and Tactics.  The on-snow portions of the courses will involve a coaching assessment.  For each on-snow clinic, candidates must pass an on-line exam following the clinic.
  2. Sport Science: 2 courses - TBD - The L300 candidate has the option of selecting any 2 of many options under the sport science domain
  3. Sport Management: 2 courses - TBD - The courses are designed to offer topics that are relevant to the needs of coaches, whether it is risk management, program enhancements, or overall leadership issues.  (Note: the 2010 Fall Alpine Coach Academy will satisfy one sport management credit for Level 300 coach candidates.)
  4. Alpine Officials Level 2 Referee (see Alpine Officials clinic schedule)
  5. First Aid/CPR License: Current certification