How much does a ski instructor course cost?

A complete six-week ski instructor course that delivers BASI Level 1 and Level 2 typically costs between €8,000 and €10,000 all-in. Our GAP course is €8,999 for the standard package, which includes the coaching, both BASI exam fees, accommodation, transfers and a kit discount. On top of the course you should budget separately for BASI membership, insurance, a lift pass and personal equipment. Here's exactly where the money goes.

What's usually included in the course fee

A good all-in course fee should cover the things that actually get you qualified:

• 100+ hours of on-snow coaching from BASI trainers.
• Both BASI exam fees (Level 1 and Level 2).
• Outdoor First Aid certification.
• Accommodation for the course (ours is a private Peak chalet in Morzine for the winter intake).
• Airport transfer and a kit discount with our retail partner.

Our GAP course is €8,999 standard, or €9,499 for a single-occupancy upgraded room. That price hasn't changed from 2026, and we've added staged payments as standard so you can spread it from a €150 deposit.

The extra costs to budget for

Whichever course you choose, these usually sit outside the headline fee:

• BASI membership (~£75–£150/yr) — required to be assessed and to teach; includes liability insurance once you qualify.
• Personal insurance (£150–£400) — travel, medical, evacuation and equipment cover for the season.
• Lift pass (varies) — some courses include it, many don't, so check.
• Personal kit (£300–£1,500) — skis, boots, helmet, goggles, outerwear. You can rent instead of buying.
• Spending money — food (if not included), après and travel home.

This is why the "all-in" claim matters. A cheap-looking course fee that excludes exams, accommodation and First Aid often costs more once you add everything back.

Ways to make it affordable

• Staged payments. Ours start from a €150 deposit, with the balance spread in instalments before the course starts.
• Early-bird offers. Book our course before 30 June 2026 and we include free skis and bindings from Fluid Lines — kit you'd otherwise be buying anyway.
• Renting kit instead of buying for your first season.
• Sponsorship and family contributions. We've helped plenty of students piece the cost together — talk to us early if budget is the blocker.

Is the cost worth it?

A Level 2 qualification is the level most alpine ski schools hire from, so it's the qualification that turns a season into a paid job rather than an expensive holiday. Many instructors recoup a meaningful chunk of the cost in their first working winter, then keep earning every season after. (New here? Start with how to become a ski instructor.)

Want the numbers for your situation? Enquire about the GAP course and we'll walk you through the full cost, payment options and what's included — no hard sell.