Independent Research · 2024–2026
An independent, non-commercial research project collecting anonymized data from ski and snowboard instructors who have completed a PSIA or AASI certification exam — whether they passed or failed.
The Exam Reliability Study gathers structured, voluntary data on PSIA and AASI ski instructor certification exam outcomes, applied rubric scores, examiner feedback quality, and contextual exam conditions. Its purpose is to determine whether exam outcomes — pass, fail, or partial — reflect a candidate's demonstrated skill level, or whether they vary significantly based on factors outside the candidate's control: which examiner conducted the assessment, which division organized the event, or what the snow conditions were that day.
Ski instructor candidates invest years of dedicated practice and significant financial resources preparing for PSIA Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 certification exams — as well as AASI Snowboard, Freestyle, Telemark, and Adaptive equivalents. A pass or fail outcome carries real professional and financial consequences.
If PSIA exam pass rates and rubric scores vary substantially by examiner, division, or season — independent of candidate ability — the certification process lacks the measurement reliability that professional standards require. Anecdotal reports of candidates who fail with one examiner and pass with another, or whose scores differ dramatically across divisions for equivalent performances, suggest this variability may be significant.
This study aims to quantify that variability using real data.
Anyone who has taken a PSIA or AASI certification exam during the 2024–25 or 2025–26 season is encouraged to submit — regardless of outcome. Submissions from candidates who failed a PSIA exam are especially valuable, as are submissions from candidates who subsequently passed after a prior failure.
All submissions are anonymized before analysis. No personally identifiable information about exam candidates is published or shared. Findings will be released as aggregated, de-identified statistics after data collection closes at the end of the 2025–26 season. The full study report will include methodology, statistical analysis, and key findings on PSIA exam reliability and consistency.
Read our full transparency and methodology statement →
Enter your email and we will notify you when the full study findings are released. Your email will never be shared or used for any other purpose.
This study is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by PSIA, AASI, or any of their regional divisions or affiliates. It is independent, non-commercial research.