Avalanche Program

The program goal is to provide premier avalanche safety and rescue education, specifically designed for the needs of patrollers, mountain search and rescue teams and snow recreation stakeholders. To achieve this goal, the program provides distinct curricula appropriate for different stakeholder needs and different geographical conditions. The courses provided by this program are summarized in the table below.
Picture(2018 Eastern States Avalanche Workshop)
Avalanche Program Information:
For a list of avalanche instructors and instructor trainers - click here

For the list of avalanche training aids inventory - click here

2019-2020 Eastern Division Avalanche Program Scholarship

Open to all Eastern Division Avalanche Instructors. Recipient to be reimbursed for up to $2200.00 in expenses to attend either:
Charles Boyd
Avalanche Supervisor
38 White Water Turn
Tariffville, CT 06081
Ph# ​(860) 508-5273
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  1. National Avalanche School
  2. The International Snow Science Workshop
  3. Other Approved Avalanche Educational Workshop/Training Event
Deadline for submission: March 31, 2020 - download the scholarship application here

Summary of NSP Avalanche Courses

Avalanche Awareness (AA): This is a public safety outreach presentation for winter recreationists who have a casual interest in avalanche safety. It exposes people to the nature of avalanche hazard and what they need to learn before venturing into avalanche terrain. It encourages them to take a Level 1 avalanche safety and rescue course. The presentation is also available as an online course available through the NSP website. For youth groups, NSP has partnered with the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center to present its Know Before You Go program.
  • Prerequisite: none
  • ​Time commitment: flexible, 30-90 minutes
  • Grading: none​
Level 1 Avalanche Module 1 (L1AM1) Avalanche Foundations: Level 1 Avalanche Module 1 (L1AM1) provides the classroom component of a Level 1 avalanche course. It introduces fundamental concepts and principles of avalanche hazard, safety, and rescue, but it does not include skill development in the field.

By itself, the module qualifies as an introductory-level course that satisfies NSP senior elective requirements in those divisions where avalanche hazard is negligible and providing Module 2 is impractical if not impossible due to lack of representative terrain and snowpack. It does not meet full Level 1 course standards and does not qualify as a prerequisite for enrollment in a Level 2 avalanche course.

  • Prerequisite: none
  • ​Time commitment: minimum of 8 hours of classroom instruction
  • Grading: Pass/Incomplete/Fail based on written exam
Level 1 Avalanche Module 2 (L1AM2) Avalanche Safety and Rescue Skills: Level 1 Avalanche Module 2 (L1AM2 provides the field component of a Level 1 avalanche course. This module when combined with Level 1 Avalanche Module 1, completes a full Level 1 course that meets guidelines established by the American Avalanche Association (AAA). It covers basic avalanche problem recognition, including weather snowpack and terrain observation and evaluation; route selection, decision making, survival, self-rescue and small group rescue methods.
  • Prerequisites: Level 1 Avalanche Module 1 within the previous three years (a pretest may be required); ability to travel in steep, ungroomed, snow-covered terrain, under adverse weather conditions
  • Time commitment: minimum of 16 hours of field instruction and practice
  • Grading: Pass/Incomplete/Fail based on evaluation of field skills
Level 1 Avalanche Module 3 (L1AM3) Organized Avalanche Rescue: Level 1 Avalanche Module 3 (L1AM3) is a specially designed curriculum to help prepare ski patrollers and other SAR personnel for organized avalanche rescue responsibilities. It introduces organized rescue principles and skills, management structure, special decision-making problems and strategies. It is considered to be the minimum level of rescue education for these personnel.

This module is strongly recommended for all patrollers who may patrol or recreate at areas that have known avalanche hazard. Some divisions require this module as a requirement for senior classification. Some area patrols require this level of avalanche education as a condition of membership.

  • Prerequisite: NSP Level 1 Avalanche Modules 1 and 2, or an equivalent full Level 1 avalanche course or refresher within the previous three years; FEMA IS-700(b) course certification
  • Time commitment: minimum of 8 hours of instruction, at least 60% in the field
  • Grading: Pass/Incomplete/Fail based on final written exam and field skill evaluations
Level 1 Avalanche Module 4 (L1AM4) Avalanche Fundamentals Refresher: Level 1 Avalanche Module 4 (L1AM4) is a one-day module designed to upgrade and refresh Modules 1 and 2 knowledge and skills. It includes both classroom and field components.

  • Prerequisite: Prior completion of NSP Level 1 Module 2 or any full Level 1 avalanche course for recreationists that meets AAA curriculum guidelines.
  • Time Commitment: minimum of 8 hours of instruction, at least 60% in the field.
  • Grading: Pass/Incomplete/Fail based on written exam and evaluation of field skills.
Level 1 Avalanche Module 5 (L1AM5) Level 1 Avalanche for Rescue Personnel Refresher: Level 1 Avalanche Module 5 (L1AM5) is a half-day refresher designed to upgrade and refresh Module 3 organized avalanche rescue skills.
  • Prerequisite: prior completion of Level 1 Avalanche Module 3
  • Time commitment: minimum of 4 hours of instruction, at least 60% in the field
  • Grading: Pass/Incomplete/Fail based on written exam and evaluation of field skills