I didn't mean to make a "I hate PSIA" post. For the record, I don't hate PSIA and have to acknowledge that my involvement has made me a better skier and instructor. I am pissed that they charged me a penalty for not taking enough clinics from them AND expect me to make up the clinics or lose my certifications. I think I should either pay the penalty OR make up the clinics, but not both. It is especially annoying when I have done a lot more training than the average instructor and my trainer is also a PSIA DECL. My issues are with the organization not with the Ed Staff. While there are some DECL trainers that I have had better experiences with than others, none of the DECLs got where they are by being crappy skiers or not understanding the mechanics of skiing. As far as I can tell all of them lose money by being involved in leading PSIA events vs staying home and teaching private lessons.
I do think there are inconsistencies in the assessment process depending on which division you are in and who you get as an evaluator. I don't know how to improve the process and inconsistencies are inherent in a process that is governed by human beings. My approach to it has been to work on getting better and not to blame PSIA if I don't pass an assessment. Politics do matter in an organization run by people, it's inevitable. However personalities and politics can only play a role in borderline cases and it's weak sauce to blame others if you can't pass an assessment. PSIA is giving out the certifications and they get to set the standards. You either meet their standard and show them what they want to see or you don't pass. Even if you might happen to disagree with some of the criteria, a talented and versatile skier should be able to show the movements when asked.
I have been a PSIA member for quite a few years now and as far as I can tell there is no such thing as a "PSIA approved" progression. In fact as far as I can tell PSIA with its "student centered approach" is far more open to instructor improvisation than other systems I've heard about. I would guess that it is individual SS that promote specific progressions more than PSIA. My SS treats me very well. I will get paid more and probably get somewhat better lessons if I complete my L3, but I do pretty much only teach levels 7-9. A lot of people think I am a L3. I never misrepresent my certifications, I just let my skiing do the talking for me and people draw their own conclusions.. My current cert levels are Alpine 2, Telemark 2, CS-2, Snowboard 1, and Freestyle 1. I haven't stepped up to the L3 test in about 4-5 years. The next time I take it I will pass it because I will be ready to pass it on my worst day under bad conditions with a hangover and an evaluator that doesn't like me. I can't control the other factors, but I can control what I do.
I would like to be paid more and I wish I could make even 1/3 the margin on employees who worked for me that the SS makes on me, but I do make a living teaching skiing. I never even see my paychecks, they get directly deposited into my personal checking account. My mortgage gets automatically deducted from that account. Skiing pays my mortgage for the entire year. I haven't directly taken a paycheck from my summer business for many years. I get great pro-deals and some free gear each season. It's a better job and pays more than most in this ski town.
I'm still not giving PSIA one extra dollar or one extra minute of my time than I have to going forward.