Staatlich geprüfter Berg- und Skiführer/Staatlich geprüfte Berg- und Skiführerin

Mountain and ski guides are trained through theoretical and practical courses. Learning locations include classrooms at the educational institution, practical training in the field, and mountain schools.

Occupation type: Vocational training (Ausbildung) occupation. Type of training: School-based training at various educational institutions (regulated by state (Bundesland) law). Duration of training: Usually 3 years (part-time). Learning locations: Educational institution and mountain school (during practical training). What does one do in this profession? Mountain and ski guides lead guests on mountain, ski, or climbing routes of varying difficulty, or organize and lead trekking and expedition trips. They also offer trend sports such as canyoning or deep powder skiing (freeriding). When planning tours, they consider weather conditions, avalanche risk, and the experience and performance of the tour participants. They are familiar with local conditions, can assess dangers, and weigh risk against experience, always deciding in favor of safety in case of doubt. Where does one work? Employers: Mountain and ski guides can find employment with tour operators for trekking, mountain tours, etc.

Part-time: Usually 3 years.

Educational providers first make a selection based on a submitted tour report covering a period of at least three years. Selected applicants then take an aptitude test, demonstrating their experience in mountain and ski sports.

Structure of theoretical and practical training (example): Aptitude assessment exams: total 12.5 days. Courses: total 85 days. Rock climbing methodology: 7 days. Mountain rescue: 7 days. Alpine rock: 13 days. Theory 1 and 2: 7 days. Avalanche course: 8 days. Ski tour course: 7 days. Icefall climbing: 5 days. Ski technique and methodology: 7 days. Variant course: 6 days. Personal skill examination course: 3 days. Vertical ice axe technique examination course: 1 day. Winter mountaineering: 7 days. High-altitude ski tour course: 7 days. State examinations: total 20 days. Summer - Guiding activity: Ice/combined terrain/high-altitude tours, rock; Teaching aptitude: Ice, rock; Practice: Risk management skills: 12 days. Theory: 2 days. Winter - Guiding activity: Ski tourism in high mountains: 6 days. Practical training (Praktikum) with a certified mountain and ski guide: total 36 days. Rock guiding/courses: 12 days. High-altitude tour guiding: 12 days. Winter guiding/courses (ski tours, variant terrain): 12 days. Total training.

For example, the following costs may arise: Course fees, admission and examination fees, costs for specialized literature and working materials, costs for external accommodation.

During this Ausbildung (vocational training), one acquires knowledge such as guiding and safety techniques in rock, ice, and snow; methodology and didactics for training courses, e.g., in sports, rock climbing, icefall climbing, high-altitude and ski tours, avalanche assessment, crevasse rescue; avalanche assessment, snow and avalanche science, meteorology, orientation; risk management; equipment knowledge, safety theory; accident science, first aid; guiding tactics and techniques; anatomy and physiology; ecology; sports, icefall climbing, mountain rescue, ski tours, alpine rock, ice and mixed terrain, freeriding. Additionally, internships are completed in rock tours, ice/high-altitude tours, and ski tours. In the internship, aspiring mountain and ski guides work with a staatlich geprüfter Berg- und Skiführer/in (state-certified mountain and ski guide).

One should prepare for the following conditions and requirements: Theoretical lessons are typically part-time block instruction. The learning format is usually in-person events: participation in classes at the educational institution with other aspiring mountain and ski guides (possibly not in the place of residence). Practical Ausbildung (training) involves practical collaboration (under supervision), for example, at a mountain school. Requirements include a sense of responsibility and diligence (e.g., when checking equipment for functionality), decision-making ability and reaction speed (e.g., in dangerous situations, accidents), good physical condition (e.g., when demonstrating climbing exercises), pedagogical skills and verbal expression (e.g., when instructing tour participants on behavior in avalanche danger, on via ferratas, and on ice walls), and empathy (e.g., recognizing the psychological and physical limits of participants and adapting accordingly).

For an Ausbildung (vocational training) abroad, the following options are available, for example: In Austria, training offers can be found via the AMS Ausbildungskompass (e.g., with the search term 'Bergführer'). In Italy, the Association of South Tyrolean Mountain and Ski Guides offers training. The Europass provides an opportunity to document training sections and learning stays completed abroad. Further information on the Europass is available.

No remuneration is paid for this Ausbildung (vocational training).

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for successful Ausbildung (vocational training): Sports: e.g., to move on via ferratas and in high alpine terrain. Geography: e.g., to orient oneself in alpine terrain. Biology: e.g., for training in anatomy, physiology, and first aid. German: e.g., to inform or instruct clients. English and possibly other foreign languages: e.g., to accompany foreign-speaking guests or offer tours abroad. Psychology: e.g., to deal with stress and overload reactions of clients.

The following Ausbildung (vocational training) alternatives are available for the profession of Berg- und Skiführer/in (mountain and ski guide): Field of Sports and Movement: Ski Instructor, Snowboard Instructor. Commonality: Guiding people of various ages in winter and mountain sports. Field of Tourism and Leisure Industry: Animator - Leisure. Commonality: Guiding guests in sports activities, planning and conducting sports activities.

This vocational training (Ausbildung) was regulated in 1999 by the training and examination regulations for professional sports instructors in independent professions in Bavaria. The state examination for mountain and ski guides falls under these regulations.

Mountain and ski guide is a vocational training (Ausbildung) regulated by state law (Landesrecht), organized by the Association of German Mountain and Ski Guides (VDBS) in cooperation with the Bavarian State Ministry for Education and Culture. It typically lasts 3 years on a part-time basis.

In Bavaria, participants can be exempted from attending a course or parts of a course if they can prove that they have completed other comparable training in terms of type, scope, and content. The internship can also be shortened upon request if applicants have already been active in a similar capacity, particularly within a sports degree program (Studium) or trainer training. Army and police mountain guides are not obliged to attend the four training courses (theory, rock, ice, and winter courses) and can complete the internship in a shortened form.

This vocational training (Ausbildung) is legally regulated only in the mentioned federal state (Bundesland) and leads to the following qualification: Bavaria: State-Certified Mountain and Ski Guide.

Improve opportunities with additional qualifications: After their training (Ausbildung), mountain and ski guides work in mountain and ski schools or centers, in sports hotels, or for tour operators for trekking, mountain tours, or expedition trips. Secure employability: Through adaptive further training, mountain and ski guides can keep their expertise current or bring it up to date. The range of topics extends from specialized sports training to tour guiding. Advance professionally: Upward training helps to advance professionally and achieve leadership positions. For example, an examination as a sports specialist (Sportfachwirt/in) is an option. With a university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung), one can also study (Studium) and, for example, acquire a Bachelor's degree in tourism management. Become self-employed: The step into self-employment is also possible, for example, with a mountain and ski school or alpine school.

This vocational training (Ausbildung) is regulated by state law (Landesrecht) in the following federal state (Bundesland): Training and Examination Regulations for Professional Sports Instructors in Independent Professions in Bavaria (BayAPOFspl) of 08.02.1999 (Bay.GVBl. S. 40), last amended by § 1 of the Ordinance of 10.02.2021 (Bay.GVBl. S. 51). There are no state law regulations in the following federal states: Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thüringen.

To access the Ausbildung (vocational training), proof of at least three years of alpine activity is required. Furthermore, the following are necessary for admission to the training: a minimum age of 18 years, proof of first aid training, a medical certificate confirming health suitability, a certificate of good conduct, and sufficient knowledge of the German language.