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Would you like to chat to Cold Candy, who manages this programme? Just call +436763864408 or email: info@cold-candy.com
Kaprun & Zell am See · Kitzsteinhorn · Austrian Level 1 & 2 (Anwärter) · 3, 5 or 7 Weeks · From November 2026
Train in the Austrian Alps with Cold Candy, in partnership with Snowsports Academy Austria, the only ski instructor training endorsed directly by the Austrian ski instructor governing body. You’ll be coached by Level 4 instructors on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun, earning your Austrian Anwärter qualification in one of Europe’s most snow-sure resorts.
Cold Candy’s ski instructor courses in Austria run across three, five or seven weeks. The exam is available in German or English. Small groups, daily video analysis and a guaranteed job placement at the end of it.
Would you like to chat to Cold Candy, who manages this programme? Just call +436763864408 or email: info@cold-candy.com
📅 Dates | From 24 October 2026, courses range from 3 to 7 weeks |
📍 Location | Kaprun & Zell am See, Austria, Kitzsteinhorn glacier |
🎓 Qualification | Austrian Level 1 & 2 (Anwärter), globally recognised |
👥 Group size | Small groups, max 8 per coach |
🗣️ Exam language | English or German, your choice |
🌍 After the course | Guaranteed worldwide job placement |
The qualification that
The Austrian Anwärter (Level 1 & 2) is the most internationally recognised ski instructor certification you can earn. Ski schools across Europe, North America, Japan, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina use this system and hire based on those who have passed it.
Cold Candy’s programme is delivered in partnership with Snowsports Academy Austria, the Viennese body that administers the Austrian qualification. That means the training is built around the exam from day one, not reverse-engineered from someone else’s idea of what the exam looks like.
Five days a week on snow. Small groups so every session is actual coaching, your Level 4 coach adjusts to you, your technique, your weaknesses. Every session ends with video analysis so you can see exactly what needs to change.
You need to be a confident, competent all-mountain skier before you arrive. Beyond that, this course is for:
Cold Candy’s Austria courses are one of the most popular gap year ski instructor options in Europe, the timing is a big part of why. You qualify in December, the rest of the Northern Hemisphere season is ahead of you, and the job placement puts you into a ski school before the new year.
Career break or career change? Works just as well. The course runs November–December, so you’re back, qualified and with a new skill set, before most people have noticed you were gone.
If you’d prefer to train over the European Summer, we recommend checking out our New Zealand course.
Kaprun sits at the base of the Kitzsteinhorn, a 3,029m glacier running from October through to May. Reliable snow, consistent conditions, and no gambling on the weather. Zell am See is ten minutes away, a proper Austrian lakeside town for days off. Salzburg Airport is 90 minutes by road, Munich around 2.5 hours.
3-week course | €5,100, 21 November – 11 December 2026 |
5-week course | €7,500, 7 November – 11 December 2026 |
7-week course winter | €8,900, 24 October – 11 December 2026 |
7-week course spring | €8,900, 9 January – 27 February 2027 |
Deposit to secure | €150 to guarantee your spot |
Places available | Limited, small group sizes apply |
Payment |
Cold Candy’s guaranteed job placement connects you with ski schools across Austria, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Argentina and the USA. Your Austrian Anwärter is recognised at all of them. Expect around €1,000–€1,200/month in Austria as a starting point, plus accommodation and lift pass typically arranged by the ski school.
Yes. The exam is available in English or German, you choose. Most Austrian qualification courses assume a working level of German; Cold Candy’s doesn’t.
You need to be a competent, confident all-mountain skier, comfortable on red and black runs in varied conditions. You don’t need racing or freestyle experience, but you should be able to ski any piste comfortably before you arrive.
The 5-week course is the most popular, enough time to get properly prepared for the exam without rushing. The 3-week course suits people who are already skiing at a very high level. The 7-week course gives the deepest preparation, putting you ahead of the field when ski schools are hiring. See our full course comparison for a detailed breakdown.
Most people do. Small groups mean you actually meet the people you train with, by the end of the first week, everyone has made friends for life!
The job guarantee is open to anyone who can legally work in Austria or the EU. For non EU passport holders we can offer you a job in combination with a work permit. We will arrange this for you. Alternatively, most countries offer a working holiday visa for under 30`s. This allows you to work for a ski school without applying for a work permit. Just get in touch with us if you are a non EU citizen and we will tell you what to do.
Yes, you either need a working holiday visa or a work permit. Most countries offer a working holiday visa for under 30`s. This alllows you to work for a ski school without applying for a work permit. Just get in touch with us if you are an eu citizen and we will tell you what to do.
Yes, we have work permits for UK citizens in Austria. This enables you to work in Austria.
5 – 6 Euros for a pint in town
During the course you will get most Weekends to yourself. There`s a lot to do when you are not in training. You are free to ski on your days off or get involved in some of the many activities that are available in the resort. We also organise activities.
Yes, we are running the courses ourselves and have 24/7 support staff in resort. In case of an emergency, we are always here.
Yes, we are in close contact with all our partner ski schools to make sure the school and yourself are happy. We support you during the season.
Closest airport is salzburg, which is 1 hour away. Alternatively, you can fly into Munich or Salzburg, which are approx. 2 1/2 hours away.
The resort is 408 km. It is the 2nd biggest resort here in Austria. One of the best places in the alps.
