The Canadian Ski Patrol’s New Patroller Course is a demanding 80+ hour advanced first aid course that gives new patrollers the knowledge and hands-on skills to help people on and off the ski hill. The course consists of online learning covering theory and weekday evening classes covering practical first aid skills. 

Upon successful completion of the first aid portion, there is an on-snow day during which you will be taught the basics of handling a toboggan.

Attendance

Due to our national insurance and liability coverage, ALL new recruits to the Calgary Zone must take the New Patroller Course regardless of any previous medical training. Attending this course is mandatory and non-negotiable.  The course starts in mid-September and runs through the end of November.  The course is in Calgary and is held two nights per week from about 6:30-9:30pm. There are also two full weekend days in the course – one for CPR/AED training and one for field skills.

Attendance for the CPR/AED portion of the course is mandatory unless you have a current Health Care Provider (HCP) level certificate from another acceptable organization (Canadian Red Cross, Heart & Stroke Foundation, St. John’s Ambulance, or Canadian Life Saving Society) that is valid until the end of the upcoming ski season. You will be required to provide a copy of your certificate. If you cannot attend the CPR/AED day, it will be your responsibility to obtain a CPR/AED HCP level certificate from one of the above organizations on your time at at your own cost before the start of the patrolling season.

Pass Requirements

All online and in-class portions of the course must be completed before taking the exams. There are four assessments:

  1. CPR/AED Exam: The pass mark is 80 per cent on a multiple choice exam.
  2. Written Exam: A 100 question, multiple choice exam on the CSP’s First Aid Manual content. A written exam review sheet will be provided beforehand. The pass mark is 80 per cent after which you will be required to correct your exam to 100% using the manual. If you achieve a score of less than 80 per cent, you will be asked to re-write the same exam.
  3. Skills Exam: This is an in-person demonstration of your first aid treatment skills.
  4. Diagnostic Exam: This is a real-time evaluation of your patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatment skills. A minimum of 80 per cent is required on the Diagnostic Exam. A single re-test is available. You will be examined by two instructors, each with a different scenario.

While patrollers only have to complete the advanced first aid course once, all patrollers are required to complete the four assessments every year.