Training Available to Ski Patrollers

Aside from the training required to join ski patrol, there are a number of refreshers to keep your skills current and courses available to enhance and improve your skills.

OEC

Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) is a first responder course designed to teach candidate patrollers the skills they need to treat patients on the mountain. The course is a considerable time investment and those wanting to become patrollers should be aware of the commitment it take to pass the course. It is a 90 - 120 hour course over 8 - 12 weeks involving classroom time, hands on skill development, and reading the 1200 page OEC manual. Passing the course requires achieving a passing grade on the written exam and as well as successfully passing an in depth skills evaluation. This course is provided for free other than the cost of the book.

Patrollers that have passed OEC must attend the annual OEC refresher to maintain their certification. Failing to do so will require you to retake the entire OEC course in order to continue being a patroller.

CPR/AED

It is required for all patrollers to be up to date on the latest recommended CPR procedures established by the American Heart Association. Patrollers must take CPR/AED training every year. The course is provided to the patrol at a significant discount to the individual.

OTH

On the Hill (OTH) training is done annually in the fall. Although optional, is it highly recommended that all patrollers attend to increase and improve their skill set. OTH involves learning chairlift evacuation protocols and skills involving rope handling, belay techniques, equipment orientation, and procedures.

OET

Outdoor Emergency Transportation (OET), also known as Togoggan Training, is another part of the training curriculum for candidate patrollers. During the ski season over a 6 - 8 week span, candidate patrollers will be instructed on all aspects of toboggan handling operations, such as sled handling techniques, chairlift loading/offloading, and patient transport.

Exisiting patrollers must demonstrate their ability to competently hand a toboggan each season for recertification.

Avy 1 & 2

For patrollers wishing to get into avalanche education, NSP Level 1 Avalanche, and Level 2 for those that have passed Level 1, are available to all patrollers. Put on by Hyak Ski Patrol in cooperation with SPART, patrollers can sign up for these classes on the NSP website in the Learning Center. Learn more about Avalanche education here on the Hyak Ski Patrol website.

MTR

Mountain Travel Rescue (MTR) is a advanced course designed to development techniques and skills related to mountain based search and rescue. This course can greatly enhance the average ski patroller's skill set, but also sets you on the path to join SPART if that's something you're interested in. Put on by Hyak Ski Patrol in cooperation with SPART, learn more about MTR here on the Hyak Ski Patrol website.

Nuts & Bolts

Nuts & Bolts is a skills clinic available to ski patrollers that takes place annually at Mt. Hood, Oregon. Clinics like Nuts & Bolts are a great opportunity to meet other patrollers, ski a different mountain, improve your skills, and learn new ones.

Instructor Training

Want to get involved with patrol beyond just patrolling? Ski patrol always needs individuals willing to qualify for OEC or OET instructor. You can take the course through the NSP wesbite.

Senior

The Senior Program is a certification at NSP that enables a patroller to level up their training and leadership through core and elective requirements designed for alpine patrollers, nordic patrollers, and other patrollers, with variations for each discipline. While first honing in on OEC skills, the Senior candidate patroller will dive into the development of high-level scene and care management by solidifying leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

Certified

The NSP offers a Certified Program that helps patrollers take their training and skills to the next level. The Certified Program is a national education and skill verification program that provides a readily identifiable resource of highly-motivated, skilled, and knowledgeable patrollers to better serve the NSP, ski area management, and the outdoor recreation community. Certified is the highest level of certification available to alpine patrollers.