New Zealand Certificate in Avalanche Risk Management (Level 5)

Your workload

The programme is 12 weeks long. Ten modules will be delivered via online study for 10 weeks (requiring 20-30 hours per week). During this time, you'll be expected to attend a weekly, live, online study session where we will interact, discuss questions and refine concepts. During this period, you will also be asked to practise some on-snow skills.

You will then complete a one-week block course (either in Wānaka or at Whakapapa) that refines your practical skills, followed by assessment. Finally, during week 12, you'll reflect on key learning points, identify your next steps and/or plan any re-assessment as required.

Intakes and block courses

April intake 

Block course: 1 - 7 July 2024

May intake 

Block course: 3 - 9 August 2024

June intake 

Block course: 17 - 23 August 2024 

July intake (1)

Block course: 14 - 20 September 2024

July intake (2) 

Block course: 21 - 27 September 2024

Please note: July intake 2 is the only intake that will cater for students not on skis or snowboard during the practical week.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements 

• There are no academic entry requirements for this programme. 

Other requirements

• You must be able to demonstrate evidence of basic ability to use avalanche transceivers, shovels, and probes through a document signed and dated by a graduate of this programme (or recognised equivalent programme at this level or higher) stating that you meet the following criteria: 
  • techniques for the correct and efficient use of a transceiver are demonstrated
  • a buried transceiver is found in accordance with timeframes and depths specified in industry good practice.  

Download the Basic Transceiver Competence Attestation

Please note: It's highly recommended that you are capable of safely negotiating all mountain terrain and snow conditions normally encountered at a ski field in an alpine environment. If you're unable to do this using skis or a snowboard, please apply for the intake that's for those that don't yet have this ability (see which intake this in within the Workload tab). To successfully complete this programme, you also need adequate fitness and skill to move quickly over all snow conditions to perform a rescue and dig out of an avalanche victim (potentially metres deep in the snow).

English Language requirements

• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes. 

Online learning requirement 

You will require access to online computing facilities to undertake the distance learning packages.

Selection process

After the entry level requirements have been met, selection is based on a first-come, first-served basis until the maximum course numbers have been met.

Don't meet the entry requirements?

If you don't meet the entry requirements, there are a number of recreational level courses (historically, at least four days' in length) available worldwide that will provide the base-level of rescue skills required.

Want your existing skills recognised?

If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, please ask us about our recognition of prior learning process. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification and could achieve it in a shorter timeframe. Please email info@op.ac.nz or call 0800 762 786.

Additional costs

You will need to provide your own personal outdoor wear and means of mountain transport suitable to a winter alpine environment. This may include adequate footwear, touring skis, split-board, climbing skins or snowboard/snowshoes and poles. A daypack capable of carrying your daily needs is also required (30-40 litre capacity).

Although it is helpful for students to have their own avalanche safety gear and snow/weather observation kits, they may be provided by the Polytechnic upon request. You will be required to pay your ski pass – these are usually available at a significantly discounted rate.

For the Whakapapa (North Island) residential course 

There is an additional fee of $750 to cover shared accommodation (at Levin Waiopehu Ski Lodge), breakfast and dinner. You'll need to organise your own lunch/snacks and pay for a discounted lift pass (if you don't have a season pass).  

Tuition fees

The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don’t include additional costs or living costs.