When it comes to avalanche education, I only use the curriculum developed by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). The main reason for this is the curriculum support and instructor standards created by the non profit structure.
Non Profit Structure Provides a Higher Quality Curriculum:
Because AIARE is a nonprofit organization, it can dedicate its resources to continuous research and development of its curriculum. Unlike other providers, AIARE isn’t constrained by profit-driven interests, so there’s no pressure to limit the curriculum development budget to protect a bottom line. This is the key difference between AIARE and the other major A3 providers, such as the Silverton Avalanche School and the American Avalanche Institute.
Third Party Instructor Certification:
AIARE doesn’t just hand out instructor certifications—they are earned by individuals with significant experience in avalanche safety and backcountry travel. As someone with very high standards for mountain professionals, I prioritize working with instructors who not only know their material but also have substantial personal experience in the environment.
Similar to their curriculum development, AIARE’s non profit structure means it is not focused on simply filling courses with enough staff. Their priority is the quality of their instructors, not just meeting demand. This stands in stark contrast to the broader guiding industry, where fluctuating demand can lead some companies to fill programs with uncertified or less-qualified staff, rather than turning away business when bookings rise unexpectedly.
This issue is exacerbated in for profit organizations which provide their own A3 approved curriculum, where the owner of the company is the one giving out certifications to teach their courses. When demand increases they are usually pretty happy to fill programs with a warm body not a professional. As a third party to these programs AIARE is above the influence of profit considerations and generally provides a higher standard of certification.
High Quality Curriculum
The AIARE curriculum and support resources are superior. Period and mic drop… I know many instructors working off of other A3 approved curriculums who have essentially just reworded the AIARE field book and use it to teach their students, instead of the curriculum notes their provider gave them.
At the end of the day
The success of any course you take ultimately depends on the guide leading it. All the other factors are secondary. A great guide can make up for a mediocre curriculum, while no amount of great curriculum can compensate for a poor guide. That said, AIARE generally sets you up for success with a strong foundation in both curriculum and instructor quality. For the best experience, I always recommend learning from a certified ski guide who teaches the AIARE curriculum. This combination ensures you’re getting good value in both avalanche safety and backcountry skills.