Course Overview

You’ll be able to teach: beginner level surfing

Teach:

• Manoeuvres: ride whitewater, trim along small green waves, small turns

• Plus: other essential surfing skills and knowledge at the ASI Surf Wise Level 3 beginner level

In the following conditions:

• Surf no larger than 1½ft (½ metre)

• White water and small peeling waves

• Water depth of chest deep or less

• Sandy beach, free from rocks, rips and currents

After completing the course, you can:

• Run safe, structured surfing lessons

• Manage groups in the water

• Assess beginners surfing ability and help them progress

Note:
If you are under 18 years old, an adult instructor must be at the beach or close enough for direct supervision. 
You still count for making up student to instructor ratios.

With your Level 1 qualification, you can work as a surfing instructor or surf coach:

• At surf schools around the world

• In tourism and adventure sport programs

• At surf camps and holiday resorts

• As a freelance surf coach

ASI qualifications are internationally recognised, giving you the freedom to work and travel.

Note: To operate your own surf school, you will need ASI Level 2 Surfing Instructor certification.

This course covers essential skills for teaching beginning level surfing lessons, including:

Laws & regulations:  that apply to conducting surfing lessons

Risk management & safety: ASI guidelines, identify and assess risks, strategies to minimise risk, conducting location and dynamic risk assessments, emergency response.

Environment: social & natural environmental impacts and minimisation strategies

Logistics planning:  locations, equipment, back up, student types

Session planning: structuring beginner lessons, creating lesson plans, teaching progression, ASI Surf Wise programs level 1-3

Group management:  communication, positioning and client supervision

Client instruction:  instruction techniques for beginner level, methods to get beginners surfing with ease

Client assessment:  ASI  beginner level surfing criteria, beginner common mistakes, correcting technique

Professional standards: duty of care, codes of conduct, and industry expectations

Minimum age: 16 years

Surfing experience: 500+ hours of surfing

Surfing knowledge and skills: equivalent to ASI Surf Wise Level 6 Intermediate Surfer

Surfing ability: surf the wave from start to finish and perform bottom and top turn, cutback on forehand in 3ft surf.

Note: for Surf Wise Level 6, you only need to state on enrolment form you have these knowledge & skills.

Before you can be certified, you’ll need to complete the below:

See the Study Option section below to confirm the specific requirements that apply to you.

(1) Personal Surfing Ability: 
Demonstrate ASI Surf Wise Level 6 Intermediate surfing ability Able to perform and link bottom turn and top turn, cut-back on forehand, on the one wave in 3ft surf.

(2) Knowledge: 
Complete multi-choice online test
Submit a written assessment for delivering lessons

(3) Practical:
Complete 25 hours practical work experience, assisting in the delivery of beginner surfing lessons, at an ASI accredited surf school or other approved surf school.  Submit logbook of hours/experience

(4) Submit Required Certificates:

• A current surf rescue certificate Acceptable Rescue certificates

• A current senior first aid certificate Acceptable First Aid certificates

Time to complete :  12 months

Workshop: Ideal for people who like to complete most of the course requirements at the workshop and interact with the trainer.

• Face to face (in-person) training.

• Duration:  2 days

Course requirements:

• Surfing ability – trainer to take video at workshop if possible (or submit video after wshop)  

• Written assessment (full lesson plan) – complete at workshop

• Multi-choice online test - not required

• Practical hours experience:  complete 20 hours (25 hours less 5 hours signed off in workshop)

• Submit current surf rescue and first aid certificates

• 2 free video assessments
  

Online Learning: Ideal for people who would like flexibility to complete their training.

• Work at your own pace.

• Face to face (in-person) practical hours experience required

• Submit video of the practical assessment

Course requirements:

• Surfing ability - submit video  

• Written assessment (full lesson plan)

• Multi-choice online test

• Practical hours experience: complete 25 hours

• Submit current surf rescue and first aid certificates

• 2 free video assessments
  

Update: For instructors whose ASI certification has expired and need to regain the ASI certification.

• Expired by no more than 4 years

• Online course - work at your own pace

• Welcome back with ASI’s discount fee!

Course requirements:

• Surfing ability - submit video  (Previously submitted surfing ability video may be used. Determined on a case by case basis)

• Written assessment (full lesson plan)

• Multi-choice online test  

• Practical hours experience: not required

• Submit current surf rescue and first aid certificates

• 1 free video assessment
  

Transfer: Obtain your ASI instructor certification by applying for recognition of your current non-ASI instructor certificate.

• Online course – work at your own pace

• Submit video of practical assessment

• Retain your non-ASI instructor certificate

Course requirements:

• Surfing ability - submit video

• Written assessment (full lesson plan)

• Multi-choice online test  

• Practical hours experience: not required

• Submit current surf rescue and first aid certificates

• 1 free video assessment

Fees:
Working for an ASI Accredited Surf School - special fees apply. Apply online.
Extra discount fees apply in if holding local non-ASI instructor certification in Australia, Ireland, UK.
Discount fees available for people who have completed the ASI Grau 1 in Portugal
Email ASI for more information

All study options receive online resources:

• Level 1 Surfing Instructor manual & assessments

• Downloadable instructor logbook (for practical hours)

• Learn to Surf for Beginners Manual

• Learn to Surf Intermediate Level Manual

In addition: at the workshop, you also receive a paper copy of:  

• Level 1 Surfing Instructor manual

• Instructor logbook (for practical hours)

Plus: ASI membership for 12 months.

ASI’s E-learning Platform 
Provides access to training manuals, videos, reference materials and assessments, includes built-in language translation.

The following equipment and clothing is required to complete the training:

• Surf clothing

• Fibreglass surfboard to demonstrate intermediate surfing skills.

• Beginner soft-top boards with soft fins and leash

In addition:  

• Computer or device to access ASI e-learning platform 

• Online options: Video camera or mobile phone to take video of practical skills

ASI Level 1 Surfing Instructor 
(valid for 12 months)

ASI also issues education department approved training certificates. (excludes transfer/update course options).

Australia Only
ASI is an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and also issues the following certificate to students undertaking training in Australia.
Australian Department of Education. Registered Training Organisation RTO ID 91496

Statement of Attainment in Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership (SIS30619) 
for units of competency:
SISOSRF004 Lead surfing activities, small waves and basic manoeuvres
SISOSRF002 Surf waves using intermediate manoeuvres
SISOSRF001 Surf small waves using basic manoeuvres
SISOFLD002 Minimise environmental impact 
PUASAR012 Apply surf awareness and self-rescue skills

Each year, ASI Instructors renew their ASI Surfing Instructor certificate.   
More about renewal requirements

You can continue your surf coaching development with:

• ASI Level 2 Surfing Instructor (teaching intermediate level surfing)

• ASI surf rescue training

• Attending ASI Air Retreats (conference)

• Blue Health Skills for Watersports Instructors

• Globally recognised surf coaching qualifications

• Industry‑leading safety and coaching standards

• Flexible online and in‑person training

• Clear career progression

• Trusted by surf schools worldwide

READ: 10 Reasons to Become an ASI Instructor

More FAQs: click here