NORDIC SKIING PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION LEVELS
The organization of Nordic Skiing Professionals (NSP) is a de facto international certification and standards body of professionals for the sport of cross-country (Nordic) skiing, formed in 1986. The cross-certification requires and integrated practical and theory based examination based upon a Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) that covers: Pedagogy, Training methods, Biomechanics, Technique and Equipment. The curriculium was created from an international multiyear collaboration called the Nordic Skiing Project. Candidates must demonstrate their level personal proficiency / skills skiing on snow, over all-terrain and conditions. The NSP certification is a recognized certification for 'stunt' talent/performers and the insurance industry, and one of the few certifications that combines all competencies in nordic skiing. This cross-certification provides reciprocity for instructors and coaches certified though other programs such as NCCP, CANSI, USSA, PSIA, or directly through National, World Cup and Olympic results. We fast-track top talent. Test yourself on the practice exam. Read about the teaching and certification philosophy.

Coaching - Experience and knowledge in high performance training programs.
Instruction - Demonstrable skills in technique and pedagogical knowledge.
Mentoring - Imprinting skills through actively led participation in high-performance training.

 LEVELS
 Beginner-Novice
Intermediate
Advanced
Expert
Elite
LEVEL COACHING
 INSTRUCTION
 MENTORING
 COMMON BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
[MANUALS]
Must be conversant with principles of training alpine and nordic skiers within Ski Fitness DVD. Experience coaching school, citizen, club level racers. A minimum exam grade of 50% is required.
 Must demonstrate very good comprehension and application of technique as presented in Learn to Nordic Ski DVD. Experience teaching novice level skiers. A minimum exam exam of 50% is required.
 Must have personal competency at at least an intermediate level. Are able to ski continuously for more than an hour over all but extreme terrain in both classic, skating and downhill techniques. Beginner-Novice
Must show complete understanding and demonstrable application to training principles from the Nordic Ski Walking DVD and Ski Fitness DVD. Must have limited experience coaching provincial, state, university level racers is needed. A passing exam grade of 60% is required.
 Must demonstrate excellent comrehension and application of technique as presented in Unlimited Nordic Skiing DVD. A minumum exam grade of 60% is required.
 Must be a strong intermedate level skier themselves. Able to complete a certified World Cup ski course profile without stalling. Must be able to demonstrate all techniques on a variety of terrain. Intermediate
Must show good comprehension and experience with the high-performance development program and curriculum outlined within Nordic Skiing Training Secrets for High Performance Sport (DVD), Need two (2) years of experience coaching provincial, state, university level racers. Exam exam of 70% required.
 Shall demonstrate very good understanding of technical concepts and pragmatics within Nordic Skiing Technique (DVD). A passing exam grade of 70% is required.
 Must be able to maintain proper school technique at an advanced level on established terrain. Demonstrate skiing in balance over more difficult terrain. Exibit good dynamic weight shift. clinical and lack natural flow. Must be able to race a certified World Cup race course profile without difficulty. Advanced
Comprehensive and deep understanding of curriculum within Nordic Skiing Training Secrets for High Performance Sport (DVD)
Require (5) years of experience running high-performance programs for Provincial, National or Olympic level athletes. An exam exam of 80% is required.
 Must demonstrate excellent understanding of technical concepts and pragmatics within Nordic Skiing Technique (DVD). A passing exam grade of 80% is required.
 Must ski at an expert level and demonstrate the ablility to perform all techniques perfectly over all terrain and conditions. Must show seamless terrain reading and perform change-ups with unconscious (feeling) broken rhythm. Must adapt instinctively to terrain and conditions based upon resistance feeling on the 1/4 beat with maximum dynamic range in motion. Have total body unity and make full use is made of all propulsive phases with correct timing. Must have competed at national, or international level. Nordic Ski Professional DVD
 Expert
Comprehensive and deep understanding of curriculum within Nordic Skiing Training Secrets for High Performance Sport (DVD). Extensive experience running high-performance programs for National or Olympic level athletes. Indepth comprehension of pedagogy within Nordic Ski Professional DVD. An Exam exam of 90% is required.
 Complete understanding of technical concepts and pragmatics within Nordic Skiing Technique (DVD) and Advanced Nordic Skiing DVD. An exam grade of 90% is required.
 They are already an expert technician and also possess high performance power-endurance attributes. This level of skier applies instinctive application of technique under race conditions over difficult terrain at international competitive level. Considered skilled practitioners with a high level of physical and metal fitness, they are free to execute tactics and strategy. Can handle the most extreme terrain under difficult conditions. Elite
Theory • definition • history • fundamentals • setting goals planning and commitment  • integrating body and mind • natural fitness • endurance • strength • power • speed • agility • flexibility • balance • coordination • skill development • quantity and quality of training hours • regularity and repetition • intensity and recovery which covers: work load overcompensation relaxation recuperation dynamic range • polarized training • periodization involving progression and frequency and systemization • specificity and diversity • mindful • ski fitness • physiology • prescription for fitness • energy systems • storage • training aerobic • anaerobic systems • zones • vo2max • training methodology • coaching and long term athlete development • mentoring • pedagogy • architecting fitness and conditioning • the workout • warm-up • cool-down • microcycles • phases • mesocycles • macrocycles • unstructured training • constructing multi-year high performance training programs • cardio • active rest • over-distance • low sub-threshold distance • high sub-threshold distance intervals • threshold natural intervals • fartlek • anaerobic lactic • anaerobic alactic • over-speed • polarized work • muscular training • strength • power • isometric • isotonic • isokinetic • calisthenics • plyometrics • speed • super-loading • power-endurance • weight training • ballistics • ricochets • on snow and dry-land training modes • skate skiing • classic • backcountry • telemark • alpine • nordix • ski walk • stride • bounding • roller-skiing • roller-board • exercises • soft training • core strength • flexibility • snow shoe • trail run • paddle • bike • skiing drills • skill development and technique • race preparation • mental training sport psychology • mindful practice • commitment • consistency • persistence • patience • goals • commitment • mental visualization • relaxation • concentration • motivation • focus • anxiety • team dynamics • extreme athletics • injuries • nutrition • equipment