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Scope of Practice.

Scope of Practice Statements for Individual CAA Membership Categories

Individual CAA Membership Categories come with specific scopes of practice. The scope of practice for each category broadly defines the range of activities and services a CAA member in that category is authorized to perform. The Scope of Practice Statements below offer direction on whether a member can lead or participate in avalanche operations or education.
 
These Scope of Practice statements are intended to broadly state the types of activities members may reasonably perform. Given the breadth of avalanche operations, specific operation-level descriptions are not provided. The scope of practice statements are offered without consideration of additional certifications a member may have. It is recognized that a member who is also a provincially registered engineer, or member of a guiding association, may conduct a broader range of activities where those additional activities are overseen by other certifying bodies.
 
If a CAA member is uncertain if they are practicing within their scope of practice, they are encouraged to email Professional Practices Specialist, Brendan Martland.

Scope of Practice
  • Participate in the assessment and communication of avalanche risk
  • Deliver avalanche risk education programs
  • Operate within a program for managing avalanche risk
  • Work under the supervision of an Avalanche Professional
Typical Roles of Avalanche Practitioners
  • Ski patroller or avalanche technician
  • Introductory recreational avalanche course instructor, such as AST 1 or Companion Rescue Skills
  • Assistant/apprentice guide

See the Avalanche Practitioner webpage for more detailed information about this category.

Scope of Practice
  • Develop, direct, and participate in the assessment and communication of avalanche risk
  • Develop and deliver avalanche risk education programs
  • Design and operate programs for managing avalanche risk
  • Supervise Avalanche Practitioners and ensure their work meets professional standards

Avalanche Professionals maintain proficiency in most areas of practice and may specialize to obtain an expert level of proficiency in one or more areas, aligning with their education, training, or experience.

Typical Roles of Avalanche Professionals
  • Avalanche forecaster, assistant forecaster or experienced avalanche technician
  • Introductory and advanced recreational avalanche course instructor (such as AST 1, AST 2, Companion Rescue Skills and Managing Avalanche Terrain) or Professional-level avalanche course instruction after further training
  • Full guide or experienced assistant guide

See the Avalanche Professional webpage for more detailed information about this category.

Scope of Practice
  • Are permitted to deliver introductory recreational avalanche education content with limited avalanche terrain exposure
  • Can teach introductory recreational avalanche education courses such as the Avalanche Canada Training program AST 1 and CRS courses
  • Work at the introductory level described within Guidelines for Instruction in Avalanche Terrain
  • Are restricted to travel in Class 0 (non-avalanche terrain) and Class 1 (Simple) ATES terrain only, unless they hold a guiding certification that permits travel in other ATES rated terrain
  • Are not recognized to provide avalanche services outside of the educational scope defined above except for: 
    • under the measures outlined in the ‘Policy for extending Avalanche Educators Scope’ (link)
    • those possessing a guiding certificate  
Typical Roles of Basic Avalanche Educators
  • Limited to introductory recreational avalanche course instruction, such as AST 1 or Companion Rescue Skills

See the Basic Avalanche Educator webpage for more detailed information about this category.

Scope of Practice
  • Are permitted to teach advanced recreational avalanche courses such as the Avalanche Canada Training program AST 2 and MAT courses
  • Can work within the advanced level described within Guidelines for Instruction in Avalanche Terrain;
  • Are restricted to travel in Class 0 (non-avalanche terrain), Class 1 (Simple) ATES and Class 2 (Challenging) ATES terrain, unless they hold a guiding certification that permits travel in other ATES rated terrain 
  • Are not recognized to provide avalanche services outside of the educational scope defined above, except for: 
    • under the measures outlined in the ‘Policy for extending Avalanche Educators Scope’ (link)
    • those possessing a guiding certificate
Typical Roles of Advanced Avalanche Educators
  • -Limited to introductory and advanced recreational avalanche course instruction, such as AST 1, AST 2, Companion Rescue Skills, and Managing Avalanche Terrain

See the Advanced Avalanche Educator page for more detailed information about this category.

Notes:
  • CAA members will act in the public interest by ensuring all work they are engaged in is consistent with established standards and practices, and by only undertaking assignments for which they are qualified, as outlined in the CAA Code of Ethics.pdf.
  • More information about how a scope of practice connects with competency-based membership and workplace conditions can be found in the CAA Scope, Competencies and Proficiency.pdf document.
  • Affiliate Members do not have a scope of practice for avalanche risk management work or field-based avalanche education. They should not undertake any work that falls under the scope of practice of another membership category unless the following conditions are met:
    • The member is new to the avalanche industry (less than 50 days of avalanche-related work experience), and;
    • the member is working under supervision, and;
    • the member is working towards a practicing membership category.